Frequently Ask Questions
Frequently Asked Questions regarding Flight Miniatures® aircraft models:
How do you assemble the models?
How many models do you have and how can I tell what is available?
How do you decide which models to produce?
Do you plan on offering any ‘retro’ models of older planes that are no longer in service?
Are your models licensed with the airlines and/or other organizations?
Where are your models produced and how long does it take?
Can I get a custom model made for my company or my own airplane?
Are Flight Miniatures models available for purchase in stores?
Where can I find the models that you produced in the past but are no longer offering for sale?
What does "scale" mean and how do you decide on the scale for a specific model?
Can you ship aircraft models to any country in the world, and what are the shipping charges?
What can I do to take care of my models so they continue to look good?
How do you assemble the models?
The various pieces in a model fit together utilizing tabs and slots, each precision engineered so that the tab fits snugly into the correct slot at the correct angle. Assembly of models does NOT require glue.
To assemble the model, carefully work the tab into the slot opening so that the tab is aligned at the correct angle, then apply gentle but firm pressure to push the tab all the way into the slot. Should this prove difficult, check the tab to see if the edges or surface have plastic remnant resulting from the manufacturing process. You may use a fine nail file to gently
sand down the remnant material, then try fitting the tab into the slot again.
With some models, the piece itself may fit directly into another piece, e.g., the horizontal stabilizer may slide into and through the tail end of the fuselage. In such cases, the piece usually slides in smoothly from one side. If you encounter resistance, try fitting it in from the other side.
How many models do you have and how can I tell what is available?
Currently we have over 550 different models, comprising over 60 aircraft types and representing over 200 airlines. More are being produced every month, and we use several methods to get the word out.
Our website is updated frequently to reflect our current inventory. If the model is included in our website under FLEET, this usually means it is available. New models or back-in-stock items recently made available again are also included in ARRIVALS for 90 days before they are removed from this list, but they will continue to remain in the FLEET list. Models that are available in very limited quantities and may no longer be made available after they’re sold out are included in DEPARTURES and noted in the FLEET list that they are "departing from our fleet," giving you a final opportunity to purchase these models.
When placing an order, providing your email address or phone number allows us to let you know if any model you have ordered is no longer available. This is especially advisable if the models you ordered are from the DEPARTURES list.
You can Subscribe for free to our mailing list and receive email notification of the latest model updates as they become available.
How do you decide which models to produce?
With the majority of our models the production process is initiated by the airline or aircraft manufacturer. Sometimes we may choose to produce new models based on the popularity of the aircraft type and/or livery. (The livery refers to the paint scheme of the aircraft, or what is painted on the exterior of the plane.)
Do you plan on offering any ‘retro’ models of older planes that are no longer in service?
We recently introduced the Flight Miniatures® "Airline Preservation Series." These are models of aircraft that have been restored or preserved in authentic airline livery. The planes may be on display at aviation museums or with an airline, and may be static or still in flying condition. The Airline Preservation Series currently includes several unique DC-3 models. (check the "Series" listing in the Advanced Search filters.)
We are also creating models in the "Historical Livery Series," depicting liveries that have been discontinued and/or liveries of airlines that are no longer in business or that have been absorbed into another airline.
In 2003, Boeing selected Flight Miniatures® to produce historical aircraft models for "The Boeing Milestones Series" in celebration of the Centennial of Powered Flight. These models are still currently available for purchase.
Are your models licensed with the airlines and/or other organizations?
In most cases, we acquire a license or permission with the airline as well as the aircraft manufacturer to produce a model of the aircraft in a specific livery. The unique shape and name of the aircraft type and the paint scheme of the airplane are all considered the property of the respective airline or aircraft manufacturer and/or holding company; and a license or permission is usually required to commercially reproduce the likeness. In addition, with certain specialty paint schemes we also have to be licensed with the organization owning the rights to the images depicted in the livery. For example, the images on the Western Pacific, "The Simpson’s" plane are owned by 20th Century Fox Network.
Where are your models produced and how long does it take?
We do all the pre-production for the models at our facility in Arizona and then send the information to our factories overseas to have them mass-produced. It can take 6-12 months to produce the model of a new aircraft type because a new mold would have to be created, and 2-4 months for a new livery where the mold already exists.
Can I get a custom model made for my company or my own airplane?
Yes, as long as it’s from a mold that we have available (or one that we would consider producing) for the specific aircraft type and scale. The minimum quantity for a custom order is 1,000 models. Please contact our model sales department by Email sales@genesiscollections.com or Phone (928) 340-3434 for details on our capabilities and requirements.
Are Flight Miniatures® models available for purchase in stores?
They are available from selected airline company stores, airport gift shops, aviation museums, hobby shops, air shows, Internet web-stores, various distributors and other retail outlet stores worldwide. (Visit the Retail Stores page for a list of retailers who carry Flight Miniatures® models).
Where can I find the models that you produced in the past but are no longer offering for sale?
The best sources to find people who want to sell or trade "retired" models are collector's forums or online auction sites.
For your reference we do have a listing of "retired" Flight Miniatures® and InFlight 200 models.
What does "scale" mean and how do you decide on the scale for a specific model?
Our models range in scale from 1:40 to 1:250, and they are true-to-scale. For example, 1:200 scale means each inch on the model is equal to 200 inches on the real aircraft. So a Boeing 727 model in 1:200 scale measures 9.5" along the length of the fuselage and 6.75" across the wingspan, representing the actual aircraft size of 153-ft. length and 108-ft. wingspan.
Flight Miniatures® models are made to be desktop displays, so the scale they are produced in which they are produced is constrained by the actual size of the aircraft type. For additional information on model scale visit our Scale Reference page.
Why are the prices for some models different even though they are the same aircraft type and scale as others?
The price per model varies as a result of many factors, including our licensing agreements with the airlines and aircraft manufacturers, the amortized costs for producing new tooling for each aircraft type and scale, the cost for materials and labor, packaging, freight, warehousing, etc. Usually a particular model has a higher price if it has a specialty livery because of additional licensing requirements and/or more complex graphics requiring more pre-production and production labor and materials.
Can you ship aircraft models to any country in the world, and what are the shipping charges?
We no longer ship to countries outside of the United States of America.
If you are interested in purchasing one of our models we suggest that you check on our Reseller page to find an international reseller near you.
What is your return policy?
We guarantee your satisfaction of our product within fourteen (14) days of receipt.
If you are not happy with the product, you may return new product in resalable condition for a full credit, excluding shipping and handling charges. Sorry, no cash refunds. You must contact us for an RMA within fourteen (14) days of receipt of the product.
Please contact us by telephone 928-634-8500 or complete the online RMA request form. Your request will be reviewed and a representative will contact you within two (2) business days with an RMA number and the proper return address. The RMA number must be displayed on the address label of the return package.
All returns must be in the original packaging; packaged securely to avoid damage in transit; and shipped via an insurable, trackable shipping method. From Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico, please send by insured U.S. mail. We are not responsible for items that do not arrive or arrive damaged in transit and for items that arrive without an RMA #.|
Defective or Damaged Product If the product is defective/damaged upon receipt, please contact us immediately, by telephone at 928-634-8500 or complete the online RMA request form. A representative will contact you within two (2) business days with an RMA number and the proper return address. The RMA number must be displayed on the address label of the return package. All returns must be packaged securely to avoid damage in transit, and shipped via an insurable, trackable shipping method. From Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico, please send by insured U.S. mail. We are not responsible for items that do not arrive or arrive damaged in transit. |
All RMA’s expire after 30 days and will be refused and returned to sender at his expense.
NOTE: The return procedures are subject to change without notice.
What can I do to take care of my models so they continue to look good?
To protect the finish of the models, do not expose them to direct sunlight over extended periods and gently polish with a good non-abrasive car polish (we do this before shipping the models to our retail customers).