Model by Toko.
According to the kit box and instructions, Toko is a Ukrainian company, with address Experimental Industiral Technologies Plant JNT STK 46, Mashinobudivna, 252180, Kiev, Ukraine (email: tokoasovai-nua.com . I bought my copy of the kit from a dealer at Historicon 1999 for $9.98. The 1 1/2 Strutter had I-seat and 2-seat versions. This kit was of the 2-seat version, which served as a fighter, light bomber, and observer. The kit included four different color schemes and some alternate decals and parts (for example, two alternate propellers) to build the plane as one of four variants, which the kit described as (1) British RFC airplane, 1917, (2) a RNAS (British) captured by the Germans in 1917, (3) an RNAS airplane of Lieutenant Raymond Collishaw, 1917, and (4) Pilot Voldemar Yakubovs, Krustpils, Latgall Front, August, 1919 (from the text and the red-white-red tail decal, this might be Latvian, but I am not sure whether "Red" or "White" (Latvian). The instructions seemed clear with some text in multiple languages (including English) and numerous illustrations. In general the parts appeared to have little flash and to fit well. One modeling tip is that I let the lower wings set long when gluing them onto the fuselage, in order to avoid possible sag. The main caution might be that I ended up moving the rear seat forward (and turning it from one illustration) in order to have the seat fit properly into the rear fuselage "hole." The kit came without crew, which some modelers prefer, although I was able to add a pilot and rear observer/gunner.
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© Copyright 2000 Hal Thinglum
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