Finished with the decals and am now doing the final small bits n pieces and weathering. When doing the research for this aircraft it became apparent that the decals and instruction given were a little "off" and so I've had to make some changes.
Here's what I've changed or would like to have changed, and why.
1) This aircraft carried 36inch roundels at all locations and not the 32inch roundels supplied in the decal sheet. The difference is easy to calculate, using the scale drawings. Photos I have of 1134,1138,1140,1190,1204 all show this larger size roundel. I had to dip into the "spares" to get the right ones.
2) The code letters have the SV part of the code at the rear of the roundel on both sides. This is correct, but contrary the the decal instructions. I have photos of both sides of 1140, so there can be no dispute about that, but the decal manufacturer makes a point about doing it the opposite way on the port side!
3) The serial positions shown in the decal instructions are too far forward. It's clear in photos that the serial starts underneath the tail, and not forward of the tail.
4) Something I would like to change is the Panther, nice though it is, it's about 25% too large, and a little "overweight", and the whiskers and nose should not be so prominent.
5) This aircraft definitely carried a name or legend above the Panther head, which was never included in the profile and therefore the decal sheet, because the only known photo of the artwork was not clear enough to show the name and part of the cowl was missing. I've tried to find out what that name was, without success but maybe sometime later, I'll find out and add it on.
6) It's by no means certain that this aircraft was missing the fin flash. I suspect it actually did have one, based on the fact that this aircraft was a replacement. The aircraft provided from the Air Depot for the initial change over from P-40M's seem to have more attention to markings and lack the fin flash, but that's conjecture. The tail markings were probably very similar to 1190 and if I did this model again, I'd include the flash.
Here's some more progress photos. 8)
Cheers
Ozhawk40