Looking good so far. Rivetting really helps pop the kit.

Tom @tcinla , yes , joining the tail parts as well as the wing with the fuselage is a good way to hurry up and have the best fitting . In this case I leave the tail off only because I was manage to make some extra work on , so was easier to have it separated from the fuselage .

Becareful , I am not talking about an OOB project , I just say " I do not intend to open any panel I find in front of me " , this is not about OOB building !

Thank you for your time and for your kindly comments .

These are such amazingly detailed parts, my friend @faraomike!

Before I close the fuselage , my attention moves on the cockpit and on the space behind the engine and into the wheel well .

Revell provides a good enough cockpit which depending on our moods can look right even only with a good paint/weathering , or with enough scratch work .

I finally chose to use the MDC set since I had it available for several years , so I give it a try .

The result is quite fine (regarding the all time classic MDC multimedia set) providing everything you need for a decent cockpit and completed with a set of belts from Eduard's BIG ED set .

The basic color is RLM66 from Gunze , lightened with 10% white for scale effect . Belts are pre painted.

With some white oil paint straight from the tube I make some highlights and with aluminium some more hard scratches .

At the end a wash with ...something dark gives more shadow , improves details and gives some 3D effect .

At the very end , some dark brown dry pastel makes the area under pilot's boots some dusty .

After this , comes the time for the engine accessories .

Again , Revell have done great work here providing all the more obvious parts of this area .

But because I'm a little obsessed, I choose to add some details that I thought would give more air to the area.

So , with some lead and copper wire I make some oil tubing and with 1mm brass tube and white cable I make some cabling .

Here the colors are black , steel and aluminium with small bites of RLM02 and steel .

Last touch are the scratch ammunition shells eject openings .

Having done with that parts , all I have to do now is to close the fuselage , merge it with wing and prepairing for first color .

But this is another story , untill then , keep safe and have fun !

13 attached images. Click to enlarge.

Looking superb, @faraomike!

Michael, this is lovely work and very highly detailed, which is a credit to your modelling skills. I look forward to seeing your build progress... I also hope you're on the road to recovery with your health.

Kindest regards,

Paul

Finally comes to a shape ! All the main parts (picture 1) finished and comes in one , except elevators and ailerons (picture 2) .

Then start painting : wing is painted with RLM74 & 76 v.2 (AK air) , wing under surfaces with RLM 66 & natural metal as a late war ID scheme , fuselage upper surfaces with RLM 81 v.3 / RLM 83 dark green / RLM 82 light green and fuselage sides with RLM 76 v.3 (or late war variation) as well as the fuselage under surfaces from the end of the wing to the tail .

Nose under surface is RLM 76 v. 3 .

The rudder is painted with RLM 76 v. 1 and is mottled with RLM 82 .The tail is RLM 76 v.3 mottled with 81 v.3 & 83 .

Fuselage sides are toned down with a light mist of RLM 81 v.3 and following my reference pictures I have done some inconsistencies and patches (tail to fuselage joint , engine/guns cover etc) .

So having the main camo ready , next step is some first weathering and some small details like red primer in small spots , and then decoration (markings/crosses/swastikas/numbers etc) .

But this is another session , until then , keep safe and have fun !

5 attached images. Click to enlarge.