You may recall that I like making sets of aeroplanes, and here is one of the first ones I made. When I made this set there were nine different Boeing 737 versions so the challenge was to make nine different models. The fuselages of all nine models are from Revell kits, which seem to be the most accurate and, even if they aren't, they look the best. In particular they have that particular Boeing nose shape that carries across the 707, 727 and 737 models. For the first two models use Revell fuselages cut to the correct length (using a count of the windows) for that model, Airfix wings and tail, all joined together and using decals i've waited for a long time to use. The first one is an Ansett NZ 737-100 with which Ansett entered the New Zealand market.
A 737-200 is the same thing again but with a longer fuselage and Air Nauru decals for an airline which, i guess, has long gone.
With the 737-300 the models move onto using the Minicraft wings, engines and tail attached to Revell fuselages cut to the appropriate length for each model.
Next the slightly longer 737-400. I understand that the Pan Am markings are not for the venerable airline but for a newer airline that bought the name when Pan Am went broke.
Next again is the longer 737-500. I quite like the LOT livery and I've made a few other models as LOT airliners since this one.
Now the first of the New Generation 737s. I now know that the engines are not quite the right shape but, although I've looked at the possibility of using some aftermarket engines but yanking off the old engines and putting on new ones will most likely do some more substantial damage to the model. So I eventually decided to leave NG 737s as I finished them. These are kits more or less out the box apart from the usual fuselage shortening, in most cases. WestJet is not a commonly known airline but there weren't many options for a 737-600 operator.
I can't now recall the decal sheet that I used for this Virgin Blue 737-700. Virgin Blue decal sheets do not seem very common days and the model using them certainly looks more spectacular and interesting than the restrained Virgin Australia scheme.
At last, a standard Qantas 737-800 with Hawkeye decals again. This is the only model of the lot that was made straight from the box, with a little fiddling here and there.
Finally, the longer 737-900 that was lengthened by adding in a couple of plugs made from the leftover of earlier 737NG kits. There aren't too many airlines flying the -900 and I quite liked the retro scheme.
I guess that there will be more new model 737s somewhere down the track. We'll have to wait to be sure about any visual differences between then and standard 737NGs and hopefully Revell with produce a kit of it when the time comes.
Leigh
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Thanks for sharing and for giving me an idea or two !