This is a great update. You are well on your way to the finish line now. It's always a good sign when your airplane looks like it does on the model box, and it can stand on it's own feet for the first time. It shouldn't be too long and you will be spraying on some paint. The bomb trapeze definitely looks fragile...and right at home once installed.

Good progress Chuck! I used Dead Design masks also, in this case also for mine EoJ GB entry. Found them very good, accurate in the matching size of each window pane and the glue is sufficient to get the mask without residuals after peeling them off

Actually @uscusn, it is closer that you think - christmas in danish is "Jul", and soon it will be the 24th og JULy. - that aside, nice progress here with robbing spareparts modified masks and all.

You have made some excellent progress since the last time I checked in... It shouldn't be much longer and this one will have a nice coat of paint on it. You probably mentioned it earlier, (I just don't remember, lots going on right now) but what color scheme have you chose for this build ? I'm very curious.
Thanks !

This Val is really starting to look complete, even more so now that you have sprayed on the base color. I have always liked the way this plane looks. It's very elegant with the elliptical wing and full wheel spats. That's a very good choice of color you picked out.

It probably didn't look so appealing if you were on the business end of it 75 years ago...

Might I follow along and praise the good looks with the paint on? I'll do it then - darn it looks great in the grey, it really makes the shape shine!

I love your Val Chuck @uscusn! What a great scheme, tempting me to build a same scheme Val too!
Waiting for your decalling!

Thanks Spiros, though a one color scheme it does have some character with the black cowl.

Eric the Red is coming up.

Pearl Harbor scheme from the carrier Shokaku. Will mask off and paint the tail red.

After masking the tail, red is applied on the rudder, upper and lower surfaces of the horizontal stabs.

Then Future clear is applied on the rudder for the decals. Using Aeromaster decal set 48-117C

Starting with the lower Hinomaru's. These are the kit decals which are still good and settled nicely into the rivets and panel lines.

There is no stenciling at all on this scheme. Just the national markings, squadron stripes and tail code.

The double red stripe is one decal and went on with very little difficulty. I was wondering if these were sized for the Hasegawa kit, but they worked fine over the tail fillet and met perfectly underneath.

Once the decals were applied and set overnight. A final coat of Micro Scale Satin clear finish was applied to leave a semi gloss finish.

Almost there, more to follow.