24 hour update.
Have the fuselage built. Just painted the landing gear legs. painted the inside of the engine nacelles for the air intakes. Seams are puttied and sanded. Canopy has been dipped in future and is drying.
There has been surprisingly little putty required for this kit considering it is an old ESCI kit. Did discover the missile is missing from the kit. So the final build will be weaponless.
(will fill the recess in the future)
Left to do before painting:
Let the canopy dry and mask, rescribe several panel lines (yes this kit has recessed panel lines!) Do some prepainting by hand. Engine nacells will be painted separate and attached afterwards. There would be some tight areas I could not get to with the air brush if the engines were attached. Don't know if I will get to sludge the panel lines and weather by the end of tomorrow. Will be very close.