Boeing 737-600 in 1:400 Scale
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Updated: November 2021
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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 & in Real Life
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For many years the 737-600 remained largely ignored in 400 scale aside from that brand of random types Herpa, who obviously barely used it. Somewhat surprisingly in the past few years two 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. Even so at the time of writing the NG Models mould has not yet reached production so it remains to be seen if the 736 wishlist below gets fully fleshed out.
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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. 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) but as of October no actual releases have been announced using the moulding.
Wishlist
For a short list of 737-600 check here. This dates from January 2019 so some of these have now been made:
