Looks like you're off to a great start so far! Can't tell for sure, but it looks like you've not done a wash or at least a dry brush weathering on the bay details to bring some of that detail out to the eye a bit better.
And yeah, that kit is rife w/problems. Can't wait to see more on your build. I've wanted to pick up one of those shuttlebay interiors for a while, but my primary focus for Trek has been 1/2500 for a while now. I've still got two of those ERTL Reliants that could use the shuttlebay kit, regardless.
Thanks for sharin' yer pics!