Strange Aircraft

I have always had a fascination with aviation and aviation history, but it is only within the last year that I have truly discovered the flying machines of the first world war. While surfing the internet a few months ago I saw an aircraft that really looked like nothing else I have ever seen. The interplane struts were arranged in a criss-cross arrangement. They were arranged in a star pattern of sorts. I believe the aircraft was Austro-Hungarian, however I have no idea what the designation for this aircaft is. If anyone can provide me with any clues to the identity and/or the service history of this craft I would be very grateful. Also I would like to know if anyone makes a scale models of this plane. Any help is greatly appreciated.

[PeterL]

Andy, that would be the Star Strutter. No surprise there then

The Hansa-Brandenberg DI designed by Ernst Heinkel. Toko made the kit shown in 1/72 but are now defunct. However, a company called Roden have the molds and are in the throws of reissuing them all. Eduard made one in 1/48 but that too is long OOP and no chance of a reissue there I shouldn't think

hth

Peter L

The Hansa Brandenburg was almost unique for a Central Powers machine, as it was armed with an unsynronized machine gun mounted over the top wing. The gun was enclosed in a metal (aluminum?) fairing that looked like a radiator. It was an ugly beast and I doubt that it was better than the Italian Nieuports it was facing, but the Austrians used it for about a year until the Albatross replaced it.

[leo]

The Brandenburg Fighter was a beast. The baby coffin mounted machine gun was impossible to reach in ase of stoppage and the handling characteristics of the plane were squirrely.

leo

[AGO]

These bad flying characteristics were inherited by the Hansa Brandenburg CC,the KuK Marine naval fighter wich bored the same wings of the DI.
As it results from interrogatories of captured airmen KuK Marine pilots were absolutely prohibited to perform sharp or tight turns or flying at low speed.In case of combat they had to rely on their speed and avoid doing aerobatics.
VBR
AGO

[Lufbery]

There was also a Hansa-Brandenburg flying boat, called the CC, that had there same strut arrangement. There was even an Austrian ace who flew that plane. -Drew