I recently applied the kit decal on my 1/72 Mk. IV tank, making it as "FLIRT II" F.4
I see, however, that comparing my decals to other builds (in all scales) my FLIRT II font has a red "shadow" and a fancier type of "R" in it than most commonly used. Is this decal a kitmaker's dreampipe? Or at some point of its career the tank received a new paint coat?
-- Edited by d_fernetti on Tuesday 14th of October 2014 04:17:50 PM
I think that the lettering with the red shadow is based on photos of 'Firespite II' when that was at Wailly in October 1917 the same time that 'Flirt II' was photographed there. There isn't to my knowledge a clear photo of 'Flirt II''s paintwork at that time but it seems reasonable to assume it was shadowed like 'Firespite II'. However the F Battalion War Diary states that between this training and the Battle of Cambrai all the tanks of the Battalion were repainted. I don't know of a photo of 'Flirt II' as it appeared at Cambrai that shows the name. However 'Falcon II' was well photographed and these show that the name was just painted in plain white letters, so again it would be reasonable to assume that 'Flirt II' at that time was painted likewise.
The tank at Lincoln (which is NOT 'Flirt II') is not authentically painted, since it has the plain lettering of Cambrai and the four of hearts of Wailly (by Cambrai, 'Flirt II' bore the four of clubs).