{"product_id":"toko-137-sopwith-t-f-2-salamander-1-72-plastic-model-aircraft-kit","title":"Toko 137 Sopwith T.F.2 Salamander — 1:72 Plastic model aircraft kit","description":"\u003cp\u003eManufacturer: Toko\n\u003cbr\u003eKit number: 137 \/ TOKO 137\n\u003cbr\u003eAircraft: Sopwith T.F.2 Salamander\n\u003cbr\u003eScale: 1:72\n\u003cbr\u003eBarcode \/ EAN: 4820015440235\n\u003cbr\u003eKit type: Injection-moulded plastic aircraft kit\n\u003cbr\u003eOrigin: Ukraine\n\u003cbr\u003eRelease: Late 1990s\n\u003cbr\u003eStatus: Discontinued\/vintage\n\u003cbr\u003eManufacturer and kit history\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eToko 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eKit 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\n\u003cbr\u003eKit contents\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe expected kit contents include:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Injection-moulded plastic sprues\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Fuselage\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Upper and lower wings\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Interplane and cabane struts\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Armoured forward fuselage\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Cockpit\/interior components\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Engine and cowling\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Propeller\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Tailplane and rudder\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Fixed undercarriage\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Ground-attack armament\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Windscreen\/clear parts\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Decal sheet\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Assembly instructions\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe contemporary Toko boxing is documented as having RAF and Royal Flying Corps markings.\n\u003cbr\u003eImportant modelling features\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Salamander is quite different from the better-known Sopwith Camel or Snipe, and the kit's main attraction is the armoured nose.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe interplane bracing and rigging are particularly important. Fine thread, stretched sprue or specialist rigging material will considerably improve the finished model.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAs 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.\n\u003cbr\u003eThe full-size Sopwith T.F.2 Salamander\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Sopwith T.F.2 Salamander was a British single-seat armoured ground-attack aircraft developed during the final year of WWI.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIt 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe aircraft was designed around the concept of trench fighting, hence the T.F. designation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\n\u003cbr\u003eDevelopment and service\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Salamander appeared too late in the war to have the operational career originally intended for it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIt was developed during 1918, when British planners were increasingly interested in dedicated aircraft capable of attacking enemy positions immediately ahead of advancing ground forces.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAlthough 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eConsequently, 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.\n\u003cbr\u003eAircraft specifications\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Salamander was powered by a 230 hp Bentley BR2 rotary engine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eApproximate characteristics include:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Crew: 1\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Engine: Bentley BR2 rotary\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Power: approximately 230 hp\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Role: armoured ground attack \/ trench fighter\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Configuration: single-engine biplane\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Armament: two forward-firing machine guns, with additional provision for ground-attack weapons\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Construction: wood and fabric with armoured forward sections\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAt 1:72 scale, the completed model is relatively small, making the distinctive armoured fuselage and complex wing bracing particularly noticeable.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Toko","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57509849432444,"sku":"Toko-137","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/sussex-model-centre.co.uk\/products\/toko-137-sopwith-t-f-2-salamander-1-72-plastic-model-aircraft-kit","provider":"Sussex Model Centre","version":"1.0","type":"link"}