Well the Viper has arrived. It is very well built and the paint is lovely.

Removing all the stuff from inside the fuselage and I found the front cockpit already damaged badly, with torn plastic around one side of it, probably from being forced into the plane during packaging. It is too thin to put up with anything but the lightest touch, from what I see. Found a broken off piece of plastic for it down the back near the landing gear doors. Pity really, as the rest of the model is so nice, that it deserves a heavier plastic for the cockpits. Undercarriage and gear doors were fitted and the job was well done with everything closing nice and clean.

I ordered the EV-5U air switch, but it didn't come. On checking with SM, they advised that it will come later, as they were out of stock. Sounds fair to me. Plenty to do in the meantime anyway.

Overall, the purchase and communication with SM has been very good and the plane is well worth the money and the 5 week wait that it takes to get one.