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Morane-Saulnier MS-406C.1
"Hi-Tech"
Special Hobby, 1/32 scale
S u m m a r y
|
|
Catalogue Number: |
Special Hobby kit no.
32019 - Morane-Saulnier MS-406C.1 "Hi-Tech" |
|
Scale: |
1/32 |
| Contents and
Media: |
79
parts in grey injection moulded plastic; 6 clear injection
moulded parts; 17 parts in yellow resin,
2 x colour photo-etched frets (including one in colour); decals for
three aircraft. |
| Price: |
USD$63.00
available online from Squadron |
| Review Type: |
FirstLook |
| Advantages: |
Interesting and
attractive subject; crisp consistent surface detail
(recessed panel lines, subtle fabric detail, raised ribs on
wings); beautifully
detailed cockpit; thin trailing edges; no sink
marks in visible locations; includes resin and coloured
photo-etched parts;
high quality decals; separate elevators and rudder; simple
engineering. |
| Disadvantages: |
No locating pins and
multi-media means
previous experience will be helpful. |
|
Recommendation: |
Highly Recommended. |
Reviewed by Brett Green
Special
Hobby's 1/32 scale MS-406C.1 will be available online from Squadron.com
Special Hobby has released a "Hi-Tech"
version of its 1/32 scale Morane-Saulnier MS-406.
This new MS-406C.1 comprises 79 parts in grey styrene, 6
parts in clear injection moulded styrene, 17 parts in cream-coloured resin, two
photo-etched frets - one in colour - and
decals for three aircraft.
The surface features crisp and consistently recessed panel lines
with convincingly subtle fabric texture on the rear fuselage and slightly raised
ribs on the wings.
Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:
[../../../photogallery/photo00029135/real.htm]
There is a very flash to
clean up on the plastic parts, even the smaller ones, and there are no sink marks or other
imperfections anywhere on the visible exterior surfaces of the
model. Sprue attachment points are medium sized. Some care will be
needed when removing larger parts to avoid scarring the plastic. Trailing edges of the wings and tailplanes are sharp.
However, as good as the
moulding is, there are no locating pins so extra time and care will
be required to align the parts perfectly.
Detail of the kit is
excellent. The high quality plastic parts are supplemented with a
modest number of resin parts plus photo-etch. The resin includes
exhausts, cockpit details, a trailing fuselage antenna and nicely
detailed undercarriage retraction struts. Casting blocks look to be
easy to remove, and only minimal cleanup of the resin parts will be
needed before installation.
77 photo-etched parts are
supplied on two frets. The larger of the two frets is in colour, and
includes gorgeously authentic pre-painted instrument panel and
harness straps.
The clear parts are thin and well presented. The
canopy is supplied as three separate parts so the sliding section
may easily be displayed open, revealing all that lovely cockpit
detail.
A landing light lens and wingtip navigation lights are also supplied.
Markings are supplied for three aircraft. Two of the
subjects are French and one Finnish. The decals are clear, crisply printed
and in perfect register.
Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:
[../../../photogallery/photo00004691/real.htm]
This big MS 406 is a real multi-media
treat.
It is beautifully detailed, not unduly
complex in parts breakdown and will look impressive when built thanks to
its large size and very striking marking options.
Surface texture is a matter of personal
preference, but I like Special Hobby's subtle presentation of panel
lines and fabric, leaving any additional detailing decisions (such as
rivets) to the individual modeller. The inclusion of the fantastic coloured
photo-etched and the resin parts is the icing on the cake.
The lack of locating pins and the nature of
the manufacturing process means that more care will be required to build
this kit than, say, one of Tamiya's offerings. Some previous experience
will certainly be helpful.
Even so, Special Hobby's 1/32 scale Hi-Tech
Ms 406 is a classy package that just cries out to be
built.
Highly Recommended.
Thanks to MPM/Special Hobby for the review sample.
Review Text and
Images Copyright © 2007 by Brett Green
Page Created 08 June, 2007
Last updated 24 December, 2007
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