Introduction

Manufacturer: Inflight200
Scale: 1/200
Airline: British Airways
Type: A350-1000
Registration: G-XWBA
Item No: B-351-BA-01
Price:$139.95
Release Date: January 2020
Limited Edition: 120 Pieces
Supplier: DiecastAirpline.com

When I flew to Toronto in March 2020, I fell in love with the British Airways A350-1000, I had a wonderful flight and really enjoyed the refreshed cabin and service onboard.

When I returned back to blighty I knew I wanted a 1/200 scale model of the aircraft I flew G-XWBA. I was continually disappointed by the Gemini offering and just could not connect with it. I trawled the internet for many hours looking for a solution and finally came across a site in America selling a British Airways A350 from Inflight200.. The other alternative at the time was to get the Skymarks version, but when I had set a goal to mover away from plastic and resin models, it would have been a step or two backwards.

It is no secret I have long admired the work of Inflight200 and I was overjoyed to find a model showing the frame I had flown. It is unusual for Inflight200 to release BA branded models under their own patent, they are usually sold through London based model supplier Aviation Retail Direct with ARD branding and model codes.

Either way, mine was not to reason why, I immediately put in an order and a week later she arrived.

The Package and First Impressions

Inflight200 boxes have two distinct styles, this model featured the more minimalist style artwork. This is no bad thing, the boxes are very simple and elegant. All Inflight200 models are presented within a white box that is covered by a decorated sleeve. Within this is the foam insert, protecting ship beautiful from the harsh reality of the outside world.

In the box, was one beautiful aeroplane, a stand, and magnetic attachments to have the landing gear either up or down. My preference is for gear down, I find with the gear up, my models look like something is missing. There is no collectors card with this model, though on the two latest commissions for ARD detailing G-XWBD and G-XWBH have a collectors coin this seems to be the direction Inflight200 is moving in with their latest releases away from the conventional card.

Infligt200 stands are beautiful and sturdy, made from metal, they are a dark grey colour, with a bright polished plaque on the front, showing the airline, aircraft and scale. JC Wings have started painting these details onto the stands, Gemini can barely be persuaded to provide an attractive stand.

Already I was in love, that was before I had even inspected the model.

 

25/25

Mould

At a first glace, it is clear to me that the model is a faithful representation of the airliner.  The A350-1000 is without doubt a striking aircraft, with futuristic looks. The big engines, graceful winglets and long landing gear. The nose is unusual in that it tapers to a very acute point. Giving the Airbus a look that screams, get out the way peasants.

I have previously reviewed a 1/400 scale A350 on this site and true to form neither nose shape looks perfect. I am torn, from the sides it does look good and faithful, however from the front I am not so convinced, it seems a bit stubby and short. However when comparing a photo of the real aircraft and the model side by side, it is only a very slight mismatch. I deduct 1 point.

I have included a photo of the model below, which can be compared directly to the real aeroplane above from as similar angle as I can manage. It is clear to see the slightly strange shaped nose.

The main body appears suitably proportioned, with the gentle curve under the tail fin adding to the graceful lines.

The wings are nicely modelled, with pronounced detail on the top and bottom surfaces. The flaps spoilers and aileron tabs are nicely etched out. I do however feel the wingbox root is lacking detail, the wing leading edge continues into the root in a straight line and this has been misaligned and the actual wingbox itself is lacking definition I deduct 1 point.

One thing that does seem odd to my is the winglets. A couple of years back Airbus started fitting a slightly different shape winglet to the A350-900 variant. The A350-1000 would however keep the original variant of the winglets. The winglets on this model, do not seem to represent either version but a sort of frankenwinglet, that combines them both. The convex curve on the trailing edge is barely noticeable, there is a photo below, to show the odd shape, 3 points taken.

The aircraft has jewel lights for the upper and lower bacon as well as the taxi light, the wing lights, navigation and runway turnoff lights are painted onto the model.

Five aerials three up and two down are modelled as well as the WiFI box at the rear of fuselage, this is something I would expect to see on a model in this scale, without any questions asked.

The landing gear, is nicely detailed, though nothing special either. All wheels are round and run smoothly, though due the magnetic attachments, I do not recommend running this model on its wheels. Each wheel has tread on the tyre, which is a tiny but artful detail. The main wheels are on an articulated bogie, so can be position as you wish. There is sufficient shape in the attachment legs to look realistic. I am taking a point away as the landing gear doors on the belly, are not clean etched lines they are rather fuzzy, some of the supporting legs for the gear have thick paint clinging to them too.

The engines are accurate and nicely rounded. They do not have a lot of fine detail but do have spinning fan blades and beautifully clean rims with no paint bleed.

 

20/25

 

Detail and Paint

The British Airways livery is very simple but elegant on most types of aircraft. The white body with a blue belly and the red and blue flag on the tail.

The beauty in any model is usually in the colours. I like the livery to be applied and look sharp, clean and bright. In this case the white gloss layer, is bright and smooth as I would expect. The blue underside is suitably dark with true to life matt finish. I do however think the belly line is a little bit too low, it should be in line with the wing root and leading edge, but it sits a couple of millimetres below that line. I think this is more to do with the shape of the wing box, which would make it very difficult to be absolutely accurate in this area, I am still taking 2 points away though.

I am also taking 1 point away for paint bleed between the blue base line and the white body paint. It is not a problem that effects the entire model, just little bits here and there.

The red detail is nice and vibrant around both the speedmarque and the tail. I was also pleased to see the subtle light and dark textures in the tail art have been reproduced. The idea is that the tail looks like a flag blowing in the wind. It is very subtle but the detail is definitely there.

There is plenty of fine detail, around the doors for example which have the handles and text printed on and the tiny Oneworld stickers that are at the side of 1L and 2L door used for boarding. There is also nicely detailed pitot tubes and sensors around the cockpit. The underside however has very bland with very little detailing and none of the access panels and markings including. Whilst it is unlikely to be an issue in real terms, as it takes away from the true to life feel I deduct 1 point.

One thing that has always struck me on the A350 is how pronounced the wingbox markings are, the model faithfully recreates this but there is no other significant detail. I am pleased to see however that Inflight200 have been kind enough to paint the winglets. I love the winglets on the A350, it was rather rude of Gemini to not bother on their variant of this model.

22/25

 

 Conclusion

I love this model, without any hesitation I can say it is without a doubt one of the flagship in my collection. The mould is stunning, the livery and detailing beautifully applied. What does let the art down is the lack of fine detail around the nose and wingbox. As well as the little bits of paint bleed that the belly transition suffers from.

I have to take points away from things that are not quite right, but I would recommend this model to anyone without hesitation.

I also have the recent ARD/Inflight200 release of G-XWBD, if you are considering this model and the recently announced G-XWBG, you will not be disappointed by any of the three in the set.

As a package this model really does have it all.

Final Score – 68/75