The two half of the cabins are finally glued. The seam is rather loose and leaves a gap of more than 1 mm. The gluing will be made in strength, which requires a very large dose of glue, some clamps. I let this dry as is for several days without trying to start sanding the seam.

Meanwhile, the guns are prepared and drilled.

On the engines, the seams are sanded. Again, there are molding marks and shrinkages.

The design of the kit does not allow the engine module to be glue only at end of the assembly (after painting). So at this stage, they must be painted, glued in the cabin and protected for further assembling works.
They therefore received a coat of primer and black satin (spray cans).
As the surface still did not satisfying me (sanding marks this time), they are sanded again.

Then again primer + black satin paint.

It is covered with Alclad Steel.

The petals are highlighted with Aclad Jet Exhaust.

Then burning marks of the metal are made with transversal lines of Alclad Copper.

Followed by lighter ones in Tamiya clear blue.

The guns were painted at the same time.