MisterCraft F-50 Lioré et Olivier LeO 451 WWII French Bomber
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Note: This kit isn’t an original tooling from MisterCraft, but rather a rebox of the vintage Heller sprues paired with new decals and alternate marking options. The decals don't entirely match the instructions: some schemes from the guide are missing in the decals, while there are options in the decals that were not included in the instructions. On top of that, one decal is marked with catalog number F-61, the correction decal shows F-51, and the kit itself carries stock number F-50. At first we figured the decals had been swapped with a different kit, but MisterCraft only ever released the LeO 451 under kit number F-50—there were no other releases.
Lioré et Olivier LeO 451 WWII French Bomber
Before the Second World War, the Lioré et Olivier LeO 451 was considered one of the most advanced medium bombers in the French Air Force. The aircraft was notable for its modern all-metal construction and aerodynamic design. Designed from the outset with twin vertical tail surfaces to provide the dorsal gunner with an unobstructed field of fire, the prototype made its maiden flight on January 16, 1937, before undergoing flight trials, with the first production models completed in 1938.
The primary production variant, the LeO 451 B4, was assigned to various bomber groups, including GB I/12, II/12, I/25, and I/31. Upon introduction, these units operated the LeO 451 alongside older aircraft such as the Bloch 210.
The LeO 451 entered operational service at the onset of the Second World War. Initially utilized for reconnaissance, the units conducted night bombing operations against Germany and Italy, while tactical necessity during the Battle of France frequently required these medium-altitude bombers to conduct daylight low-level missions, resulting in substantial losses. The LeO 451 remained in service throughout the war and continued to be used for transport and flight-testing roles in the post-war period.
Technical Specifications of the Lioré et Olivier LeO 451
- Length — 56.33 ft
- Wingspan — 73.88 ft
- Height — 17.19 ft
- Wing area — 710 sq ft
- Powerplant — 1 × Gnome-Rhône 14N-48 (port) and 1 × Gnome-Rhône 14N-49 (starboard) radial engines, 1,060 hp each
- Maximum speed — 308 mph
- Cruising speed — 261 mph
- Service ceiling — 29,528 ft
- Rate of climb — 1,172 ft/min
- Operational range — 901 miles
- Crew — 4
- Armament — 1 × 20 mm Hispano-Suiza HS-404 dorsal cannon, 2 × 7.5 mm MAC 1934 machine guns (1 nose, 1 ventral), up to 3,086 lb of bombs
Marking Options:
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Lioré et Olivier LeO 451, No. 378, “White 4”, Bomber Group GB I/11, Vichy French Air Force, Oran-La Sénia, Algeria, September 1940
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Lioré et Olivier LeO 451, “White 8”, Bomber Group GB II/35, French Air Force, May–June 1940 (kit mistakenly states 1937–1938; GB II/35 rearmament from the Amiot 143 to the LeO 451 began only in autumn 1939, and the unit reached combat readiness in May 1940)
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Lioré et Olivier LeO 451, “DK+ZD” (or “OK+ZD”), Luftwaffe, May–August 1943 (instructions misidentify this as KG 200, Le Bourget, 1940, which is impossible. KG 200 was formed only in February 1944. Solid RLM 04 yellow lower surfaces were applied to captured aircraft only in 1942–1944, and the transfer of LeO 451s to Le Bourget for conversion into the LeO 451 T transport variant began no earlier than spring 1943. By summer 1943, this aircraft had already been captured by US forces during the Allied invasion of Sicily. Most likely, this is ex-French No. 255 of Bomber Group GB I/25, restored by the Germans and assigned to Luftflotte 2 or Fliegerkorps II in the Mediterranean theater)
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Lioré et Olivier LeO 451, “BI+ZT” (“DK+EZ”?), Luftwaffe, France, 1943–1944 (the kit mistakenly dates this to 1940 and lists the fuselage code as “BI+ZT”, though the lower wing surfaces show “DK+EZ”. This marking option is shown in the instructions but missing from the decal sheet)
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Lioré et Olivier LeO 451, “212-6”, 212ª Squadriglia, 51° Gruppo Autonomo, Regia Aeronautica, Bologna-Borgo Panigale, Italy, spring–summer 1943 (the kit mistakenly interprets the designation as “212-G” and incorrectly lists Foggia airfield as the location)
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Lioré et Olivier LeO 451 (ex-Luftwaffe “DK+ZD”), USAAF, Sicily, summer–autumn 1943 (the kit mistakenly dates this to 1944–1945 and identifies it as a Vichy French Air Force aircraft. The aircraft belonged to the Luftwaffe and was captured by US forces in summer 1943 during the Allied invasion of Sicily)
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Lioré et Olivier LeO 451, “White 23”, 1st Squadron, Bomber Group GB I/31, French Air Force, June 1940 (unlisted in kit instructions)
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Lioré et Olivier LeO 451, No. 388, “Red 12”, 1st Squadron, Bomber Group GB II/31, French Air Force, June 1940 (unlisted in kit instructions)
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Lioré et Olivier LeO 451, No. 222, “Red 1”, Escadrille 6B, Flottille 4F, Vichy French Naval Aviation, Oran, Algeria, 1942 (unlisted in kit instructions)
- Product type:
- Scale Model Kit
- Condition:
- New
- Scale:
- 1/72
- Manufacturer:
- MisterCraft
- Product code:
- F-50
- Country of Origin:
- Poland
- Kit Type:
- Plastic Injection
- Dimensions:
- 32 × 24 × 8 cm
- Package Contents:
- Plastic parts, clear parts, decals, assembly guide, box
- Parts Count:
- 92 pieces
- Marking Options:
- 9
- Operator Nations:
- France, Germany, Italy, USA
- Era:
- World War II (1939–1945), Cold War (1946–1991)
- Skill Level:
- 3/5 Competent
