Toko 117 Hansa-Brandenburg D.I (KD) Starstrutter — 1:72 Plastic model aircraft kit

Manufacturer: Toko
Kit number: 117 / TOK117
Aircraft: Hansa-Brandenburg D.I (KD)
Nickname: “Starstrutter” / “Spider”
Scale: 1:72
Barcode / EAN: 4820015440273
Kit type: Injection-moulded plastic aircraft kit
Origin: Ukraine
Status: Discontinued/vintage
Manufacturer and kit background

Toko was a Ukrainian manufacturer particularly well regarded for its range of unusual WWI aircraft in 1:72 scale. The company produced subjects that were often poorly represented by the larger Western manufacturers, and its kits subsequently became increasingly difficult to find.

The Hansa-Brandenburg D.I is one of Toko's more distinctive WWI subjects. The kit was later released by Eastern Express, using the same basic tooling. The Toko boxing is therefore of particular interest to collectors wanting the original Ukrainian release.

The kit is identified as 117/72164 in modelling references. It contains approximately 39 plastic parts and represents the KD series 28 aircraft. This is an important detail because the earlier Hansa-Brandenburg production aircraft had some differences around the forward fuselage.
Kit contents

The Toko kit provides the main components needed to build a 1:72 Hansa-Brandenburg D.I, including:

Injection-moulded plastic parts

Fuselage halves

Upper and lower wings

Distinctive wing/tail bracing struts

Cockpit components

Rotary engine

Engine cowling

Propeller

Undercarriage

Tail surfaces

Machine-gun installation

Windscreen

Decals

Assembly instructions

The kit contains 39 plastic parts, making it a relatively compact model.
The distinctive strut arrangement

The most obvious feature of the real aircraft—and consequently the model—is its extremely complicated-looking interplane strut arrangement.

The D.I's unusual struts formed the structure that produced its famous “Starstrutter” or “Spider” nickname. This is one of the areas where careful construction is important because the numerous thin struts need to align correctly.

The Toko kit reproduces this unusual arrangement in injection-moulded plastic. Because of the scale, these parts are relatively delicate and should be checked carefully on a second-hand kit.
Decals and versions

The Toko/Eastern Express kit is documented as having three decal options. The review specifically identifies the kit as representing the KD series 28, rather than the Hansa-Brandenburg-built series 65 aircraft.

The kit's surface detail is described as quite good for its period, particularly the fabric effect. However, the modeller should expect vintage-tool characteristics rather than modern CAD-designed precision.

The kit is also associated with aftermarket decals: a Ukrainian hobby retailer still lists a dedicated Hansa-Brandenburg D.I Toko decal sheet, confirming the continuing collector/modeller interest in the kit.
The full-size Hansa-Brandenburg D.I

The Hansa-Brandenburg D.I was a German-designed single-seat fighter of the First World War, designed by Ernst Heinkel.

Although designed in Germany, the aircraft became particularly important to the Austro-Hungarian air service, which needed an indigenous fighter capability during WWI.

The most recognisable feature was the elaborate interplane bracing designed by Professor Knoller. This produced the distinctive “Starstrutter” nickname.

The aircraft was not particularly successful as a fighter. Its structure was relatively heavy and its visibility and manoeuvrability were not ideal, but Austria-Hungary had limited alternatives during the early years of the war.
Production

Approximately 50 aircraft were built by Hansa-Brandenburg at Briest, numbered 65.50–65.99.

A further approximately 73 aircraft were produced by Phoenix, numbered 28.01–28.72. These Phoenix-built machines form the basis for the series 28/KD configuration represented by the Toko kit.

This distinction is particularly useful when examining the Toko model because it isn't simply a generic D.I: it is intended to represent the Phoenix-built series 28 aircraft.
Operational history

The D.I entered Austro-Hungarian service during the early part of WWI and provided an urgently needed single-seat fighter.

Its principal shortcomings included relatively poor visibility and performance compared with newer Allied and Central Powers fighters. Nevertheless, it remained in front-line use for considerably longer than might be expected because Austria-Hungary had difficulty obtaining sufficient numbers of more modern fighters.

The D.I was finally removed from front-line service in January 1918.

The experience gained with the aircraft contributed to subsequent Austrian fighter development, particularly the Phoenix D.I and D.II, which were much more successful designs.
Aircraft specifications

Exact figures vary between sources and production versions, but the D.I was approximately:

Crew: 1

Engine: Austro-Daimler or related 6-cylinder inline engine, depending on production

Power: roughly 160 hp class

Role: single-seat fighter

Configuration: single-engine biplane

Armament: generally one machine gun

At 1:72 scale, the aircraft produces a very small model, with a wingspan of roughly 10 cm.

The complex strut arrangement is therefore a major part of the model's visual character.
Manufacturer: Toko
Kit number: 117 / TOK117
Aircraft: Hansa-Brandenburg D.I (KD)
Nickname: “Starstrutter” / “Spider”
Scale: 1:72
Barcode / EAN: 4820015440273
Kit type: Injection-moulded plastic aircraft kit
Origin: Ukraine
Status: Discontinued/vintage
Manufacturer and kit background

Toko was a Ukrainian manufacturer particularly well regarded for its range of unusual WWI aircraft in 1:72 scale. The company produced subjects that were often poorly represented by the larger Western manufacturers, and its kits subsequently became increasingly difficult to find.

The Hansa-Brandenburg D.I is one of Toko's more distinctive WWI subjects. The kit was later released by Eastern Express, using the same basic tooling. The Toko boxing is therefore of particular interest to collectors wanting the original Ukrainian release.

The kit is identified as 117/72164 in modelling references. It contains approximately 39 plastic parts and represents the KD series 28 aircraft. This is an important detail because the earlier Hansa-Brandenburg production aircraft had some differences around the forward fuselage.
Kit contents

The Toko kit provides the main components needed to build a 1:72 Hansa-Brandenburg D.I, including:

Injection-moulded plastic parts

Fuselage halves

Upper and lower wings

Distinctive wing/tail bracing struts

Cockpit components

Rotary engine

Engine cowling

Propeller

Undercarriage

Tail surfaces

Machine-gun installation

Windscreen

Decals

Assembly instructions

The kit contains 39 plastic parts, making it a relatively compact model.
The distinctive strut arrangement

The most obvious feature of the real aircraft—and consequently the model—is its extremely complicated-looking interplane strut arrangement.

The D.I's unusual struts formed the structure that produced its famous “Starstrutter” or “Spider” nickname. This is one of the areas where careful construction is important because the numerous thin struts need to align correctly.

The Toko kit reproduces this unusual arrangement in injection-moulded plastic. Because of the scale, these parts are relatively delicate and should be checked carefully on a second-hand kit.
Decals and versions

The Toko/Eastern Express kit is documented as having three decal options. The review specifically identifies the kit as representing the KD series 28, rather than the Hansa-Brandenburg-built series 65 aircraft.

The kit's surface detail is described as quite good for its period, particularly the fabric effect. However, the modeller should expect vintage-tool characteristics rather than modern CAD-designed precision.

The kit is also associated with aftermarket decals: a Ukrainian hobby retailer still lists a dedicated Hansa-Brandenburg D.I Toko decal sheet, confirming the continuing collector/modeller interest in the kit.
The full-size Hansa-Brandenburg D.I

The Hansa-Brandenburg D.I was a German-designed single-seat fighter of the First World War, designed by Ernst Heinkel.

Although designed in Germany, the aircraft became particularly important to the Austro-Hungarian air service, which needed an indigenous fighter capability during WWI.

The most recognisable feature was the elaborate interplane bracing designed by Professor Knoller. This produced the distinctive “Starstrutter” nickname.

The aircraft was not particularly successful as a fighter. Its structure was relatively heavy and its visibility and manoeuvrability were not ideal, but Austria-Hungary had limited alternatives during the early years of the war.
Production

Approximately 50 aircraft were built by Hansa-Brandenburg at Briest, numbered 65.50–65.99.

A further approximately 73 aircraft were produced by Phoenix, numbered 28.01–28.72. These Phoenix-built machines form the basis for the series 28/KD configuration represented by the Toko kit.

This distinction is particularly useful when examining the Toko model because it isn't simply a generic D.I: it is intended to represent the Phoenix-built series 28 aircraft.
Operational history

The D.I entered Austro-Hungarian service during the early part of WWI and provided an urgently needed single-seat fighter.

Its principal shortcomings included relatively poor visibility and performance compared with newer Allied and Central Powers fighters. Nevertheless, it remained in front-line use for considerably longer than might be expected because Austria-Hungary had difficulty obtaining sufficient numbers of more modern fighters.

The D.I was finally removed from front-line service in January 1918.

The experience gained with the aircraft contributed to subsequent Austrian fighter development, particularly the Phoenix D.I and D.II, which were much more successful designs.
Aircraft specifications

Exact figures vary between sources and production versions, but the D.I was approximately:

Crew: 1

Engine: Austro-Daimler or related 6-cylinder inline engine, depending on production

Power: roughly 160 hp class

Role: single-seat fighter

Configuration: single-engine biplane

Armament: generally one machine gun

At 1:72 scale, the aircraft produces a very small model, with a wingspan of roughly 10 cm.

The complex strut arrangement is therefore a major part of the model's visual character.