We’ve had a Phoenix 788 in the new livery, and as part of my collection rationalisation, the entire old livery collection (bar one Witty 788, too amazing to sell), is being sold off. There will then only be three types kept, the 773ER, A330, and the 788. Anything else is superfluous.
This one is odd, in that it’s not even been painted into the new livery yet, though it almost certainly will be. Delivered in 2000 this will be her third livery set, having donned the old black and white, then the ice blue.
Aeroclassics are an odd bunch, they seem to have a very strange mindset, and colour isn’t aways their strong suit.
Even though they are averse to the expense of putting aerials into their moulds, as I’ve often said, they don’t bother me as they’re just a fault-in-waiting in my view, (I know that’s a bit cynical, but please, how many reviews have I written?).
The AC mould for the A330 is still, overall, the best, and after the success of last years A343 Swiss livery, I though I’d give this a go. Honestly I’m not disappointed.
Air Canada only have eight A330’s and they’re all getting on in years, I suspect AC heard that C-GFAF had been in for a major internal refit, and expected the new paint scheme to be part of it, except it wasn’t! The internal layout was remodelled, cutting business class by 10, to 27, and installing 21 Premium Economy, along with an additional 16 Economy seats giving 244 (294 total).
1.Fuselage
It’s a superb mould, and the print quality is exceptional, as is the paint. Rich with detail and precision, there’s nothing in terms of quality to complain about. Aeroclassics have certainly got this down to a fine art on this model at least.
2.Wings and landing gear.
Unlike JC Wings and their flappy winged versions of the A330’s, these are correctly positioned and superbly accurate, very high quality mould, fit and finish. In fact the seamlessness of the mould is first-rate, quite extraordinary it its quality.
Landing gear is some of the best I’ve seen on an A330 by AC. Solid, reliable, great tyres, on wheels, and not inclined to fall to pieces. They could do with applying some these principles to the A319/20/21 moulds.
3.Engines
The nacelles and exhausts are fine, the face-on rims are very good. What sucks is the silver fans, and the fact the silver has mixed with the black on the inner rims. This is one little bit of quality AC seem to find hard to deal with.
4.Nose detail
Excellent, all the way to the very well done Batman mask and cockpit windows. Even the StarAlliance logo looks the business.
5.Tail detail
Superbly put together and painted. And something that makes it quite superior to the Phoenix 788 – the red on the tail is actually correct! yes, ladies and gentlemen I think for the first time ever for me, Aeroclassics has got the colour right!
6.Colours
Black that’s actually black, white that’s white, and a nice visible, accurate looking red. Well done AC. Admittedly the easiest colours on earth to get right, but this is Aeroclassics, so it could have been mauve, cream and orange, but it’s not! It’s definitely better that what Phoenix managed on the 788.
7.Score and conclusions
- -4 for those inner rims
- -6 for the horrible silver fans. Show me the A330 with bright silver fans in real life, go on, I dare you!
90% because except for the engine failings, this is a really nice model. Just don’t stare down those intakes, or your corneas will burn out.
