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Resin Wheels for Boeing 787-9 & 787-10 (CR144002) 1:144 Counting Rivet Models We’ve received some upgrade sets from our new friends at CRM, the initials standing for “Counting Rivet Models”. They’re new to us, and based in Hamburg Germany, creating highly accurate sets for the airliner community, which is to some extent an untapped market, as most aftermarket companies seem drawn to the military side of things. CRM are part of the new wave of producers that are using technology such as 3D printing to create their products, and it shows. Their sets arrive in a clear blister pack with a card header within, which has a QR code that leads to the instruction page of their website, cutting down on recycling, as most instructions get thrown away after use. Hold your phone’s camera up to it and follow the link to their download centre in your browser of choice, which has the instructions available for download in the de facto standard PDF format. The package includes eight casting blocks in dark grey resin with twenty-four parts. There are ten tyres, ten hubs, and four pairs of brake housings, connected by a delicate actuator bar. In this instance it is a good idea to peruse the online instructions, as they advise that the wheel centres have different depths, the deeper side being on the side with the text “MAIN AND NOSE TYRES FOR 787-9” embossed upon the casting block. It might be as well to make a mark in the centre of these parts to note the deeper side where it won’t be seen after completion. The rims insert into the deeper side, while the brake hubs fit in the shallower depression on the other side, taking care not to damage the delicate actuator rod between the paired brake assemblies. The nose wheels have the inner hub moulded-in, so are simple to assemble, then all the wheels can be glued using super glue (CA) onto the kit struts, after painting the tyres a rubber grey, and the rest of the parts in a light grey. Conclusion Sets like these make me wish I built more airliners, as the detail is excellent and really add something to the finished models. Fortunately, I have a couple of friends that build airliners, so watch out for them appearing in their builds. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

One of my current projects is Revell 788 which is likely to be finished in Norwegian colours but might alternatively appear as LOT. I am struggling to find a photo which gives a clear view of the arrangement of the wingtip lights. They aren't shown at all in the BM walkaround and they aren't shown clearly in the Airliner Cafe equivalent. I've skimmed through Airliners.net etc but photographers who submit pics to these sites don't usually take close-ups of the wingtips! Can anybody help with a photo or a link? Thanks in anticipation Dave G

Zvezda 787-9 Virgin Atlantic Dreamliner G-VNEW Kit - Zvezda 787-9 Decals Pas Decals (Titles & Doors) Authentic Airliners (windows) Paints Revell 4 White Gloss & Xtracolor MICA1 (fuselage) Revell 4 White Gloss (Wings and horizontal stabilizers) Tamiya ts18 Metallic Red (Tail & engines) Thanks for looking!

been busy.... Fancied building a dreamliner kit for a while now, I had previously considered doing a 787-8 to 787-9 conversion job but when Zvezda brought out the 787-9 kit I couldn't resist. Like most Zvezda kits its beautifully detailed. To my surprise the fuselage halves didn't go together as well as I'd expected and then i had a slight hiccup. All i will say is don't use a superglue with a fast cure! When working on the wings be sure to be careful with the raked wingtips, they can be easily snapped off if they brush against something, which is what happened to my zvezda 777 wingtips. It might be worth taping the ends up to protect them until painting. For Virgin colours there were 2 main ways I considered for the metallic red effect 1. use tamiya TS18 (spray can) or 2. use Revell clear red on top of a silver metallic finish i went for the spray can finish, which although looks decent, i regret!! reasons being the amount of waste from the can as it gets everywhere, I probably got more on the wall than the model, clearly spray cans are not ideal for doing 1/144 scale models. To get a good even coverage it needs to be sprayed from a good distance and it has a tendency to spit the paint out unexpectedly. it also gets under any type of masked area as it leaks - the stuff of nightmares! If you ever use a tamiya spray can and for this virgin atlantic finish I would advise spray the red first then mask off the tail and use an airbrush for the main body finish (white/grey pearlescent). it might seem strange white/grey going on top of red but the red paint will just splutter underneath the masked area and cause more work if done the logical way like I have. first attempts were lumpy and uneven. plenty of buffing will be required later. also remember to cover up the whole model (unlike me) a sandwich bag over the nose is a quick method protecting the fuselage the curved area below the tail is very difficult to achieve. you can get hold of thinner masking tape 'for curves' which is a good idea above - tidied up the tail with a bit buff. The fuselage looks white but its 85% gloss white, 15% revell 371 light grey. I can't tell if I've added xtra color 'mica' in this photo that is a pearlescent effect. the mica on top does cloud the finish a slightly 'off white' so in hindsight if you are doing a modern virgin atlantic finish i'd recommend mica on top of gloss white - it won't look gloss white after you add the mica! quickly moved on with the wings, red paint everywhere! you'll notice the plastic added into the inside of the fuselage piece, this is for the aircraft stand - i dont use the zvezda stands, i custom make the gap for a clear academy display stand. The dreamliner leading edge flaps are not straight forward to paint. the metallic part seems to just run right on the edge of 60% of the wing. You'll need good reference shots for this. the metallic area needs another coat or 2 of alclad. the flash light on camera shows the edge of the wing quite ugly (below) time to throw on a few decals (the fun part) nice decals, courtesy of PAS decals 3-d windows from authentic airliners. camera flash shows the tail finish off a bit better. the 3-d windows a little bit featureless compared to previous ones i've purchased but still good quaility wings added and horizontal stabs. neither are glued on put fit without effort. I've also started engines. progress will be delayed for a bit as i need more tamiya red to finish engines off also note that stabs and wings are pure gloss white. No doubt when i put on the RFI i will get some quality day shots as these night shots arent the best - heres another showing the tail in without camera flash more to follow....

Boeing 787 Dreamliner. This particular 787, test designated as ZA002 and registered as N787EX (msn 40691), is the second Boeing 787-8 to be produced. The airplane flew for the first time on December 22, 2009, joining what would become a six-airplane flight test and certification program for the 787-8. The primary focus of ZA002 was testing systems performance. Boeing donated this aircraft to the Pima Air & Space Museum, Tucson, Arizona, USA. Pics thanks to Paul Bradley.

Hell fellow modellers. I have finally completed my Norwegian Air Shuttle fleet. A project that has lasted me far too long. The first model being the Revell 737-800, LN-NOL, was finished back in November 2012. The -300 was completed back in January 2014. Now, two years later, the Dreamliner is complete. My target back in the days, was to model one of each plane type in the 2012 fleet. The -300 has now been withdrawn from service. The Dreamliner has switched registration, so its now on norwegian registration; LN-LNA, and accordingly, the 737-800 has changed from LN-NOL to EI-FHC. The Norwegian Trio by Robin Matcham, on Flickr Norwegian Long Haul 787-8 EI-LNA by Robin Matcham, on Flickr Norwegian Air Shuttle 737-3Y0 LN-KKR by Robin Matcham, on Flickr Norwegian Air Shuttle 737-8Q8 LN-NOL by Robin Matcham, on Flickr After being three months in the Phillippines with work, I have now returned to Denmark and should be able to complete some more models in the near future. Robin

I started this one at Christmas thinking it would be a nice quick build. Few parts, rattle can of white paint, a bit of red at the front end...... Well it has taken me until now to get it done! I always thought the Dreamliner was a bit on the ugly side, but I have to say that building this model has changed my mind. It has lovely flowing lines and had gone from ugly duckling to beautiful swan. Maybe it has something to do with them now appearing in proper airline liveries rather than prototype colours. The kit is the Revell boxing of the Zvezda mouldings, and is beautifully done. The fan blades in the engines feature individual blades, cleverly moulded as two rings of blades that fit together. The cockpit glazing was a slightly oversize fit and required sanding to blend it in. I polished it back to clarity with micromesh cloths as I prefer clear glazing to window decals. Decals are from Lima November and very nicely done. I chose EI-LNB (Irish reg. as these aircraft are leased and not on the Norwegian register) 'Thor Heyerdal' as my Grandmother was at school with him! All in all an enjoyable build, not as quick as I thought it would be, but it is a big aeroplane especially when seen next to a 737. Thanks for looking John

HI,It sure is a mighty fine looking bird,but will it work? http://www.universetoday.com/105795/dream-chaser-spaceship-test-article-damaged-during-1st-free-flight-drop-test/ cheers Don