Contact-Résine 1/24 Hansa Brandenburg G D1

By Marc Guerrero

We have noticed that the model market did not offer 1/24 scale planes from the first world war, unlike the second world war. Hence our idea to design, by our own means, a kit which had to comply with specifications clearly drawn up before any work on masters. The choice of the plane may sound curious to some people; but we were eager to get out of the sempiternel Fokker and other famous planes.

Its squat and original frame led us to choose the Hansa Brandenburg D1. We must not forget that this plane was engineer Ernest Heinkel’s first creation. The rigging too have weighed a lot in our selection of the plane. As a matter of fact, a few planes, maybe none, had this kind of strengthening (rigidification) systems.

Specifications of our model had to include the following necessary items:

1/24 scale- originality of the model
story of the plane
thorough realism
use of many materials, among which wood
easy assembling, even for novice model makers
limited series which won’t be re-issued
creation of a range Museum, scale 1/24

We began making masters in the early 2004, relying on a great deal of documents including plans and photos of the time.

The body was not so difficult to achieve, the shape being somewhat easily affordable, unlike the upper part far less easy to make. Since we aim first at the exactness of shapes, we have spent hours and hours sanding and adjusting to reach our target. The cockpit has been shaped as the actual one with all its fittings.

We had foreseen the problem of the model’s final weight. That is why masters were done to build white metal landing gears. We did likewise for the rigging supporting the upper wings.

We have worked a lot on the engine and its cowls. The engine is a true model within the model and we needed it to be visible and highly detailed once the model was finished.

The greatest challenge was about the wings of our project. We had planned to make them with photoetched (ribs of wings airfoils). Though interesting the idea was difficult to implement when we set up the model. Consequently we opted for wood as in the actual plane. It is laser cut birch plywood.Delicacy matches realism in fine.

The setting up is not difficult and the wings are finally hard-wearing. The frame of the wing can be covered with silk paper or remain visible. It’s up to the model maker to decide !

The Engine

When we visited the Cracow Museum in Poland, we collected the dimensions and photos of a 1916 surviving Austro Daimler Benz. This engine placed at our complete disposal by Mr Hoffman, the Director of the Museum, enabled us to achieve a perfect replica of this motor propelling unit. Considering the scale, we can have very advanced details ; that is why we did our best to offer the model maker the greatest accuracy.

The Cockpit

Here the major difficulty was to find out documents allowing us to reproduce the sundry items of the fittings. Once the documents were gathered, we made the masters. The cockpit was conceived so as to help the model maker paint it easily before assembling it in the model. All fits in the body easily and perfectly.We have decided to make structures similar to the actual ones even in places invisible to the naked eye once the model is finished. Our kit could then be definitely precise and detailed. Various items in photo etched stress realism as the outlines of the instrument board dials.

The Wings

After careful consideration, we have opted for an all wood fabrication of the wings and tails. It entailed a true reproduction of the ribs and airfoils the wings should have. It also let the model maker free to cover or not the wings with the fabric. We have consequently used laser cut which guarantees extreme fineness. Thus the fittings are precise and easy to achieve.

The Kit

It will be available in a near future in a limited series of 500 examples worldwide. To guarantee the limited series, each kit sold will be numbered and will include an authenticity certificate. There won’t be a second edition after the sale of the 500 examples.