Thanks for your encouraging comments everyone! It's not far off completion now. Since the last post, I've got the markings on after first giving it some Klear. I used microsol & microset on them. Don't know how essential they are but I've had these bottles since about 1995 so I thought I may as well get some use out of them. The result was very pleasing so I guess I'll continue to use the stuff. Once they had taken, I put more Klear on (apparently you're supposed to do that?) and then applied the metal bands and plates on the nose. It looks to me like the rings are the edges of the firewalls and the plates are to protect against the heat of the exhaust gases. Anyway, the rings were supplied with the markings and the plates were supposed to be painted on but I chose not to do either. instead, as this build is very much one huge experiment for me (see my previous posts) I used Bare Metal Foil. Dead good fun it was too!!! It's meant to be matt aluminium but it looks a bit shiny to me. Never mind, the next step after the weathering is the matt varnish so that should take the edge off - another experiment coming right up...! After that, it will be canopy on, antenna mast and wires on, pitot head on and check it all over for any last minute fuss and bother before doing the base for it and it'll then be ready for the Northern Model Show. DCOS is home to so, haven't I done well!!! Pictures of the finished product will follow...