1/48 Azur LOIRE-NIEUPORT LN-411

Gallery Article by Frederic Cottin on Mar 27 2013

 

 

This is my Loire-Nieuport LN-411 from Czech manufacter Azur.

The LN-40 was a dive bomber designed for the French navy.  French air force decided to buy a derivative of this aircraft, without naval attributes, under the designation LN-411.

As these aircraft were quickly judged too slow and too vulnerable, the French Air Force refused to use them.  But as the French Navy was desperately looking for modern aircraft and had really no other choice, the LN-411 was incorporated into front line units.

 

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During the May, June campaign against the German army, the LN-411 were involved in ground attacks and unfortunately the first impression about the aircraft's vulnerability was right.

Even with a 50% loss rate on certain missions, LN-411 pilots tried to do their best, but their sacrifice were in vain.

This kit is a short run but the quality is good, of course construction is not as  simple as a Tamiya model for example, but it's the price you pay for originality!

I made some little improvements to my model.  The manufacturer offers flaps only in the closed position, so I decided to cut there and realised internal structure with our best friends Evergreen.

My model wears the decoration of a survivor aircraft of flotille AB4 in July 1940.

Hope you will like my model.

Frederic Cottin

      

Photos and text © by Frederic Cottin