Makers of die-cast aircraft models: Herpa, GeminiJets, NG Models and more at a glance

On the shelf stands a Lufthansa 747-8 in 1:500, next to it an A350 in 1:400, and for your favorite retro livery, a big 1:200 model might even be worth it. By the second purchase at the latest, the question comes up: Which manufacturer actually builds what – and how do Herpa, GeminiJets, NG Models and the others differ? This overview sorts the most important brands of airliner display models by origin, scale and profile. On top of that come the historical names you constantly run into at collector fairs, and a decision aid for your own collection.

The short answer: who builds what?

The market for airliner display models is easiest to understand through scale. Almost every brand has a core scale in which it has the widest selection:

• 1:500 – the core territory of Herpa Wings from Germany. Compact, shelf-friendly, huge selection of airlines.
• 1:400 – the turf of GeminiJets (USA), NG Model (China), Phoenix (Taiwan) and JC Wings (Hong Kong). Competition is densest here.
• 1:200 – the scale for big individual pieces. Herpa, GeminiJets, JC Wings, NG Models and Inflight200 operate here.
• Snap-together models and kits – plastic models such as Herpa’s SnapFit range or classic kits for building yourself.

How big a model actually gets in each scale and why collectors usually commit to one is explained in detail in the article Scales of aircraft models.

Herpa: the German classic

Herpa Miniaturmodelle was founded in Nuremberg in 1949 by Wilhelm Hergenröther and is now based in Dietenhofen in Middle Franconia. The company first became known for car and truck models. Aircraft came later: first samples of a Boeing 747-200 in 1:500 existed as early as the late 1980s, Herpa then presented its 1:500 aircraft at the Toy Fair in Nuremberg in 1992, and under the name Herpa Wings this became probably the best-known airliner model range in the German-speaking world.

What sets Herpa apart:

• 1:500 as the main scale. No other provider covers this scale as broadly. If you want to show many airlines in little shelf space, you almost inevitably end up with Herpa.
• Other scales. Besides 1:500, Herpa builds aircraft in 1:400, 1:200 and 1:1000, among others. With SnapFit there is also a range of snap-together plastic models.
• Its own collector scene. In 1999, for the 50th anniversary, the Herpa Wings Club was founded. The collector magazine WingsWorld has been published since 1997. Club members receive, among other things, an annual club model.
• Airline editions. Herpa has produced models for airlines such as Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific that were sold only through the airline, for example on board. Such editions don’t show up in regular retail.
• Promotional models. Under “Your Aircraft in Miniature,” Herpa also offers custom models for companies.

Also closely tied to Herpa is Hogan Wings. The brand originally comes from Hong Kong and was taken over by Herpa as a lower-priced line. Hogan models come in 1:200, 1:400, 1:500 and 1:1000. Best known are the 1:200 models, which are delivered as snap-together models for self-assembly. In Herpa’s range you will also find models of the Oxford Aviation brand.

How to build a Herpa collection deliberately, which series exist and what collectors watch for with new releases is in the article Collecting Herpa Wings.

GeminiJets: the big name from the USA

GeminiJets is among the best-known brands for metal airliner models. The company comes from the US, with the firm Airliners Distributing appearing as the rights holder of the website. The focus is clearly on 1:400, plus models in 1:200 and a smaller selection of military models in 1:72.

Handy for collectors: you recognize the scale straight away from the item numbers. 1:400 models begin with “GJ,” 1:200 models with “G2.” Especially on secondhand marketplaces, where listings are often incomplete, this helps with classification.

GeminiJets is particularly strong with North American airlines, but also offers European, Asian and Latin American airlines. One example from the current range is a Boeing 787-9 of Aeroméxico in 1:200. If you collect airlines you’ve seen on trips to the US or at big hubs, you will often find what you’re looking for here.

NG Models: the detail-oriented challenger

NG Model is a manufacturer from China that enjoys a good reputation among collectors mainly in 1:400, with models in 1:200 as well. The brand is among the younger names on the market and is often mentioned in collector circles for its level of detail and its type selection. In accounts of the history of Herpa Wings, NG Models also appears alongside GeminiJets, Phoenix and JC Wings as a competitor.

Note: the abbreviation “NG” also appears at Herpa. There, “New Generation” stands for a model generation of its own that Herpa introduced from 2001. It has nothing to do with the NG Models brand. With secondhand listings, a second look at manufacturer and item number is therefore worthwhile.

JC Wings, Phoenix, Inflight200 and others

Besides the big three, there are a number of other brands you should know:

• JC Wings (Hong Kong): One of the widest ranges of scales on the market. The manufacturer’s site lists models from 1:72 through 1:100, 1:144 and 1:200 to 1:400 and 1:500, split into civil airliners and military jets. If you collect civil and military aviation, you find both under one roof.
• Phoenix Model (Taiwan): A fixed name in the 1:400 segment. Phoenix models are often seen in collections that focus on Asian airlines and widebody jets. Not to be confused with the British firm Phoenix Models, which makes resin models.
• Inflight200: A brand known mainly for models in 1:200 scale, that is, for large, showpiece individual items.
• AeroClassics (USA): Known among collectors mainly for historic aircraft and classic liveries.
• Hobby Master (China) and Corgi (UK): More common among military and vintage collectors. Corgi has belonged to the British model railway group Hornby since 2008.

Historical brands: Dragon Wings and Schabak

At collector fairs and in online classifieds you regularly run into brands that no longer produce new airliners. Two of them are particularly important:

Dragon Wings was the aircraft line of the Hong Kong manufacturer Dragon Models. From 1997, Dragon brought airliners to market in 1:400; more than a hundred airliner models came together. There was also a warbird range in 1:72. Dragon Wings was discontinued in 2014, according to the common account because of growing competition. For collectors of older liveries, Dragon Wings models remain an important source to this day.

Schabak was founded in 1966 and, like Herpa, comes from the Nuremberg area. The brand was known mainly for airliners in 1:600 scale and was long regarded as Herpa’s direct competitor. Herpa took on Schabak in 2005 with a 1:600 range of its own. In January 2006, Schabak was taken over by Schuco, which focused the brand on aircraft. Especially for old German and European liveries, Schabak models keep turning up on the secondhand market.

The history of these brands shows: model ranges depend on the manufacturers’ business success. If you want to complete a particular series, you shouldn’t wait too long when a brand starts to wobble.

The manufacturers compared

Brand	Origin	Core scale	Other scales	Profile
Herpa Wings	Germany	1:500	1:400, 1:200, 1:1000, SnapFit	largest 1:500 selection, own collector club
Hogan Wings	Hong Kong (taken over by Herpa)	1:200	1:400, 1:500, 1:1000	snap-together models in 1:200
GeminiJets	USA	1:400	1:200, 1:72 (military)	strong with North American airlines
NG Model	China	1:400	1:200	younger brand, focus on detail
JC Wings	Hong Kong	1:400 / 1:200	1:72 to 1:500	civil and military
Phoenix Model	Taiwan	1:400	–	fixed name in the 1:400 segment
Dragon Wings	Hong Kong	1:400	1:72 (warbirds)	historical, 1997–2014
Schabak	Germany	1:600	–	historical, with Schuco since 2006

The table describes areas of focus, not complete ranges. The ranges change with every new-release round, as of October 2026.

Which brand suits you?

The choice of brand usually follows from the choice of scale. The following finder helps you with the first step.

If you’re just starting out, first read the guide Collecting aircraft models: getting started. It covers collecting themes, budget and the first purchases.

What to look for when buying

Whatever the brand: a few points decide whether you enjoy a model for a long time.

An advantage for spotters: you often know the real aircraft from firsthand experience. If a model carries a specific registration, you can check whether the livery fits that aircraft at the right time. How registrations are structured is explained in the article Understanding aircraft registrations. Models of special liveries are especially coveted. Which designs made history is shown in Legendary airline liveries, and how to track down special liveries at the airport is in Finding special liveries.

Types that almost every brand has in its range

Certain aircraft types are part of the standard repertoire of nearly all manufacturers because they are especially in demand among collectors. These include the Boeing 747-8 and its predecessors, the Airbus A380, modern long-haul jets such as the Airbus A350-900 and the Boeing 787-9, as well as classics such as the Concorde. It is with these types in particular that comparing brands pays off, because you can often choose from several renditions. Most of the real aircraft come from the two big aircraft builders Airbus and Boeing.

Where to find models

You get new releases from model-making specialty retailers, from specialized online dealers and partly directly from the manufacturer. Herpa runs its own online shop, and at its headquarters in Dietenhofen there is also a museum with a sales exhibition. Beyond that, there are three sources that are especially interesting for spotters:

• Airline and airport shops: Some models are only available there or on board. The article Airline and airport shops gives an overview.
• Collector fairs: Here you find sold-out models and historical brands such as Dragon Wings or Schabak.
• Secondhand platforms: Large selection, but check photos and description carefully.

If you would rather build than buy finished models, you will find your entry into plastic modeling in the article Building aircraft kits. And as the collection grows, Storing and displaying aircraft models helps with display case, dust protection and lighting.

Conclusion

The market for airliner display models is manageable once you sort it by scale. Herpa Wings dominates 1:500 and has cultivated a scene of its own with a club and magazine for decades. In 1:400 and 1:200, GeminiJets, NG Models, Phoenix, JC Wings and Herpa compete for collectors’ favor. Historical brands such as Dragon Wings and Schabak enrich the secondhand market. There is no single best brand. There is only the brand that best covers your scale, your favorite types and your airlines. If you also know the real aircraft as a spotter, you buy more deliberately and spot errors faster. By the way, you will find matching gift ideas for like-minded people in Gifts for plane spotters.