I am with you there on the use of LEDs Paul. I think in the right context - (Sci-Fi, for example really lends itself to this) and using it in a way that contributes rather than takes over the project - in these cases it's great. The airbus certainly fits this 'rule'. Very well done.

The major subassemblies have now gone together now with some more gaps to contend with around the wing roots and top of the fuselage. I have also added an APU exhaust pipe which is quite prominent on the upper fuselage, still to reshaped and tidied up.

7 attached images. Click to enlarge.

Thanks Allan

I like how it is coming together very nicely indeed.

Outstanding, Ray!

I started to mask so some priming could be done. I am using the Eduard mask set which is great (to a point). Something was not quite right with the set and then I figured it out, only 2 masks were supplied for the 4 nose wheel parts and an extra pair for the mains, 13 main wheels? Most of the wheels are on 2 sprues, the 2 outboard nose wheel parts are on a 3rd sprue, so I expect they were missed by the Eduard folk. I had to reuse the 2 nose wheel masks to do the outboard sides. The gear legs have been assembled and wheels painted black, though they now need redoing after they were assembled and seams removed.

More seam work was carried out onthe fuselage after the first seam prime. I also got the props painted and the power plants are ready to fit.

10 attached images. Click to enlarge.

Thanks Paul!

Well, I am very annoyed, I have made some progress photographing along the way. As I was editing the images the program decided to have a hissy fit and deleted most of the 30 images I have taken.

So here is an abbreviated update. The landing gear has been assembled, I found the axles to be quite flimsy and managed to break some, replaced with brass rod where applicable.

After some priming and filling, I painted the first coat to find some more filling required. Then I noticed on one the reference images that the RAF A400Ms are being fitted with threat warning receivers on the wingtips, so I just had to mod mine ( so much for an OOP Build). I still have some tidying up to do. I also masked up the base coat and painted the engine intakes and leading edges and APU exhaust.

9 attached images. Click to enlarge.