1/144 Minicraft Boeing 777-200ER
AeroMexico N746AM

Gallery Article by Mario Fernandez on Dec 27 2011

 

Hi, fellas. This is my first build in about 3 years. This kit was originally the Lindbergh Line boxing, but after realizing I needed different engines, I got my hands on a Continental Boxing. Besides the CF90-94B’s (from the other kit), this model includes Contrail Models’ 777 Corrected nose, Metal landing gear with resin brake lines); as well as Draw Decals.

 

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Again, like I said, this is my first build in 3 years.  Right from the start I knew what livery this baby would be, yet I did not have the decals. Regardless, I started applying the Metal finish utilized Aluminum Tape. This trick I learned from the Master, Pierre Greutert. Basically, cut, measure, peel, paste and rub in with Cotton swabs or toothpicks.

Everything was going fine, until I realized the engines were not the right ones. The kit included Rolls Royce engines and I needed CF90-94Bs. During my search, I ran into Contrail models, which had the CF90-114s… It was a no go, but I ran into the corrected 777 nose and landing gear. As the bible would say, “Cometh thy kingdom”, so I got those. This created a new problem: When I removed the nose tape to install the new nose, I realized the Aluminum on the rest of the fuselage tarnished because of the exposure to Oxygen. Therefore, I had to remove and re apply ALL of the foil to get an even metal finish. I know, I know…

Once the plane was foiled, masked and painted, I hit another major roadblock: My airbrush broke – the Needle bearing. Sent it to repair, but it took for ever and I ended up getting an Iwata Revolution. WOW. Anyways, once I got the new airbrush, it was a matter of time to finish the kit.

Paints were Alclad for metallics, MM Enamels for everything else. Future for gloss coat on paint, and WD-40 on the Aluminum to prevent it from tarnishing.

Hope you like it as much as I do.

Mario Fernandez

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Photos and text © by Mario Fernandez