I bought a SMER Potez 540 from Kingkits kit graveyard that someone else had already started painting (badly) for a Vietnam (formerly French Indochina) competition theme (I wanted to avoid helicopters and river gunboats) and then realised that they only had 542's so had to convert it into something resembling a 542 by re-working the engine nacelles. The scheme is a bit speculative as there aren't any photos! The markings are a mixture of painted (code under the wings), kit decals (which had yellowed badly but recovered in sunlight), decals from the spares box and an attempt at printing the squadron logo on the tail!
Apparently the French had 3 Potez 542's in Indochina in 1943 - this one based at Dong Hoi (now an international airport). They possibly never actually flew because of Japanese flight restrictions and fuel and spares problems. Part of an obsolete fleet of aircraft that the French authorities were allowed to keep under Japanese occupation.
Considering the age of the kit (based on Heller from 1968) it didn't go together too badly - needed filler around the wing roots. Also the wings will only stay on with the struts in place. I added some extra details to the interior - which is basic, but you can't really see through the thick transparancies very clearly.
Overall an enjoyable diversion! Working on a simple display for it for the competition.
