David, I do not believe there was a "set" scheme/pattern for French WW II aircraft. Add to that subcontractors giving it their own "take", and availability of paints. Then, Vichy "pyjamas" in yellow and red ID stripes, in different patterns, as well. For the D520, basic scheme, then after the Armistice, a white stripe with ah arrowhead down the side of the fuselge Then, red-white-blue narrow stripes on a slant on the wings. Finally, the pyjamas, then back to the Allies, and overpainting and remarking. My interest in all this goes back to ABT decals, waaay back, and the sideviews in RAF Flying Review, thence Profiles. Fascinating stuff, to me, anyhow.

My French is apres le facon de Baltimore Sud.

Making good progress Chuck.

Thanks Tom, about time to finally get started on this. The thing is with this particular Tam kit, very simple build, once the cockpit is done it won't take long to assemble the rest of it.

Looks great Chuck !

Next step is to install the cockpit assy into the fuselage. After test fitting into the RH side half, secure and assemble the LH fuselage half and like that this process is done. Next up is step 3 and 4 assembling the wings and installation. I tie these 2 steps into one as I normally attach the lower portion of the wing section onto the fuselage and then attach each upper wing half to the lower half. Checking alignment and found I did a boo boo when installing the cockpit. By cementing the lower cockpit floor to the fuselage sides drew it in too much on the right hand side. Which caused a sizable gap along the RH side wing to fuselage join. LH side is perfect. The lower wing to fuselage fit is perfect. So will need to address that. Next attach the stabs and the fit here is typical Tamiya, good. Next up fixing that wing join and work the seams. More to follow.

15 attached images. Click to enlarge.

Helpful blow-by-blow, Chuck.

Good morning Louis, good catch yes that is the birdcage lingering in the background about the same stage in progress as the D.520. The pre-shading is a technique that I learned from an article I read years ago and don't remember which modeling site but seems to me that I had a great conversation about with a great scale modeler named Bill LaChance. It really helps around the lower section of the airframe. Makes the details pop. The Raiden built before the pre-shading technique. And the N1K1 Shiden after. The Raiden to dirty up the bottom was using a dirty wash to pick out some areas of leakage and gun soot trails under the shell ejector chutes. The Shiden using the pre shade as well as some post staining in the glossy stage of the build process.

2 attached images. Click to enlarge.