I had the milliput out to fix some small gaps so thought I would make up some canvas covers for the instrument panels.  The milliput was first sprinkled with flour to prevent sticking to the tool, then  rolled into thin sheets using a piece of dowel.  I have wanted to try this technique for ages. The milliput was then draped over the coamings before the excess was cut away with a sharp knife.  It was then painted in vallejo leather based on captions in the DACO book stating it started out black then faded through a leather colour to a khaki colour.  The rear port cover was painted in a purplish colour to reflect the fact this cover wore out more quickly, so was replaced more often, and it became stained with jet fuel, hydraulic fluid etc leading to the purple colour. That plastic pitot tube needs to go too, as Ive bent it about four time already 

With the fuselage buttoned up, attention now turned to the wings and extraneous rivet detail Hobby Boss has graced them with.
Photos from DACO Publishing's excellent book on the Tomcat showed no such rivet detail, so it was decided it had to go, as did the rivet detail on the tailplanes

Mr Surfacer 500 was employed for this as seen above, when dry, being sanded to give nice smooth wings sans rivet lines. 
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The above photo shows the plasticard eyelid doors that replace the one piece part in the kit.  I was not really happy with the fit of it, so made my own from pics of card.  I also attached the spoilers at this stage so that I would not knock off the slat rails as I have done with all previous kits that have these parts sticking out.
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.Whilst the kit contains parts for the two larger ECM blisters shown above (parts E26.27) The Eduard instructions do not call them out.  Photos of my chosen jet definitely show them fitted, so they were added to the intake sides. A strange omission on Eduard's part, as from what I have read, no jets just had the two smaller blisters fitted.  A check of the original HobbyBoss instructions also show them as not called out either
Hopefully, in the next update, we will the model starting to come together.

 With the Eduard boxing, the engines are relegated to the spares bin.  Instead, Eduard provide you with resin compressor faces and jet nozzles.  So, the required parts were sawn off the casting blocks after painting with Alclad steel and superglued together

Yes, I could head this "I am the Walrus" but that heading has been used in the british modelling press as much as that other perennial favourite of the poms "Small but Perfectly Formed"
Anyway, after  a build that became a bit of a grind due to me bolloxing up the rigging, she's done. Yeah, I know. I should have weathered the prop and tyres to fit in with the rest of the finish, but I just wanted her off the bench at this stage.  
More pics on the Completed Models page here
More importantly, so far the 2018 plan is on track.  now, back to the Tomcats!