A perfect addition to your diorama or display base is this Aires Aerobonus figure. This Russian Pilot figure is designed to be used with any modern Russian aircraft or helicopter. Aires Aerobonus provides a resin figure with separate arms and head on one pour stub with side bars to protect the figure. Of note is the re-sealable packaging that Quickboost uses that makes the parts easy to review and then stuff back into the package securely. The supplied instructions provide color drawings for painting.

Aires Aerobonus has molded the figure in light grey resin with no bubbles that I could find. The mold seams clean up easily and the resin plug is easily removed from the shoes with a razor saw. Notable is that the arm sprues attachments to the inner shoulder and do not affect the molding that can be seen. I cleaned up the arm attachment and the minimal mold seam and attached them with superglue. I added a just a touch of putty to refined the transition on the shoulders to the arms. The head is currently attached with Future but once I’m pleased with the face, I will secure it with superglue. The sculpting is great with perfect proportions of the figure. The jacket and pants are well executed with appropriate wrinkles and folds.

Although most paints will adhere to resin alone, I would recommend that you wash the parts to remove any remaining mold release and prime them first. I primed the figure with Vallejo light grey, and then followed up with additional Vallejo paint to match the colored illustration in the instructions. I followed that with a wash and then dry brushed in some highlights. The photos below depict him in front of the huge 1/48 MiG-31 Foxhound. I feel this kit represents a good sculpture and will add to the presentation of any modern Russian aircraft.

Highly recommended!

Thanks to Aires Hobby Models and IPMS/USA for the opportunity to review this set.