RS Models RSMI92152 1:72 Morane-Saulnier MS.405 4 decal variants 1

Morane-Saulnier MS.405 4 decal variants 1. MS.405C, No.1 test in CEMA, pilot "Kostia" Rozanoff, Reims 1938 2. MS.405C, No.1, Chartres , June 1940 3. MS.405C, No.4, prototype of MS.406C1, CEMA , January 1940 4. MS.405C, No.15, Salon de Provence 1939 Morane-Saulnier's response was the M.S.405 developed by Engineer in Chief Paul-Rene Gauthier. The MS.405 was a low-wing monoplane of mixed construction, with fabric-covered wooden tail, but a bonded metal/wood material skin fixed to duralumin tubing. Plymax consisted of a thin sheet of duralumin bonded to a thicker sheet of plywood. Morane-Saulnier had a long history of producing warplanes dating back to pre-World War I years, but in the inter-war period, they had concentrated on civil d esigns. The aircraft was a departure for them, being their first low-wing monoplane, first with an enclosed cockpit, and first design with retracting landing gear. The new 860 hp Hispano-Suiza 12Ygrs engine driving a two-pitch Chauviere propeller powered the first M.S405-1 prototype, which flew on 8 August 1935.Development was very slow, and the second M.S.405-2 prototype with a 900 hp Hispano-Suiza 12Ycrs engine didn't fly until 20 January 1937, almost a year and a half later. With the new engine the fighter reached 443 km/h (275 mph), fast enough to secure an order for a further 16 pre-production prototypes, each including improvements on the previous version.