Finishing the tip overlays:
Fixed buffalo horn over the chamfered tips/rawhide to protect the edge of the rawhide (as sugested by Carson, see previous post and photo). After shaping the overlays I filed a very shallow lip (0.2mm?) in the horn so that the snakeskin could overlap the horn but have something to protect the edge. The snakeskin was then applied so that it ended on the horn, beyond the lip and then trimmed back by sanding off on the horn. Hopefully, the photos below show how this worked.
The snakeskin was fastened using liquid hide glue (as was the rawhide). The rawhide is a darkish brown and the colour it gives the snakeskin and the slight translucence makes it almost seem alive! (haven't used them before - but love the effect).
I tried the various methods suggested on the net for removing scales, but couldn't get them to work. In the end I flicked them off individually. Didn't take as long as you might think, and at least I know I got them all off before I varnished the limbs.