Thanks chaps, and Max- you're too kind, and good to see you back on the forum!
The model itself is almost finished, and just needs a few small items to be fitted, some of which will be done when it's on the diorama base. Work on this is under way, although nothing worthwhile to show yet.
Meanwhile, here's the latest pics of the model.
PIC 1. That darned canopy joint, the D/F loop fairing in place, pre-drilled in the top ready for antenna wires, and the open escape hatch. Below the D/F fairing, and below the radio op's window, can be seen two very small 'pegs'. These are the pick-up points for the antenna wire lead in, and the wires will be one of the very last things to be fitted, for obvious reasons(!), using dark-coloured 'invisible' thread.
The streaky appearance of the paint work, particularly around the cockpit and nose area, has been caused by brushing on matt clear, with a little too much flat base. This will be rectified by careful masking of the relavant clear parts, and then airbrushing a new mix of the matt clear coat.
PIC 2. The 'split' doors for the wing bomb bays were cut from 10 thou plastic card.
PIC 3. Doors in place and painted.
PICS 4 and 5. A small amount of detail has been added to the fuselage bomb bay, in the way of door actuators, and the crutches for the 2,000 lb HC bomb. This will only just be visible, at low viewing angles, but would be noticeable by its absence if omitted. The rough painting is deliberate, to provide contrast in the shadowed area when the model is on the base.
PIC 6. The kit part for the mid-upper turret cupola was discarded, and the vac-formed example used. This was extremely tricky to cut, especially the slots for the guns, as it is very small, andvery flexible, but was worth the effort. Some of the frames, and the area around the base of the turret, have yet to be re-touched and matt coated in this shot, work which has since been completed.
I should have some pictures of the work on the diorama base within the next day or two - going to try to quickly finish the Tornado between sessions - and meanwhile, sincere thanks to you all for the interest and support in this project so far.
Hand over is scheduled for Friday 7th September, at Newark Air Museum, and I have notified the museum secretary, who will attempt to interest the local Press, and also include this small event on the museum's web-site news page.