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Anyone have any advice on painting the bare metal panels for the exhaust?
It will probably be easier to paint the airframe and then mask off the panels and paint them a burnt metal color. That way you don't have to paint the panels and then try to mask those curves and contours. I would make them a dull silver with darker metal colors airbrushed on in a graduated progression, but I don't know what they were made of - aluminum or steel? Either way I would presume that closet to the engine the metal would be more annealed and discolored. Plus, will you depict your La as factory-fresh, prepped for a flight, or just back from a fight? That would dictate how much exhaust staining you would need. 
I'm pretty sure it's bare aluminum by the engine exhausts, and also the two rings on the cowling. Not sure of the reasoning behind it, but you see that on the La-5, La-9, and La-11 as well. Haven't given much thought toward my depiction of the aircraft yet... probably prepped for flight, as I want to experiment with some weathering but not go over the top.
Made some progress on the kit itself today, finished up the cockpit and the interior. Later this week I'm going to paint the rear landing wheel and start assembly of the fuselage and wings. Here are a few pics:
I tried out panel lining with a pencil for the first time on the cockpit interior, I think it came out pretty well. I was hesitant to try an oil wash because I was afraid to lose some of the PE parts, I'd already lost several to the carpet monster, but it came out looking pretty nice despite that.
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