Azur 1/32 Morane Saulnier 406C1
By Sosthène Billault
Azur model Morane Saulnier 406C1
Morane Saulnier 405C1 N° 9 , Groupe de Chasse 1/7, Spa 77, 1938
Hispano Suiza 12YGrs reduction gear 48/51, engine driving a Ratier propeller, variable automatic pitch by windmilling.
I will not tell you about the MS...there is many books, the better is "MS 406, lela presse". I could compare the sizes with the data given by several original manuals and technical drawings from Morane Saulnier.
Fuselage
- The Azur model, despite some errors, is a good model.
- General arrangement is good.
- The most difficult to correct is the nose.
- From spinner to the windscreen, the cowling is straight, but in reality, there is a break at the fire wall.
- The second default is the width, too wide...
It is necessary to remove 2mm ahead the windscreen, to obtain the good width, but if the windscreen adapts to the fuselage, must be modified the pieces of the cockpit: Front frame, rudder pedals, floor, instrument panel... At exhausts, the fuselage is too wide 4mm, I have not yet the plan form (cowling lines) so I perceive this default after.
Wings
Correct dimensions and geometry. The wheel wells are slightly too wide (22mm).
Tail
Stabilizer, elevator and rudder are correct. Fin, 2mm missing at the chord give the fin is too high.
Paint MS 405/406 Early
Before December 1939, the areas cockpit were "Gris Bleu" and the tubular frames "Gris Bleu Clair", instruments panels flat black. (according with French Air Ministry Dec '36).
Topside, all area was "Kaki" a watcher placed above at the vertical of airplane, the delimitation is straight and at rear fuselage follows the bottom stiffener.
Underside: "Gris Bleu Clair", the wheels wells in same color. the rudder was painted three gloss colors, Bleu, white and red, the blue in front.
On each leading edge, there were at least two strips, width 6cm, at the location where can be installed wedges for storage. These strips are red.
- Roundel: ratio 1/2/3
- Wings: dia 1,20m
- Fuselage(from 39) dia: 0,70m
- On the model, the paints are MoLak Enamel, except NMF, metalizer from Model Master.
About Ratier propeller type 1495, dia 2m60:
the variable propeller pitch Ratier of MS 405:
The windmilling 1 is mounted free on the axis of the propeller and drive a gears 2 by a friction.
When the aircraft start & warm engine, the propeller turn faster than windmilling, so the gears turn reverse and the blade propeller move to low pitch.
When the aircraft reach a high speed, the windmilling will turn faster than propeller, the gears turn forward, the blade move to high pitch
. To return to low pitch, the pilot reduces power and begin a climbing. When the speed is low, he increases gases, the propeller turns again faster than the windmilling, and the gears turn reverse again and blades move to low pitch.
© Sosthène Billault 2013
This article was published on Thursday, December 26 2013; Last modified on Thursday, December 26 2013