Although I've built quite a few Tamiya kits, this was definitely one of the easiest and most satisfying builds I have done to date. However, like any kit that I build I did add a number of aftermarket additions to it, consisting of an Aires cockpit set (AIRE4101), Master Models pitot tube and gun barrels (MR48-146), Quickboost exhausts (QB49020), Reskit wheels (RS48-0331), Eduard canopy masks (EDEX101) and a set of Montex masks (MM48082), with the latter only used for the painting of the main markings.
The build of the kit was very straight forward, presented no major challenges, and everything cleaned up without the need for any filler. Amazing! As a consequence, I soon had the model masked up, primed and ready for a coat of colour. For this I used SMS paints throughout, consisting of RLM02 Grau (PL179), RLM65 Hellblua (PL184), RLM70 Schwartgrun (PL185), RLM81 Braunviolett (PL192) and RLM82 Lichtgrun (Pl193). However, after spraying the underside with the Hellblua, the colour looked too dark with a greenish tinge to it, which I wasn't happy with. As a solution, I decided to overspray each individual panel with a very dilute mix of Gunze RLM65 Hellblua (H67), leaving the edges slightly darker, which ended up looking a lot better, and I was much happier with.
When it came to spraying the topside colours, I wasn't happy with the RLM81 Braunviolett colour, as it looked much too dark compared to my references. As a consequence, I ended up mixing it with some other colours until I was happy with the final shade, which does look a lot better. With the painting completed, I then applied the main markings using the Montex masks, which was then followed with an overall coat of Gunze, Mr Super Clear UV Cut Gloss. The few kit decals that I used were then applied, followed by a panel line wash and lastly an overall coat of Gunze, Mr Super Clear UV Cut Flat. It was then just a matter of removing the canopy masks, applying a coat of Future to them and then carrying out the final assembly of parts, and it was job done.
I decided not to do any weathering to this model, as the real aircraft never saw any active service during World War 2 and only conducted less than a dozen evaluation flights before it was captured by the American's.
