Erik thanks for the kind comment. I love adding details to make the model a tad more realistic. A slow process but very rewarding when you finish. Now I have to repeat the process but hopefully it will go faster this time around. The landing gear doors and retraction struts are going to be a challenge!

Thanks John. If it wasn't for Tamiya thin cement, needle files, tweezers and Evergreen's finest I would be lost. Lol

Looking magnnificent, Morne @mornem. The improvement from my already made Canuck is devastating!

The speed brake internal structure has rows of raised rivets. So let Rosie the Riveter go to town on a Pewter foil insert.

1 attached image. Click to enlarge.

Thanks John. The scratchbuilding process is testing my eyesight. The old Mk 1 eyeballs are taking a strain when working with an area that's 10mm in size. The door catch was made from paper thin plastic card, 0.3 mm brass tube and wire simulating a hydraulic pipe.

1 attached image. Click to enlarge.

I think this side of the door catch and actuator are going to test my sanity. Lol.

1 attached image. Click to enlarge.

Exceptional, Morne.
With the results i've seen so far, I can only think of that you will also tackle this part.

Today was a rather frustrating day at the work bench. The wheel bay door catch and actuator mechanism tested my scratchbuilding skills. Working in an area of 10 mm high and 1 mm wide is not easy. The whole mechanism comprised of three distinct parts. The door catch was cut from paper thin plasticard to which I attached a 1 mm wide brass tube. The two actuating mechanisms were made from brass tubing, plasticard bits & pieces. In total the whole contraption was made out of 9 parts. Lots of trial and error and small scratchbuilt pieces catapulting from my tweezers into oblivion, made this a slow frustrating build. In hindsight it's all worth it in the end.

3 attached images. Click to enlarge.