Quote from http://www.fortunecity.com/meltingpot/portland/971/Reviews/raf/barracuda.htm which describes the MPM model Barracuda:

“A small window on each side of the fuselage beside the cockpit is also prominent in pictures of the aircraft but the kit does not have any clear parts. There is an outline on the fuselage halves to cut and fill as appropriate. I carved out the windows and then used some spare clear parts – carefully trimmed to size to slot into the holes.”
I am scrutinizing photos of Barracudas in other (printed) publications but cannot identify the exact location from your description; it’s certainly not “prominent” in these! There appears to be squareish area immediately under the front side of the cockpit glazing . . .

Colouring cutaway edges red is I think a very old tradition dating back to the time long before plastic modelling, when drawings and sectioned metal equipment used that colour to clearly define edges that were not normally cut.

May I gatecrash with this Harrier that was tucked away in a corner, seen during my recent visit to Elvington?
I met Bill Napier and his son Mark last year in the USA, and on my subsequent visit to Elvington they kindly showed me around the amazing stack of archive material. Thanks, lads! (If you are Forum readers). I do get out of Sweden occasionally!

Ant, further to my brief translation above that the wreck was on a mission to attack an English convoy, here is a photo of the Italian bomber version with the machine gun, scanned from page 238 of “The Concise Guide to Axis Aircraft of World War II” by David Mondey, Chancellor Press 1996.

One of the 3 Y1P-36 airframes built for USAAC evaluation.

Quote from “WW2 Fact Files – USAAF Fighters Part 1”:
“The first Y1P-36 was completed in February 1937, being substantially the same as the Model 75B (with its retractable u/c) apart from the R-1830-13 engine . . . the cockpit was modified with a raised top line and improved rear view by increasing the “scalloping” in the rear decking, the tail wheel was made retractable and armament was fitted for the first time.”
There you are, Graeme, I’ll scan the two aircraft prototypes and post the pix shortly.

Attached is a list of some of the books in my personal library that I think would contain the sort of information you are looking for. Of course “On Silver Wings” is the best, IMHO, I have most of the articles from it that were published in the AM magazine.
Bergen is a much more beautiful place than Gothenburg, so I could perhaps take a trip up there again this summer. Have a you an aviation museum nearby?