Progress is slow at the moment but I am approaching it my way working from the one definate known exact location on each side, attaching the front inner side of the intakes to the sides of the fuselage.
As below with one side in place. There are no location pins so it needs careful lining up, more like a short run kit than a Trumpeter.
When fully dry I then cement it to the side of the main airframe. Problem is, it is not a great fit and one side seems somewhat warped. I therefore started gluing in sections working forward as each section dries.
Below is with both sides in place. I have left that overnight for the cement to fully harden. I will have some work to do on joins over a couple of sessions.
I did do a test fit and found that I should be able to fit the ducting into the right positions behind the intakes without using slivers of plastic sheet inside the intakes holding it in place, which was the solution the link required which would inevitably be visible when looking into the intakes.
In between I have been moving on with other sub-assemblies.
As regulars know I like to complete my builds 'buttoned up' with only the cockpit open. I just like seeing the clean lines of the aircraft while focussing on cockpit detail. This model is engineered to have all hatches open and it is taking a lot of work modifying parts to have them closed up. On the F/A18E there is a crew ladder that folds up into the underside of the front starboard wing, the model is designed to have it lowered. While technically I am sure that would be correct, with the aircraft on the ground without a pilot, I dont want that. So I have scraped out detail from the wing recess and then scraped and sanded the side of the ladder to fit the gap so it is displayed closed.
Tonight more work on the airframe and, perhaps see if those ducts do fit as I hope.