1/48 T-6A Texan II USAF

This somewhat tricky "old school limited run" kit required a few tricks to make it good, but the work pays off in the end. 

Cockpit is detailed enough OOB. Here you can see just how much weight is needed in the nose! 

There is no indication in the instructions as to where to put the interior decals. This is what I figured out. The side panels are a bit too wide for their locations and could be trimmed a bit. 

I added cockpit rail sides to make the mounting of the vac canopy more secure. 

Ready for primer. Here you can just see a black plastic strip I added under the front of the canopy, which was short. Fit of plastic parts was good, although the panel lines are shallow and broad. 

First I brush painted the aluminum leading edges. Then Mr Surfacer 1000 primer followed by black finisher. 

More masking then white primer and white Mr Color. It's a little more bluish white than spec'd but close enough for me. 

More masking them Mr Color 326 FS15044 "Thunderbirds Blue". 

And ready for decals. Fairing in the canopy was a real challenge. It doesn't fit well and the framework is bulbuous. I did an OK job but it could be better. 

Decals sealed with varnish. This came out a little orange-peeled but could have been sanded down if it bothered me, which it did not. 

Simple prop jig. Resin spinner needed bubbles filled and a shaft added, then was covered in aluminum foil and sanded in a drill. 

Decals are by Cartograf and worked excellently. The pinstripe was a real treat! Walthers Solvaset helped them settle. A decal is supplied for the canopy hinge, which helped cover that work. 

Canopy det cord is supplied as decal. I chose to apply it to the outside in a pool of Future. Not enough is supplied for all of it though. 

Some lights, static wicks, light weathering, and ready to fly!