Hi folks. Back on board here with my favorite aircraft subject. I started this one in August last year, thought it was time to post some progress reports here. It’s the old ARII kit, a mix of decals from a couple of sources, and a couple of parts stolen from another kit.
Reference shots
Box and marking decals.
Most parts will be used.
This guy probably won’t be attending the party 
Cheers, D
I wasn’t expecting a Tamiya build experience from a $5 swap meet kit, but the detail and fit aren’t too bad. Test fit of major assemblies.
Fitting the gun barrel blocks to the wings, some work required here but I focused on keeping the leading edge alignment.
Not sure why there was a huge square block on the back of the prop hub Razor Saw to the rescue
The tailwheel isn’t quite accurate either 
so I filled the centre groove with a strip of styrene then built up the shape with several applications of sprue goo.
Cheers, D
Time for a little bit of painting. Then masking. Then painting . . . . . .
Interior paint and fuselage assembly.
Sprue goo on the top join.
Wings on, the leading edge on the wing root needed some rework. I should have paid a bit more attention to the fit of the top of the wing root, a bit of a step there and could have avoided that with a spreader inside the wing. Oh well, info filed for future builds, I have a couple more of these kits stashed away.
Canopy didn’t need much work to get a decent fit.
I know they will never be seen, but those ejector pin mountains need to be dealt with 
Major assembly completed, working on smoothing out some sink marks and blemishes.
Cheers, D
Next up time to mask off the canopy and start the exterior paint. SMS Lacquers for the Zinc Chromate for the wheel wells, and Interior Green for a first coat on the canopy frames.
Masked off ready for primer, MS1500 Grey.
SMS Insignia White for the cowl side panels and tail, then more masking.
SMS Trainer Yellow for the canopy, then guess what . . . . . . . . MORE MASKING
MS1500 Black primer as a base coat for SMS Aluminium on the bottom cowl section NMF and then . . . . . . . . . . MORE MASKING 
Tamiya Acrylic XF-53 Neutral Grey thinned with MLT on the underside, SMS US Olive Drab topside, freehanded the main colours . . . . . . . NO MASKING 
And then . . . . . . . . . . UNMASKING WOOOHOOOOOO!
Cheers, D
Looking good 
Nose art, pilot stencil and codes from the Super Scale set, insignia are leftovers from past builds. I’m not going to bother with all of the small stencils on this one.
Overnight dry time then flat clear and some weathering to follow.
Cheers, D
Following with interest D 
@Russelle great to have you on board mate!
Some progress on the weathering, I used Tamiya PLW loosely splashed around and then fine tuned with brushes and Q-tips dipped in odorless thinners.
Port wing done
Starboard wing initial stages (ugly grimy mess).
Lots of fun doing this part.
Cheers, D
Colour really looks good on this … lovely tones.
Completion #2 for 2026! I cracked on and pushed this one across the line last night.
The weathering is a bit clumsy, I was experimenting with some different products and techniques as this was a cheap kit and “quick” build as a test bed. Lots of lessons learned for the next P-47 
Thanks for following, onwards and upwards!
Cheers, D
I like your build - thanks for sharing!
Good luck with your next projects!
Paweł
Great work D 
Lovely build and the finish looks great…. Super job
D,
Nice build! Great job of giving a kit from our youth a breath of life. Recently helped a young modeler out showing the basics on the Monogram P-47D-11-RE, and he learned a lot. You’ve inspired me to give this kit another go! Well done, and thanks!!
I don’t see anything clumsy on this. Looks to me like a great job. And it’s done!
