Boeing 737-600 1:400 Scale New Mould Sample

Modified: May 2022
When NG Models produced their sample moulds to complete their 737 Next Generation lineup in January 2021 it did seem that the series 600 was something of an afterthought since the sample I was provided with had the wrong wings (with winglets) and an inaccurate tail bumper at the rear fuselage. At the time I thought these were easy fixes, especially as they had the correct winglet-less wings for their 737-800s already. However, nothing more was seen or heard of the 600 mould, that is until last week when NG sent me a revised sample, which I will take a look at here.

The Real Thing

The aircraft itself is a simple shortening of the 737-700 by 2.39 metres seating in a maximum 1 class layout up to 130 passengers, although 108 was more usual in a two class configuration.
Picture
Aero Icarus from Zürich, Switzerland, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Picture
Olivier CABARET, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Competing 737-600 Moulds in 400 Scale

Since last January I have updated my 737-600 mould review with the details of existing moulds and that can be seen here:
There is very limited competition since the Herpa mould was characteristically underused and is rubbish anyway. The Panda mould is superior but they haven't released anything new in over a year and their total remains at 14 models made, which when you take separate schemes into account is actually only 9 individual liveries.
Picture
The Panda Models Boeing 737-600

737-600 Release Options

With only 69 frames produced for, I think, 8 original customers between 1998 and 2006 the options for model production are relatively small, however there were a small group of secondary operators as well. Coverage by other brands leaves several airlines untouched such as Lauda, Malev, Air Algerie, Tunisair and FlyGlobespan for example. Way back in 2019 before Panda got their releases into swing I did write a wishlist for the type which is fairly comprehensive:
Nowadays most 737-600s are in storage or scrapped with the only airline operators remaining being Air Algerie (6) and Tunisair (4). Tunisair has added a new scheme though with TS-IOP operating in a retro scheme: 
TS-IOP B737 160219 DUS
Additionally. I note that there is a new operator of the type in Canada. Kelowna Flightcraft have acquired a pair of former Westjet examples and are flying them under the Aeroflyer brand on charters out of Western Canada in this attractive scheme:

Updated Mould Sample

The updated 737-600 fixes the two issues with the original sample, the winglets and the tailbumper, both of which have been removed. In other characteristics the mould shares the features of its excellent larger brothers.
A quick comparison to the Panda version suggests the NG version is superior in several small ways:
  • Less of a nose down stance
  • Better engine exhausts
  • Superior rudder lower edge free of the fuselage.
  • Better nosegear door shape
  • Better maingear angle and detail