Good looking stuff, Steve!
Glad to hear you're feeling better, by the way!
It's funny, because I'm working on the Thomas right now, too! And I'm approximately at the same stage...just got the castles *oiled up* this morning, and they'll be ready for install in a couple of days...I'm not using the Kingly colors you mentioned, mostly just woody kind of stuff, and I mixed a custom color for the tarred lower hull.
I found it interesting that the kit came with nameplates for the Hansa Kogge, and the Thomas, as well as two different tops for the mast, one square and one trapezoidal? Did Zvezda literally use two different boxes and sell the same kit under different names?
I'm also using a few aftermarket parts...I have a bag of brass eyebolts (from MS) so I decided to ditch the plastic eyes and replace the ones on the aftercastle and the base of the mast with brass ones...looks much better. And I bought some hearts from Bluejacket to rig my own deadeyes, though the kit's molded ones look great, which is typical for Zvezda (not sure why no one else can seem to make good-looking molded lanyards and blocks, but they can!)
What are your plans for the sail?
Anyway, hope things continue to look up for ya! It'll be nice to have you around again!
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Current Project: Imai/ERTL Spanish Galleon #2
Recently Finished: Revell 1/96 Cutty Sark
Next Up: ???