Korean Air | Boeing 737-9B5ER | HL8248 | Flaps Down | HX Models

HX Models have been expanding quickly in 400 scale and making a name for themselves, mostly off the back of their 747s. They have brought some nice detailing to the scale, but have also been sloppy at times with the basics. Until now their focus has been on widebodies, but it was inevitable they would move into the popular Airbus and Boeing narrowbody space as well. Indeed, they've had some 737s announced for sometime and the first of those to hit the market is in the new Korean livery.

---

---

Each review is to split into three key areas:

• The model mould
• The paint and livery reproduction
• Printing and quality control

Each section can get a maximum score of 10 for a maximum combined score of 30

---

This review is sponsored by Northeast Diecast. Check out their store for an excellent range of hard to find 200 and 400 scale collection sale models and get 15% off!

---

MOULD

There's unsurprisingly plenty of competition in the 737NG space in 400 scale, although two of the more common offerings, from Gemini Jets / JC Wings and Phoenix, are old and weak. The real competition is between three other castings, from NG Models, Aero Polaris and Panda Models, respectively.

All three of those moulds have been reviewed here at Yesterday's Airlines so if you need a refresher check out those reviews here:

737NG Reviews at Yesterday's Airlines

The Aero Polaris and NG Models versions are practically identical to each other, and near perfect 737s, while the Panda version is no slouch too - so this HX Models mould has some very strong competitors. Can it live up to that?

No, not really as although it offers some wonderful detailing in certain respects it fails to get some of the fundamentals correct - something of a recurring issue for some HX moulds. This isn't helped by one glaring QC issue as well - the nosegear fit. I'll discuss that more in the later section, but it clearly doesn't match the HX standard photos so I am assuming it is a QC error.

It is at the nose that the HX mould suffers by comparison with both the real thing and the NG version. It isn't dreadful, and certainly better than the Gemini mould, but the nosecone is too short and not pointed enough. In the below photo I've used a stock HX release image, rather than the actual model I have, so as not to be distracted by the nosegear fit problem. The Hainan is an NG release.

In addition to the nose the nosegear itself, even when fitted properly, isn't as nice as the NG. The nosegear doors are rather blocky and don't have the subtle curves on the upper join that the NG does. The nosegear itself is a little too large, with too much tyre and an undetailed hub. Overall it gives the mould a rather clumsy look from the front.

Fortunately, the rest of the mould is a lot better. The remainder of the fuselage barrel is good, indeed some aspects show a fineness of detail and shape that surpasses the NG. This is mostly at the rear where the form of the tailbumper is very nice. The tailcone region also shows excellent shape and detail, with even a hole for the APU exhaust (a first in 400 scale for a 737 I believe).

The other feature HX are keen on is flaps down, which this model sports. Once again this is a first for a narrowbody 400 scale mould. It works well and there is a huge amount of nice detailing present, especially on the underside.

The engines, pylons and blended winglets all look fine. The maingear tyres could do with slightly smaller black tyre portions, as with the nosegear. There are 5 aerials present, which look decent but aren't quite as fine as on the NG version. 

There's a very strong 737 fighting to get out here, but as a collector, for me, it is the nose region that is the most important part of any model. While this isn't a bad nose it isn't at the standards of the other top 3 737NG castings and that rather makes the exceptional everything else behind it a little redundant. 

SCORE - 7

---

---

PAINT & LIVERY

The constant drive to simplify airline liveries and logos, by removing colours and details, is not something I'm very supportive of, and so the new Korean livery was never likely to be one that thrilled me. Personally, I find it bland and markedly inferior to the classic scheme it replaces.

The new scheme features a deep blue, metallic effect fuselage and monochromatic redesigned dark blue Taegeuk symbol. I've been using this photo of HL8248 as the reference shot to compare the model to. HX's base blue appears a little darker than the real thing, although it isn't a major problem.

More of an issue is the glitterball effect that the photos illustrate. No doubt this is an attempt to reproduce the metallic effect, however in photos I'm seeing that effect isn't particularly evident and the model rather sparkles trying to pull it off in 400 scale. I admit it doesn't look as glittery 1:1 as in these photos (which used flash), but I can't say I love it. It reminds me of some of the more unfortunate Aeroclassics attempts at the last Northwest scheme.

What actually bothers me more than the sparkle effect is the colour of the main titles and Taegeuk logo. The colour on the model is too light and doesn't provide the stark contrast that the real thing has. 

Above: An NG Models 787 from August showing their version of this livery

This whole livery reproduction has something of an experimental feel to it. Looking at an NG Models 787 release in the same scheme from August the comparison is marked. The finesse and colours of the NG product are far superior to the HX one.

SCORE - 7

---

---

PRINTING & QUALITY CONTROL

Once again HX Models has shown that at the same time as it can produce best in class print detailing it can also produce some mediocre finishing too. Both are in effect on this model. An area HX has struggled with on both its 747s and A340s has been cockpit placement and that is evident on this 737 too. The central cockpit windows seem too high.

The nosecone radome print is also not great. It makes the nosecone too small (not helped by the nose shape I agree) as it is too far away from the cockpit.  

Once again these print issues impact the front of the model while the rest of it has excellent print detailing. This is especially obvious on the wings and underside. An interesting new technique has been used on the maingear wheel wells. This looks great.

Build quality is very good across the model, except for the rather glaring placement of the nosegear. I thought initially that maybe this was a 'feature' to show the aircraft as it was coming into land with a longer gear leg, but HX's own reference photos of the flaps down model do not show this. 

It doesn't jump out as much in 1:1 as it does under macro photography but clearly the fit of the gearleg means the leg itself appears much too long. It gives the whole model something of a taildown stance - a bit like the Gemini 737-300/400/500 moulds. It also accentuates the tyre size issue.

One thing that HX does do very well is the overall standard of the packaging and end product. The model comes with a very nice box, a credit card style collector's card and a tiny version of the excellent metal variant of the larger HX stand.

SCORE - 7

---

---

CONCLUSION

There is a lot to like with this model. It has some wonderful rear fuselage detailing, excellent flaps down wings, great fuselage print detailing, a collector's card and great stand. Unfortunately, it also has some of the other traits of quite a few HX releases - a slightly dull nose and poor cockpit placement, plus of course the addition of a poorly fitted nosegear. From the L1 door backwards this could be the best 737NG on the market, but from the L1 door forward it is one of the weakest. Unfortunately, in addition the new Korean scheme hasn't been rendered particularly well. I have little doubt that HX will be improving their 737 offerings, as they have shown a clear willingness to improve their products, but I can't help feel that at times they should focus more on the fundamentals and less on extravagances if they want to be the best.

FINAL SCORE - 21/30