Project Update: Houligan's Alley by FSM

I am working on Houligan's Alley full time. I have spent close to 3 sessions (approx. 1 hour each) preparing white metal castings. There is quite a number of them in the kit. The castings don't require much preparation but there are some mold joint lines that I like to remove. Many modelers most likely wouldn't touch them. I have decided this time to take a little different route painting castings that represent wood. I used to prime them with gray automotive primer, then paint with Polyscale Earth, and then take Brian Nolan's approach to finish them. I am not sure if Brian invented it but he presented it in one of the Scotty Mason's DVDs. Little different route means spraying castings with Camouflage series sand paint which is very close to Polyscale or Floquil Earth. There is only one paint layer involved so there is less chance of covering up smaller details. My main concern with this was that thinner layer of paint and it being paint and not primer would result in bare white metal spots after casting goes through the process of rubbing in weathering powders, soaking with rubbing alcohol, and then dry brushing. Well, it happened. Those spots were really small and only visible if casting was being held at certain angle but they were there and that bothered me. Perhaps with time white metal would oxidize but I wasn't going to wait. I took one casting and sprayed it with Krylon Clear Flat. The shiny spots went away. I guess it will be my procedure for painting castings that represent wood from now on. Only a problem is that I am low on Krylon Clear Flat and it has become harder to find and more expensive after Home Depot dropped Krylon line. I know Hobby Lobby and Michaels carry it but their prices are double of what Home Depot prices used to be. Perhaps it is time for 40% coupon. Or perhaps I should try Walmart's cheap stuff...
Besides castings I have made some progress on building itself. The corners were pain in the neck to do. I am not completely satisfied but I don't think I can improve them more. I think next time I do stucco I will assemble a structure first and then do stucco, paint, weather, etc. Yes, it is harder to install windows, signs and so on but end result should be better. The roof, canopy, and sway bracing aren't installed yet. I just put them together for photo shoot to show the progress. I have also painted a figure that will peek through wall hatch.
My all ahead of time preparation may be in jeopardy. Instructions call for only one piece of 0.020"x3/64" stripwood to be used for cupola's battens. I ended up using over one and half. Now my question is if I am going to run out of prepared stripwood and if I am going to be short of 0.020"x3/64" in the end.