1:48 German WWI Aircraft Armorer with ammunition cart

A German aircraft armorer with an ammunition cart, 1:48 scale

The Aerobonus set holds a resin figure of a German aircraft armorer from the First World War and an ammunition cart in 1:48 scale. This is not an aircraft kit, but an accessory for a diorama or for bringing life to the area around a finished model. Aerobonus is the figure line of the manufacturer Aires.

What the set is good for

Models of First World War aircraft are small and light even in 1:48 scale, and on their own they look remote on a shelf. A ground crew figure with a cart gives them a sense of scale and, above all, a story: the viewer fills in the airfield, the preparation of the machine and the work outside the cockpit. The cart also works as a separate element of the composition around which a scene can be built, with a patch of grass, crates and a piece of a wooden hangar.

Building and painting tips

Wash the castings in lukewarm water with detergent, cut the casting blocks off with a fine saw rather than snapping them, and sand wet with respiratory protection. It is glued with cyanoacrylate glue (super glue). Assemble and paint the cart separately from the figure and only then set both parts on the base, because otherwise you will not reach the lower surfaces. Acrylics suit the uniform, with a fine wash into the folds and a dry brush on the edges; make the leather parts richer and slightly glossier than the fabric. Dust and mud from pigments do the wheels and the underside of the cart good, but only once the paints have dried. Model the face with light and shadow.

Who the set is for

• Builders of First World War aircraft models in 1:48 scale
• Makers of dioramas with ground crew and airfield equipment
• Modelers who want to add a scene to a finished model
• More experienced modelers used to resin and to painting figures

The set is supplied unpainted and unassembled. Paints, glue and the aircraft model are not included in the package.