charlie_c67 Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 (edited) So, having checked this is ok, this is my first group build. As such I've picked what (hopefully) is an easy build to start with and will ensure I don't lose my mojo halfway through. Allow me to present M. Gauthier's MS406, you can't miss it, it's the small barrel shaped one. As can be seen this will be done with RAF insignia to represent one of the four aircraft that was used by the Free French Flight No2 over Haifa. Three were sent before the Armistace and one defected from Vichy Syria afterwards. They became part of Première Escadrille de Chasse and finally Groupe de Chasse Alsace in time. The squadron also included the MS406's contemporary/replacement in the form of the Dewotine D520, something I also have in the stash but have no decals for as yet. Any ideas where I could find some? Unfortunatly I'm struggling to find any photo's of the aircraft in question so I'm kind of restricted to what Hobbyboss and other modellers have done before me. That said, I have found this illustration that appeared in SAM magazine and hopefully will use this as a good reference point. Edited June 6, 2015 by charlie_c67 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 Nice choice! I love the hybrid colour scheme - French camo with RAF roundels and underwing markings. I assume the ventral radio mast was retractable...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie_c67 Posted March 20, 2015 Author Share Posted March 20, 2015 It folds backwards apparently! No idea how this was achieved short of being sprung loaded? Sadly it seems that current flying examples have neither the ventral aerial or a retractable radiator so I'm having to work from period photos which aren't always the best size or quality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AaCee26 Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 It folds backwards apparently! No idea how this was achieved short of being sprung loaded? Sadly it seems that current flying examples have neither the ventral aerial or a retractable radiator so I'm having to work from period photos which aren't always the best size or quality. Hi Charlie! In this threat http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234977994-hobby-boss-ms406-croatian/msg 9 has links to great gear and retractable cooler details There is also some discussion about the same kit. Cheers, AaCee 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rom1 Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 Nice little bird with a pretty camo! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie_c67 Posted March 21, 2015 Author Share Posted March 21, 2015 Thanks AaCee, I've also found the one on ARCair, sadly no help on the camo scheme, but hopefully some help on the construction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie_c67 Posted March 24, 2015 Author Share Posted March 24, 2015 (edited) A little bit of progress made, I've tried filling the wide mouth radiator a little to make it look closer to the original and the recessed lines on the wings that are actually supposed to be straps. Might end up having to blob filler along each line and sand down. not looking to forward to that if it's the case! Oh, and I've stuck the cockpit in and primed it ready for paint tomorrow night! Edited March 24, 2015 by charlie_c67 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted March 24, 2015 Share Posted March 24, 2015 This looks interesting. I wasn't aware that the MS406 operated in RAF markings. Cliff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie_c67 Posted March 24, 2015 Author Share Posted March 24, 2015 Four in the end. Three sent by France to help defend Haifa, and the fourth defected from Vichy Syria. All flown by the free french, along with D.520's, until parts and fatigue grounded them :-) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie_c67 Posted March 28, 2015 Author Share Posted March 28, 2015 Little more work done, some strips of electrical tape to represent the strengthening ribs rather than the grooves on the model. Still having a little trouble with sorting out the front radiator. Anyone have a suggestion on how to sort this? Anyway, on with the pics... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jean Posted April 11, 2015 Share Posted April 11, 2015 Hi, this will look nice in the chosen paint job! Just one thing: the strengthening "ribs" should be much narrower than what you have put. At a glance, they should be half the width at the most than the ones you stuck on. But again, it is your model, therefore your decision! Have fun! JR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie_c67 Posted April 11, 2015 Author Share Posted April 11, 2015 (edited) Thanks JR. Figured they probably were too wide but since this is the first time I've done something like this I'd let it ride. Speaking of which, under coat on, cockpit painted and body zipped up. It's also sporting a nice white beard till I can smooth the radiator down a little. Finally, my first attempt at masking the cockpit properly, not as smooth as some, but since the canopy has next to no raised detail I'm happy to let this go as well. Hopefully it won't look too bad! Edited April 11, 2015 by charlie_c67 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted April 12, 2015 Share Posted April 12, 2015 Nicely done so far Charlie. I'll be interested to see which interpretation of the colour scheme you go with, FWIW, the SAM profile looks far mor convincing than Hobby Boss' interpretation. Wez Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bordfunker Posted April 12, 2015 Share Posted April 12, 2015 Charlie I built the same machine in 1/48 about decade ago using the Hobbycraft kit and the Aeromaster decals. I've still got the instructions and plans for the Aeromaster decals so you are more than welcome to a copy if these are any use. Karl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie_c67 Posted April 13, 2015 Author Share Posted April 13, 2015 So, few problems rear their ugly heads, first off I thought I painted the undercarriage covers the wrong colour, so re sprayed the white one only to find I had it correct first time! Easily rectified but annoying all the same. Secondly, I need to decide what colour to do the belly. The SAM pic and HB box suggest it's lighter in shade than the top, the instructions and a pic helpfully supplied by Jinxman of this parish suggest it be the same colour. Since the instructions call the colour Light blue when it's clearly grey and suggest painting the black wing a shade of dark green I'm disinclined to pay them much attention. Any suggestions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitch K Posted April 14, 2015 Share Posted April 14, 2015 The callouts I have call the upper colour Gris-bleu fonce and the lower colour Gris-bleu claire. They are different shades, but the distinction is quite small. The upper colour is slightly darker and less blue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie_c67 Posted April 16, 2015 Author Share Posted April 16, 2015 (edited) So, two possible options for the top grey, what do people think, left or right wing? Edited April 16, 2015 by charlie_c67 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitch K Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 Port wing looks closer to my eye. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jean Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 Just to be a pain, I would go for something right in between!!!! Failing that, I would choose the port wing as the closest. JR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jean Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 Hi Charlie, on the photo below you can see there is still a fairly important contrast between the upper grey blue and the lower blue grey... Hence my feeling that the grey you put on your port wing might be too light... Cheers JR 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie_c67 Posted April 18, 2015 Author Share Posted April 18, 2015 Yeah I see what you mean JR, though I would say the grey that covers the body and wings is just primer, so I've got a pic of the underside to show the lighter grey I've used. Also tried brushing the lighter grey from the port side on a darker undercoat. the outer colours are the new ones... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie_c67 Posted April 22, 2015 Author Share Posted April 22, 2015 So I've stalled a little. Trying to decide whether to use the scheme provided by Hobbyboss and Jinxman as the basis for the camo, which is small and bitty sections, or the one from the SAM pic which has no pics of the wings, but has larger and therefore easier patches of dark earth and Dark green. Which do people think would look better? The overall grey is on and the canopy fitted, just need to decide where to go next! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitch K Posted April 23, 2015 Share Posted April 23, 2015 French fighter camoflage is a faff because there seems to have been no standard pattern, as per the RAF and Luftwaffe, but each individual aircraft was different. SAM maybe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jean Posted April 23, 2015 Share Posted April 23, 2015 Hi Charlie, the choice is really yours, and in your case I would go for the easier one. Just one thing though: it is not really dark green that is part of the camouflage of these French aircraft, but Khaki (see photo of the D520 I posted). That would be more likely Humbrol 159 or in that ball park figure, as this colour could change depending on batches. I like the dark blue grey you have selected. JR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie_c67 Posted April 23, 2015 Author Share Posted April 23, 2015 Cheers gents. I do have a suitable green, just need to find it! Also, looking at the brown, it seems a more reddy brown rather than the dark Earth shade. Would some sort of terracotta like colour be better? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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