Boeing 737-600 in 1:400 Scale
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Updated: December 2024
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The 737-500 had sold reasonably well and so at a time when McDonnell Douglas were still offering their MD-95 (later the Boeing 717) it must have seemed sensible to make a series 500 replacement as part of the 737 Next Generation lineup, especially given the limited cost in doing so. In the end the type didn't sell well at all, but did steal some orders away from the MD-95 (SAS being the biggest). Only 69 aircraft were produced in total, compared to 80 Airbus A318s. The aircraft itself was 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.
Boeing 737-600 in 1:400 Scale
For many years the 737-600 remained largely ignored in 400 scale, aside from that historical maker of random types Herpa, who obviously barely used it. Somewhat surprisingly, in the past few years three new moulds have debuted, with the manufacturers seemingly taking the same view Boeing did in producing a version as an off-shoot of their other 737 variants. The output since has been decent, if not spectacular. There has been a fair amount of duplication and some airlines that have still been ignored totally, despite the small number of operators and the fact the are relatively prominent airlines.
The Real Thing
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Riik@mctr, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
RAF-YYC from Calgary, Canada, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
B737-600 Moulds
Herpa (2000)
Why do Herpa produce 400 scale moulds, often of obscure types, and then never use them? Who knows but for their investment all they got from this early series 600 was three models (House Colours, SAS and Lauda Air). Considering the age of the mould it isn't all bad and comes with a seamless fuselage. Even so it is a little chunky at the nose and by modern standards simplistic. Obviously it can't compete with the modern moulds now available but for nearly 20 years it was the only option in this scale for a 737-600.
Why do Herpa produce 400 scale moulds, often of obscure types, and then never use them? Who knows but for their investment all they got from this early series 600 was three models (House Colours, SAS and Lauda Air). Considering the age of the mould it isn't all bad and comes with a seamless fuselage. Even so it is a little chunky at the nose and by modern standards simplistic. Obviously it can't compete with the modern moulds now available but for nearly 20 years it was the only option in this scale for a 737-600.
Panda Models (2018)
Panda Models interest in the Boeing 737-600 was not as surprising as it might have seemed at the time since the type had been operated by two Chinese airlines and they already had 737-700/800 moulds. It's arrival coincided with the time when Panda's production dropped off massively so it has never gotten the range of use it might have expected to, however it has still received 14 models, most recently a Prairie Diecast retailer exclusive WestJet version.
The mould was also used for Panda's Chinese New Year model in 2019:
The mould shares the same lineage as Panda's now retired 737-700/800 moulds rather than the newer 737-700/800 versions, but is still an excellent little casting. It's association with the old Panda 737NGs, and not the new ones, is perhaps the reason none have been seen since 2020. The later versions have received updated landing gear with proper tyrehubs. I have reviewed an example at this site here:
NG Models (2021)
Despite the limited releases that could be made, when NG Models sent me new sample moulds in January 2021 alongside the 73G and 739 was a 737-600 (albeit one incorrectly fitted with winglets). I discussed the mould in some detail at the time in both writing and video (see the links below):
NG made the necessary changes to the sample and re-sent me an updated version in May 2022, which also got the review treatment:
The mould has since been used as many times as the Panda mould, although to their credit several of the models are quite different to others and add greater diversity. After the initial usage it has fallen out of circulation, along with quite a few other NG Models moulds and none have been seen since 2023:
I reviewed the full colours Flyglobespan example in October 2022:
Gemini Jets (2023)
Gemini, late to the party as ever, slipped out a 737-600 in 2023 but as with the new 767-400 mould the result is lacklustre and looks like it shares an ancestry with the less than impressive 737-800 they use. Obvious issues are the size and shape of the nosegear door, slightly square nosecone and sometimes also the fit of the wings to the fuselage (where they are too high at the tips). They have only made two models to date and it is never going to be a major component of their releases. It is certainly inferior to both the Panda and NG Models versions.
Wishlist
I published a 737-600 wishlist in 2019, which can be found below. Some of these have now been made but the lack of Lauda Air, Air Algerie and Tunisair is still surprising:
