Aires continues its prolific release schedule with a number of recent offerings across the scales.

All the sets are perfectly cast in grey resin. Each set has been designed with a minimum of parts:

1/72 scale

Aires 7173 - AV-8B Harrier II Cockpit

Aires 7175 - F-16N Aggressor Cockpit

Aires has produced cockpits for two of Hasegawa's jets - their AV-8B Harrier and F-16N Aggressor.

Both sets include amazing detail for this small scale. Parts breakdown is very similar for both sets, with a cockpit tub featuring a large amount of detail cast in place, including switches and seat rails, separate upper sidewalls, instrument coaming with an integrated base for the instrument panel, ejection seat and some smaller resin parts. The resin is supplemented with a small photo etched fret which provides, amongst other things, separate harness straps.

These two cockpit sets will add a wealth of detail to your Hasegawa Harrier and F-16 kits, and the relatively simple parts breakdown will also be a relief!

1/48 scale

Aires 4301 - P-40B Cockpit for Trumpeter

Aires has produced a replacement cockpit for Trumpeter's 1/48 scale P-40B. Trumpeter duplicated a number of errors from their 1/32 scale kit when they released their 1/48 scale offering, including the very shallow cockpit.

Aires new cockpit is a total replacement and provides sidewalls and rear bulkhead of the correct depth in addition to the floor, seat, instrument panel and photo-etched details.

This will be a welcome correction and detail boost for Trumpeter's Tomahawk.

Aires 4352 - Ta 183A Wheel Bay (Jumo 004)

This simple, one-piece replacement for AMtech's Ta 183 (also re-released by Tamiya) main wheel bay is bristling with detail on the lower half of the Jumo 004 jet engine exposed inside. The resin part is cast with nice deep locating holes for the gear legs, so the assembly sequence should be simple and essentially the same as the kit instructions suggest.

Aires' Ta 183 wheel bay should look fantastic with careful painting and weathering treatment.