The final matt clear coat has been applied, and turned out reasonable, although there are a couple of small areas that have 'bloomed', which I hope can be rectified fairly easily. They may yet clear after more time in a warmer environment - the photos were taken only about 1.5 hours after application, before moving the model to a heated room.
The masking has been removed from the radiator intakes, exhaust slots, and all transparencies, and the latter have yet to be cleaned of adhesive residue from the tape.
Work has started on some simple detail on the entrance hatch, and the next step is to get the undercart fitted, followed by some detail painting and a little weathering etc, before fitting the exhausts, props, and final bits and pieces.
Apologies for the 'grainy' pics, taken in poor light - it's duller than a Hippocroccofrog's arm pit here at the moment !
PICS 1 and 2. How the model looks after the final matt clear coat, with the masking removed.
PICS 3 and 4. The small areas of 'bloom' in the matt clear coat. If these don't clear, then a 'spot' application of clear matt will be applied by brush, possibly after a thin local application of clear gloss.
PIC 5. The vac-formed canopy after removal of the masks, awaiting cleaning and polishing.
PICS 6 and 7. The inner locking latch and jettison foot pad were added to the entrance hatch, and the exterior handle too, using stretched sprue. When fully set, these will be cleaned up, and the interior handles improved, using PVA, and a central hinge plate added to the inner latch, before painting and fitting the window from the kit.
More to come soon (ish !) ................