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Showing results for tags 'CRM Counting Rivets Models'.
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Here is the CRM (ex-Eastern Express) A220-300 finished as F-HZUA “Le Bourget” of Air France at the time of delivery in 2021. I know Air France don’t have world’s most exciting airline livery but I wanted to include the current scheme in my European flag carriers project and I also wanted to add an A220 to my collection so it seemed logical to combine the two. I have never been a fan of Eastern Express products following an early encounter with their ghastly A318 and also because of their ridiculous prices. However their A220s are the only game in town and the general consensus seemed to be that they were actually pretty good so when CRM offered the -300 kit at a very reasonable price I decided to give it a go. The kit is a bit of a mixed bag. Detail is OK although the panel lines on the fuselage were inconsistent in their depth and I eventually filled most of them. Some of the fit is indifferent to say the least. In my kit the upper wings were a bit warped and careful work with hot water and a hairdryer was needed to straighten them out. I replaced the kit engine fans and outlet guide vanes with CRM’s resin parts. Like most 3D printed fans it’s difficult to remove them from the frame without damage and I strongly recommend viewing the tutorial on CRM’s website. Once you get them off the frame the CRM parts are definitely worth the cost and effort and allow a realistic “see through” which the kit parts don’t. The radome bump is an adapted BraZ item. (Typically, just after I had started painting the model I discovered that Rocast make the correct Gogo 2KU radome). Painting is nice and easy - overall Halfords Appliance Gloss White with Revell and Tamiya metallics. Livery decals are by 8A supplemented by the excellent (if pricey) detail sheet from Authentic Airliners. I had to lop a bit off the top of the fin decal which was too big but otherwise they went on well. I initially used the 8A cockpit windscreen to give a common appearance with the cabin windows but the more I looked at it the more I became convinced it was too big. Eventually I removed it and replaced it with the AA one which also meant removing and relocating the AF roundels ahead of the front doors. The only spare roundels I could find came from an old F-RSIN Viscount sheet. They aren’t 100% accurate but they’re close enough and a better option than ordering a second decal sheet from Mexico! Thanks for looking and constructive criticism is welcome. Dave G