Aires Hobby Models provides a variety of high quality resin products to upgrade, or correct, a variety of models in the most popular scales. They also have a line of crew and pilot figures in 1/72nd, 1/48th and 1/32nd scale. These figures are relatively inexpensive, and make a nice addition to an aircraft diorama, or to add a better since of scale to a finished model.

Aerobonus continues their series of pilot figures. This release is a 1/48^th version of Royal Australian Air Force Fighter pilot. The figure is posed standing wearing his flight gear, which includes khaki shorts, headgear, lifejacket, and his parachute. In addition, the pilot comes with the addition of being able to hold his oxygen hose and mask in his right hand, further enhancing the pose.

The UB-32A-24 rocket pod is a Soviet/Russian rocket pod designed for use on helicopters such as the Mi-8, Mi-24 and the Ka-29. The pod carries 32 unguided rockets that can be launched singly or in a salvo.

Aires Quickboost has released an easy replacement for the AMK 1/48 Aero L-29 Delfin that enhances the canopy rail. There are no instructions but it is a simple replacement for the kit part. If you have the older Planet Models 12448 resin model kit of the Aero L-29 Delfin, this set will probably work on it as well, although I do not have that kit to test fit.

Quickboost has molded the canopy rail perfectly in light tan resin with no apparent bubbles. The Quickboost canopy rail is supplied on one resin sprue with a thin resin attachment to the part that will minimize any cleanup.

Although most paints will adhere to resin alone, I would recommend that you wash this part to remove any remaining mold release and prime it first. This part will need to be installed with your favorite CA (super glue) or epoxy, as the normal plastic glues or solvents will not react with the resin.

Originally published in Hardcover in 1933 by William Heinemann, this diary immediately became a bestseller, largely due to the incredible WWI in action photographs. The publisher was told that the author had been killed in action in 1918 and that the suppliers of the typewritten manuscript wished anonymity. The diary had no named author, and had no dates or any squadron references that could be checked. The spectacular pictures did create some doubt, but in post war Britain, no one wanted to dishonor a WWI hero. Fast forward to 1983 when a collection was donated to the Smithsonian and the contents were recognized by noted WWI historian Peter M. Grosz, who along with Karl Schneide, deduced what had happened. The book was re-printed in October 1985 by Greenhill Press with an Introduction by Karl Schneide of the National Air and Space Museum revealing the details of the hoax.

Having built many US Navy jets in various scales for over 36 years, I can resoundingly state that the thing I hate most about painting them is masking and painting tailhook stripes. Although some manufacturers have included the striping decals with the kits, the vast majority have not.

Thankfully, AOA decals has introduced a new series of decal sheets in 1/72, 1/48, and 1/32 scales to provide those stripes when the kit manufacturers haven’t. Received for this review was the Combo sheet, which includes all three scales. Individual sheets for 1/72, 1/48, and 1/32 are also available. Decals are simple sets of black stripes of appropriate width and spacing, and are printed by Microscale.