Toko 137 Sopwith T.F.2 Salamander — 1:72 Plastic model aircraft kit

Manufacturer: Toko
Kit number: 137 / TOKO 137
Aircraft: Sopwith T.F.2 Salamander
Scale: 1:72
Barcode / EAN: 4820015440235
Kit type: Injection-moulded plastic aircraft kit
Origin: Ukraine
Release: Late 1990s
Status: Discontinued/vintage
Manufacturer and kit history

Toko was a Ukrainian manufacturer whose 1990s range became particularly well known for unusual First World War aircraft subjects in 1:72 scale. The company produced a number of aircraft that were poorly represented by contemporary mainstream manufacturers.

Kit 137 is one of Toko's British WWI subjects and represents the Sopwith T.F.2 Salamander, a specialised ground-attack aircraft developed toward the end of WWI.

The original Toko tooling was subsequently reissued by Eastern Express, where it appeared as 72156. The Eastern Express catalogue confirms that its kit was originally released by Toko and retains the 1:72 scale.
Kit contents

The Toko Salamander is a relatively small vintage 1:72 injection-moulded kit, designed around the unusual armoured nose and ground-attack configuration of the real aircraft.

The expected kit contents include:

Injection-moulded plastic sprues

Fuselage

Upper and lower wings

Interplane and cabane struts

Armoured forward fuselage

Cockpit/interior components

Engine and cowling

Propeller

Tailplane and rudder

Fixed undercarriage

Ground-attack armament

Windscreen/clear parts

Decal sheet

Assembly instructions

The contemporary Toko boxing is documented as having RAF and Royal Flying Corps markings.
Important modelling features

The Salamander is quite different from the better-known Sopwith Camel or Snipe, and the kit's main attraction is the armoured nose.

The aircraft was specifically designed for low-level ground attack, so the forward fuselage had substantial armour protection around the pilot and engine area. The model therefore has a distinctly heavier-looking forward fuselage than most Sopwith fighters.

The kit's relatively small parts count and straightforward construction make it a manageable vintage WWI project, although the modeller should expect typical Toko-era characteristics rather than modern CAD tooling.

The interplane bracing and rigging are particularly important. Fine thread, stretched sprue or specialist rigging material will considerably improve the finished model.

As with the other Toko WWI kits, a second-hand example should be checked carefully for wing struts, undercarriage legs and other thin components, as these are the parts most susceptible to damage or loss.
The full-size Sopwith T.F.2 Salamander

The Sopwith T.F.2 Salamander was a British single-seat armoured ground-attack aircraft developed during the final year of WWI.

It was derived from the successful Sopwith Snipe, but the Salamander incorporated a heavily armoured forward fuselage and specialised equipment intended for very low-level attacks on German trenches and ground positions.

The aircraft was designed around the concept of trench fighting, hence the T.F. designation.

The forward fuselage provided improved protection for the pilot and vital components while attacking from low altitude. The aircraft retained the basic biplane configuration and general appearance associated with Sopwith fighters, but the armoured nose gave it a noticeably different appearance.
Development and service

The Salamander appeared too late in the war to have the operational career originally intended for it.

It was developed during 1918, when British planners were increasingly interested in dedicated aircraft capable of attacking enemy positions immediately ahead of advancing ground forces.

The design incorporated armour around the cockpit and engine, together with downward-looking windows intended to improve the pilot's ability to observe the ground during attacks.

Although production aircraft were completed, the Armistice of November 1918 effectively ended the requirement for the Salamander before it could establish the extensive combat service originally envisaged.

Consequently, the type is historically interesting as an example of the rapid development of specialised close-air-support aircraft during WWI, rather than as a famous operational fighter.
Aircraft specifications

The Salamander was powered by a 230 hp Bentley BR2 rotary engine.

Approximate characteristics include:

Crew: 1

Engine: Bentley BR2 rotary

Power: approximately 230 hp

Role: armoured ground attack / trench fighter

Configuration: single-engine biplane

Armament: two forward-firing machine guns, with additional provision for ground-attack weapons

Construction: wood and fabric with armoured forward sections

At 1:72 scale, the completed model is relatively small, making the distinctive armoured fuselage and complex wing bracing particularly noticeable.