Hello, Lindsay - nice of you to say - thank you.
Really pleased to see there are other fellow brush painters out there!
To answer your question -
1. I always base coat prior to applying top coats - usually (as in this case) light grey.
2. Once dry, draw out pattern of the camo using a pencil onto the surface of the model itself. Use the painting guide diagram to help, e.g. count the ribs from where you want the pattern to start and end.
3. Apply the different camo colours one or two at a time by following the drawn line with the paint brush. I use Revell 'aqua colours' which thin nicely with water. then build up subsequent layers after each coat. You can then blend in the different colours/correct the camo pattern as you go.
4. Finally, use a combination of dark and light shades of top coat colour to try and achieve a shaded rib look.
The cowling was tricky on this one - again, carefully (through trial and error looking at the paint guide carefully) measured out the base of the triangle. I then measured centre of base of the triangle and drew freehand (could not use a ruler due to rounded shape of the cowling) a centre line to engine end of cowling. I was then able to draw each side of the triangle meeting this centre line (apex).
Once I had the drawn pattern, I was simply able (as above method) to follow carefully the drawn lines with fine paint brush building up and blending the two colours over several layers of paint - probably took about 6 - 8 paint layers (including touching in overruns) to get right. Although slow and very painstaking, the result is much neater than using paint masking tape. with brush painting, masking can work but tends to leave a visible raised 'edge'. This method gave the appearance of a sprayed look and much, much neater.
Hope this makes sense - please feel free to PM me if any of this does not make any sense.
finally, give this kit a go - I think this a good, underrated Roden kit. A nice simple, uncomplicated kit with reasonably good fit which goes together quickly and easily.
Regards
Dave