Thanks, Eric (@eb801). I am still thinking about using some all-over black primer, but the gray primer came out so good I may just run with it. The primer is Tamiya Fine Gray straight from the spray can. The metallic paint is Humbrol Metal Cote from a spray can. The color is Polished Aluminum. I stumbled on these metal paints about a year ago and really like them. They spray a smooth, thin coat straight from the spray can. They also dry quickly and have a really tough surface when dry. They have 5 or 6 different colors of metals. The only problem is that no one carries them around here, so I have to get them online.

Thanks, John (@johnb). I guess the tradeoff on the extra work on the cockpit is that there wasn't an interior to build and paint.

That's beautiful painting, my friend @gblair!
Looking forward to the decals!

Thanks, John (@johnb) and Spiros (@fiveten). We'll see if the tone differences survive the decal process and the last coat of clear gloss.

That aluminum along with the different panel shades looks terrific @gblair. I’ve never tried Humbrol before - well maybe their enamels once. Never liked those little paint tins for some reason but it’s good to know they mix well with Vallejo which can be tricky paint as well, especially when it comes to thinners.. Bring on those decals!

I needed 3 different rounds of applying decals to get all the marking in place. The instructions on the Lima November decals warn that they are thin and fragile, and guess what, they really are thin and fragile. I started out using just water on the surface of the plane, but I discovered that the decals wanted to stick immediately where they first landed. I managed to break one of the underwing serials into several pieces as I tried to move it into position. I switched to MicroSet and the decals were much easier to move into place without sticking. This is why I always start with the underwing decals first...I sort out these problems before I start on the more visible decals above.

I moved on to the long fuselage stripes and windows, and I remembered why I don't build passenger planes. MicroSet allowed the stripes to be maneuvered into position, but I managed to break one of the stripes right after the last window. The decals thoughtfully came with some spare stripe decal, so I managed to make everything good. The decal for the double doors at the rear of the fuselage is very thin and big, so I managed to fold a corner into a place I couldn't recover. Luckily the door decals are very light in color, so almost blend into the silver of the fuselage. With everything in place, I hit all of the decals with some MicroSol to snug everything down. I'll let the decals dry for 24 hours, then on to the last bits. Everyone stay safe. Cheers.

3 attached images. Click to enlarge.

In the end the decals look fine, George @gblair
Agree with you that it is wise to have a first try at the bottom side of the plane.

Looks superb from here, my friend @gblair! Yes, airliners are not among the easiest regarding decals application... Your job is great, looking forward to the final bits!