Gemini Jets, Air Australia A320-212: VH-YQC

What ended up being a very short-lived brand, Air Australia also marked the shuttering of its larger parent company that was originally founded as a freight broker. Strategic Airlines began operating in the early 90's, but after the departure of several of the company's top brass in 2011, a last ditch effort to save the operation came in the form of a rebrand. Because most of the airline's assets were leased, the company had very little value. The new name did little to help, and the airline was eventually liquidated.

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The model was distributed by Gemini Jets in April of 2012. For a short time, Gemini utilized this somewhat unusual casting. The mould was used by Gemini between 2012 and 2016 around 20 times, and was used by both brands through that time period. The mould was originally developed by JC Wings around 2010, and they also used the mould about 35-40 times. The tooling seems to have been mothballed after 2016 in favor of a new mould, the current one that both of these companies use to this day.

The real thing: VH-TQC on final approach to Melbourne-Tullamarine International Airport in December of 2011. (Photograph courtesy of Phil Vabre, Airliners.net).

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Notes:
While this isn't a strong A320 casting, it is, in my opinion better than the one Gemini and JC are using now in 2025. The overall shape of the airplane is good, and the design, even with the rolling gears is really good. The paint and print work are very good as well, and while Gemini has gotten some of the colors correct, there are also some elements of the design that aren't replicated as well. The green engine cowlings look good, but on the 1/1, you can clear see a color gradient, that's not evident at all on the 1/64 model. This would have been a difficult detail to get right in 2012, no doubt. It's a shame Air Australia was so short lived. This is a really nice looking airplane, but sadly, is another LCC sent to the scrap heap from a very competitive market. 

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Sources:
-airliners.net
-modelaircraftdatabase.com
-Planespotters.net