Versus Series Vol. 13: British Airways 747-400 Big Bird vs. GeminiJets
- Jorge A. Zajia
- Apr 13
- 9 min read
What better way to rekindle the Versus Series than by comparing two models of an aircraft/livery combo that could probably win the first place as the most popular holy grail among collectors worldwide?
I am talking about the British Airways 747-400 in the Landor colors, and the only two models of it that have been released, wearing the basic version of the livery, in 1:400 scale.
Airline liveries of the 1990s were characterized by projecting a formal business image. Shades of grey, dark blues, and sharp angles were not uncommon. Gone were the days of the thick cheatlines and colorful designs of the seventies and eighties. Admittedly, liveries of the 1990s owe a lot of their credit to the nostalgia factor, as many were not particularly striking.
British Airways' Landor paint scheme was among the exceptions. It absolutely embraced the business-like aura of the 1990s. Yet, it was vibrant enough to maintain the eighties charm while hinting at the optimism that approached with the turn of the millennium. It was an undoubtedly striking livery. It looked its best on the then-brand-new 747-400, and a good chunk of humanity got to be delighted with it, as those were the years when British Airways' global route network peaked.
Needless to say, the models compared in this writing were for decades amongst the most sought-after pieces in 1:400 scale, until the prospect of modern alternatives began to appear on the horizon. One of them was cast using the GeminiJets' late 2000s mold, which was state-of-the-art for its time, and the other was cast in the oh-so-coveted Big Bird mold.
These models are so special to me that before comparing them, I want to share my personal experience on how I got them.
>>You may skip to the comparison by scrolling down until you start to see photos<<
2009 - Houston, Texas
After realizing that my teenage dream of becoming a rock star was not viable, I decided to reach back to my childhood obsession with airplanes. Maybe all those years of playing MS Flight Simulator could be put to good use? I found myself pursuing a career as a pilot (at the time, that felt even more far-fetched than becoming a rock star). During my childhood days, I had also come across Herpa 1:500 models, and suddenly I had the urge to start collecting again. A fitting hobby for someone going through flight school, I thought. I quickly found out that 1:500 scale had been largely replaced by 1:400, and so it all began.
During my first few years of 1:400 collecting, I focused on chasing all the Viasa models that I had missed out on. After I was done with that, I started to look for other models of high sentimental value to me. High on that list was a British Airways 747-400 in the Landor livery. Only a handful had been released, and only one wearing the basic version of the livery: G-BNLC in 2004 by Big Bird. When I started looking to buy one, I quickly realized that the hunt for all those Viasa models, however hard it had been, was just a warm-up.
2013 came around, and I still had not found an affordable 1:400 British Airways 747-400 in the Landor livery. At the time, I was also losing interest in collecting altogether, mainly because most of what I wanted fell under the "rare & sought after" category, and as a college student/primary flight instructor, I simply couldn't justify paying hundreds of dollars for airplane models that fit in the palm of my hand. I effectively got priced out of the hobby. But a lucky break came my way just before I went into a collecting hiatus, when GeminiJets released the second - and last, as of this writing - 1:400 British Airways 747-400 wearing the standard Landor colors, G-CIVI. I bought it new at MSRP and called it good, for a while at least. You see, I always kept wondering how Big Bird's "Masterpiece" would look up close, "in your hands."
2025 - Pearland, Texas
By 2019, I was starting to afford 1:400 models again, and so started the current chapter of my collecting journey. By then, GeminiJest's G-CIVI had become as rare as its Big Bird counterpart. However, the Big Bird example continued to be the most coveted of the two. Around this time, I had also learned that Big Bird's rendition, though a very good model, was not as stellar as its price would suggest. It's got a very questionable oversight (more on it later). But the very thing that made this model so expensive is the same thing that drove me to bite the bullet in the end and buy it: The oh-so-coveted Big Bird mold. It is a classic case of paying a premium mainly for perceived prestige.
In August 2025, a Big Bird G-BNLC came up on a Waffle Collection Sale. I have been known to complain about how Waffle Collection Sales are no longer what they used to be, and how real bargains can't be found in them anymore. However, had this model been a true bargain, I probably would not be writing this right now, as someone else would have snatched it the moment it got listed. At any rate, by this time, I had found a way to justify spending $100+ on toy airplanes, so I bought the model. I have to say that with inflation factored in, the price was fair; nonetheless, this model earns a solid first place as the most expensive piece in my 1:400 collection. No regrets - this time.
Okay, enough of me. Now that I have two of the most iconic models in 1:400 history (to date) in my hands, what do I have to say about them?
Let's see some photos first.
Contestant Number 1 | Contestant Number 2 |
Airline: British Airways | Airline: British Airways |
Aircraft: Boeing 747-436 | Aircraft: Boeing 747-436 |
Reg: G-BNLC "City of Cardiff" | Reg: G-CIVI "City of Gloucester" |
Brand: Big Bird | Brand: GeminiJets |
Scale: 1/400 | Scale: 1/400 |
Release Date: November 2004 | Release Date: September 2013 |
On to the verdict:
The short answer is that GeminiJets wins on the artwork, and Big Bird on the mold. But neither one does it by much. These are both very similar models.
Now, let's go with the not-so-short answer.
The mold
I maintain that a 100% accurate scaled-down replica of anything is nearly impossible to make, at least not without Wayne Szalinski's Shrinking Ray.
So, it comes down to how "good" the model looks, not how accurate it is, though they tend to go hand in hand.
Both molds are very similar, but I think Big Bird has an edge.
Both molds have, for practical purposes, an identical wing box cradle, but overall, the Big Bird model is easier on my eyes. I think Big Bird's nose is slightly too long, while Gemini's is sort of short, or tapers too abruptly, which makes it look pointier than it should. This is an oversimplification, of course, but while neither one is perfect, I like Big Bird's rendition better.
Another strong point of the Big Bird mold is how the upper deck's trailing edge blends with the roof of the main deck. The main deck hugs the aft end of the hump, a detail that I have only seen replicated this well by Dragon Wings. Keep in mind that I am writing this in 2026, and after having been up close and personal with several dozen 744 cast in the new darling mold (HX), I still maintain that nobody else has been able to match DW in some areas.
The GeminiJet's example is fitted with an early version of rolling landing gears, which incidentally gives the model slightly better-looking tire hubs. This is a definitive improvement over its Big Bird counterpart, but not enough to make it a significantly better model as a whole.
There is an obvious difference in the wing dihedral. Big Bird's seems exaggerated, while GJ's seems understated. I am wary of making opinions here, as wing dihedrals vary a lot depending on fuel load, so I am not sure which one is more realistic. I personally can do with either one of them.
The engine pylons definitely look better on the Big Bird offering. I seldom look into these details; my brain isn't wired that way, but since I was taking a closer look at these models, I picked up on the fact that the engines don't fit the pylons well on the GJ version. The aft section of the pylons extends beyond the exhaust, which is not accurate. However, I don't think this affects the general look of the model too much. After all, the bloody things are hidden under the wings.
Comparison of the two models with a real 747-400 fitted with RB211 engines:
Artwork
The artwork is where GeminiJets shines, but Big Bird also did a decent job - except for that one big mistake that I will elaborate on in just a bit. But because the artworks of the two models are so close, I personally give my vote to Big Bird due to its more eye-pleasing mold.
Gemini's colors look better; the red on the Speedwing is as vibrant as I remember it being on the real thing. On the Big Bird offering, the red looks rather opaque, but not enough to be a deal-breaker. Gemini also got the Landor font correct - this time (more on that later, as well). And this is where Big Bird's biggest offense lies:
Big Bird used British Airways' current font (Chatham Dockyard) instead of the Landor font. Both fonts are very similar, but they aren't quite identical. The devil is in the details - if you are having a hard time spotting the differences, start with the "W" 😉.
Big Bird's use of the wrong font is a serious offense. Admittedly, it took me a good while to learn about the difference between the fonts, but once I did, I couldn't unsee the mistake.
The font issue has always aggravated me. This is one of the most highly sought-after 1:400 models in the second-hand market, and it routinely commands top dollar. Yet, the livery has a glaring error. I guess scarcity and subject iconicity make a traditionally detail-oriented crowd suddenly become less preoccupied with accuracy. Either that, or undemanding, or blissfully ignorant, collectors outnumber the picky bunch usually found on forums and social media. Or maybe a little bit of both.
The font issue has always aggravated me. This is one of the most highly sought-after 1:400 models in the second-hand market, and it routinely commands top dollar. Yet, the livery has a glaring error...
I suppose it is only fair to note that GeminiJets - being licensed and all - committed the same offense when they released their Landor Concorde in 2006. This is seldom talked about; I presume this is due to the titles being so tiny on Concorde that no one can read them without a magnifying glass anyway. At any rate, GJ rectified their mistake on the 744 discussed here, so kudos to them.
The GeminiJet's example wears a few more printed details. It's got the lightning diverting strips on the radome, a revolutionary detail for the time, and the engine blades are painted in gunmetal grey, which is a nice touch. I also spot an APU intake on it. The Big Bird one has "no step" signs surrounding the overwing coroguard, but as far as I can tell, this is incorrect, thus nothing more than unnecessary overdetailing. On the other hand, GJ's overwing markings are spot on.
Wrapping up
I maintain that these are two of the most iconic 1:400 scale airplane models ever made. But I can see why the Big Bird one tends to always be the favorite, even though the GeminiJets version is, after everything is said and done, every bit as good, really. It might be because the artworks are so close that the Big Bird mold, being ever so slightly better-looking, gives the model an edge.
There's also that undeniable romance surrounding those Big Bird and Aeroclassics 747s from the golden young years of 1:400 scale, which have always been so hard to get.
There's also that undeniable romance surrounding those Big Bird and Aeroclassics 747s from the golden young years of 1:400 scale...
I have to admit, I do like how the Chatham Dockyard font suits the Landor livery (shhhh).
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