I tried to post in that thread but I guess it took it off-topic. Sorry for that, hoping this is a better one.

Is a 737-500 conversion possible from revell/minicraft kits? I can't find any information and don't see any pictures. I really don't know the a/c well enough to know.

...Hoping for good wxr

Ninjaflight....

Recommend you check out the Airliner Modelling Digest on Yahoogroups. Kind of like a "sister" group to AirlinerCafe. There's a FAQ listed under files for conversions etc.

And to keep things on topic I'm changing the subject to 737 Classic Conversions

Ken

To answer your question I clipped the following.....

For 1/144 models, you can use the Minicraft -300 and -400 from the box (I think the -400
needs the tail bump, but that's it), or the Daco -300. For a -500, Jennings' conversion
instructions for the -300 are to remove 10.5 mm forward of the wing and 7 mm aft of the
wing. If you're using Daco's -300 the fuselage inner surface contains "cut-along-the-dotted-
-line" markings to help you convert it into a -500. That should be it, except for the needed
finish work (I don't know where the cargo doors are, though...).

Laurent

Fuselage Dimensions are:

Dimensions: Length Wingspan Height

737-300 109'7" 33.40 m 94'9" 28.90 m 36'6" 11.1"
737-400 119'7" 36.40 m 94'9" 28.90 m 36'6" 11.1"
737-500 101'9" 31.00 m 94'9" 28.90 m 36'6" 11.1"

While you certainly *could* convert Revell's -800 into a -200, 300, 400, or 500, why would you? I mean, you could convert a Revell 737-800 into a 1/16 scale Sopwith Camel if you really wanted to, but you wouldn't have much Revell 737 left when you got done, would you?

The basic shape of the nose, the constant dimension section of the fuselage, and the aft end (with some mods) is the same, everything else, every other piece, is different on the NGs vs earlier 737s. The entire wing/body fairing is completely different, the wing is different, the vertical fin is different, the landing gear is different, the engines and pylons are different.

Seems like an awful lot of work to me....

I remember when Danny was trying to "get rid" of the last of the DACO 737 Version 1 kits. First offers were for the plastic kit, basic detail decal (without a livery) and the photoetched set. With the decal and the photoetched parts gone, he was selling just the plastic... for close to a give-away. I remember purchasing the last dozen or so "bagged" Version 1 kits he had. With shipping from Europe to the USA, I think the shipping cost more than the kits!

Version 1 is really a nice kit, very accurate, well designed engines but without the petite panel lines of the Minicraft kit and the later DACO Version 2 kit. Since I'm not a big panel line person (I fill them mostly, used to sand them off), the kit is quite useable. Perhaps best of all, the Version 1 and 2 kits both are designed to fit the most excellent DACO Skyline Western Pacific decals. These decals will not fit well on the Minicraft aft fuselage.

So good luck in the DACO hunt. As Ken noted in the beginning, get 'em while you can.

The new Squadron catalog has the Skyline 737-400 for $35.05, item # DP14404.

Gene
MOB

I seem to remember Danny having a hard time getting his 737s to sell. Part of that may have been the cost, though that should be expected. Danny is a one man operation, and could not compete on cost like a Revel or Minicraft. Of course, he knew that upfront, but he could compete on design and quality. If we all had purchased more kits then, it may have encouraged him to reissue or produce new kits. I'm not chastising anyone for not buying. I never bought any myself, due to cost, though I do have some of his older black-boxed ones. I hope he does find a way to produce and sell more, but given the monumental effort required, I understand if he chooses to stick with the decal end of his business.

Something I'm missing are these kits discontinued ?
according to there web site no information that they are and seems the 737-300 is still listed

i have a full model kit if your interested