Gemini Jets, Southwest Airlines 737-7H4: N918WN

In 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019, Gemini Jets released just one 1/400 Southwest Airlines model a year, but in 2020, Four different state flag-based liveries. Three of them, Tennessee, Florida, and this one, Illinois were all regular releases. The fourth, N946WN, a 737-700 painted in a special livery to honor the state flag of Louisiana was a retailer exclusive for airplane shop.com. I wrote about that exclusive model back in 2020. That model, and this one were released in December of 2020. For a closer look at this special livery, read on.

---

This airplane registered N918WN was built by Boeing at the main 737 production facility in Renton, Washington. The airplane's serial number is 29843, and has the distinction of being line number 2572. The aircraft was painted in the 'Illinois One' livery before it was delivered to Southwest airlines on March 25th, 2008. The airplane flew with Southwest Airlines until 2022. It was sold to upstart LCC, Avelo in April of 2022, and it remains in service with that company for the time being. 

The real thing: N918SW at Tampa International in October of 2018. (Photograph courtesy of Ozell Stephens Jr., Airliners.net). Note, the vertical stabilizer was repainted with the current tail colors. This was completed on this particular aircraft in 2015.  

---

---

Notes:
Gemini Jets created their first 737-700 casting in 2001. That original version did not have winglets, and was a cradle mounted wing system. Gemini updated that mould to have winglets in 2003, and then didn't update it again until 2008 when Gemini Jets added a wifi dome to a 737-700WL Delta jet registered N301DQ. In February of 2009, Gemini released the first 1/400 scale version of this very airplane but wearing the old canyon blue colors. The part number of the first version is GJSWA897. Gemini continued to use this tooling up until 2020 when they began to distribute a new 737-700 casting and this model was one of the first 737s produced on that mould. This new mould features rolling landing gear, slot in wings, antenna, and when necessary, it can be outfitted with a wifi dome as well. As of writing this article in 2025, it is still in use today. 

This particular copy was produced to an average standard for Gemini. There are a few production issues that I'll get into in the detailed review, but the model will hold its own in any 1/400 scale collection. There are some really nice details, and seem disappointing areas too, and for more on that, see my Detailed Review.

---