thank you very much for the offer to paint the items
i may take you up on it see how we go. Its the Legends set, i find they quality really good. Yes you do have to work on the thing at hand and when you have the etch and other bits you always have to read up plan ahead so as to see what bits are needed or not needed.
But thank you for your advice and help so far, such a shame your so far away id get you to show me how you weather and paint your items would be good to learn from a master modeller.