@mostrich: agree! The headrest was attached to the canopy which got ripped off in the slipstream and the pilot broke his neck. At least that's what the investigators concluded. As a remedying measure the headrest was attached to the back wall on all subsequent a/c.
@jeeves: this is the pole launcher not the test tower. The pole launcher, which was supposed to be used with the operations a/c, was a much simpler affair (fortunately).
And now back to the build.
After primer coat, a pic shot w/o flash with the model under the desk lamp to see where the shadows fall. The idea is to try and do a zenithal lighting modulation job.

Pre-shading based on the above reference pic.

Then it's a base coat of RLM 76 followed by more paint modulation to further emphasize the light and shadows.

The flash flattens out the effect. It's much better in real. Yes, it is, I swear!
Next I decided to up the level of airbrushing craziness by doing the entire upper side with green spaghettis.


Next decals. Easy, right? Not so! But more about this the next time.
M













