Bit more in the cockpit. Some detail panels in the footwell area and into the lower view section to enhance this with some PE bits that will be seen through the lower view windows.

Next some filler around the nacelles attachment points at the rear upper fuselage.

As these set, next is to start work on the lower fuselage and loading ramp assembly.

Starting with rear loading ramp. inner panel.

The ramp outer door shell. Assembled with the inner ramp floor and put aside.

The center lower fuselage insert is then attached to the main fuselage.

The fit is not bad. Easy to fix and fill to make the lower surfaces look more even after clean up.

Next is too install the windshield panel. Very good fit which Italeri can be tricky here when it comes to the cockpit glass on their helos.

Next is the avionics nose panel .

Again fit is good here as well. Another good detail to point out is that the glass panels have little bit of distortion, but not bad as you can still see the details with in the flight deck. Just gotta be careful with the sticky fingers not leaving any cement residue on the clear parts. For goodness sake.

Next up more clean up around that air frame. Add detail bits and the proper configuration details under the fuselage for this variant. More to follow. By the way even in this scale, the Chinook is not a small hello.

Looks fantastic, Chuck. Just catching up on the build. Nice that we have some activity again in this GB . I really like the look of the pit of your Chinook, including the color etch and your improvements. The seats look really nice, in particular So interesting to know the actual name/of the various controls, about which you obviously have first-hand knowledge.

One has to be so very careful with transparencies on the green house clear parts typical of helos and some bomber models. That fingerprint will easily sand off, though (looks maybe like you already fixed it) It appears you got a really nice fit all around on the transparencies (in spite of the complex shape). I have spent three days carefully gluing my He.111 canopy together. The fit was really bad and I had to use melted stretched sprue in many places to fill gaps and secure it. Nice that the gluing is done, now (careful sanding will be next).

I have so many unbuilt helo kits, it's getting embarrassing (mostly Italeri, which appear to be very nice in quality). You've given me a lot of inspiration with your build. Actually I do also have the Airfix Lynx which I have partially built as the British Army Afghanistan version.

Really looking forward to the painting stage on your build. Thanks for sharing your progress in such interesting detail.

Thanks Eric, not my preferred way of leaving a watermark on a project.

That's great progress, my friend @uscusn!
Nice work on the transparencies!

After masking the bubble type port holes. Next is to pre shade the air frame.

I will use Xtracolour RAF Dark Sea Grey and Gunze RAF Dk Green for the scheme.

First was to airbrush the Grey pattern first. Very light coats to set the pattern, leaving the exposed areas that will be Dark Green.

Xtracolour enamel dries slowly and glossy.

Next is to apply the Gunze Dk Green. Free handing the 2nd color with my Paasche H airbrush, #1 tip.

Love Gunze, no clogging, and lays a very fine feathered demarcation line separating the 2 colors.

Let sit overnight. Next day was to go over the Grey with a 2nd coat. Xtracolour flows very well out of the brush, no clogging.

Fine feathered edge, very little overspray if any. Which allows a very clean finish.

Glossy finishes tend to take a bit to set and dry,. Will leave this initial paint work over the week. Before masking off the anti glare panel to paint that black and the undersurfaces as well.

Next up is to paint the black undersurfaces, anti glare panel.

More to follow...

Thanks Spiros, I do like the RAF scheme on the Chinooks.

Nice add-ons, my friend @uscusn!

With all the details now attached along the bottom of the Chinook. Now to paint the black lower surfaces.

Using Tamiya Flat Black to all the details and a soft demarcation line to border the tutone upper surfaces..

The anti glare panel was masked off and this area is painted as well. Then masking removed.

The black lower surfaces once dry I then install the rear gear struts.

Next is to apply the Future Clear Coat to start the decal process. Will let this sit overnight.

Next up is to apply the decals.

More to follow.