Continuing with the progress update on my Reliant build. The first step was the usual washing of all the kit parts with a soapy S.O.S. pad to clean the mold release agent and at the same time to roughen up the surface a bit for the primer coats. I then copied from a YouTube build log and sanded off the raised navigation and strobe blisters.

Next came the fun part of drilling windows. With the exception of the 18 round ports on the bottom of the saucer around the planetary sensor dome, this kit has no scribed windows. Fortunately, the Paragrafix PE set has templates for just this purpose. I picked a smaller bit and drilled pilot holes first, 2-3 each in the elongated ones. Removed the template and came back and enlarged the holes with a bit just smaller than the template holes, to allow for filing and shaping on the elongated ones.

Next up was drilling holes for the navigation beacons and strobes on the hull. Don't remember what sized bit, but it will allow the 1.5mm butterfly LED to just poke it's head above the surface, but no more. I had to carve out a well on the inside where the hole is drilled to allow the LED to sit so the tip pokes through the other side. Have to be very careful you don't carve the hole bigger when doing this. More to follow.