1:48 Morane-Saulnier MS.406C1

Zoom set for a model of the MS.406C1

A photo-etched accessory for building a model of the French fighter Morane-Saulnier MS.406C1 in 1:48 scale. The code places the item in the Zoom series, that is with the narrower selection of metal parts that the manufacturer lists alongside the fuller fret of the same name. The scale stays the same, and it is the extent of the set that differs.

The real subject

At the beginning of the Second World War the MS.406 was the most numerous fighter of the French Air Force. The letter C in the designation refers to the role of a single-seat fighter under the French system of the time. In the fighting of 1940 the aircraft lacked performance against newer opponents, and yet it remains a rewarding subject: it has a pronounced angular shape and a varied palette of finishes.

What a narrower fret means in practice

Zoom suits you when you build faster, when you have already dealt with some of the details in your own way, or when you want to find out whether working with metal is for you. Lay the parts out on a light surface beforehand and go through them according to the manufacturer's instructions, which also state what the fret holds. It is glued with cyanoacrylate glue, as ordinary cement for polystyrene will not bond metal, and the bends are made in a photo-etch bender or between two blades. Before painting, wash the metal, degrease it and apply a covering primer.

• a narrower photo-etched set of the Zoom series, 1:48 scale
• targeted refinement without the full fret
• cyanoacrylate glue, tweezers and a sharp blade as the basic equipment
• an accessory to a kit, it does not hold the model itself

Who it is for

For builders of French fighters of 1940 who are after faster progress, and for beginners at working with photo-etched parts. The manufacturer lists the fuller fret of the same name under the code 491471, so go by the code. The kit, paints and glue are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.