Venturas in Canada pt.1 provides complete markings for ten individual Venturas of various marks, and most of the markings necessary for an eleventh subject (Ventura B.II AJ430 as a ski test aircraft) are also included. This decal set depicts training aircraft, test machines, and some early US Navy ‘visitors’ to Canada. The 8-page instruction booklet included in the set explains subject selection was focused on variety as well as available reference photographs.

The instructions describe decal application, placement instructions, provide illustrations with painting instructions for all subject aircraft, plus a number of black and white reference photographs. Information in this set's documentation includes the early-production B.II / B.IIA cockpit canopy variation, detail items on ski test aircraft, ASV radar anti-submarine warfare test aircraft, and information on rare US NAvy PV-3 interim ASW aircraft.

The following aircraft are covered:

• Ventura B.II AE929 as aircraft O1 "Vivian" of 34 Operational Training Unit (OTU), Pennfield Ridge, New Brunswick, August - December 1943.
• Ventura B.II AE934 as aircraft EX•Y of 34 OTU, Pennfield Ridge, New Brunswick, November 1942.
• Ventura B.IIA FD640 as aircraft B2 "The Blissville Jinx" of 34 OTU, Pennfield Ridge, New Brunswick, January 1944.
• Ventura B.IIA FD675 as aircraft S2 "A. Hitler Fancy Juggler" of 34 OTU, Pennfield Ridge, New Brunswick, circa 1943-1944.
• Ventura GR.V FN974 as aircraft S2 "What Did I do…" of 34 OTU, Pennfield Ridge, New Brunswick, August 1943.
• PV-3 Ventura (serial not presently known) as aircraft B-11 of VP-82, US Navy, Naval Air Station Argentia, Newfoundland, late 1943. (Note: This aircraft was reportedly flown by the Mason crew, who were responsible for the sinking of a U-boat while operating PBO-1 Hudsons from this same airfield in 1943.)
• PV-1 Ventura (serial not presently known) as aircraft B-6 of VP-82 (later VB-125), US Navy, Naval Air Station Argentia, Newfoundland, early 1943. (Note: The Argentia-based VP-82 crew of pilot Lt (JG) Thomas Kinaszczuk was responsible for the first confirmed Ventura U-boat victory, sinking U-174.)
• Ventura B.II AE860 as an RCAF ski test aircraft, TDE Rockcliffe, Ontario, early 1943. (Note: Details on the ski-plane conversion are noted and illustrated for this subject.)
• Ventura B.II AJ430 as an RCAF ski test aircraft (remaining in USAAF markings), TDE Rockcliffe, Ontario late 1943. (Note: Details on the ski-plane conversion are noted and illustrated for this subject). This aircraft is labeled as a "bonus" subject because coverage is considered to be incomplete, due to the lack of adequate reference photos of the artwork carried on the right side of the fuselage.
• Ventura B.II AJ164 as an RCAF anti-submarine warfare test aircraft, early-mid 1943. (Note: Details on the minor conversion are noted and illustrated for this subject. Features an elaborate factory-applied artwork mid-fuselage to starboard).
• Ventura B.II AJ247 as an RCAF anti-submarine warfare test aircraft (still in USAAF markings!) with ASV.II radar aerials installed, early-mid 1943. (Note: Details on the minor conversion are noted and illustrated for this subject. Scale drawings are provided on the ASV.II radar aerials installation).

When purchasing Aviaeology decal sets, modelers are provided information to register on-line for access to a free home-printable color PDF version of the instruction booklet, which includes the capability to zoom in on the high-resolution illustrations and or/print out large size images that can be scaled up to 1/48 if desired.

Although advertised as an inventoried set, be aware that this set was screen-printed in a small run series that was produced in July & August 2014. Aviaeology reports there are plenty currently in stock but also notes that sets are selling steadily with about two-thirds already sold.

This set is highly recommended. The review sample was well printed in perfect register and the colors look very accurate to me. Everything appears to be accurately sized to fit currently available1/48 scale Revell kits. Thanks to Aviaeology for the review sample and IPMS/USA for the opportunity to review it.