Last years winner: Phoenix 787-9 All Blacks
Overview
70 2015 Releases models were bought new from retailers from this years releases.
2 were not scored they were so bad, one was refunded in full and kept, one was replaced in full and the faulty kept and used for spares.
5 more were refunded and returned for quality issues and not replaced, post review.
1 was part goodwill refunded & replaced for quality issues.
16 Qualified for Model of The Year 2015, which requires a score of 90% or more.
The models that qualified by manufacturer For MODEL OF THE YEAR 2015:
Aeroclassics
Norwegian 738 LN-NOM Greta Garbo
Norwegian 738 LN-DYU Jørn Utzøn
Gemini Jets
American Airlines 772 N796AN OneWorld livery
American Airlines 752 N185AN
British Airways A320 G-EUYV (first BA A320 with sharklets)
UPS 763ERF N344UP
Etihad Cargo 744F N476MC (new livery)
FedEx 763ERF N102FE
KLM 738 PH-BXZ (new livery)
AlItalia A332 I-EJGA (new livery)
Alaskan N560AS 738 ‘Spirt of the islands’ livery
JC Wings
Tui 738 D-ATUJ ‘Troppifrutti’
Phoenix
Azerbaijan 788 VP-BBR
KLM 787-9 PH-BHA
Cargolux 748F LX-VCJ
Velocity
JetBlue N564JB ‘Blueberries’
Yes, 9 of the 16 qualifying models are Gemini’s. As a comparison, 36% of all purchased new Gemini models scored over 90% and only 7% of Phoenix models did. That’s a huge differential no matter how you read it. In all honesty I’d expect at least 50% to be reaching 90 in the scores and 80% to reach 80 and above.Neither is exactly a ringing endorsement of their general quality, but Phoenix haven’t just slipped, they’ve imploded.
******
BUT FIRST, Ladies and Gentlemen…
ROTTEN ZINC – THE AWARD FOR WORST MODEL OF 2015
This doesn’t cover un-scored garbage models like the Phoenix Asiana A333 but the worst scored model.
This model scored new lows. Not only for the chronically bad new mould for its wings – that one commentator described as, “they look like they’re melting”, and they reminded me of a set of First World War trenches.
It suffered a horrible set of quality issues across the board and I don’t think I ever had so many private messages and public comments telling me that this seemed to be universal. It’s not often I hear “everything, and I mean everything that’s wrong with yours is wrong with mine“, in one way or another, so many times.
This years ROTTEN ZINC award goes to the Phoenix model of Thomson 738 with split scimitars, G-FDZE, a model so awful I felt somebody was playing a joke on all of us. This was particularly painful for us Brits, it’s a much loved UK brand, soon to vanish as Tui expunge it, all that did was make things worse.
You really have to ask what sort of dimwit sits in a room and signs these things off? On what planet was this sort of mould ever going to be acceptable? Can you imagine they spent around $25k US on developing a new set of wings this bad? The annoying thing is the s/s part is really good, it’s the wing panels that defy belief. Maybe they made them that way knowing they would fill them with gallons of gloss shiny paint as usual, and we might not notice? Add to that almost every quality production fail on the sin list and it was one dog of a model.
******
And secondly, Ladies and Gentlemen……
THE THANK GOD AWARD
FOR SOMEBODY DARING TO MAKE A MODEL NOBODY ELSE WOULD
No question this has to go to Phoenix. It may not have been the best mould, it certainly wasn’t the right colours, it didn’t have a very high score at 65%. It has rock solid used values, you can’t find one for love nor money most of the time, and it’s one of my favourites despite it’s faults.
The La Compagnie 757-200 F-HTAG – unexpected but gratefully received. If only they’d have done the IcelandAir Aurora livery too…
As lawyers start to descend in China on un-liscenced, unapproved manufacturing in general, a trend JC Wings and Phoenix suffered with the Star Wars 789, and may well have suffered again since on another new model, such releases may become rarer than they are already.
Now in case you didn’t know, 4 new ones are still available here: F-HTAG
*******
AND NOW THE TOP TEN IN ASCENDING ORDER FOR……
THE 1400REVIEWS.COM
MODEL OF THE YEAR 2015
Based on their review the top ten are:
10) JC Wings Tui 738 split scimitars D-ATUJ Troppifrutti Livery
9) Gemini Jets Alitalia A332 I-EJGA (new livery)
8) Velocity jetBlue A320
7) Phoenix KLM 787-9 PH-BHA
6) Gemini Jets American Airlines 757-200 N185AN
5) Phoenix Cargolux 748F LX-VCJ
4) Gemini Jets British Airways A320 G-EUYV (first with sharklets)
3) Gemini Jets Fedex 767-300F N102FE
2) Gemini Jets American Airlines 777-200 OneWorld N796AN
FINALLY THE WINNER IS…
There has been almost no question in my mind that the winner would be this model. It’s exceptionally rare to see something this perfectly put together, so beautifully printed, painted, so accurate. It isn’t a new mould, it even has a cradle wing system, and in a year of declining 744 numbers it seems somewhat fitting. The so called Queen of The Skies is waining fast, but this, as many of you will have guessed it, is hands down the best model of the year.
Why? Who knows. Was it an Etihad corporate model? They are exceptionally demanding, and rightly so. Whatever reason drove Gemini to create this stunning high quality item, they have now given themselves a benchmark by which they will always be judged. Every model, every variant will have to hold this up as it’s target to reach.
I frankly admit that when I see something so exquisite – a word I never thought I’d use on a Gemini model, ever, I feel a thrill of excitement. Quality, exceptionalism, striving to be the best, to acquire the best, to know someone knew they were making the best for someone who would appreciate it; that I admire.
Accident? Maybe. Perhaps Gemini had no intention of getting it this right and it just happened. I’d like to think the world is not so cynical.
Whatever brought it about, I give you the much deserved winner this year:
1) Gemini Jets Etihad Cargo 747-400F N476MC
The original review can be found HERE
And that concludes 2015. It’s been a massive year of learning, of some serious challenges that had to be overcome. 1400Reviews.com is here because I believe in better. More than that, it’s here because you read it, follow it, support it. Most, quietly and behind the scenes. I get dozens of direct messages on twitter, private messages through Facebook and by email, every week. I appreciate them all, I try to answer all of them inside three days, usually quicker. ALL I CAN SAY IS THANK YOU, FOR FOLLOWING, FOR URGING ME TO CARRY ON, it’s your private and open support that makes it worth while. Have a great 2016. Tomorrow, we’ll look at who read what and I’ll tell you some of the behind the scenes stuff that goes on….Have a Great New Year and here’s to better quality in 2016!
