Well, here's the base
victim kit, an AZ Model Gauntlet.
Good points, Stuart. The book only mentions colors, not shapes, making the cover of the original release and frontispiece the only reference - which I probably ought to follow.
On the ferry flight down, the aircraft were unpainted and unmarked - and that is how they fought their first combat. One would have to assume the same state of affairs the next day when they went to force down the bomber, because there certainly was not enough time for Smyth & carter to repaint all 3 a/c, mark them, given the cold weather and all else that went on that evening. And the Lances are not featured, even mentioned, the rest of the book.
So, one option is for me to portray a silver machine, unmarked. The other option is to portray the MAF after the end of the book when presumably all machines were painted and marked. Regardless, again the book illustrations do not reflect the text - not meaning to nit-pick or anything, it's just a choice I will have to make. For example given that mismatch then adopting the striped markings you suggest might well be in order.
I shall have to think about it.
Back to the model, I am going to make the Gauntlet single-span and have cut 2 rib sections out of each side on the lower wing. I think I might just cut one section out of each side of the upper wing and make it slightly unequal span, like the aircraft on the frontispiece.
