Asiana A330-300 HL7793 Phoenix 11106 April/ June 2015

Posted on by Jon Champs

Asiana A330-300 HL7793 Phoenix 11106 April/ June 2015

I’ve been waiting for an Asiana A333 – the airline isn’t represented at RLSI and I like this livery. So I ordered it when it was first released back in April. Now when it was announced that the Condor/TC A321 and the Asiana had been postponed until June – allegedly on quality grounds, I almost cancelled them both. I certainly wish I’d cancelled this Asiana. It’s an unmitigated piece of crap.

I’m not even going to give it the benefit of a full review because it doesn’t deserve one. Suffice to say the paint isn’t bad overall other than the awful silver on the engine pylons that’s visibly leaking over into the white and the dust in the fuselage paint, which is hard to see on camera, but you can see in daylight and feel.

1) The stand hole is so small only a great deal of careful balancing allowed the photos to be taken. It fits on nothing willingly.

2) There is way to much dust in the white paint and on the tail as well as visible glue on the stabilisers where they are stuck to the fuselage.

3) The general problem with all of the Phoenix A330’s that I rarely mention because it’s easy to fix, for some reason stood out on this model – the starboard side wing is always bent downward from the mid-wing (the port never is). Yes it’s only a shallow bend but this time it really noticed. The Azul Flag livery has the same thing and so did the earlier Azul, the Gulf GP, TAP Portugal and Sri Lankan. However they were all less noticeable than this one. On some I never even noticed it until after the photos were taken. This one still looks poor AFTER the usual fix has been attempted.

4) However the really awful part of this model is the atrociously fitted wing on the port side. Phoenix are you having a laugh? You call this quality and think it’s OK to send this garbage out do you?

Well you can have it back. It’s rubbish, it’s unworthy of you and I wouldn’t be honest if I said anything else.

My supplier has kindly agreed a refund and a replacement if he can find one, and that he doesn’t want the model back. It will come in useful for spares. This is one reason I use http://www.aircraftmodelstore.co.uk – first class customer service. If one does arrive, then I’ll consider a proper review.

CONCLUSION: REJECTED MODEL.

The bend in the wing is now slight but only after I tried the usual fix that resolves it, its' still visible.
The bend in the wing is now slight but only after I tried the usual fix that resolves it, its’ still visible.
the dust in the model white paint has led to lumps in the under part of the engine, the stand hole is useless and the wing fit a joke
the dust in the model white paint has led to lumps in the under part of the engine, the stand hole is useless and the wing fit a joke
If you can't see it, you need glasses more than I do!
If you can’t see it, you need glasses more than I do!
It's a good job A333's don't have over-wing emergency exits...
It’s a good job A333’s don’t have over-wing emergency exits…”please mind the gap”.
Glue around the stabilisers at the fuselage end on both sides
Glue around the stabilisers at the fuselage end on both sides
There are strange little marks and a rough finish in the paint that's impossible to appreciate, in photos. It's actually strange to touch!
There are strange little marks and a rough finish in the paint that’s impossible to appreciate, in photos. It’s actually strange to touch!
The pylon silver paint is very poor, glaringly obvious even from a distance and the wing root has flaked paint and looks an odd colour from a distance
The pylon silver paint is very poor, glaringly obvious even from a distance and the wing root has flaked paint and looks an odd colour from a distance where the paint layer has gone off. Flash makes it hard to see, but to the naked eye instantly noticeable.
When you say it’s ‘them and us’; I’m with them. The people who make the decisions you never know about? I’m with them. You want to talk to me? I’ll be standing over there. With them.