Luppa Aircraft of WWII LCM028 Morane-Saulnier MS.406 Diecast Model Armee de l'Air GC II/3, France, 1940 | |
1:72 Scale | | Length | | Width |
---|
Morane-Saulnier MS.406 | | 4.5" | | 5.75" |
The M.S.406 was a French Armee de l'Air fighter aircraft built by Morane-Saulnier starting in 1938. Numerically it was France's most important fighter during the opening stages of World War II but was under-powered, weakly-armed and lacked full armour protection when compared to its contemporaries. Most critically, it was out-performed by the Messerschmitt Bf 109E during the Battle of France. The M.S.406 held its own in the early stages of the war (the so-called Phony War), but when the war restarted in earnest in 1940, 387 were lost in combat or on the ground (for various reasons) for 183 kills in return. The type was more successful in the hands of Swiss and Finnish air forces who developed indigenous models.
Designed to meet a 1934 French Air Ministry requirement for a single-seat fighter, the MS.406 was first flown on August 8th, 1935 (as the MS.405). With more than 1100 examples produced, the MS.406 formed the backbone of the French Air Force at the beginning of WWII. The aircraft was small and manoeuverable but lacked the power and armament of the German Bf 109Es that it typically confronted. Loses were high during the Battle of France and despite efforts to destroy remaining airframes, large numbers were captured by advancing German forces and used by the Luftwaffe as trainers. © Copyright 2003-2024 The Flying Mule, Inc.
The Luppa "Aircraft of WWII" range presents affordable, ready made diecast models of military aircraft. To help keep the price down, these items arrive in low-cost, discardable blister type packaging.
Luppa "Aircraft of WWII" diecast airplanes feature:
- Diecast metal and plastic construction.
- Realistic panel lines, antennas, access panels and surface details.
- Rotating wheels and propellers.
- Presentation stand to display the aircraft "in flight".
© Copyright 2003-2024 The Flying Mule, Inc.