The Morane Saulnier 406 was France’s most numerous front line fighter during the Battle of France. After the Armistice they remained in service with several air forces and some served with the Croatian Air Force.

Design of the Morane Saulnier 406 began in 1934 and the first one flew in August 1935.

Development continued slowly until March 1938 when 1000 MS.406s were ordered, and the first production aircraft flew on 29 January 1939.

During the Battle of France they were seriously outclassed by German fighters such as the Messerchmitt Bf109E.

Despite their poor performance some were reconditioned and sold to several air forces.

Forty-eight were sold for service in the Croatian Air Force in 1943 but by 1944 only about twenty remained operational and they were completely outclassed by Allied fighters such as the P-47 and P-51.

This model represents a Morane Saulnier 406 in the Croatian Air Force in 1944.

RS Models 1/72 kit completed by Leigh Edmonds in May 2013.