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MPM Production see out 2013 with a new version of their 1:72 Vought Vindicator in French service and a series of etched sets for this popular range of models:

"We would like to express our gratitude to both our customers and modellers for their respect and favour in this December newsletter. Since this newsletter is the last in this year, a little balancing will take place. Even though we were not able to finish all projects as we would like to we are satisfied. We are constantly enhancing the quality of our kits, thanks to both the 3D design and following mould manufacture using modern technology and 3D printing of the master patterns. The last big change to our kits is the transition to full colour instruction sheets. Thank to the fact that we extended our tool shop machinery, we'll be able to catch up the distribution delay of the recent releases in the first months of the next year.

December new releases:

A113 V-156F “Vindicator in Aéronavale Service” 1/72
US Navy realized that the biplanes era is over in the 1930s. That time phenomenon, the cantilever monoplane with retractable undercarriage offered much higher
performances compared to the conventional biplanes. This convinced the officials to issue new SB category (Scout Bomber) competition. The bomber role was in this case the dive bombing role. The competition winner was Vought Company prototype designated XSB2U named Vindicator. It was accepted for production and subsequently produced for US Navy and Marines in versions SB2U-1, -2 and -3. France ordered modified version designated V-156F and later deployed these machines during the defence of its territory in 1940. Vought subsequently received three French orders. Eventually, the last of them was modified and delivered to the new customer, the Great Britain. French machines differed
considerably from their US counterparts. French machines featured dive brakes similar to the ones that appeared on the first US prototype but omitted on the production machines. The used armament and equipment were of French provenience. The bomb's swing arm was not fitted but the machines were equipped with wing racks. V-156Fs were assigned to AB-1 and AB-3 flights. AB-1 flight was deployed against the advancing Wehrmacht, attacking the bridges over Oise river. AB-3 flight fought in the southern France against the Italian forces.

The kit of this version contains three sprues with plastic parts, injected clear parts and decals. While the fuselage and wing parts are produced using short-run technology (the wing for French version features the dive brakes), the small parts were 3D designed and their mould was produced directly by milling. This ensures much higher quality
and pushes this kit into better level kits. Moreover, the kit contains highly detailed resin parts for this French version; bomb racks, bombs and 7.5 mm Darne machinegun. Decals included offer markings for 2 machines in overall greyblue colour and one that featured green and brown blotches over the grey-blue camouflage.

Our Vought Vindicator sells well in several versions we produce. Eventually, we had answered the calls for the accessories for these kits and prepared three colour photo-etched sets.

The first set K72024 is designed for the last US version SB2U-3 Vindicator, the machines deployed during Battle of Midway.

The second set K72025 is intended for US SB2U-1/-2 Vindicator, the machines that mainly flew in fancy pre-war camouflages.

The third set K72026 is intended for British V-156B Chesapeake Mk.I and contains parts for the British equipment.

At the end of this newsletter we would like to wish you Merry Christmas and all the best to the forthcoming New Year.

A. Riedel"

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