As here are a lot of people with a lot of knowledge and good sources,
maybe I can find an answer here :
Several of the post-war Morane Saulnier MS.500 Criquet were still
fitted with the type of cabin, that allowed fitting a machine gun in the
rear. A great number of the MS.500 were converted to radial powered
MS.502/505. Another modification was the MS.506, converted again
from a MS.505, with a Lycoming O-540, two of them were built and at
least the F-BDXM showed this type of cabin (I’m not sure about the
other one, the F-BKMU). So it seems logical, that at least some radial
engined Criquets had a cabin with a gun mount, too, but I’ve looked
through all books and websites I could find, without success. And of
course, as the F-BDXM comes in its fancy desert camo, I cannot rule
out completely, that it has been modified in this way, perhaps for the
third remake of “The Battle of El Alamein” ?
Anyone, who has more information about this and perhaps a photo of a
MS.502 or 505 with this cabin ?
Thanks in advance
By: Jemiba - 7th June 2006 at 07:54
I think, no Criquet ever carried a rear gun, but the cabin of some of
them had the provision for it, as you can see in the photo Papa Lima
posted yesterday. And most of the MS.502, with Salmson radials were
in fact re-engined MS.500. And the F-BDXM had this cabin, too,
and it was was a re-engined MS.505 (with a Jacobs).
But thinking logical may lead into the wrong direction here.To install a
feature like this cabin afterwards wouldn’t make much sense, I think, but
perhaps this aircraft should look more “war like”, for whatever reason …
By: TEXANTOMCAT - 6th June 2006 at 17:13
The Academy Storch kit actually includes a Criquet and I believe there is a rear gun option in the box – it provides French post war unit markings – I was a bit surprised that the Criquet retained its rear armament and thought it was an error…
TT
By: Mr.Tipsy - 6th June 2006 at 16:20
Perhaps this one? But as far as I can see, it doesn’t have the type of cabin you’re talking about.
By: Jemiba - 6th June 2006 at 13:10
That seems to be one of the MS.500, fitted with the Argus inline engine,
as the original Fieseler Storch and, yes, it has the cabin, I’m talking about.
But have you ever seen this cabin on a radial powered Criquet like that ?
(Photo from http://aerostories.free.fr/aventures/pepin/page7.html )
By: Papa Lima - 6th June 2006 at 12:21
Is this one? Taken at La Ferte Alais last year.
Sign In
June 6, 2006 at 11:41 am