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Announcement: An Original Line of B737 Model Kits in 1/72


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Hey everyone,

 

I'm pleased to announce a new line of original resin model kits in 1/72 scale: the B737-200Adv and 737-300.  These should be ready for purchase by late January 2020. More model release announcements will follow shortly after.

 

We will strive to produce affordable, extremely accurate, and finely detailed resin model kits across multiple scales, which will appeal to modellers of all skill levels. In order to help generate some interest in these upcoming kits, we are going to have some giveaways including full kits - so check out our website and Facebook page for details on that:

 

https://www.aeromodl.com/  

https://www.facebook.com/AeroModl-104268851068144/.

 

This endeavor started last year when I decided to create a 1/100 737-200 model for my own amusement. You can follow the design and build of that model here.  Eventually the model got the attention of a heavyweight in the diecast realm who offered to help produce them as finished display models in 1/100 and even 1/50. After the deal evaporated, I turned to remaking the model far more intensively and accurately than I had previously had, with the idea to offer them as resin kits. Additionally, 737-300/400/500 specific parts were modeled as well.  

 

Some features of the model include:
-Solid resin fuselage, tail, stabilizer and wings.
-Clear forward fuselage section, landing light and wingtip light lenses
-Crisp, deep panel lines which will be able to survive a moderate sanding.
-Multiple panel line widths of between 0.003"(0.075mm) and  0.013"(0.33 mm) which will help keep surface details in scale.
-A true to CAD master pattern which will create exquisite tooling for the model castings.
-Exceptionally well fitting parts so little glue will be required.
-A genuine ALPS printed orginal decal artwork.
-Detailed landing gear and tires(in work)
-Recessed detail in the landing gear wheel wells(in work)
-Detailed cockpit(in work)

 

The following images are renderings of the CAD model, and not actual photos. But they should give a good idea of what to expect from the kits.

 

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While the models are still in the design and testing stage, we are confident stating that both the 737-200 and 737-300 1/72 kits will be available for purchase very early in 2020. Small scale testing of the master pattern for detail and part fitting have been extremely encouraging with "true to CAD" results. Details as fine as 0.06mm (0.002") have been nicely reproduced.

 

Following these releases, we plan on bringing you a full line of Original and Classic series 737s(-100 thru -500) in the scale of 1/200. If there is enough interest, we can create a line of 1/144 737's but I think Authentic Airliners and Daco have them well covered. The next major airframe will likely be the 707/720/KC-135 series, which will also be offered in 1/72 and 1/200.

 

I'll be updating this thread up until the release, so check back for news! If you're on facebook and like what you see, throw us a "like"!

 

Thanks for looking!

 

Neil Cramer
https://www.aeromodl.com/
neil@aeromodl.com

Edited by neilc777
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Neil,

 

This is quite impressive.  I sincerely hope it all works out and that you proceed to grow your business and develop a following.  We hardline modelers do desire ever-more-accurate and fun models to build and you seem to have your hand on the pulse of what we want.  The 737 has rarely been modeled well, except for BPK.  I taught the -300 for several years and it's a favorite.

 

Maybe, hopefully, you'll be able to rival those who've put badly molded kits out there and replace their expensive-but-meager offerings.   I personally would request a DeHavilland Comet 1/1A along with some others but before I go "all about me", I'll simply wish you all the good fortune such an endeavor can bring.

 

Cheers

 

Fang

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Hi Fang,

 

Thank you so much, your kind words are really appreciated. A Comet would be awesome for sure, but I can't make any promises! I will say that if there's a good amount of reference material and demand for it, it would be high on my list of projects!

 

Cheers,

Neil

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Nice to see you committing to such a project Neil, who does not love a 737! The CAD images look excellent!

 

I hope it goes well for you, unfortunately with the way international postage rates from the US are these days a full resin kit of this size will not be cheap to mail.

 

So I expect it will be out of my price range 😞

 

Edited by Trojan Thunder
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On ‎12‎/‎14‎/‎2019 at 12:26 AM, neilc777 said:

Hey everyone,

 

I'm pleased to announce a new line of original resin model kits in 1/72 scale: the B737-200Adv and 737-300.  These should be ready for purchase by late January 2020. More model release announcements will follow shortly after.

 

We will strive to produce affordable, extremely accurate, and finely detailed resin model kits across multiple scales, which will appeal to modellers of all skill levels. In order to help generate some interest in these upcoming kits, we are going to have some giveaways including full kits - so check out our website and Facebook page for details on that:

 

https://www.aeromodl.com/  

https://www.facebook.com/AeroModl-104268851068144/.

 

 

Neil Cramer
https://www.aeromodl.com/
neil@aeromodl.com

Neil,

 

I wish you all the success in you new projects.

 

As i'm always interested in seeing new kits of airliners in 1/72 scale, I'll be following your progress with interest.

 

Perhaps my dream of seeing a Boeing 707-100/200 in 1/72 scale will one day become reality ;-)

 

Marc-B

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On 12/16/2019 at 3:53 AM, Trojan Thunder said:

Nice to see you committing to such a project Neil, who does not love a 737! The CAD images look excellent!

 

I hope it goes well for you, unfortunately with the way international postage rates from the US are these days a full resin kit of this size will not be cheap to mail.

 

So I expect it will be out of my price range 😞

 

 

You might be surprised Trojan Thunder. We're going to try keep the overall prices affordable(for resin kits) and we should be able to ship Int'l First Class for the 737s to keep overseas shipping prices manageable.

 

 

Edited by neilc777
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On 12/16/2019 at 6:15 AM, MarcB said:

Neil,

 

I wish you all the success in you new projects.

 

As i'm always interested in seeing new kits of airliners in 1/72 scale, I'll be following your progress with interest.

 

Perhaps my dream of seeing a Boeing 707-100/200 in 1/72 scale will one day become reality 😉

 

Marc-B

 

Thanks Marc! Authentic Airliners have announced shortly after our announcement that they have a 1/72 707 in the works as well so either way, your dream will be true soon enough!

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On 12/18/2019 at 12:22 PM, Dutch said:

Neil,  Hmm, I am interested.  Though I would probably only buy/build one 1/72 version, I may be interested in more in 1/144.  R/ Dutch 

Hi Dutch,

We do plan to offer our models across many scales including 1/144, 1/100, 1/ 200 along with 1/72. Do stay tuned!

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On 12/24/2019 at 12:18 PM, neilc777 said:

 

You might be surprised Trojan Thunder. We're going to try keep the overall prices affordable(for resin kits) and we should be able to ship Int'l First Class for the 737s to keep overseas shipping prices manageable.

 

 

 

I look forward to seeing your pricing then Neil. I am more interested in the -300 at the moment. I will keep an eye on your website.

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  • 4 weeks later...

Update: We've started a crowdfunding campaign which will also serve as the pre-order window for these kits. The cost is $99 USD. You can reserve as many as you wish. Donations are also accepted.

 

More information available on our 737 Launch Gofundme Campaign.

And on our website: AeroModL

 

Since the first announcement, I've kept perfecting the CAD, which is now 99.7% done on the -200. The engines were overhauled as I still thought they didn't look entirely correct. More detail was added such as: cockpit seats and instrument panel, wheel well detail and antennas and probes and various "humps and bumps". Some new CAD renders:


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Some of the wheel well detail will be molded in(like some hydraulic lines) but most parts will be separate. The cockpit parts will consist five parts: two yokes, two seats and and the instrument panel. The antennas and sensors will be created with specialty miniature 3D printers as opposed to photo-etch. The pitot probes will have stems that fit into molded in holes. The engine "innards" will be able to be painted separately from the nacelle, which will be two parts.

 

Thanks for looking !

 

 

Edited by neilc777
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@Thorp  re: T-43. This will probably happen, though it won't make the initial releases. Right now the decal options are Delta, Aer Lingus, Lufthansa and Piedmont.

 

@Trojan Thunder the presale price is $99 USD. Once the fundraiser is over, the price will go to the regular price of $149.

 

@Salineated Michigander  You should have gotten a newsletter 🙂  Thanks for signing up and stay tuned!

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  • 1 month later...

Back again guys with some news! First of all, we're in the process of getting our masters created from the CAD of the -200 model. We expect to have all of them back by the end of the month. After that, it won't be long before we are pouring castings and we are targeting end of April to start shipping the first -200 orders. The -300 releases should lag by a month or so depending on how long it takes to get our masters done.


Here are some photos of the empennage masters below, and you can expect the final parts to be basically identical save for the color(or lack thereof).

 

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We're nearing the end of our fundraiser, but I wanted people to get a look at the finished -300 CAD model to decide on whether to preorder it. After a week or so -  the preorder window will close and we'll start accepting orders strictly from our website store, at the regular price of $149, though we will give price breaks for multiple kits in an order.


Some photos of the Classics! More full resolution photos up on my Flickr page.

 

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Thanks for looking!

Neil C

www.aeromodl.com

neil@aeromodl.com

 

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  • 2 months later...

Some photos of the fuselage/wings/tail/engine masters as well as some kit ready parts. Won't be long until these come rolling off the assembly line!

 

First, the V2.0 landing gear CAD:

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Master patterns + kit ready detail parts:

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Thanks for looking!

Neil C

AeroModl Homepage

 

 

Edited by neilc777
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  • 3 weeks later...
6 hours ago, jenshb said:

The entire kit looks terriffic!  The undercarriage legs are works of art.  How do you plan to cast them in one piece though...? 

 

Thanks for that! They aren't being casted. All of the smaller, complex parts will come right off an industrial high-end 3D printer and go into the box, including the entire wheel well detail insert. Even the windshield wipers and pitots will be 3D printed 🙂

 

Some photos after those parts were primed

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 1 month later...

Hey fellas, just a quick update:

We're in production now and we're finally more or less complete with the masters and molds phase. We're turning out around 30 parts, almost a kit worth, daily. The first batch of 25 or so kits are slated to ship shortly, just as soon as a few "honey-do list" items are taken care of as well as the remainder of the casting.

Here are photos of all the kit parts, as well as a few shots of them all put together.
More on my Flickr page

 

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Note: The cockpit "canopy" will of course be cast in clear for the kits. I got a bad batch of clear resin which refuses to fully cure so I went ahead and cast it in gray for the purpose of these photos.

The rest of the Classics will follow relatively quickly once we work thru some of the -200 backlog.

Thanks for looking!
Neil C
AeroModL Homepage

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On 7/8/2020 at 8:44 PM, Rod D said:

I stumbled upon this post by accident, but am very interested in a 737-400.  Looks like you are making progress.  When is your anticipated rollout of these?

Thanks,

Rod.

The -200 rollout is basically happening, the -300/400/500s will probably start production in November/December. If you want, you can sign up for our newsletter at the bottom of the homepage linked below and get email updates about our projects and progress. Cheers, Neil.

 

https://www.aeromodl.com/

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  • 2 weeks later...
2 hours ago, jenshb said:

Will your kits be available through European traders too?  If not, what is the postage cost to Europe?

We're working on dealing with retailers and distributors once we get some of our backlog shipped out. But for now we do ship worldwide thru our website and shipping to most of Europe is $32. There is a 10% coupon code AIRLINERCAFE which can be used as well. Cheers, Neil

 

https://www.aeromodl.com/our-kits

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