Hello again, and sorry for the delay here, guys.
I've been making slow progress on this but have gotten it to the point of primer. Here's what's been done lately:
I put on one of the aide tool rail kit pieces but didn't care for how I placed it--photos actually show it slightly skewed on the hull to allow for the shovel head. So in removing it, I ruined it, and had to build a new one from sprue. I also took the opportunity then to make a better shovel handle and to hollow out the towing pintle mounts. I've also added the first locating pieces for the side armor mounts (which I won't be using).
The other side. I hollowed out the pintle mounts again, and scribed more grain in the jack block. I'm using Tamiya PZ IV tools, but I had to shorten the axe handle to fit it in there.
This is a sad picture: there are not one, but TWO choices for the rear track link mounting rails. Of course, in my haste, I assumed that the ones I saw on the sprue were the only ones. NOPE. 
When I put them on I was really confused as to why the track links then didn't quite fit the way they're supposed to mount. Nonetheless, with some filing, I was able to shoehorn them on in a fashion that fit a Panther A and the put some thin sprue rod in to simulate track pins--yeah they look crooked here but looked ok not-blown-up on screen. Anyway, I had to tear off this whole rail and put the correct one one. The track links fit as they should on that one. Stupid mistakes, honestly.. 
How they SHOULD look. I left the damaged zimmerit where I tore off the other side. It will look cool beat up in between these two links.
On the hull top, I painted two extra periscopes and painted the interior of their receptacles before putting the part in. I'll mask these when painting.
The rudimentary side armor mounts. These sometimes got ripped right off, but I'm happy with the basic shapes here. "Old School Modeling 101" lol.
Side view overall...
The wire spool and mufflers will be painted separately. I did add this jack mount to the rear, right above the circular cover there.
The photoetch PE screens. Wait to put on those rear clamp-type-things until you put the PE screens on.
Top deck finished. Don't know if you can tell, but I've textured the top hull and rear deck by stippling Testor's Glue on it with a little bit of white putty added in.
I think that muzzle break cover is from Tiger Models? I am using a figure from the "Jabo's!" tank crew set by Dragon/DML.
I'm including this photo so you can see the painted periscope behind the binocular scope. This small detail is not included in the kit--it's a bare opening there--so you have to add it.
Aaaaaand, that's it for now. I may get some primer on this soon, but I have to set it aside for a few weeks. I got an offer to build a kit for an FSM magazine article in the future, and I'll be turning my attention to that very soon. But thanks for looking in guys. As soon as I can get some time to get some paint on this pig, I'll be back. 