Gmax 1938 French Navy Fighter WIP

**gastonj** · June 21st, 2016, 07:24

Hi,

Can i introduce the Gmax alpha version of the Dewoitine D373 (fly model by JP Bourgeois, Gnome&Rhone 14k sound by JM Renaux, 3D by myself), a 1937 to 1939 French Navy Fighter ? The D373 was the plane of the "Flottille 7C1", fighter squadron of the first french carrier "Béarn". The squadron was ground based in Calais at the beginning of WWII. The "Béarn" was used as aircraft transporter carrying gold to Canada to pay and transport US planes (cash and carry) bought by the french government (Curtiss P36, Douglas DB7, Vought Vindicator, Martin 167 and also Brewster Buffalo bought by Belgian Air force).
She is the navy version of the D371 (800 Hp Gnome&Rhone 14k, 370 or 400 km/h and 4 machine guns) who faced the "Condor Legion" at the beginning of the Spanish civil war in the hands of the Republican Air Force. She was clearly superior to Fiat CR32 and heinkel H51 but not able to obtain any success against the incoming Messerschmitt BF109. But, at the sea, able to discard attacks of dive or torpedo bombers.
40 were build (373 and 376 folding wings version), all scrapped in 1942 after the axis invasion of France free zone.
Some pictures ..

And a video (with a sound anterior at the GR14k by JM Renaux)..

Final version by september (CV with 3D french metric gauges of this time) at the "Royale French Navy" site.
Note, the Japanese Zero motor was a development of the GR 14K.

JMC

**Paul Domingue** · June 21st, 2016, 08:11

Very nice looking model. I'm looking forward to taking it for a flight.

**hairyspin** · June 21st, 2016, 08:36

Well done! Good to see a different example from the long history of aviation: vive the variety!

***huub vink*** · June 21st, 2016, 10:49

Very nice and great to see something really different!

Cheers,
Huub

**Bomber_12th** · June 21st, 2016, 10:57

Looking good, JMC, and definitely looking forward to the completed product! This will go together nicely with the already available FSX Morane Saulnier 317.