Drilled a hole for the spotlight and made a mahogany base plate for it (not glued in yet, hence the angle) and tidied up some of the resin fairlead mouldings I had previously made (wider than the first lot). Now chrome painted and drying, (stuck them on some masking tape and taped the lot to the board for painting).

Rest of the bits now spray 'chromed' and the windshield top rail started. Eventually did manage to mask the nav light cluster, sand it and spray it which was tricky, but it looks a bit smoother than brushing it on. Stained and varnished the spotlight base as well. The resin fairleads turned out reasonably well once painted also.

Most bits 'chromed' now and ready to be attached, once I can get to the paint shop (still have restrictions) and get the paint for the bottom. Haven't attached them yet as I don't want them damaged, with the boat needing to be upside down for painting.

Windscreen to finish yet but getting closer, also need to drill a hole in the deck for the nav lights wiring. Might double sided tape these bits on yet, as I have some good thin black tape which might look ok, but I'll have to experiment with some spare blanks I made. Small additions each time, but slowly working towards the finish.

Trying out the Christmas lights before Santa comes😁 As previously mentioned, nothing stuck down yet. Yet to run the wires to the stern to a VR for the lights. Stern light needed also.

Another small shiny bit added. Was going to try casting a cross bit mooring cleat/bollard but it wasn't possible due to the ends on the cross bit, and also thought it might be a bit fragile. I've knocked up brass strip and rod version instead.

Playing with a bit more 'chrome' on the screen frame, bow and transom. This time using aircraft chrome self adhesive trim from a roll. Quite handy stuff, (best on flat surfaces, as with the bright aluminium tape I have) The trim is tricky to apply once off the backing, never sticks where you want it.

Made some engine hatch handles and a dash grab rail (2mm brass rod and 3mm washers) today. Left a few mm sticking out the back of the soldered on washers, for locating, and drilled the appropriate holes for these 'tabs'. The handles were glued in with a dab of thick cyano in the holes. Also finished the foredeck bollard by tapering the back of the base. Painted with the usual chrome paint before fitting. Deck fittings still not attached, (except handles) will be after bottom painting as mentioned.

For another experiment, I've made a mould for a set of deck foot treads in clay as before, and will have a go at moulding one today.

Moulded a trial foot tread today and sanded it to shape. Once finished and painted, should hopefully look ok. Clay mould cracked because I had the oven a bit hot, so I might make a better one, once I can get some more clay (still in lock-up 3) Need to make 4 for the 2 cockpits.

Managed to buy some more cyano gel today (on line- drive up) so thought I'd have a go at sticking on the spray rails I'd shaped and bent the previous night. I bent them using a large tall thermos filled with boiling water, and letting them soak for a while,-then pinning them in shape to my board and drying them with a hair dryer. Stuck them on using small dabs of cyano, doing 6"at a time.

Once set, a bead of cyano was run around top and bottom to bond them on. Once dry they were given a good few coats of aircraft dope to seal them. They will need sanding and undercoating before the bottom is painted. Also managed to buy some red spray paint for the bottom, so hoping to do that soon if the weather warms up again.

Had a bit of trouble getting one of the rails to stick right at the bow, as the balsa was a bit hard. I ended up drilling a couple of 1mm holes through the rail and hull, filling the hole with cyano, and using balsa 'nails'to hold it in place. These will be sanded off later.

Finally managed to get the bottom painted after fitting the spray rails. Now I can start fitting all the bits back on. Ordered some white 3mm pinstripe tape to try as a boot topping.