The spring modification isn't bad - it could be improved by adding a sliver/fillet of plastic at each end of the spring to make it less tapered? Pairing off the originals to replace with white metal is a little tricky, but does make such a big difference!

The weathering job looks superb. What denting have you managed to achieve with a soldering iron? Any close ups?

Thanks James!

Have a look and see if you prefer the left spring on the second picture - that has some of the bottom of the moulding cut away to flatten out the line - I think this is maybe better than adding to the other end since it lifts the spring up visually, but it was a pain as mentioned. I know you've done the full job on this - how did you get in to pare them away, maybe I can get some tips?

The denting was mostly with a halogen lamp since all I managed to do with the 2mm plastic and an iron is to make gouges I used a mask to soften one panel at a time and deform it outwards. I'll take a picture later on so you can see the results - it's only really apparent close to end-on.

is it because ZKAs/MKAs all got tatty before digital cameras were commonplace?

I suspect that may have a lot to do with it...only some of the Limpets got "proper" dutch paint though, from memory most got a yellow band added above whatever livery it was in as a POA - the state of some of the late MKA images is due to big chunks of whatever paint was left being many many years old!

Will - yes the one on the second picture, left is visually the best!

I used a sharp scalpel with a curved blade and tool my time. They don't need to be perfectly flat as the casting will sit on top of the area you remove them from. IIRC I cut through the springs at the ends and then up the sides of the W irons - which removed the spring ends. I then carefully and slowly carved in at each end. The blade was new and I took my time... eventually there is enough of a cut that the scalpel can be twisted slightly to snap the spring detail off

I look forward to seeing the photos end on - it looks lovely! (as does your older EWS MTA work IIRC?)

yes the one on the second picture, left is visually the best!

Blast, I think you're right. It's more obviously better in the photo than it was in the bare plastic. That means I've got 24 springs to modify, let alone the PNA ones

from memory most got a yellow band added above whatever livery it was in as a POA

I need to try and capture that better. Maybe I should mask off the yellow stripe, weather the bottom, then unmask and weather the whole thing a bit more? It does make sense of what they look like.