For any who have missed it, Aviaeology is a company out of Canada producing decals specific to many Canadian themed subjects. This set of for 404 Squadron Beaufighters and comes in all scales but this the 1/72nd version. The first thing that hits you when you purchase one of their sets is the detail provided to replicate specific aircraft. The research going into these decals is second to none. This set includes markings for twelve different aircraft in a variety of schemes. Here’s a quick list:

• Beaufighter TF.X NE339 as aircraft EO•U of 404 Squadron RCAF, RAF Coastal Command, Dallachy, Scotland, 1945. Shot down 24 March 1945
• Beaufighter TF.X NE669 as aircraft EO•A of 404 Squadron RCAF, RAF Coastal Command, Dallachy, Scotland, 1945.
• Beaufighter TF.X NE686 as aircraft EO•T of 404 Squadron RCAF, RAF Coastal Command, Dallachy, Scotland, 1945.
• Beaufighter TF.X NE825 as aircraft EO•G of 404 Squadron RCAF, RAF Coastal Command, Dallachy, Scotland, 1945.
• Beaufighter TF.X NT916 as aircraft EO•S of 404 Squadron RCAF, RAF Coastal Command, Dallachy, Scotland, 1945. This aircraft was converted and had the modified tailplane with enlarged elevator and enhanced balance system during most of its 1945 ops.
• Beaufighter TF.X NV177 as aircraft EO•Z "Zooperman" of 404 Squadron RCAF, RAF Coastal Command, Dallachy, Scotland, 1945.
• Beaufighter TF.X NV291 as aircraft EO•H of 404 Squadron RCAF, RAF Coastal Command, Dallachy, Scotland, 1945.
• Beaufighter TF.X NV416 as aircraft EO•J "Jezebel" of 404 Squadron RCAF, RAF Coastal Command, Dallachy, Scotland, 1945.
• Beaufighter TF.X NV427 as aircraft EO•L "Looie IV" of 404 Squadron RCAF, RAF Coastal Command, Dallachy, Scotland, 1945.
• Beaufighter TF.X RD136 as aircraft EO•Q1 of 404 Squadron RCAF, RAF Coastal Command, Dallachy, Scotland, 1945.
• Beaufighter TF.X RD421 as aircraft EO•V of 404 Squadron RCAF, RAF Coastal Command, Dallachy, Scotland, 1945. This aircraft had the modified tailplane with enlarged elevator and enhanced balance system,
• Beaufighter TF.X RD427 as aircraft EO•O of 404 Squadron RCAF, RAF Coastal Command, Dallachy, Scotland, 1945. This aircraft had the modified tailplane with enlarged elevator and enhanced balance system

Included in this set are detailed profiles of all the aircraft plus a section on paint and weathering of the planes. There is a page detailing how the blast plates and how the TF.X Beaufighter was rigged with them including color call outs and pictures of the real items. Also included are service notes on the planes and things that may have carried over from previous versions.

All this is superb but is only a start. Aviaeology goes well beyond and here’s why. At the time of this review the Aviaeology website is under renovation, so please go to their eBay store at https://www.ebay.ca/str/aviaeology. Once a purchase is made, an email will appear in your inbox. Attached to that email will be the documentation portion that accompanies the decal set in PDF format. For those who purchase their Aviaeology products from a third-party vendor (such as your local hobby shop), there is a “chit” within the product packaging that directs the purchaser to register their purchase/ownership with Aviaeology via email. The PDF documentation will soon follow via a return email. The most recently produced documentation allows for the viewer to “zoom in” on-screen, up to 800 to 1600%! No more guessing about placement as you can zoom in and check. This is a significant aid to the modeler in making sure that the orientation of the decal is correct when applied to the model. The pdf documentation represents a considerable amount of research by Aviaeology and is protected under various copyright laws, so a sample of this documentation is not included in this review.

These decals would make a superb addition to the Hasegawa kit. So to summarize, great decals, superb research and a zoom able PDF with tons of great schemes…go buy it now! Seriously, these decals are amongst the best in the entire modeling world and are highly recommended.

My thanks to the fine folks at Aviaeology for the chance to review them. Visit their E-bay store to get a set.