Hobby 2000 72032 - 1:72 Morane-Saulnier MS.406 Middle East

Plastic model kit of the French Morane-Saulnier MS.406 fighter in 1:72 scale

Hobby 2000 72032 presents the Morane-Saulnier MS.406 in its Middle Eastern guise - from the period when, after the armistice of June 1940, French fighters remained in service in the overseas territories and took part in the fighting over the Levant. It is a subject rarely chosen by kit manufacturers and one of the more interesting episodes in the type's history.

The kit is based on Hasegawa mouldings with recessed panel lines and a clean rendition of the slim fuselage with its radiator under the wing centre section. Hobby 2000 adds its own box, illustrated instructions, new waterslide decals printed by Cartograf and self-adhesive masks for the glazing. The model is intended for assembly and painting by the modeller.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues with fuselage, wing and detail parts
• Clear parts for the canopy glazing
• Self-adhesive masks for the glazing
• Waterslide decal sheet printed by Cartograf
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Kit specifications:

• Scale: 1:72
• Catalogue number: 72032
• Manufacturer: Hobby 2000
• Assembled length: approx. 113 mm
• Assembled wingspan: approx. 148 mm
• Skill level: beginner/intermediate

Note: The kit does not include glue, paints or modelling tools. The model requires assembly.

Assembly:

This small single-engine fighter uses a conventional parts breakdown and is a good choice for less experienced modellers as well. The cockpit is best painted before the fuselage halves are joined. The included self-adhesive masks make it much easier to obtain even canopy framing, which matters a great deal with glazing divided into so many small panes.

Aircraft operating in the Middle East wore French camouflage schemes supplemented by conspicuous yellow and red identification markings; the instructions give paint references. Applying decals over a gloss coat reduces the risk of silvering, and a satin varnish suits the final finish. Subtle service effects - light dust on the lower surfaces and a wash in the panel lines - convey the atmosphere of operations in a hot, dusty climate.

Tools you will need:

• Modelling nippers for removing parts from the sprues
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Files and sanding paper for cleaning up sprue gate marks
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Fine modelling tweezers
• Brushes in various sizes
• Modelling paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Gloss varnish for decalling and satin varnish for the final finish
• A wash to accentuate detail, optionally pigments for dust effects

About the aircraft - Morane-Saulnier MS.406:

The Morane-Saulnier MS.406 was the standard French fighter at the outbreak of the Second World War and the first French fighter built in more than a thousand examples. With retractable landing gear and an enclosed cockpit it combined modern features with traditional ones - the rear fuselage and control surfaces remained fabric-covered. Armament consisted of an engine-mounted cannon firing through the propeller hub and two wing-mounted machine guns.

After the French campaign and the armistice of June 1940, a considerable number of MS.406s remained with units stationed in the colonies and mandated territories - in North Africa and in Syria and Lebanon. In the summer of 1941, during the Levant campaign, these aircraft went into action against British and Free French forces. The fighting was short but intense, conducted in demanding climatic conditions with limited technical support and spare parts.

The Middle Eastern chapter closed with the end of the Levant campaign and the surviving aircraft were gradually withdrawn from front-line service. In parallel the design found a second life in Finland, where re-engined and modernised examples served until the end of the war. The Middle Eastern period nevertheless remains the least frequently modelled part of the fighter's career.

Original aircraft specifications (Morane-Saulnier MS.406 C1):

• Length: 8.17 m
• Wingspan: 10.62 m
• Height: 2.83 m
• Empty weight: approx. 1900 kg
• Take-off weight: approx. 2540 kg
• Crew: 1
• Powerplant: Hispano-Suiza 12Y-31 inline engine of approx. 860 hp
• Maximum speed: approx. 486 km/h
• Service ceiling: approx. 9400 m
• Range: approx. 800 km
• Armament: one 20 mm Hispano-Suiza engine-mounted cannon and two 7.5 mm MAC 1934 machine guns in the wings
• Production: 1938-1940, over 1000 examples

About the manufacturer - Hobby 2000:

Hobby 2000 is a Polish model company based in Katowice that has built its position on themed releases. Its kits are based on mouldings from established manufacturers - in this case Hasegawa - completed with original packaging, new illustrated instructions and fresh waterslide decals printed by the Italian printing house Cartograf. Most aircraft releases also include self-adhesive masks for the canopy glazing, which noticeably simplifies painting. The brand favours subjects connected with Polish aviation history as well as less obvious episodes of the Second World War and the post-war years, selecting its marking options from archival material. Production runs are limited, so individual releases are often sought after by collectors. For the modeller this means proven, well-detailed mouldings combined with subjects not available in the original boxings. The company's catalogue covers aircraft, vehicles and ships in scales from 1:72 to 1:35.