The Beginning - 1/500

My collection all began in 2003 when I stumbled across an eBay listing for a Herpa Wings 1/500 United (battleship Gray) Boeing 777-200.  This was the OG or old generation model from Herpa Wings which had the fat tires and plastic landing gear.  Having never seen any sort of model like this,  I was fascinated at the detail in such a small model, and it was made of metal!  In my mind, these were the Dyna Flights for grownups!  I became hooked, and collected well over a hundred or so in a couple of years..

Moving on to 1/400

The momentum in the 1/500 scale began fading when they seemed to be more like toys rather than models.  I disliked the tractor like tires and moulding flaws on 737's.  I was beginning to learn to better identify jet liners, bringing out the nit-picky collector in me...  I kept hearing about Gemini Jets and how they were far more detailed.  The price was probably 1/3 more than what i paid for 1/500 models.  I hated ditching the 1/500 effort that I had spent so much money on and had well over a hundred models.  But I wanted a detailed model, and 1/400 was the way to go.  I bought a Gemini Jets 1/400 American Airlines Boeing 777-200.  It was much larger with far better detail.  I was impressed.  Bye bye 1/500, hello 1/400.  this larger scale was a vast world of airplanes.  Airliners, from the past, present and future. Regional aircraft made a presence in 1/400, which I had the pleasure to see the prototypes in the Gemini Jets Las Vegas Headquarters.  Military aircraft were released with the name Gemini Macs including C-130's, C-17's C-5's and Super VC-10's.  There was even dramatic events within the forums of 1/200 collectors -  the flame wars between manufacturers,  the good, the bad, the ugly critics from collectors, it was all here, and continues to grow today! 

1/72 Diecast Military Never Looked Better

In 2008. I came across a 1/72 diecast model manufacturer called Hobby Master who released a 1/72 Blue Angels A-4E Skyhawk.  That hit a soft spot and remembering those childhood days at the NAS Pt Mugu airshows, brought me to the conclusion:  " I must have one".  And so I did.  The quality of this model was outstanding!  They were as well made as the plastic models I used to build.  This led to the discovery of Century Wings who, without question makes the best 1/72 F-14 Tomcat.  It blew my mind how well these mass produced, metal models were built.  Inked panel lines, and great quality printing on the models.  It was like building models again, only I didn't have to build them!  1/72 military diecast now became the second criteria in my model airplane collection.

The Latest and Greatest - 1/200

When Gemini Jets released its first 1/200 scale model, the quality of diecast airliners took another step forward with spinning fan blades, and antennas.  The edges were more crisp, thinner trailing edges.  This made the 1/400 scale look like toys.  I lost interest in my 1/400 737's with their thick winglets.  For over a year, I fantasized about collecting 1/200 diecast models.  Every time I visited retailers websites, I would browse the Gemini Jets 1/200 section and up debating whether I should get that Continental 1/200 757-200...  Such a beautiful model with such an ugly price!  I was used to spending no more than $50 on a model airliner, especially a smaller narrowbody...  Somehow, the pictures werent enough for me to be convinced that I would decide to try this scale.  Those you-tube videos of collectors featuring their openings of various 1/200 Gemini Jets, really caught my attention.  The models being twice the size of 1/400 was appealing, and the details!  The details were something else.  It looked like the real thing only shrunken down to 1/200.  I was fascinated once again, and in the winter of 2010,  I had a second chance for the Southwest 737-700, which was the first 1/200 model released by Gemini Jets.  It was being re-released with another registration number.  Despite the challenges in finances, I went for the plunge, and spent the $60 or so dollars.  Having a 1/200 model brings collecting to a whole new level of collecting.  As for the smaller aircraft models like the 737's and A319's, it was time for transition to the 1/200. 

As of March of 2011 1/200

I received my second 1/200 model, a Southwest 737-700 in the old mustard rocket colors, an absolutely beautiful model! 

A Wing Man Joins 

My 9 year son informally collects 1/72 diecast military jets.  It all started in 2010 when he made claims that certain models were now "his" as he pointed to my 1/72 Century Wings F-14A with the Sundowners colors...  This was something i could not compromise with him....  That was my model...  He's gonna have to get his own....  Soon a compromise was made when he received his first actual model, a 1/72 Hobby Master A-4 in TOPGUN colors, marking his entry to the diecast collectors world, well sorta....  Later he acquired the Robin Olds F-4, which has become a jewel in our collection.  His latest additions include the  HM F-4J Vandy 1, the A-10 Peanut, and the Tyndall AFB F-22.  He hopes to acquire a Century Wings F-14, if the budget allows...  

As of April 2012 1/200

My Current Models include

1.  GJ 200:  Southwest 737-700 Mustard Rocket colors

2.  GJ 200:  Southwest 737-700 Canyon Blue

3.  Phoenix 200:  US Airways 737-400 ( Dark Blue 1990's colors)

4.  GJ 200:  Continental 757-200

5.  Jet-X 200:  Continental 727-200 (red Meatball colors)

6.  GJ 200:  American 767-300 with winglets

7.  GJ 200 Continental 737-800

8.  GJ 200 Continental 777-200

9.  GJ 200  Continental MD-80 (Red Meatball)

10.  JC Wings 200  Continental 777-200 Peter Max

11.  Herpa 200 Continental Vickers Viscount 800 Golden Jet colors

10.