Hello everyone,
It has been quite some time without news from me, it does often happen when I am focused on the work that require the current projects and the final preparations of the several new items that already have a release date. I plan to release the following items on the 20th of December.
In 1/200 scale:
- Marshaller set A figure set.
- Marshaller set B figure set.
- Ramp operations set A figure set.
- Wasp LD3/AKE dolly set.
- D10 AAK dolly set.
- LD3 Containers.
- AAK Containers.
- Airport barrier set A.
- Three step ladder.
- LD3/AKE airline decals.
- AAK airline decals.
- Cargo loader Commander FMC15i
- Stairs truck TLD ABS1740.
In 1/144 scale:
- Marshaller set A figure set.
- Marshaller set B figure set.
- Ramp operations set A figure set.
- Wasp LD3/AKE dolly set.
- D10 AAK dolly set.
- LD3 Containers.
- AAK Containers (also, a narrower version for 737 open models).
- Chocks – new version with rope handle 3D printed on the chock.
- Airport barrier set A.
- Three step ladder.
- LD3/AKE airline decals.
- AAK airline decals.
- Cargo loader Commander FMC15i
- Stairs truck TLD ABS1740.
- GSE Vehicle decals (airline / handlers).
In 1/72 scale:
- Marshaller set A figure set.
- Marshaller set B figure set.
- Ramp operations set A figure set.
- D10 AAK dolly set.
- AAK Containers.
- Airport barrier set A.
- Three step ladder.
- AAK airline decals.
- Airplane seats from the 50’s
Items to revise:
There is also the plan to restock several of the items that are currently out of stock and a revision of some others.
Items to be revised (production process change) are the A320 winglets and the A350 sharklets. There will be a new item of the same category; the 737 split scimitars in 1/144 that is already in the 1/72 catalogue (restock needed) . To improve production there will also be new molds made for the 737 towbars in 1/144 and 1/72 expecting to make an 1/200 version soon. The towbar workers figure set may undergo a slight modification just for file management as now things are done differently than when I made those sets.
Change of satcom radomes:
Over time I received several emails asking me which satcom radome fits a certain airplane/airline. I am going to do a major change in which I will list the airplane model (A320, B777 etc) and then list available radomes indicating the airline rather than writing the name of the satcom and adding a list of various airplane types/airlines. Hopefully this will make things more straight forward by first selecting which aircraft is the one requiring the radome.
Satcoms will now be designed in 1/72 scale first, allowing me to add as much detail as possible and let the technology of the printers to port those details down to the 1/200 scale, which is also another reason for me remodeling them, the inclusion of this scale in the catalogue.
I am making the radomes with real world references, nothing is “eye guess” hence I am committed to the accuracy in shape and size of each single radome. So far two A320/A321 satcom radomes have been designed, in particular United and Delta, which subsequently are also used for several other airlines including different fuselages, as it happens, the same radome type may be used on a 737 and an A330, but the fuselages are very different.
For this particular reason I made mock-up fuselage sections in 1/144 and 1/200 scale for product displaying and for me, to have as reference each fuselage diameter in the design process. 1/72 fuselage sections are also ready, but the printing of these will take a bit more time.
I will try to cover as many airplanes as possible, so I have the goal to make most if not all satcom radomes on all models, including some I have not listed yet, like the Embraer ERJ 190 models.
Changes at the shop:
A new drop down menu will be incorporated as well as a change in thumbnails will be performed. New packaging type is also to be used in new products, other products currently in the catalogue will also benefit from the new package although this is currently a transitional process.
Changes in the guidelines:
I will revise some guidelines at my webshop since I have had several cases where people asked me for products that, after being produced, were not purchased. I am also going to rewrite the shipping list (still with the impossibility to ship to the US).
Continuation of the next projects; B787 and B747:
My next objective is to keep progressing forward with the GSE models I started quite some time ago (AST-1F 600 and the catering truck) as well as the B787. I will dedicate a new entry to comment on how are things at the moment but the project is a reality and currently several molds are to be made, being the most critical ones already completed (fuselages). The 3D design of the new 747 will also begin shortly, making the basic fuselage for the -400/-400F and in parallel, the 747-8F. The 747-400 initially is to be a full kit with interior and possibly making the converted freighters. Both the -400F and 8F will have the main deck with the side door and nose door open, cargo holds will also be made for the -400 and 8F variants, the 8F will require a donor kit for wings, engines, horizontal stabilizers/tail and landing gear, though I am considering making this a full kit to avoid headaches of matching Revell/Zvezda wing attachments and avoid dependency on those manufacturer models availability, though if that is the case, a lot of effort shall be added to keep a very high standard of quality. The former model that was designed will sadly be discarded as I am approaching this project a bit differently, however, a great deal was learned from it and this is experience that I am applying on this new project.
Livery decals:
The livery decals will return early next year. There will be a major improvement and that is the new detail sets silk screen printed that I commissioned to be printed and that I already have for the A320/A321 (CEO/NEO) and the A350-900/1000.
These silk screen sets will be accompanied by the laser livery with high quality decal paper although I am still considering selling the detail sets separately as well. Some of the liveries that were designed in the past will return while some others will remain discontinued. It is my objective to silk screen certain liveries and more detail sets in the future, though this will be a learning curve that will take me some time and the detail sets that will be available in the near future will be limited to the current units I have.
My finished example model of the FMC15i Cargo loader:
It has been months of a lot of work, having to multiply things by 3 in order to cover different scales for most items, however, I am glad to share the example model I completed for the cargo loader Commander FMC15i, with platform and bridge completely adjustable. In the photos below I am also featuring the new products (containers and dollies) while I will also restock the “cargo loader figure set” by the time of the release the 20th this month.
There are still a few things that have to be done before the 20th like uploading the remaining videos on the printing supports removal. I will be publishing another update before the release date.
Thank you very much, everybody.
Best wishes,
Guillem