Hi John
Nice progress for sure and I'm with Kev as not having to fit the MG/leading edge fairing is a huge plus and I'm also right with you that there surely was a lot of putty and sanding to smooth things out just the same.
Geez, why can't someone bring out a P-51 without those awful parts and just mold a clean wing without those horribly fitting parts and NO rivets. Revell was halfway there and then shot themselves in the foot. I think we're capable of getting the seam line on the leading edge squared away a lot easier without those terrible, never fitting parts.