MPM news 13-06

Newsletter
MPM Production Ltd., Mezilesí 718, 193 00, Praha 9, Czech Republic
tel.:+420 281923 910, fax:+420 281 923 892, e-mail: [email protected]
official website and e-shop: www. cmkkits.com
06/2013
Just in previous newsletter I revealed some of the future releases. I hope that most of the modellers were happy to read that
(and saddened our competitors). We will continually inform how these projects proceed.
June new releases:
SH48131 Fairey Firefly Mk.I „Pacific Fleet“ 1/48
Fairey Firefly Mk.I is a typical example of
British naval fighter design. Even before the
outbreak of the World War 2, Royal Nave
asked for two seater long range aircraft
designs. Nevertheless, the second crew
member was a burden that deprived the
performances of these machines. Firefly
replaced its low performance Fairey Fulmar
predecessor and even though its design
handicap was able to oppose the enemy
fighters. FAA begun to receive US naval
fighters at the time Firefly was approved for
active service. Firefly became the complement of the
fighters delivered from USA and British Seafire fighters
onboard Royal Navy aircraft carriers. Firefly fighters were
deployed in Atlantic Ocean and also against Japan in Indian
and Pacific Oceans. These became the first British aircraft
to reach Japanese mainland and even Tokyo during World
1 Fairey
SH4813
War 2.
. I 1/48
Firefly Mk
Fireflies were the only British fighters to use rocket armament in the Indian and Pacific oceans theatre of
operations. The rockets bestowed heavy firepower and Fireflies used it mainly against ships and AA emplacements.
The kit of this version contains four sprues with grey plastic parts, injected clear sprue, resin and photo-etched
parts. Decals included offer markings for four machines that operated from HMS Indefatigable, HMS Implacable and
HMS Venerable. The boxart that depicts Firefly that had been just hit is not artistic license but it shows actual event
that happened: Firefly piloted by Sub. Lt. Ch. D. MacLaren and observer W. Richard in the rear cockpit was hit during
Strike 3 Operation on August 9. This operation comprised preventive attacks on the Japanese airfields located on the
Honshu Island. When this machine attacked AA emplacements on the Matsushima it was hit by five shells that
demolished radio equipment, torn off the sliding part of the pilot's canopy, pierced the left wing tip, left landing flap,
fuel tank and set afire the ammunition. Despite the damage this machine managed to return to HMS Indefatigable.
During the landing the tail wheel was also damaged so the machine was written off and thrown overboard into the
sea. For his deeds was Sub. Lt. Ch. D. MacLaren decorated with DSC. Our decals include marking for this machine.
SH48136 Fairey Firefly Mk.4/5 “Korean War” 1/48
Fairey Firefly Mk.4/5/6 is the typical representative of British naval fighter concept. Even before World War 2 Royal Navy
demanded two-seater long range aircraft
for its use. The second crew member
was a dead weight that declassified the
performances of these aircraft. Firefly
Mk.I (we produce a kit of this aircraft
under cat. no. SH48127 and we are also
preparing another box with Pacific
markings under cat. no. SH48131)
became the successor to the out
powered Fairey Fulmar. Despite the
handicap of its design it was able to
outfight the enemy fighter aircraft. The
development of new and more powerful versions had been started during the war. While Mk.III version was a
disappointment both in performances and handling characteristics, Mk.IV version (later re-designated to Mk.4) was
accepted for production. The first machines reached the combat units after the war, though. Main purpose of this version
was day and nigh fighter role but it should have been also deployed as fighter bomber. Externally subsequent version
served for same purposes and thanks to its internal equipment it was capable of anti-submarine warfare. The need of the
anti-submarine warfare led to the development of special version, designated AS.6 (Mk.6). Fireflies were widely used by
Royal Navy but were also exported. They were used by aviation sections within Royal Canadian, Australian and Dutch
navies. British Fireflies participated in suppressing the communists' squads in Malaya. But inevitable combat
experience was the Korean War. During this conflict the Fireflies were deployed by British and Australian navies.
Fireflies operated from carriers off the Korean coast and supported the ground troops. Thanks to its heavy armament
load were highly commended. Decals included offer markings for Korean War deployed machines. Three of them
served with FAA, one of them sports nose art. The last machine served with Royal Australian Navy (RAN). All four
machines feature black and white ID stripes over the elegant post war British camouflage pattern.
SH4
813
6 Fa
irey
Fire
fly M
k. V
"Kor
e
an W
ar"
1/48
A075 Morane Saulnier MS-410C.1 1/72
Even in 1939 the French Air Force HQ realized that the most common French fighter MS-406C.1 lacks the performance
to outperform the German fighters. The
possibility of replacing MS-406C.1 that
was so widespread by another type was
almost impossible. Theproduction
capacity of French companies were low
a foreign exchange reserves were low to
allow purchase of the new types from
USA. Then Morane Saulnier Company
offered modification of the already
produced machines that should boost
their performances. The modification
was partially taken from the MS-406 produced for Switzerland. The new version was designated MS-410C.1. The
modifications comprised new, fixed radiator, new exhausts, bullet proof windshield, Chavier propeller, four wing
mounted machineguns instead of the two, moreover this time belt fed. Despite these modifications made MS-406C.1 far
better machine that the previous MS-406C the production and assembly of the conversion sets in the warring France
was slow that only few dozen of machines were converted till the Armistice. Moreover, not all of them received all
components. Eventually, Finland prospered from the French modifications. Finland bought the seized MS-410C.1s from
Germany and deployed them in the Continuation War against Soviet Union. They helped to liberate the territories seized
by Soviets during the Winter War.
The kit contains two sprues with plastic parts, injected clear parts and
resin parts including new wheels that were designed in 3D.
Decals included offer marking for French and four
Finnish machines, including aces like kers. Antti
Johanes Tani and kapt. Martti Kalima. Two of
the Finnish machines can be built in two
appearances. Eventually the camouflage cont
stops at number 7 and therefore we prepared a difficult
choice to modellers. To allow the build of MS-410C.1
that were not fully modified our kit contains both MS-406
and MS-410 wings.
A109 Morane Saulnier MS-406C.1 “Battle of France” 1/72
Morane Saulnier MS-406C.1 was the widespread French fighter from the Battle of France. It was designed in 1936 but
due to the delays the first machines were
delivered to Armée de l' Air not before
1938. It was able to outperform the older
Bf 109B/C but newer Bf 109E and Bf
110C were hard opponents for the slower
but manoeuvrable Moranes. French and
also Polish and Czechoslovak pilots
fought with Moranes till the bitter end, the
Armistice in summer 1940.
The kit contains two sprues with plastic
parts, injected clear parts and resin parts including new wheels that were designed in 3D. Decals included offer marking
for 4 French machines. All of them sport unit emblems they served with and these are excellent examples of French
aviation heraldry.
A060 Bloch MB.152C.1 “Battle of France” 1/32 - reissue 2013
Bloch MB 152C.1 aircraft were part of a
quaternion types that created the
backbone of the Armée de l´Air during
the defense of France in 1940. Together
with Morane Saulnier MS 406s,
Dewoitine D.520s and US provenience
Curtiss H 75s tried to fight back the
overwhelming Luftwaffe aircraft.
The difficult development and slow
production led to the fact that only one
unit, in particular GC I/I, received new
Bloch MB 152s before the outbreak of
World War 2 on 1st September 1939. During the Battle of France MB 152s were deployed to GC I/I, GC II/I, GC II/6, GC
II/9, GC II/8, GC II/10, GC III/10, GC I/8 and GC III/9. Polish GC I/145 unit was still in training stage. Except these units,
Blochs were assigned to many regional defense units Patrouilles Aériennes de Déffense and Navy fighter units. When
the armistice was signed Bloch fighters were deployed to Vichy units operating from the homeland. These machines
received colorful identification paintjob consisting of yellow and red stripes on the cowlings and tail planes. These
identification colors were used until the rest of France was occupied in 1942.
Back in 2008 when we released Azur A060 Bloch MB.152C.1 kit we used resin casting to reproduce the complex engine
cowling of this aircraft. That was mainly due to the fact that we didn't have technology allowing the cowling to be
produced otherwise. Unfortunately, modelers experienced troubles mating the huge resin part to the plastic fuselage.
Since we're still trying to improve the quality of our kits and we're frequently using 3D design and milling machines we
decided to enhance this Bloch 152 kits with new sprue with plastic parts for the engine cowling.
The kit contains four sprues with grey plastic parts and injected canopy, detailed resin parts for engine and cockpit.
Further details can be found in the photo-etched fret. Decals included offer three colorful machine, with interesting
histories, that participated in the Battle of France. These machines were used by the most successful French pilot,
Czechoslovakian and Polish pilot that flew Bloch MB 152.
Forthcoming new releases:
A111
Morane-Saulnier MS-406C.1
1/72
SH48110
Heinkel He 115
1/48
Czechoslovakian & Polish Pilots
Forthcoming new releases:
SH32044
Fiat G.50-II “Finnish Service”
1/32
SH32056
Fiat G.50bis “Regia Aeronautica”
1/32
AH-1G Cobra late
1/72
AH-1G Cobra early
1/72
AH-1Q/S Cobra
1/72
AJ-37 Viggen
1/48
SK-37 Viggen
1/48
Fiat G.50-II “ Finnish Aces”
SH32044
1/32
Fiat G.50bis “ Regia Aeronautica”
SH32056
A. Riedel
1/32
SH32049 Hawker Tempest Mk.V 1/32
Tempest MK.V/VI
Tempest MK.II