Custom painting an F unit

As Ken as noted previously, there is a subtle peak under the headlight...See this from the Frisco Archive
http://frisco.org/mainline/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/FP7-5050-location-unknown-M.-Morrow.jpg

Secondly, if you are going to use the stitched photo to create a stencil, you will need to angle the side stripe upward slightly. The nose of the A-unit slightly less than vertical and therefore it's necessary to account for that difference. In your stitched drawing, you are also projecting a curved surface to a flat plane, which shortens the actual dimensions of the cigar band.

 

Just a little follow-up with regard to creating a stencil (pattern) for the cigar band nose. I drew an example of a triangle, which is to be painted on a vertical cylinder. This is not too dissimilar than trying create a pattern for the cigar band on an F-A unit nose. When creating the pattern, using the front and side view will not provide correct measurements in the horizontal direction.

 

Great example Karl. I knew there would be some issues with that. I figured what I had made could be a good starting point, but would take additional work to get it right.

 

Here's a less abstract example of how a template's, pattern's or decal's is shape is changed by the surface to which it is applied. I have attached the Santa Fe's nose herald decal for its Warbonnet livery. Even though when applied to the F-unit nose the stripes are straight and parallel to the ground, the decal's shape is not.