Sorry, Bernard, for the dilatory response. I figured I'd reply when I posted my final pics, but that seems to be further off than I'd planned.
I've made a number of flying fish, like the triplane, mostly to hang on the Christmas tree and sometimes use the Pactra paints which I've had, I think, for at least a couple decades. Those that haven't dried out work just fine.
There were no stripe decals with the kit, and nothing in my spares box.so I figured I'd try something new to me. "I learned a lot,"--which is what I say when I've stepped in it.
Many many (many,)years back I had both the Hasegawa H6K and H8K and fought several 1/72 air battles with them, somehow, despite their large dimensions, managing not to snap off the wing floats--a skill (both playing and not snapping off things) I've lost in the years since.
Hope to finish up soon, though.