MOULD SUFFIX: 945
YEARS: 1989-2006
AIRLINES: 9
MODEL VARIANTS: 15
Even though Schabak never made a proper 737-400 they did make the effort to produce a series 500, utilising the basic form of their existing 737-300 mould. This was a relatively simple cut and shut operation so presumably relatively cheap to do, but it does raise the question as to why they never did something similar with the 400. Even so, despite making a series 500 the mould was never used widely and Schabak also did use it once to represent a series 600, ignoring the significant differences between a 737 classic and a 737NG.
MOULD VARIANTS
This 737-500 is effectively the same as the type 1 737-300 with a shorter fuselage that had been introduced three years earlier. Two products (Boeing house and Linjeflyg) were included in the 1989 pricelist
The small black wheels were introduced around 1989/1990 so those first two releases were fitted with the earlier small silver wheels and quickly updated with the small black ones soon after. As per usual as decals were updated window colours were changed from black to silver and finally shadowed for at least one release.
The below model represents the single 737-600 created using the series 500 mould. Note the yellowing typical of the decals on late era Schabaks (presumably due to the decal adhesive).
PRODUCTION
Schabak used this mould sparingly and there were only 15 individual models (including variants) up until Schabak’s initial bankruptcy in 2006. The mould actually persisted beyond the Schabak era and was used for at least two post-2006 Schuco Schabak models with Tampo printing.
For a complete list of 737-500/600 production by Schabak see the database at MADb that has been updated with photos and accurate records for the type:
Aside from models sold in a blister pack early 737-500s came in the smallest cuboid box, later upgraded to the intermediate size box used for MD-80s and 727s. The below Linjeflyg example uses the smallest box and Linjeflyg was a really unusual release that paired with the F28 release.
A SELECTION OF NOTABLE RELEASES
The earliest 737-500s covered obvious choices from the existing Schabak catalogue – Boeing house, Lufthansa, Hapag Lloyd and the aforementioned Linjeflyg. Note that both the Boeing and Linjeflyg versions here use the small black wheels (and Linjeflyg has enlarged titles too) and the Hapag Lloyd variant has already replaced the windows with silver versions.
The two most unusual airlines made using the 737-500 are obviously Oman Air and Air Austral. Presumably both of these were airline orders.
Along with Linjeflyg both Lufthansa and CSA were airlines that got updated decals over time. Compare the below Lufthansa to the one above and you can see the more delicate titles and crane as well as silver windows. The CSA is the first version when it was still Czechoslovak Airlines and not Czech Airlines.
Two of the latest uses of this mould were for SAS. Rather oddly one was a series 500 with Cargo titles and the other was a passenger variant called a 600 on the box at least.
The last usage of the mould by the original Schabak, and only version with shadowed windows, is this 2005 Pulkovo version. Interestingly this one hasn’t suffered from decal cracking despite being from that period and being one of the last Schabaks made.
