Thanks a lot for the encouragement guys
Finalising the last construction steps prior to painting. Fitted the armoured glass and windscreen with no problems, fit of both was good.
I completed painting and fitting of various formation and navigation lights. All the clear parts not being painted with Tamiya clear colours were given a Pledge dip so I was able to use Tamiya Extra Thin (carefully!) augmented with Kristal Clear to secure them, particularly the ones at risk of falling back into the interior of the model. They were then masked with Montex masks or Micro Mask (the blue stuff).
I thought a lot about whether to attach the outer wings before or after painting as the join delineates the insignia white and intermediate blue on the bottom surface and they would be easier to handle. In the end, I decided to attach them so that the paint and weathering particularly on the upper surface is properly blended and I don't run into any fitting or gluing issues later that might mean paint re-work.
The vertical stabiliser and rudder, however, will be a different colour to the upper fuselage and the test fit is seamless, so I have decided to leave them off until after painting. Similarly, the flaps will be posed down, so I have also left them to be fitted later.
Now I have a question for you guys I hope you can help me with. Does anybody have any recommendations for acrylic paints or paint mixes for the US tricolour FS35164 (ANA608) Intermediate Blue and FS35042 (ANA607) Sea Blue colours? I will be using faded colours to simulate the weathering from the harsh Pacific land-based conditions.
I already have the MM enamels, but I'm thinking of using hairspray chipping so need to use acrylics for that. I also have the Lifecolor acrylics, but I find them difficult to spray for fine work and gum up my airbrush a bit.
Thanks!