Hi Spiros, it gives it more character. Otherwise it it quite plain at overall black scheme that is quite bland despite the unusual shape.

Josh, thanks and let say an early Merry Christmas.
Now to install the main gear bays.

Not to often we have a kit that has the wheel bay wells as separate parts. But Tamiya does and both main gear wells are removed from the sprues. With decent details within the bay. Not yet painted Gloss White.

Each well is attached to the lower wing half, cement very and set to make sure they will never come loose over time.

The fit is flawless also provide a more rigid lower hull with the wheel and weapons now set in place.

Next the nose weight.

Another ingenious approach on adding the nose weight which is provided with the kit. Bravo Tamiya! 2 brackets support the weight on each end then both are then cemented in place on the lower hull.

Once the lower components are set. The upper lower halves are assembled and cemented in place.

With the basic air frame finished. Time to prep for the paint process.

More to follow.

Looks like someone had been thinking deep to come up with those solutions - great base kit I'll say. And equally great progress here Chuck.

Some more catching up on the Stealth. With the lower hull attached to the upper fuselage. Time to add the details under and over the top.

The lower vents are molded in white and are located between the weapons bay and main gear bays.

Meanwhile to build the vertical tails and the movable rudders

First assembling the base of the rudders and then attaching to rear section of the fuselage.

The parachute cover and fuel refueling door are attached to the upper fuselage.

Next to assemble and paint the GBU-27A Paveway III bombs.

These are molded in white as there are 2 bombs to build.

The forward fins are removed and attached to the head of the bomb.

The tail fins are next up and attached to the tail unit.

The bombs are painted Tamiya X61 Olive Drab

Then future is painted for the clear coat. The kit decals are used for the stripe and stencil for each bomb.

The bomb rack shackle will be attached later in the build

Next up is to paint the gear and bomb bays Glossy White. more to follow...

Great progress indeed, Chuck @uscusn!
The Nighthawk is such a cool plane!

Next up is to paint wheel and weapons bays in gloss White using Tamiya acrylic.

Then to put aside and work on some more detail work on the airframe.

Next is to assemble the elevons.

I will display these in the lowered position. Though some photos show them slightly split apart, the Tam kit have them as one piece.

Now to assemble the v-tail rudders.

They are made up of 4 pieces, 2 per side.

I will display these toed inward position.

The outer fuselage extensions are attached just outboard of the exhaust outlets.

The canopy is removed from the sprue and temporarily set in place.

Next up is to mask the canopy and Flir windows.
more to follow.

1 additional image. Click to enlarge.

I love the posing of the moving surfaces too, Chuck!
If I recall well, the Academy one I built in 2003, had them molded in "flying" position, resulting in an awkward posture.