OK, i finally have some time to upload some pics (now that i'm finished). 

Unfortunately i didn't get to start on this kit until nearly a week before the contest end.

This was a standard build with hardly any modification. 

But, i did add rivets to the shield.  I used size 21 sewing pins.  I drilled holes with a pin vise and cut the heads off of the pins, with very little shaft left, and inserted them into the holes.

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The shield with places for rivets marked with a pen.

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Pic showing some of the rivets in place.

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Here is the final effect, before painting.