FM-2 Wildcat

The interior parts and the cockpit are painted and assembled. 

The built-in cockpit. Unfortunately I don't have a photo of the instrument panel. 

The kit contains fine photoetched parts, such as the gears and chains. The landing gear of the Wildcat is very filigree and fragile. 

The fine rivets greatly enhance the kit. Too bad you won't see much of it later. 

After gluing the main parts together, putty and sanding. Ready for priming. 

After applying the black primer. 

The model was completely sprayed with a silver tone. Some panels were brightened with white paint and some elements were darkened with blue. 

In the last step before spraying the final colors, the panel lines were preshaded. 

After spraying the three basic colors: white on the bottom, light blue (Vallejo 71.332 underside blue “faded”) on the sides and a slightly darker blue (Vallejo 71.113 IDF blue) underside blue “faded”) on the top.
I cut stencils out of paper to spray the two shades of blue.
On the top of the plane, the blue paint was scraped off with toothpicks and needles to give it a weathered look. I hope it doesn't seem too exaggerated.
 

The landing gear is very delicate. Many small parts have to be put together 

The finished model from the front. 

Front view with rotating propeller. 

The drop tanks are shown as if they have already been used and are now being used again.