Really great progress indeed, Paul @paulh.

Guys, a few more photos of the build... I've managed to get the camouflage colours applied and completed the internal fittings in the cockpit, although the gunner's stand for the dorsal turret sustained a little damage which had to be sorted. It can be re-inserted in due course through the turret opening.

After applying the scheme, I varnished the model using Future/Pledge but then noticed after it had dried, that there was a slightly coarse texture to most external surfaces. I was aware there was some of this texture as I was doing the build, but I also think the initial dark green paint hadn't been sufficiently thinned, adding to the problem. So, once the varnish had dried, I took some fine grade wet 'n' dry paper and lightly sanded out the roughness and re-applied a further coat of dark green later in the day, as well as the pale blue undersides. This was all once again varnished before applying Tamiya tape over the dark green prior to applying the black green.

Yesterday was spent doing the small fiddly things in the cockpit - attaching an MG81Z and ammo belts, then I spent the day fighting with the vacuformed transparent parts which I'd sourced as replacements for the kit pieces. They are exceptionally good and really clear, the main issue being their increased flexibility to do whatever they pleased after being released from the mould sheet. The underside piece was particularly awkward but I eventually got it into place. I inserted a thin plastic card support on the (L) side of the rear cockpit edge and used this as an anchor point for the main canopy. Once set, I was able to manipulate the other edges into place. Even now, there are slight misalignments, but I'm hopeful that once the kit is finished and fully varnished, these won't be as obvious. It really is a relief to have got the main canopy fitted. I attempted to use thin adhesive tape followed by thin black strips of transfer to replicate the frames, but neither were successful. I resorted to attaching thin Tamiya tape on either side of each main frame and carefully brush-painted dark green into the gap between the two strips. As each frame dried, I repeated the process on the next frame, slowly working through until they were all painted. This is where the model stands at present.

The smaller frames on each side of the main canopy have still to be painted, but will likely be completed in the same manner. It is a repetitive process but the one which best accommodates the awkward curve of the main frames running across the clear part from side to side. I've had to put some filler in at the rear left side of the fuselage where the canopy frame fits in. This will need careful blending to smooth out the gap without damaging the transparency.

All in all, I am pleased with the day's work. Some reworking of the colour scheme around the canopy will be needed but that hopefully won't impact adversely on the kit. Thanks for looking in.

Regards,

Paul

7 attached images. Click to enlarge.

Very nice result indeed, Paul @paulh. With the canopy on she looks amazing, great view on the interior.

Amazing craftsmanship, my friend @paulh! Looks really challenging to tackle all these tiny wheels but you managed perfectly. Looking forward to your progress!

Thanks, guys... yes, Lego still has a place in model-making :-).

As for the wave pattern, it was applied by spray gun. Everything was playing up a bit on the day, hence the sharp, nicely defined areas followed by some fuzzy areas, but likely due to me rather than anything to do with the gun. Another modeller's offering of this colour scheme on the internet was very good, but he decided from the same photo I am drawing on, that the wave pattern had been applied using a brush. Although I initially thought the same, on closer inspection of an area under the wing, I concluded that some of the wave pattern there had too much fluidity of movement to have been painted by a brush; it seemed as though it was a countinuous double loop, like two number 6s, one above the other. I didn't think it looked as clearly defined as a brush-applied loop, and there were other areas in the photo where I could imagine someone with a spray gun, perhaps applying the scheme hurriedly, had stopped to think where the next section was to go but hadn't quite switched off the spraygun, so the painted lines of the waves got slightly bunched up. This was a major factor in deciding to spray the pattern instead using a brush.

So now, on to the main undercarriage... I'll need to see how that turns out, but I think the previously mentioned 'clear plastic support' may be needed after all. More to follow in due course... :-).

Indeed, you are an airbrush Master, my friend @paulh!

Congratulations, my friend @paulh! A wonderful result, a triumph over a most challenging kit, so inspirational! Great video, as well! Thank you so much for this fantastic entry in our GB!

Thanks, John/Spiros, for your comments... :-).