Hobby Boss 1/72 Morane Saulnier MS.406

The Morane-Saulnier M.S.406 is a French fighter aircraft developed and manufactured by Morane-Saulnier starting in 1938. It was France's most numerous fighter during the Second World War and one of only two French designs to exceed 1,000 in number. At the beginning of the war, it was one of only two French-built aircraft capable of 400 km/h (250 mph) – the other being the Potez 630.

In response to a requirement for a fighter issued by the French Air Force in 1934, Morane-Saulnier built a prototype, designated MS.405, of mixed materials. This had the distinction of being the company's first low-wing monoplane, as well as the first to feature an enclosed cockpit, and the first design with a retracting undercarriage. The entry to service of the M.S.406 to the French Air Force in early 1939 represented the first modern fighter aircraft to be adopted by the service. Although a sturdy and highly manoeuvrable fighter aircraft, it was considered underpowered and weakly armed when compared to its contemporaries. Most critically, the M.S.406 was outperformed by the Messerschmitt Bf 109E during the Battle of France.

During the early stages of the Second World War, the type was capable of holding its own during the so-called Phoney War. However, upon the invasion of France breaking out in earnest in May 1940, large numbers were lost, amounting to approximately 400 aircraft being lost, in total. Out of this total, around 150 were lost to enemy fighters and ground fire, while another 100 aircraft were destroyed on the ground during enemy air raids; the remainder were deliberately destroyed by French military personnel to prevent the fighters from falling into enemy hands intact. In return, French M.S.406 squadrons had achieved 191 confirmed victories, along with another 83 probable victories. Limited production of the type continued in France for sometime after the 1940 Armistice under German supervision.

In addition to its service with the French Air Force, the M.S.406 was also exported to a range of customers. Out of 160 airplanes ordered by Poland, none had reached Polish territory before the outbreak of war, with the first part of delivery sent on 29 August 1939. Of particular note was its service in the hands of Finnish and Swiss air forces; both operators chose to develop their own indigenous models, such as the Finnish Mörkö-Morane). By the end of the war, the majority of M.S.406s and its derivatives were out of service, having been rendered obsolete in comparison to rapid advances in fighter aircraft technology. Its final use was as an advanced trainer aircraft in Finland, prior to the last examples of the type being scrapped during 1952.

A lot of 'serious' modelers overlook the Easy Build line from Hobby Boss and it is a shame. Indeed, these are not as highly detailed as many of the newer multi-part kits on the market, but then they are usually not as expensive and are very nicely done in their own right.

This kit is no exception. The wings and part of the lower fuselage are one piece as is the entire upper fuselage section that includes the fin. This one has a separate interior piece with the seat and stick and cockpit detailing all molded into one piece.

Tailplanes are separate as are the braces and so are the multi-piece landing gear. There is a brace that fits in the cockpit prior to attaching the one-piece canopy. The prop is probably the most complex assembly in the kit as it is a set of blades, fore and aft spinner prop shaft and bearing that slides into the front of the fuselage.

Instructions are two construction steps with no color information provided. Two markings options are provided. One is a RAF aircraft captured from the French in Palestine during September 1940. The other is a Finnish AF plane with yellow nose, lower wing tips and fuselage band. It has a sharkmouth and the swastika insignia re in separate pieces. This plane wears the mid/late war camouflage scheme of olive green/black over pale blue-grey. Decals are nicely printed and quite opaque. 

 As mentioned, this is really a nice kit. Much nicer than the older Heller kit and a lot less fussy to build than the AZ Models offering. A couple of things you may want to add are a pitot tube and the lower fuselage antenna.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morane-Saulnier_M.S.406

July 2021

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