Herpa or Gemini Jets?

AerLingus · 08-27-2010, 10:04 AM

Hi Guys
I'm new here to the Wings900 community as I'm new to the aircraft collecting hobby. I took up the hobby just a while ago but I have not bought any aircraft yet as I have decided to create a model airport to build on. I would rather have a foil model airport instead of a home made one as I am a newbie and I'm not really sure of what I am dealing with when I build my own.
Because I'm new, I can choose whichever scale I like, however, due to its big and bulky size, 1:200 is out! I have given myself the choice of 1:500 & 1:400, the two main competitors being Herpa and Gemini Jets.
I don't have a great issue with cost, but it would be easier for me to build up my airport with a cheaper option - again though, I wont rule anything out unless the price is absolutelty absurd!
I think the Herpa set has more value for money, but apparently the Gemini Jets set has more detail and the terminal also comes complete with lights - just how easy would it be to fit my own lights on the Herpa set!
So my question is, Herpa (1:500) or Gemini Jets (1:400)?!

Thanks!

AerLingus

n777co · 08-27-2010, 10:23 AM

Ok it's kind of a though thing to sort out. Yes 1:500 is going to be less money for each plane that 1:400. 1:400 does have some more detail than the other because it is 100 times bigger. Personally speaking (cause i collect it) I like the 1:400s more than the others. Its much more available for me to get here in chicago. The herpa terminals a very bland they are almost just a box with windows on it. You could add your own light but i have a feeling it will be a lot harder that you think. The gemini's are more detailed and they do have lights but some draw backs from both is that they are not hugely costomisable. Both herpa and Gemini are going to cost you a pretty penny but they both could work. You ultimately have to make the choice on what you are going to get.

AerLingus · 08-27-2010, 11:58 AM

Okay thanks for your advice.
Edit: No, I think I'll go with the Gemini Jets set! It looks great!
Thanks

AerLingus

cameron.g.coll · 08-28-2010, 04:27 PM

Yes I think that the Gemini 400 is a very popular scale and that many people are using it. It might be more exapensive then the companies but if you think about the more popular the company the more likely you are to find the parts or accessories for that plane or airport model.

LOT 737-300 · 08-29-2010, 01:34 PM

When choosing a scale, a lot of things to consider. I personally collect both 1:500 and 1:400, but lately have been siding more with 1:400 because the prices for 1:500 (which is mostly dominated by herpa) are insane. 5 Years ago, one could have gotten a NG 737 model for, let's say 17 bucks, now that same model could run up to 25 bucks! Many models of similar type go for around that exact price in 1:400, at lest from Gemini. Also, the amount of detail that herpa puts on the aircraft have not changed since like, 2000. By now, everyone and their grandma has more printed detail. Even then, InFlight 500 and Aero500, which are the 2 other manufactures still active in the scale make great models, and are still priced typically within the range of sanity (at least in the US.)

1:400 also has a larger choice of manufactures, with the most best known one being Gemini (though watch out on some releases from the past 2 years, some of those coming from the Phoenix factory had been highly variable in quality, seen it a few times in threads here, personally experienced it myself. This is like the model railroad hobby. Bachmann is the best known in the US for HO and N Scales, but just because they're huge doesn't make them the best, I'd much prefer other examples to theirs if I could.) But you still have Phoenix themselves (who despite screwing up a few models for GJ, tend to make great models under their own brand), Aeroclassics, which makes some very good models of yesteryear (but also does the A32X family now, which I understand is a very good model), JetX who in the beginning used the great Dragon Wings moulds, but started to use a new set of moulds (which were far from great at first, but have improved in quality from what I understand), Dragon Wings, which I consider 2nd largest to Gemini, AV400, who uses the old BB400 moulds (and consequently, those moulds (747 and 767) were also used by Aeroclassics before they switched factories), and quite a few more here and there.

Personally, I wouldn't worry about buying the overpriced plastic lumps from GJ or herpa. I just don't feel too much of a reward coming from that. Custom building may be the slower process, but I feel it does come with the largest reward (as well as some well left over cash.)

FrenchWings06 · 08-29-2010, 01:42 PM

Amen..
When it comes to HO scale, no one, I mean NO ONE can touch Maarklin!!!!
I have a LOT of Maarklin Z gauge and plan on making a real layout.
The details are incredible and even though they are made in China now, I did not really seen any decrease in detail and reliability..
But even here prices for Maarklin has jump quite a bit!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by LOT 737-300

When choosing a scale, a lot of things to consider. I personally collect both 1:500 and 1:400, but lately have been siding more with 1:400 because the prices for 1:500 (which is mostly dominated by herpa) are insane. 5 Years ago, one could have gotten a NG 737 model for, let's say 17 bucks, now that same model could run up to 25 bucks! Many models of similar type go for around that exact price in 1:400, at lest from Gemini. Also, the amount of detail that herpa puts on the aircraft have not changed since like, 2000. By now, everyone and their grandma has more printed detail. Even then, InFlight 500 and Aero500, which are the 2 other manufactures still active in the scale make great models, and are still priced typically within the range of sanity (at least in the US.)

1:400 also has a larger choice of manufactures, with the most best known one being Gemini (though watch out on some releases from the past 2 years, some of those coming from the Phoenix factory had been highly variable in quality, seen it a few times in threads here, personally experienced it myself. This is like the model railroad hobby. Bachmann is the best known in the US for HO and N Scales, but just because they're huge doesn't make them the best, I'd much prefer other examples to theirs if I could.) But you still have Phoenix themselves (who despite screwing up a few models for GJ, tend to make great models under their own brand), Aeroclassics, which makes some very good models of yesteryear (but also does the A32X family now, which I understand is a very good model), JetX who in the beginning used the great Dragon Wings moulds, but started to use a new set of moulds (which were far from great at first, but have improved in quality from what I understand), Dragon Wings, which I consider 2nd largest to Gemini, AV400, who uses the old BB400 moulds (and consequently, those moulds (747 and 767) were also used by Aeroclassics before they switched factories), and quite a few more here and there.

Personally, I wouldn't worry about buying the overpriced plastic lumps from GJ or herpa. I just don't feel too much of a reward coming from that. Custom building may be the slower process, but I feel it does come with the largest reward (as well as some well left over cash.)

LOT 737-300 · 08-29-2010, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrenchWings06

Amen..
When it comes to HO scale, no one, I mean NO ONE can touch Maarklin!!!!
I have a LOT of Maarklin Z gauge and plan on making a real layout.
The details are incredible and even though they are made in China now, I did not really seen any decrease in detail and reliability..
But even here prices for Maarklin has jump quite a bit!!

Have to agree, Märklin do make some crazy beautiful models, I guess it has to do with the Euro to USD exchange rate I suppose, as I guess they're sold to distributors in Euro. To be honest, the rail hobby has been rather lucky when it comes to Chinese production (as a good portion of the stuff has come from China in the past 20 years). I mean, Atlas Geeps run as smoothly as if the track was covered in Vaseline, and you pushed it down the tracks, and even though I talked a bit badly about Bachmann in my post above, truth is, they're getting better! I hear their new 44 Tonner is a must have for many railroad modelers (not to mention, they also make a fairly decent 4-4-0 as well.) Another thing that shows they're serious is that they're phasing out them Rapido couplers and equipping them with knuckle couplers as a default (which is good, as Knuckle couplers have become more popular with railroad modelers in the US over the years anyways, and they do have a more realistic look.)

AnonCollector · 08-30-2010, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by n777co

1:400 does have some more detail than the other because it is 100 times bigger.

You might want to check your math there.

FrenchWings06 · 08-30-2010, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LOT 737-300

Have to agree, Märklin do make some crazy beautiful models, I guess it has to do with the Euro to USD exchange rate I suppose, as I guess they're sold to distributors in Euro. To be honest, the rail hobby has been rather lucky when it comes to Chinese production (as a good portion of the stuff has come from China in the past 20 years). I mean, Atlas Geeps run as smoothly as if the track was covered in Vaseline, and you pushed it down the tracks, and even though I talked a bit badly about Bachmann in my post above, truth is, they're getting better! I hear their new 44 Tonner is a must have for many railroad modelers (not to mention, they also make a fairly decent 4-4-0 as well.) Another thing that shows they're serious is that they're phasing out them Rapido couplers and equipping them with knuckle couplers as a default (which is good, as Knuckle couplers have become more popular with railroad modelers in the US over the years anyways, and they do have a more realistic look.)

I used to work for a Train store so I know..
Marklin has and had some INSANE digital models!!
The Union Pacific "Big Boy" is one of them!!

I mean one controller for like 50 trains!!
The Digital works also for Z gauge, but because most people only display that scale, it never went into production....