So in the interest of closing things out and maybe, just maybe, helping a fellow modeler of middling ability who happens upon this kit, I thought it'd be worthwhile to do a little post-mortem on this build. Especially seeing as how I learned a ton on it!
1 - Go overboard on the cockpit if you want, but it won't matter. Once it's closed up, it's hard to see much of anything beyond the pilot's seat, gunner's turret, and maybe the instrument panel. Focus your efforts there. Also, sprucing up the interior with PE struck me as overkill in hindsight.
2 - It's the little things that get you on this kit. Major fit and finish is spectacularly good...it's the things like the gun plate forward of the windscreen not seating over the instrument panel, or the canopy pieces being too thick to stack properly, that will have you pulling out your hair.
3 - The kit flaps are worthless. If you're going to make a serious go at this kit, track down the Eduard flaps.
4 - Don't drip CA on your stabilizers! Or use Polly flat!
5 - I used fishing line for the antenna. I honestly don't know how well stretched sprue would work here since the antenna has that sag where the sub-antenna attaches. This was, amazingly, the first antenna rigging I've ever done!
6 - Wet-sanding after the flat coat, then flat coating again adds a new layer to the worn, weathered look, especially along the wing and major fuselage surfaces.
7 - Don't glue the engine pieces together with white glue!
8 - Mr. Surfacer 1200 is an amazing primer.
9 - Vallejo acrylics thinned with future airbrush really, really well.