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Posted (edited)

It's about time that I posted a build thread here rather than just my finished builds, so here goes.

This is one that I started a while back so I am not speed modelling, I always keep a build narrative on all my builds so I can look back and see which paints and techniques I used on a particular kit for future reference, and I do look back on them quite a bit, so it will form the basis of this thread.

I build mostly allied WW2 subjects but I do build the odd axis aircraft for a change and I have a strange fascination with Italian WW2 subjects.

Quite a few years ago I build the AZUR D520 which started my interest in early war French subjects, this first kit was followed by the AZUR Bloch 152, and the Curtis Hawk 75 in French service which I thoroughly enjoyed building, the MS406 remained in the loft for some strange reason when it should really have been built first. So down from the loft it came, an inspection of the kit parts made it clear that this one was not up to the same standard as the Bloch 152, but as it is unlikely that any other manufacturer will market the MS406 we are lucky to have it.

There are not many reference works in English for the early WW2 French air force, but I did manage to scrape together some books and a  good search of modelling websites yielded a lot more information.

Here's a sample of my references, the Kagero Top Colors 17 provided the identity for my subject.

vy0ZmM.jpg

 

MjSC0S.jpg

 

fdjOwp.jpg

 

z6IxGS.jpg

 

SDsgBP.jpg

And here's the victim

1Hzy9P.jpg

More to follow

 

Cheers

 

Dennis

Edited by dennismcc
Replaced blurred Photobucket photos
Posted (edited)

So what's in the box, here's what I found;

7TOKwu.jpg

 

uD4izo.jpg

 

RYVEvL.jpg

 

sUq0Dq.jpg

 

h6dKhZ.jpg

zqq2Ly.jpg

Some resin

RVmr5s.jpg

And the clear bits

35jTf8.jpg

Next episode will be the start of plastic tormenting

 

Cheers

 

Dennis

Edited by dennismcc
Replaced blurred Photobucket photos
Posted (edited)

On with the show, as usual a clean up of the parts was done, and the parts were then stuck onto plastic labels with Blu Tac or held with clips ready for painting, starting in the traditional manner the cockpit parts received the first attention.

For the interior the instructions called for Humbrol H77 matt Navy Blue which matches nicely with other reports of a blue grey colour that was used earlier that the dark Bleu Nuit, so that is what I used.

cahnIw.jpg

AJisv2.jpg

PKvex0.jpg

 

The parts look very boring so I mixed up a lightened version of H77 and sprayed the cockpit parts randomly to get some tonal difference, which did the trick.

The back of the instrument film was painted white and various parts on the etched fret painted in H85 satin black, mainly the instrument panels which the instructions would have you paint H77.

 

Cheers

 

Dennis

Edited by dennismcc
Replaced blurred Photobucket photos
Posted (edited)

On with the instrument panel:

NfeB5H.jpg

WeB9ay.jpg

yN8bGZ.jpg

However looking at period photos of the MS406 interior the instrument dials do not appear to be white but the more conventional black with white letter/numbers, so some MDC instrument dial decals were place over the white film faces, also the instrument panels appear to be lighter that black so H77 was applied over the black. This may not be accurate but it looks good.

 

PKcJG1.jpg

 

Cheers

 

Dennis

Edited by dennismcc
Replaced blurred Photobucket photos
Posted (edited)

Interesting project!

 

Your work on the instrument panel is beautiful.

 

Azur show the PUR3 part in reverse position, the control lights were on the right.

Instrument panel, electrical panel, ...were black, but painted lighter that black instrument give beautiful appearance

 

You will think that the windscreen is not enough width for the fuselage.

In the reality,the fuselage is too width!

from windscreen to spinner the fuselage is too width

 

capot_10.jpg

http://lapatrouillesimple.forumgratuit.org/t495-morane-saulnier-406

 

 

On two wrecks, I seen the tubular airframe painted "gris bleu clair"

Edited by waroff
Posted

So glad you've started this thread Den! I have this kit in the stash, but know nothing about it or the aircraft itself. This will become a great how-to thread on this kit for me.

 

Kev

Posted

Ha Dennis,

 

you beat me to it :-). This kit is next on my building list after i finish the He162. I think it's a great little kit that you don't see much build of them. It's the French equivelant of the Hurricane. Although the Dewoitine D520 is much better known, the MS406 was the backbone when the war in France broke out. In that sence it's similair story like the Hurricane/Spitfire in the Battle of Britain.

 

I will follow your build with great interest. I've found one buildlog of this kit (it's in French) but there is some usefull info in there. I will look it up when i'm at home (currently working) and post the link here.

 

Good job on replacing the instrument decals. They kit ones are nice but indeed in 'reverse color'. Also expect to do some filling on the wing roots, there will be a major gap with the fuselage (well at least when I dryfitted it) ;-).

 

@ Waroff: thanks fot pointing that out, I will keep it in mind when i start building this one.

 

Cheers Wouter

Posted

Thanks for the kind words folks and yes waroff I had some real fun with the windscreen, it never crossed my mind that the fuselage was wrong ! The "gris bleu clair" framework would also have added a lot of interest to the build, must remember it for the next one

 

Cheers

 

Den

Posted (edited)

Moving on, it will take a while to catch up to where I am in "real time". More fiddly stuff, the instrument panel was drilled and the tiny PE handles were attached, and various switches picked out in red and white. The various levers, PE and other parts were then added to the cockpit side wall frames, this took a bit of juggling to allow enough clearance for the pilot's seat to be fitted, during this stage one of the PE quadrant and lever disappeared, never to be seen again. The seat cushion was painted with H133 satin brown, the instructions call for H180 but this is a discontinued colour, the seat belts and toe straps on the rubber pedals were also painted with Satin Brown in place of H180.

A0sGSW.jpg

SD4j5k.jpg

And yes the frame parts would have looked great in "Gris Bleu Clair" but never mind.

vbBNHK.jpg

And a bit more fiddling produced this

klD05B.jpg

PzjeRi.jpg

 

Cheers

 

Den

Edited by dennismcc
Replaced blurred Photobucket photos
Posted

Yes, nice choice.... and good job...; And don't forget if you're some problems... mail Mister Waroff it's Master!!!!

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