Nice progress, my friend @kalamazoo!
The kit looks way more refined than my Matchbox one.

Good progress, Allan @kalamazoo
Your used approach is a wise decision to make life easier later on.

Thanks Spiros, I sold my Revell / Matchbox kit years ago, ------
Thanks George, the nose leg is not removable only retracted to keep it safe, also the air brakes ------------
Thanks John, I like to add all the fragile bits after painting, --------------
Thanks John, the etch bits do look good but I'll stick with the kit as is, ----------------
a pic of the air brakes mod', brass tubes and pin to insert after painting.

1 attached image. Click to enlarge.

Brass tubes are so much nicer, Allan @kalamazoo

Thanks Lis, John and Spiros.

Really nice interior, Allan @kalamazoo

Good to see you doing some more work on this, Allan @kalamazoo, the interior is going to be first class.

A bit more assembly and painting done, pic's later.

1 attached image. Click to enlarge.