As the above photo shows, the bare metal areas are a bit dark.  This is because I used Vallejo Metal Color Steel as the base, then followed with some clear blue and orange to distress it and give an exhaust-like appearance.  Unfortunately this made it appear much darker than in most real-life photos of the Phantom.  So, I stripped the paint using isopropyl alcohol and then re-primed.

The appearance is much better, certainly much lighter and more aligned with the overall paint scheme.  I did repaint the tail hook in steel as it does appear very dark compared to the other bare metal areas.  I then added some exhaust stains using some burnt iron on either side of the tailhook, ever so subtly.  

I also left the afterburner nozzles in a darker color because the real ones again, were very dark in photos compared to the other metal areas.  None of the above is cemented in, just held in place.  

Next is to test some washes and try post-fading and post-shading techniques (I’ve been watching vids by Jon Bius) before I apply anything to the model.