[737 Info]

Hi all, any Airliner modelers out there. I need some information on the Boeing 737's. Any one know of a good reference book or web site that describes the differencies between the -300,-500 and -700 models. In the photos I have found they don't look any longer as is obvious in the -800. Are they different inside maybe glass cockpit, seating arrangement. Or do they have upgraded engines. Need to know if a -700 can be made from a -500 or -300 model. Any help would be appreciated.

 

Another resource is the Airliner Modelling Digest at Yahoo Groups. Under the files section (you'll have to register to have access), there is a veritible cornucopia of conversion information.

 

http://groups.yahoo.com/search?query=airliner+modeling

 

The basics of the Boeing 737, and the kits to use in 1/144 scale:

 

The -200 is a lengthened -100. Use the Airfix kit with fuselage mods as required.

The -400 is a lengthened -300 and the -500 is a shortened -300 (the -500 was intended as a -200 replacement, or so I once read). Use the Daco kits, or the Minicraft kits. Daco's fuselage is shaped better....

The -600, -700, and -900 are all based on the -800 with shorter or longer fuselages. Use the Revell AG kit, modified as appropriate.

 

In order to build a -700 in 1/144 scale, start with the Revell 737-800 kit and make the following cuts to the fuselage:

Forward of the wing, but aft of the baggage hold door: Remove 18.7mm (0.74")

Aft of the wing, but forward of the baggage hold door: Remove 19.75mm (0.78")

 

Remove the tail bumper and fill the hole. Add filler as needed.

 

Now, if you want to make life easy, check out Contrails Models:

 

http://www.drawdecal.com/contrails.htm

 

The choice is yours....

 

In 1/72 scale, Welsh/Proteus did some mixed media kits of the MidGen 737's that were quite nice.

Aurora did a so-so 1/72 kit of the Classic 737.

I don't think anyone has done 1/72 kits of the NextGen 737's yet....

 

Hasegawa has done several 1/200 737's, ranging from the -200 to the -300 or -400.

I don't do narrowbodies in 1/200, so someone else will have to elaborate.

 

Ralph

 

 

 

[Testors Aztek Airbrush...whats The Warranty??]

When they first appeared, they carried a lifetime warranty. A few years ago they changed it to three years. Check with Testors, since yours had been replaced three years ago.

 

I used to be a proponent of the Aztek, but their quality slipped--badly--a few years after they made their debut. The tips go erratic, the bodies leak, and then they changed the warranty. I switched back to my Badger 150 and 200 and haven't had near the same amount of problems that I had with the Azteks as they got older.

 

Ralph

[Alclad Gloss Black Base]

An alternative to the Alclad black primer is the Tamiya spray can gloss black. Dries in about an hour to a nice shine. I'd wait overnight before I shot the Alclad on, but the results are quite nice.

 

Ralph