TriStarCollector
08-30-2008, 02:16 PM
I have been to Amsterdam last week and picked up one of GeminiJets' latest 1/200 releases, the Boeing 757-200 of Eastern Airlines, at the famous Luchtvaart Hobby Shop (a.k.a. Aviation Mega Store).
First of all: the model looks sharp and great! The original Eastern Airlines livery is stunning and always a pleasure to look at. Besides the L-1011 I have a certain liaison to the 757, so the Eastern release definitely was a 'must have'. Apart from that I was interested in the actual quality of Gemini's 1/200 heavy-metal 757 since earlier reviews had been more than just positive.
My personal point of view: great detail concerning mould and paint; a lot of real antennas and printed structures. Unfortunately, I had to open eight (!) boxes until I found an example with only minor quality deficits. Problem was that the polished metal fuselage always had several scratches. One model had a scratch right through the '757' tail title, another had irregular paint on one of the main landing gear hatches.
Sounds like quality issues all the way? You are right. The paint and quality control seems to be a certain problem but, all in all, this is a very nice piece of aviation history and definitely a great item to collect - if you can find one with only few and minor quality deficits.
Will edit pictures tomorrow.
First of all: the model looks sharp and great! The original Eastern Airlines livery is stunning and always a pleasure to look at. Besides the L-1011 I have a certain liaison to the 757, so the Eastern release definitely was a 'must have'. Apart from that I was interested in the actual quality of Gemini's 1/200 heavy-metal 757 since earlier reviews had been more than just positive.
My personal point of view: great detail concerning mould and paint; a lot of real antennas and printed structures. Unfortunately, I had to open eight (!) boxes until I found an example with only minor quality deficits. Problem was that the polished metal fuselage always had several scratches. One model had a scratch right through the '757' tail title, another had irregular paint on one of the main landing gear hatches.
Sounds like quality issues all the way? You are right. The paint and quality control seems to be a certain problem but, all in all, this is a very nice piece of aviation history and definitely a great item to collect - if you can find one with only few and minor quality deficits.
Will edit pictures tomorrow.