Omega Models 1/72 Resin Morane-Saulnier AC By Bob Pearson

History

The AC was the culmination of the M-S monoplane line. It did away with the rigging wires of the earlier designs in favour of rigid bracing below the wing to allow for ailerons instead of wing warping. Only around 30 were built, and they were parcelled out to numerous escadrilles, one of which was flown by the Danish pilot Leith Jensen of Escadrille N.76 which is the subject of this kit

The Kit

This appears to be a simple kit – except for the engine and bracing! The fuselage is a single piece with an opening for the cockpit. This gets covered with a fairing somewhat akin to the 'hump' on the Sopwith Camel. Test fitting shows that there will be some filler needed here. The fuselage itself has nice external detail, while the internal structure is to be built up from the provided photoetch.

The wings are nice and will only need light cleaning up. It is recommended that pins be added to the butt end of them for additional strength when joining to the fuselage.

The remaining resin parts are the typical multipart engine with separate cylinders and air intakes, wheel hubs (with rubber O-Ring tyres), propellor, cowl, tail surfaces, Vickers gun and undercarriage struts.

The rest of the struts are provided on the PE fret, and may need replacement with some streamlined stock, or to have their section built up by paint or CA. Other PE items include: seat, control panel, seatbelts and internal structure.

Decals are provided for Jensen's aircraft, but lack the yellow area of the pennant.

Instructions consist of two sheets with a four view drawing and two exploded drawings as well as three photos of the real thing and a b/w profile of Jensen's AC.

Conclusion

I think it is a nice little kit that will contrast to the more familiar M-S N. The struts will require some effort, but at least there is no wing to fit on top of them.

My thanks to Lubos Vinar of Hobbyshop.cz for the review sample