Well I had mixed results with the home-made decals. The ink didn't spread this time, although I think a true acrylic varnish will be better than 'Klear' for sealing before use. However, whether it's a lack of density due to low ink on my printer, or the fact that I printed the code letters as they should be, in Dull Red, but they didn't show very well when applied. They did go on without poblems though, although I noticed that the more they were handled, the more the ink wanted to come off. Again, I think this is a combination of using 'Klear' instead of a proper acrylic varnish, and low density ink on a black background. I re-printed the code letters in a normal, bright red, and applied them and, with the black paint showing through, they look as they should - Dull Red!
I'll have a go at re-printing the serial numbers after renewing my colour ink cartridge. Also, the tiny 'Emergency Exit' stencil for the Observer's hatch cover started to fade out when being positioned, although this was probably due to my clumsy fingers causing it to crease when trying to place it in a very awkward position under the hatch locking bar!
PICS1 and 2 show the decals in place so far, with a combination of the kit decals, some from the spares files and the home made code letters. Note that the fin flash is from a Spitfire decal sheet, and will need to have the top forward corner painted in. The flash in the kit was the early style, with equal width colours, where it should be the flash with the narrow white central stripe for this aircraft.
PIC 3 shows the Observer's hatch cover with the interior painted, and the 'Emergency Exit' decal in place on the yellow panel - although it can't be seen from this angle! The hatch cover was difficult to photograph from any other angle, but hopefully the details will be visible when it's fitted to the fuselage! The yellow panel has yet to be retouched to straighten the edges.
PIC 4. during a break whilst waiting for the first decals to set, I got on with cleaning up the landing gear main legs, and adding brake lines from stretched sprue. The outer part of the depressions in the 'spokes' of the main wheels were also drilled out, as per the real aircraft, and the 'tyres' filed around the joints, and 'flats' sanded onto them. A small depression was also set into each wheel rim, to represent the hole for the tyre valve.
After the remaining decals are applied and the model has been cleaned, a little more weathering, exhaust staining and paint wear will be added, and then the matt clear coat apllied. Then it'll be time to paint, assemble and fit the landing gear, along with some of the other small parts, before moving on to the final detailing jobs.
Thanks again for your interest and kind comments, and I'll get some more pics up soon.