Aoshima 1/350 Thunderbird 3 begins

I've been following the progress of a modeller on the Eagle Transporter forum as he builds the model (and the Round House disguising the launch silo)... and it's got me itching to start on mine.

So here is the progress do far... and apologies for the iPhone photos. 

Here I have placed the model on the instructions' alignment template for the engines... 

Also on the photos you can see the white docking ring. The kit comes with three of these but they all have a join within the detail which needs to be tidied up, some of them being more difficult than others. I chose the ring with the least complex detail, so being easier to tidy up. 

I've gone as far as I can until I get the orange spray paint.