wow, that thing is all kinds of shiny...

Good idea with the rtv is to use a stiff acid brush to "paint" it to the gaskets, then wipe it off with a finger. The residue that is left is usually sufficient to seal any scratches or minor gouges, which is what the junk is for. Any thicker than that and you are using gasket maker, not sealant.

Rumor has it (I sure wasn't around at the time) that Ford used RTV black in liue of gaskets for a year or so in the mid-late 60's. Supposedly they saved a bundle and only stopped 'cause the service dept's were bitching about having to cut valve covers off and not being able to remove intakes at all.