1:48 Morane-Saulnier MS.406C.1 exhausts

The real subject

At the beginning of the Second World War the Morane-Saulnier MS.406 was the most numerous fighter of the French Air Force. It was powered by the Hispano-Suiza 12Y engine, a V12, and the designation C.1 corresponds to the French designation of a single-seat fighter. The exhausts come out along the sides of the engine cowling and are among the details that are clearly visible on a finished model.

What the set contains

A set of exhaust stubs for a model of the MS.406C.1 in 1:48 scale. Compared with the parts of an ordinary kit, the parts have thinner walls and hollowed mouths, so the exhaust does not come across as a solid rod. They are fitted in place of the kit parts, on which the opening is usually only suggested or has to be drilled.

Building and painting tips

The parts are not of polystyrene, cement for plastic has no effect on them, so use super glue or epoxy. Cut off any excess material with a sharp blade a little way from the part and carefully sand the rest, so as not to damage the shape of the mouth. Before painting, wash and degrease the parts, otherwise the paint will hold badly. Dry test the fit in the cowling and fine-tune the contact face according to the particular kit if need be. The exact procedure follows the maker's instructions.

Who it is for

For a builder who wants properly rendered exhausts on a model and is counting on smoke stains along the sides of the fuselage. The swap takes a few minutes and is among the modifications with the best ratio of work to result, because the exhausts are visible from the side as well as from above. The set does not hold a kit, paints or glue, unless stated otherwise.