These come beautifully cast without flaws and are designed to be “drop-in” replacements for the kit parts. A slight amount of minor surgery is required in fitting them in place, but nothing an average modeler couldn’t accomplish. Many thanks to Aires for the review sample.

Visit them at their website https://www.aires.cz/en/ for these and other products.

Highly recommended

The Ship

They say Necessity is the mother of Invention. Such was the case with the Independence class of light aircraft carriers. The U.S. Navy’s pressing need for fleet carrier decks during the early stages of the Pacific War brought these vessels into being. The nine Independence class carriers were converted from Cleveland class light cruisers already under construction. Having already built a 1/700 U.S.S. Independence, I chose to build this model as one of her sisters. U.S.S. Belleau Wood was converted from U.S.S. New Haven, and commissioned as CVL-24 in March 1943, joining the U.S. Pacific Fleet four months later. She participated in numerous actions, including the invasions of the Gilbert Islands (Tarawa), Marshall Islands (Kwajalein), Hollandia, and the Truk raid. During Operation Forager (Marianas invasion) and the ensuing Philippine Sea battle, her air group sank the Japanese carrier Hiyo.

When I first saw this as a “work in progress” on Master Box’s website it instantly went on the “must have” list. I believe it was the combination of the US Airborne assisting some distressed civilians that caught my eye. This wasn’t your normal “in action” or stand-and-point pose, but something unique that had instant diorama possibilities! Toss in the horse cart driven by a nun, and you have a winner with this set of figures.