Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to frequently asked questions about model aircraft.

1) How big are the models sold? CZ
It depends on the choice of model. The models are faithful copies of real aircraft, so it is necessary to take into account the same size ratio between the two machines as in the real world. Examples include the Airbus A380 and the Boeing 737-8. The Airbus A380 measures 72.72 m in the real world. To find out the size in 1/500 scale, just divide this figure by 500, we get 0.14544 m, i.e. 14.54 cm. That's how long the 1/500 scale model of the Airbus A380 is. For comparison, the Boeing 737-8 in the real world measures 39.47 m. In the 1/500 model world, the model will therefore be 7.89 cm long.

2) Which scale of model airplanes is best? CZ
It depends on what features of the model you prefer. If you want the smallest possible model of the given aircraft, the best scale for you is 1/500. The Airbus A380 model in this scale measures 14.54 cm in length. Small comparison of manufacturers in 1/500 scale:

Herpa Wings 500 - almost a monopoly for this scale, higher price, quality and details improve with model size, extra wide range of both brand new and retro models
Hogan Wings 500 - small offer so far, OK quality, lower price
JC Wings 500 - very high quality, higher price, very small supply
If you want a slightly larger model, the 1/400 scale is more suitable for you. The Airbus A380 measures 18.18 cm in this scale. In both of these sizes, the models are primarily metal. Here is a small comparison of manufacturers on this scale:

Herpa Wings 400 - very detailed, relatively narrow range of models, good price/quality ratio
GeminiJets - the largest range of models, many variants and individual models, very detailed, slightly higher price redeemed by the first-class quality of each model
If The largest scale that is commonly available is the 1/200 scale. The Airbus A380 model in this scale measures 36.36 cm. Models of this size are therefore more suitable for standing on a stand than displayed in a side-by-side formation. Models in this size are already mostly plastic, for demanding customers there are metal models in a large scale of 1/200. The 1/200 scale models could be sorted by quality as follows:

Herpa SnapFit (economy models, plastic, few details, no chassis)
Hogan Wings and SkyMarks (better plastic, more details, chassis replaceable (with or without), good price/quality ratio)
Herpa Wings plastic (high quality, many details, solid chassis, high quality plastic)
Herpa Wings metal, GeminiJets, JC Wings (most detailed possible, first class quality, fixed or retractable landing gear, wooden/metal stand), in short the best possible 1/200 scale models. It can be argued between these three brands which one is really the best. It's more about the specific type of aircraft for the selected model (e.g. GeminiJets are the best 747)
My personal favorite from each brand: JC Wings KLM 777 Orange Pride, Herpa Transaero Tiger 747 and GeminiJets Northwest 747 Chrome.

3) Are the models suitable for children? CZ
Models, especially in 1/500 and 1/400 scale, contain very small and fragile parts such as landing gear, engines, winglets or antennas. These parts can be damaged quite easily. The model is also equipped with sharp wings and other sharp edges due to the shape of the real plane, so there could be injuries if the model is handled carelessly.

4) How do pre-orders work?
You order a model that is in the form of a pre-order, which means that even we, as sellers, do not have it physically yet. By pre-ordering (which is essentially a reservation), you are guaranteed to receive the model. It often happens that the model is already completely sold out after stocking, and we no longer have any models left for customers who did not reserve it in advance. The specific time from booking to delivery to the customer varies greatly between model manufacturers, the most reliable company in this regard is Gemini Jets/JC Wings. On the contrary, Herpa most often extends the deadline.

5) In stock at the supplier
The model that is in stock at the supplier, it is not known that it will be delivered in all cases. It may happen that on a given day the model is sold out at the supplier without us having time to register it and thus modify the product. We will always try to find a suitable alternative for your model. Thank you for your understanding.