@johnb - The masks were done by me - but I'll bet in a few months Eduard will bring out both masks and a photoetch cockpit detail set.

@tcinla, impressive, that must have been a lot of work to get those masks done. Great result.

Great progress, my friend @tcinla!

Tom, @tcinla, that looks great. I don't see any putty lines anywhere. That must be a phenomenal fitting kit. What a pleasure that must be to build.

Here it is painted. Vallejo acrylic metalizer. Aluminum overall, with White Aluminum for the aluminum dope painted on the fabric covered control surfaces.

I applied an overall coat of Tamiya X-18 semi-gloss black and allowed it to dry overnight and through the morning for about 24 hours. Then I began applying the metalizer, "misting" it on with repeated applications till it got to the point of "good coverage." This is not the same as "complete coverage." "Good coverage" allows the underlying black to help "pop out" the very petite surface details - which I think you can see here and it's only better-looking in person. Also, the "good coverage" is not completely uniform, though the differences are subtle, which to my eye replicates the "aging of the surface with dirt, grease, oil, etc. accumulating here and there randomly.

Decals later.

5 attached images. Click to enlarge.

@tcinla
Hey Tom, I’m aware of those “older” decals made with the accurate miniatures kits in mind (and their reboxed options). What I meant is lack of brand new ones on the wake of this new kit.
Of course all are good for the HK kit, but it’s odd to me since I believe this kit (and others versions if they come around) will be a best seller

@holzhamer - I totally agree with you. I would love to get decals to do "Lucky 13/Pistol Packin' Mama" of the 321st BG of the 57th BW, flown by Dan Bowling, who I think sets the standard of excellence for World War II guys both in the war and later - at least among all those I met through the years. As his friend Paul Young put it, "He was the squadron leader - that's different from the squadron commander."

@tcinla - that looks terrific and in record time! I've come to really like Vallejo acrylic metalizers.