Morane-Saulnier Type P (British MoS.21)

The Morane-Saulnier Type L and LA were starting to get a bit old by autumn 1915, so a revamped version was brought out in the form of the Morane-Saulnier Type P. It retained the faired, round cross-section of the Type LA but improved the engine to 110hp. A synchronized Vickers was frequently mounted on the top wing and a flexible rear Lewis or Vickers was used by the observer. The military designation was the MoS.21.

Its service with Aviation Militaire was fairly brief, and by autumn of 1917 they were largely replaced by an improved version, the MoS.26. The MoS.26 featured a strengthened fuselage, full cowl, and (on French planes) a synchronized Vickers gun.

The RFC ordered Type Ps starting in autumn 1916, many including a Lewis gun firing over the propeller. Due to a shortage of engines, 80hp Le Rhônes were frequently substituted. In all, 106 Type Ps were ordered for Britain, with a mix of MoS.21's and MoS.26's.  A handful were acquired by Russia, but they were not well-liked.

This model is a British MoS.21 version, with a front-firing Lewis on the top wing.  It comes in both 1:144 and 1:285/6mm/1:288 scales.  The 1:285 scale product includes two aeroplanes connected by sprues: one British MoS.21 version and one British MoS.26 version.

Related products:  French MoS.21, French MoS.26, British MoS.21, British MoS.26.

For more details and gaming information, see https://linen.miraheze.org/wiki/Morane-Saulnier_Type_P.