NG Models’ output in 2026 has been lacklustre at best and their usage of many of their moulds appalling. One of the bright spots however has been the release of a series of A318s making this one of few moulds that has got any real traction this year outside of the A321, A330, A350, 777 and 787. It says something about their release sets when an A320 family member is seen as diverse! Regardless, I’ve never reviewed one of the babiest buses so let’s take a look here.
Each review is to split into three key areas:
- The model mould
- The paint and livery reproduction
- Printing and quality control
Each section can get a maximum score of 10 for a maximum combined score of 30
This review is sponsored by Northeast Diecast. Check out their store for an excellent range of hard to find 200 and 400 scale collection sale models and get 15% off!
MOULD
NG Models has now announced 28 A318s in 400 scale, with 16 coming in this calendar year. Obviously, there is a fair amount of duplication among what has been made, with for example two versions of this scheme only differing in the registration. Nonetheless, considering there are only 36 400 scale A318s in total it is a good outlay.
The only competition for this mould comes from ancient Dragon Wings (2002) and Herpa (2005) variants, both of which were low quality efforts at the time – let alone in 2026. The latest release prior to the NG mould was a Herpa British Airways model from 2017. The low number and quality of these earlier efforts means they can be basically ignored.
That gives NG a free run with the A318 and since they already have excellent A320 family members for every other version (aside from the A320-100 which they promised would appear but never has) it means there’s a good chance this NG version is just as good.
The original samples of the A318 were provided to me in July 2022 and reviewed here at the website:
They were oddly fitted with Sharklets but as I said at the time everyone knows NG had the wingtip fence wing so that didn’t matter. NG’s first release followed in October 2022 after they had made the one fix to the sample that was truly required – a change to the height of the rudder inside the vertical stabiliser.
With that change made the mould takes its place alongside the other NG A320 family members as an excellent offering that strongly matches the real aircraft. There’s very little to complain about as the overall form of the fuselage barrel and wings is exemplary.
The aircraft is fitted with CFM56 engines and the shape and detailing of those is impressive, noticeably assisted by the reversion to solid-core fan engines providing plenty of accurate fan detailing.
Obviously aside from fuselage length the primary structural differentiator of the 318 is the taller thinner vertical stabiliser. A photo comparison to an NG A321 clearly shows this. The level of etched stabiliser detailing present on the original samples has been noticeably toned down, which I think is an improvement.
The model is fitted with 4 aerials although the two rooftop ADF domes also on the rooftop are only printed on not moulded in. Arguably the nosegear leg detailing could be finer but I’m stretching to find anything worth detracting points for on what is a fabulous A318.
SCORE – 10
PAINT & LIVERY
Mexicana ceased operations on August 28, 2010, which meant the livery worn by this model was only around for less than two years, having been first introduced on November 29, 2008. That is a shame because it was a bold reimagining of the airline’s history with a wonderfully stylised eagle motif and shades of light and deep blue. If only other airlines could come up with such a strong livery nowadays.
The scheme suited the A318, of which Mexicana had ten, particularly well as the short fuselage minimised the white space. The simple colour palette is replicated well and all the livery elements are positioned accurately, except for the titles on the starboard side engine, which are not straight.
As you’d expect NG capture small details like the logo on the wingtip fences, oneworld alliance roundel and registration on the nosegear doors with aplomb.
SCORE – 9
PRINTING & QUALITY CONTROL
NG’s ability for fine linework printing is second to none. On the underside print such as the gear doors is so fine as to be hard to see. Attention to detail with the printing is strong, as is the quality of it.
This is the sort of model where macro-photographs don’t introduce any issues. The overwing exit markings are aligned with the actual exits and the finishing of things like the engine rims is superb.
From a build perspective there are no issues either. At extreme macro settings there is some roughness to the inside of the maingear legs but you’d never spot it with the naked eye.
SCORE – 10
CONCLUSION
This is another excellent model. NG still regularly produces some of the best 400 scale product on the market, although it certainly does make more mistakes than it used to. So, when it comes to quality and finish NG is still top dog in the scale. It is just a shame that too often the subject matter doesn’t match the same ambition as the end product. At least this hasn’t been the case with the A318. Aside from Avianca, Avianca Brasil and some more Frontier tales I think all the airline schemes have now been done, so that will no doubt leave NG free to go back to making more A321s and A350s!
FINAL SCORE – 29/30
