Morane-Saulnier

Morane-Saulnier Type P by JOYSTICK MODELS 1/72 scale, Vacuform.

Morane-Saulnier refined their Type L monoplane with a more streamlined fuselage, revised cowling and a large spinner. The wing had ailerons instead of wing warping and was given the designation LA. In early 1916 the LA was superseded by the Type P with the 110hp Le Rhone, the prototype making its official tests on March 31, 1916. About 550 Type P planes were completed. The Type P served with both French and RFC units until October 1917.

This model is the subject of a color sheet in Windsock Internationl Vol 9, No.3 May/June 1993, inside back cover. Unfortunately, it's identity and escadrille are unknown. The kit was built using the plans on page 35 of the above Windsock.

Morane Saulnier Type L by Scaleplanes, 1/72 vacuform

The MS Type L was the first tractor "fighter" aeroplane to carry a fixed machine-gun firing forward through the airscrew arc. The Parasol aircraft was introduced at the Paris Aero Salon on December 5, 1913 with a 100 hp Gnome Monosoupape engine and was equipped with a specially made camera installed behind the observer's seat. Its military importance was immediately recognized.

The RFC ordered 52 Type Ls in France and another 25 were ordered for the RNAS at Dunkerque, No. 1 Wing. It was on June 7, 1915, that Sub. Lt. RAJ Warneford brought down the Zeppelin LZ37 flying No. 3253. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for the feat.

The Type L was built in Germany by Pfalz Flugzeugwerke GmbH, and in Russia by Duks and Lyebedeva.

Although not a remarkable airplane, the Type L holds a unique place in history.

The kit is a Scaleplane vacuform that I built a number of years ago. I brought it home recently to add it to my website when I discovered a Blue Rider decal sheet for Warneford's plane. This is a basic vacuform kit with no metal parts or decals. The engine and prop are from Aeroclub, a Fotocut metal seat is in the cockpit and Blue Rider provided the decals. The CDL is probably Floquil Depot Buff lightened with a little white. I do not remember how long it took to build the kit.

Reference material is Datafile # 16.