Thanks again for your warm feedback
I've started assembling the main fuselage.
My smooth-sailing relaxation mode with this build hit a bit of a speed bump due to a few unexpected alignment issues, so I really have to stay focused and think several steps ahead now. Because this model consists of so many intricate parts, small design oversights can pop up here and there.
Everything went smoothly until I reached part 189 (the cockpit floor). It slotted into place perfectly on its own, but when I tried to install the rear cockpit wall (part 179), I realized there wasn't enough clearance to slide it through. Tip: Before gluing part 189 into place, trim about 0.5 mm off its rear edge.
Next came an issue with parts 190 and 191. Unlike the main fuselage walls (173 and 174), these pieces lack cutouts for the main wing pivot axes. Without these cutouts, you won't be able to insert the wings all the way into their slots. Because I caught this after assembly, I had to carefully carve out those notches directly on the model. Pay close attention here if you're building this!
I dry-fitted the wings to test the fit and range. Positioning them was a bit tricky, but once in, they hold their stance well. I will likely need to make a few minor adjustments later so they close completely flush in the rear.
To help with this dry-fitting process, I decided to leave part 186 off for now and will install it later.