1:48 Morane-Saulnier MS.406C1

The fighter of the French campaign of 1940

In May 1940 the MS.406C1 was the most numerous fighter type in the French Air Force and at the same time a machine that lost ground badly against newer opponents. The letter C with the numeral one in the designation means a single-seat fighter. It was precisely on these aircraft that a number of Polish airmen went into action, men who after the defeat of September had fought their way to France and quickly formed flights of their own inside the French groups.

Eight particular aircraft and their pilots

The sheet covers machines of the group GC I/2 from the airfields of Xaffevillers and Coulommiers, aircraft of GC III/1 from Rouen-Boos and several machines from the fighter training unit at Lyon. For most of the options the serial number of the airframe and the earlier registration are given alongside the fuselage number. Among the pilots named we find, among others, Antoni Beda, Kazimierz Bursztyn and Aleksander Gabszewicz, that is men whose careers went on later in Britain.

A practical note

Most of the options combine small individual numbers with Roman numerals. Thin films of this kind break easily if they are slid off the paper dry. Let them soak in water and move them onto the model together with the backing paper.

The set is intended for a finished model in 1:48 scale. Do not look for a kit or varnish in it.

A recommendation on choosing an option

If you are building a subject like this for the first time, reach for one of the machines of the group GC I/2. They have simple fuselage numbers and a camouflage layout that is easy to look up. Leave the Roman numerals of the training unit for later; settling them into the curve of the fuselage calls for a steady hand.