but what is being discussed here re the airliner category and expo
It's called thread drift.... in fact, I think what's meant to be being discussed is the NON-airliner civilian category (proposed) at some future Expo.
I'm mainly a WW2 military aircraft modeller but I was surprised to find I have two fairly recent models that would qualify in this category. An oil company owned commuter plane (which would also qualify as an airliner) and a glider. I'll put at least one on the proposed civilian display table.
Edit - I found a couple more - Gö 9 (test of concept for the Do 335) and a speed record plane...
I never realised I was a closet civilian aircraft builder!