Sky Pirates Morane. Finished pics Pg.3

[Tophe]

Uh, an idea: keeping the swab in the nose (instead of spinner and propeller) would make it very what-if, no?

[NARSES2]

Uh, an idea: keeping the swab in the nose (instead of spinner and propeller) would make it very what-if, no?

Could say it was either a "stand off" weapon or perhaps for this GB a rammer ? 

[jcf]

Uh, an idea: keeping the swab in the nose (instead of spinner and propeller) would make it very what-if, no?

Could say it was either a "stand off" weapon or perhaps for this GB a rammer ? 

Spar torpedo. 

[The Rat]

Looks as if it was made to wear floats, and that paint scheme is beautiful! 

[perttime]

Open cockpit, or enclosed?

[The Rat]

Spar torpedo. 

[zenrat]

Open cockpit, or enclosed?

Open.  Apart from the fact I prefer the open look I spent too long modifying the pilot to hide her under a canopy.

[zenrat]

Model finished (although a beaching trolley would be nice - maybe I should scratch up a multi purpose one?), words written, just need photos.

[Tophe]

I thought "congratulations : just in time, only 2 days remaining" but no, after checking, "one month + 2 days remaining"

[zenrat]

Morane-Saulnier M.S.407.  Sky Pirates of the Nullarbor Coast post WW2.

The Morane-Saulnier M.S.406 is a French fighter aircraft developed and manufactured by Morane-Saulnier starting in 1938. It was France's most numerous fighter during the Second World War and one of only two French designs to exceed 1,000 in number.  At the beginning of the war, it was one of only two French-built aircraft capable of 400 km/h (250 mph) – the other being the Potez 630.

Morane Saulnier MS.407 - 1 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

In response to a requirement for a fighter issued by the French Air Force in 1934, Morane-Saulnier built a prototype, designated MS.405, of mixed materials.  This had the distinction of being the company's first low-wing monoplane, as well as the first to feature an enclosed cockpit, and the first design with a retracting undercarriage.
From this was developed the M.S. 406 which included a new wing structure which saved weight and a retractable radiator, underneath the fuselage.  Powered by an 860 hp Hispaniel Suiza 12Y-31 engine, the new design was over 5 mph faster than the earlier M.S.405 model.  Designed to reach speeds of 304 mph, examples were tested without encountering any difficulty in reaching up to 454 mph in a dive.  Armament consisted of a 20 mm Hispanio Suiza HS.9 or 404 cannon with 60 rounds in the V of the engine, fired through the propeller hub and two 7.5 mm MAC 1934 machine guns (one in each wing, each with 300 rounds). A weakness of the MAC 1934 was its operation at high altitudes. It was found that at altitudes over 20,000 ft, the guns had a tendency to freeze. Heaters were added to the guns for high-altitude use.

Morane Saulnier MS.407 - 12 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

The entry to service of the M.S.406 to the French Air Force in early 1939 represented the first modern fighter aircraft to be adopted by the service.  Although a sturdy and highly manoeuvrable fighter aircraft, it was considered underpowered and weakly armed when compared to its contemporaries and the M.S.406 was outperformed by the Messerschmitt Bf 109E during the Battle of France.
By this stage, the weaknesses of the M.S.406 were already apparent, such as the lack of armouring, frequent gun-jamming, inadequate firepower, slow responsiveness of the guns, unreliable radio units, very high rate of engine wear, corrosion of rudder components, cabin glazing breaking under air pressure during certain manoeuvres, loss of exterior panels due to screws deteriorating rapidly, and the lack of rear-view mirrors.

Morane Saulnier MS.407 - 13 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

While the aircraft was very manoeuvrable and could withstand high amounts of battle damage, potentially giving possible advantages during combat against Luftwaffe fighters, the M.S.406 was overall outclassed by the Bf 109.
The M.S.406 holds the unfortunate distinction of being the least effective French fighter in service during the Battle of France, possibly due to its relatively low firepower.  It would be pointless to pretend, as was often done during the war for propaganda purposes, that the M.S.406 was the finest fighter in the world but it was certainly a pleasant machine to fly with no vices and great manoeuvrability.
Adding floats, as was done to produce the M.S.407, didn't improve its effectiveness but added no vices and affected manoeuvrability less than was expected.
The 407 was intended as a Scout for Richelieu Class Battleships and for service in Indochine Française but the fall of France put an end to the planned production run with only a few prototypes being built.

Morane Saulnier MS.407 - 4 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

Penelope Jaquard never intended to become a pirate but in the circumstances she wasn't left with too many options.  Swearing vengeance on the shipping businesses who contrived to bankrupt her family's fledgling air-freight service causing both her mothers' suicides, she took the aircraft maman Nicole had tucked away at the back of the boatshed and headed off for a life outside the law.
Eventually finding a home with Captain Fat Hamster's Sky Pirates, Penny soon proved herself to be a ferocious buccaneer.  Her Morane, named égaliseur after her thirst for revenge, was repainted with Captain Fat Hamster's cryptic insignia* before the two 7.5 mm MAC 1934 machine guns were replaced with .303 Brownings salvaged from one of the many abandoned air bases scattered around British North Australia.

Morane Saulnier MS.407 - 5 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

Penny's career of piracy proved to be a short one lasting a little less than a year.  While showing a tenacious ability for shooting up ships she turned out to be less adept at keeping an eye on the sky and was the first member of the Sky Pirates band to fall victim to the Southern Air Patrol**.  She survived landing her badly damaged Morane in a sheltered inlet but found that in her first true taste of air combat she had lost her desire to kill.  She was last seen running a roadhouse on the Nullarbor plain, searching for nymphs, and dodging space junk.

Morane Saulnier MS.407 - 16 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

*Captain Fat Hamster had spent WW2 in Southern England salvaging air conditioning and refrigeration equipment from downed Luftwaffe aircraft.  Failing to figure out the meaning behind the chevrons, squiggles, and other shapes applied to their fuselages he had come to the conclusion they had no meaning and were applied at random to confuse the enemy.  Thinking this a good idea he applied (after a brief flirtation with ancient Kmt Hieroglyphics) a random selection to the aircraft flown by his merry band.

**The Southern Air Patrol was an anti-piracy initiative put together by the Southern nations of Australia – the People's Democratic Republic of Victoria, Tasmania, and South Australia.  Each nation provided aircraft to patrol the Sky Pirates area of operations.  Tasmanian and South Australian air force aircraft flew with the SAP but the PDRV sent mercenary pilots in the employ of zenrat industries.

Morane Saulnier MS.407 - 17 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

The Model.

Hasegawa Morane-Saulnier MS.406 fitted with floats from a Hasegawa Kawanishi Type 94-1.
Nose of floats filled with heavy glue.
Pilot frankensteined together from model railway people.
Home made transfers.

[ericr]

very lovely floatplanization !

[Tophe]

Pretty model! And pretty pilot!

[Old Wombat]

 

[NARSES2]

It looks very good on floats 

[The Rat]

That came out incredibly well, two thumbs up!