I would recommend stripes on the bottom. Of all the different color schemes, patterns, decorations, etc. I think the easiest to identify is stripes. I doesn't take a lot, just make sure they are high contrast.

If this is the worst of your mistakes, I'd say you're a pretty good modeler. The kit I'm working on now, I screwed up the very first step by gluing the wrong pieces together. Had to go to the hobby shop and buy some replacement balsa. DOH!

Kerry