If you want to solve the problem of the letters of the serial on the one outer wing, slice them with a #11 blade, then flood them with decal setting solution. It works every time.

I gotta say, you have amazed me with this excellent model out of that awful kit.

Yep, those dampers look adequately accurate and have a nicely busy posture, Eric @eb801!

I also discovered, after the fact, that those three ID lights on the bottom rear of the fuselage were not tri-colored as other modelers have called out for, but actually clear. So out came the Windex and a Q-Tip and the problem was solved. Onward to the finish line. I can see it now.

Thanks Erik. We all learn something every day don't we? Speaking of antennas, Mk 21's also had radio altimeter "T" antennas under each wing on the outboard side of each nacelle, so I made a couple of those. Those whip antennas have now been cut down to size.

Now all that's left to do is add the aerial cable and the props and glue on these folded wings and keep my fingers crossed that they don't snap off. This is the kit's achilles heel.

It makes sense to me, Andrew, that they would use colored bulbs. However i get the impression that the Hornet recognition lights were clear. When I make my own lights, especially wing tip lights from clear stock, I drill a tiny hole on the wing side of the light where a bulb would go, and back fill it with clear acrylic red or green using a tooth pick and wiping it flush. Looks just like a bulb to me. That's what I did on this Hornet as the kit lights weren't the greatest. Thanks for cluing me to David's link too.

Eric (@eb801), I'm sitting here biting my nails. Fingers crossed for the folded wings staying put.
And a big thank you to Andrew H (@pb_legend) for info on these lights and the link - great info.

Almost done; looking fantastic already!

@eb801 - you did this so well it even makes me not pay attention to the still-glaring manufacturer-induce screwups. It really looks good.