First bit of real work was with the pylons. Trumpeter, in all their greatness included Mavericks and Sidewinder missiles, but did NOT include the rails that those missiles require. I nabbed some extras from Academy's F-18 kit. (The Sidewinder rails are actually Sparrow rails, a bit modified...better than nothin!). Being that this build will be traveling across the country via the US Postal Service, extra measures are required. Brass pins were used to pin the rails to the pylons as well as the ordnance(coming later), there's also a pin the runs all the way through, from ordnance, through the rail, through the pylon and into the wing.
I went ahead and got these painted and weathered (as well as some other stuff not pictured) to save myself the trouble later. There's a lot of plane here!
Also got the landing gears done. I shaved off the molded on plumbing/wiring and replaced it with copper wire. The gear door that was molded as part of the gear was cut off...it was stupid thick and clunky. I scratched up a new one, as well as the actuator arms.
Painted up...
For the landing and taxi lights, I used a bit of aluminum foil, burnished in with a q-tip. Nice and shiny!
Next will be the cockpit!
Sweet work on the seat and canopy frame! Do you use tape to represent the wiring tie downs along the side of the canopy hood frame? (I'm getting ideas for use on my next new start 1/32 project) 
