Thanks @Mycapt65. The damage report is in and it looks like it's just a flesh wound.
What looked like wrinkled paint was crazed gloss coat. I started sanding it with Micromesh and didn't like the lack of progress, so I thought I'd get more aggressive. I used the finer sanding sticks on the canopy edges, and a paper towel soaked in IPA on the model. That took out most of the gloss coat, then I sanded it down with Micromesh.
IMG_4458 by Wlad Franco-Valias, on Flickr
IMG_4459 by Wlad Franco-Valias, on Flickr
I will let it dry for a day, just in case, and spray another coat of Gloss Sea Blue. I have also researched alternative coatings and I may try them on this model still. Interestingly, the bottom part of the model, coated with Testors, looks fine as do areas painted with Tamiya paint. We'll see how it goes.
In the meantime, I added decals to the propellers.
IMG_4460 by Wlad Franco-Valias, on Flickr
Interesting how the data decals on the propeller differ. Turns out the fainter one is partly because the base colour is out of register with the top yellow. In this case, I like the effect.
I'm also researching the colour scheme for the -7 so I can work on it while I wait for things to dry on the -6. Hasegawa offers two sets of wing stripe decals, as they varied by squadron, yet I don't trust decals for stripes so I'll be painting them. I found a picture of my chosen subject in Suez markings, sporting different wheels than when it was delivered (which was my original reference picture). I might use the -6's aftermarket wheels.
Cheers,
Wlad