From Collector to Founder

Hi, I’m Gianluca De Iacob, Founder & CEO of gd models.

My passion for aviation and aircraft models started long before gd models existed. As a collector myself, I have always been fascinated by the variety of airlines, aircraft types and liveries that make aviation so interesting.

Over the years, my collection grew to more than 1,400 aircraft models in 1:500 scale. At the same time, I noticed something that many other collectors will recognise: there are countless fascinating aircraft and airlines that have never been produced in 1:500, while others have not been available for many years.

That became one of the ideas behind gd models.

I wanted to create a brand that looks at aircraft models from a collector’s perspective, choosing subjects because they are interesting, different or missing from our collections, not simply because they are the safest choice.

Today, I am involved in the development of gd models from the first idea for a new aircraft to mould development, airline selection, packaging, production and the final model that reaches a collector.

For me, gd models is about more than producing miniature aircraft. It is about bringing more variety to 1:500, creating models that collectors have been waiting for and building a brand that remains connected to the community it was created for.

And despite founding gd models, I am still a collector myself.

Every aircraft has a story. We make it collectible.