Aires Hobby Models is a company in the Czech republic that has been manufacturing resin aftermarkets bits for some few days now. (Actually years.) They produce cockpits, complete engines, detail and conversion sets, and figures. The scales range from 1/72^nd to 1/32^nd.

Their figures are sold under the banner of Aero Bonus and include a large number of nicely sculpted and molded resin figurines. The subject of this review is a Middle East Allied Pilot WWII with a dog in 1/48^th scale. The dog looks to be an Airedale Terrier in need of grooming but it could just be a mutt.

The kit is molded in light gray resin and includes six parts. Aero Bonus also provides a painting guide with the kit. The pilot is posed leaning on a crate while commiserating with a dog. The figure is also holding a map. There is a small resin bit that may represent a map case but you could do away with that and use the folded up, printed map Aero Bonus provides on the painting instructions.

Assemble is pretty straightforward. Just remove all the parts from the casting block, clean up some minimal flash, and glue them together. Do that and you'll have a lovely, fixed pose Middle East Allied Pilot on/in your hands.

Aerobonus tends to have a specific kit in mind when presenting a new figure. This release is no exception as Aerobonus has a list of recommended aircraft for this release. Billed as a Middle East Allied pilot just about any appropriate scene would work. ( An Allied pilot in North Africa, for instance.) Due to the nature of the pose, this release would also make a nice stand-alone vignette for any aspiring figure modeler out there. Let your imagination run wild.

This release from Aero Bonus is well sculpted and beautifully cast and will make an outstanding addition to that forlorn looking Hawker Hurricane you have sitting there, all by itself. Aircraft models need love too, and this Middle East Allied pilot with a dog will assuage any guilt you may have about having neglected to provide them with the necessary companionship.

My thanks to Aires Hobby Models for the review copy. Dĕkuji.