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In-Box Review
135
Early WW2 German Infantry
German Infantry, WW2 era, Early Period
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by: Darren Baker [ CMOT ]

Introduction

A recent release from MasterBox offers a five figure set of German infantry listed as ‘early period’. To me early period would be prior to World War Two, but this offering would appear to cover the first couple of years of the war.

Review

This offering is provided in the usual box style favoured by Masterbox, a card container that opens at each end. Inside is a single re-sealable plastic bag that contains 2 grey sprues. An examination of the sprues does not indicate any issues worth worrying about. The sprue gates are not the smallest I have seen, but they are not excessive in quantity and are by and large well placed.

The uniform featured on these figures offers the high collar and shaped scalloped pocket flaps, also the material running the length of the pocket is present. German uniform changed during the course of the war as materials became harder to acquire and the quality of materials decreased, the result was that production was simplified and the amount of material used in the uniforms reduced. Hugo Boss is said to have had a hand in designing German uniform and that is why the fit and look was so good, but it has also been argued that they only partook on production.

The figures are supplied in the usual breakdown that all modellers are familiar with and so should not present any issues the average modeller will struggle with. The moulding seam lines are very subtle and I feel these will again be easy to overcome to a satisfactory standard. The stances of the figures would indicate troops advancing under fire or moving forward in an unsecured area. One of the figures is scouting the area ahead through binoculars and I would also like to point out that no one is pointing!

On the figure sprue you get bread bags for the figures with a nice level of detail. The canvas straps shown as the connection method to the webbing/belt is indicative of a late war bread bag as early war these had metal loops. The bayonet in scabbard is covered well for the figures. Two of the figures are supplied with combat packs that hang horizontally on the lower back. The figure with the binoculars has been supplied with a map case that hangs from the belt.

The heads and in one case a hand are supplied as separate mouldings. The heads are full but have no hair detail replicated; this does provide the option of scratching some hair detail on the figure or figures if required. Facial details are good generally but the ears are weak in some cases; the expressions are fair for injection moulded figure, but they are not the best I have seen. The hand and finger detail is quite good, in particular where the thumbs are moulded in a position away from the fingers.

Included with this offering is the World War Two German infantry weapons set that was released as a standalone item. This offers a great selection of both weapons and equipment, but it must be remembered that some of the items are not suitable for the period these figures are aimed at.

Equipment
6 helmets
6 canteens
2 canteens with drinking cup removed
6 gasmask holders
5 entrenchment tools
5 entrenchment tools in the webbing holder
Binoculars
4 MP40 magazine pouches in groups of three
2 closed ammunition boxes for the MG34/42
2 open ammunition boxes for the MG34/42 with separate lid
2 drum magazines for MG34/42
12 magazine pouches for the rifleman in groups of three

Weapons
3 P-08 Luger
3 P-08 Luger holsters
2 Walther P38
2 Walther P38 holsters
2 Mauser 98K
2 Mauser 98K with two types of scopes
2 Mauser 98K with bayonet fitted
2 MP 40
2 MP 40 magazines
2 Gewehr 43 one with and one without a scope
2 Sturmgewehr 44
2 MP 717 plus two drum magazines, German name for the Soviet PPSh-41
2 Bergman MP 34 with two separate magazines
MG 34 with separate bipod and breach cover
MG 42 with separate bipod and breach cover
2 short lengths of ammunition belt for the MG34/42

Conclusion

The figures supplied in this offering from MasterBox are pleasing in their quality and the stances are very fluid in appearance. I did find an error with the bread bag connection method, but this is very minor and would likely rarely if ever be noted by a viewer. The addition of the weapons and equipment sprue is a very nice touch of which I greatly approve even though most of the items belong in the spares box where this set is considered.
SUMMARY
Highs: The inclusion of the weapons and equipment sprue is an aspect that I am very pleased to see.
Lows: The ear detail on the heads is soft in soft cases.
Verdict: Another nice set of early WW2 German infantry figures available to the modeller.
  Scale: 1:35
  Mfg. ID: MB35177
  PUBLISHED: May 14, 2017
  NATIONALITY: Germany
NETWORK-WIDE AVERAGE RATINGS
  THIS REVIEWER: 87.04%
  MAKER/PUBLISHER: 84.05%

Our Thanks to Master Box Ltd.!
This item was provided by them for the purpose of having it reviewed on this KitMaker Network site. If you would like your kit, book, or product reviewed, please contact us.

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About Darren Baker (CMOT)
FROM: ENGLAND - SOUTH WEST, UNITED KINGDOM

I have been building model kits since the early 70’s starting with Airfix kits of mostly aircraft, then progressing to the point I am at now building predominantly armour kits from all countries and time periods. Living in the middle of Salisbury plain since the 70’s, I have had lots of opportunitie...

Copyright ©2021 text by Darren Baker [ CMOT ]. All rights reserved.



Comments

Nice review, Squire. I would love to see them built up, as I could use a set for a diorama I am working on.
MAY 15, 2017 - 01:57 AM
Nice review Darren. I'll most likely pick up a couple of boxes of these as the poses lend themselves to all sorts of possibilities dioramawise once you start swapping torsoes,arms, weapons etc with extra sets. These appear to be in the same spirit as the Tristar figures (Mamaev Hill, The Barrage Wall etc)from some years ago in that they are in kinetic poses and would nicely portray movement in a firefight in either an urban or rural setting. The MG team would be ideal for running across a street while covering fire is laid down. I have to say MB are rapidly becoming my favourite figure manufacturer and I do build a lot of figures. They seem to put a lot of thought into their releases in that they can easily be used as a "unit" for a dio or split up and used for others. The cohesion of the set that links them all together is sadly lacking in other manufacturers.Dragon especially with 4 standing around Germans in different uniforms who don't really go together. I'm sorely tempted to change a dio I've been working towards just so I can use some of these.
MAY 15, 2017 - 11:24 AM
Early war German figures are so welcome as the alternatives are few and far between. Need to have more of the same for all of those early-war dis tat I have had planned waiting for the right figures!
MAY 16, 2017 - 08:02 PM
Damned auto correct! "dis" was supposed to be dio and "tat" was "that" that somehow it couldn't auto-correct. What else the heck could tat be?
MAY 16, 2017 - 08:04 PM
Ya ya I know: "I taught I taw a puddy tat" -besides that, I meant!
MAY 16, 2017 - 08:05 PM
   
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