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REVIEW
Master Box "Who's that?"
c5flies
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California, United States
Joined: October 21, 2007
KitMaker: 3,684 posts
Armorama: 2,938 posts
Posted: Tuesday, June 22, 2010 - 04:29 PM UTC
Randy Harvey reviews and builds a set of German Mountain Troops & Soviet Marines, six figures in 1/35 from Master Box.

Link to Item



If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!
Jmarles
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British Columbia, Canada
Joined: November 02, 2008
KitMaker: 1,138 posts
Armorama: 953 posts
Posted: Tuesday, June 22, 2010 - 04:57 PM UTC
I was wondering what this set would look like in the flesh. I am sure the figures will look much better with gaps and seams filled, and seam lines removed. My only concern, not being a 'Soviet guy", is the machine gun looks thick, overscale and almost toy like. The bayonet looks huge but maybe that's just how they were. The subjects are vibrant though - Soviet Marines in a variety of kit and uniform, and German Mountain troops devoid of the "stereotypical" if you will, mountain tunics, heavy coats, etc. Very unique - they suggest a haggard, almost desperate look so typical of the Eastern Theatre. I like the "sapper" pouch set up on the German, I wonder how common this was? Also of note is the Germans have some Russian weapons and the Russians have some German weapons, very typical of the tit-for-tat street fighting, a very cool touch. Of course, these guys could be used in seperate scenarios as it were, without the need to combine both nationalities in one dio. I might just pick this one up if I can sneak it in the house!

Another winner from MB, let's hope they are listening to the myriad of figure requests that our Armorama peeps have suggested. I wonder what the next one will be? I like the "Kubelwagen Crew at Rest" idea or maybe LRDG?
CMOT
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ARMORAMA
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England - South West, United Kingdom
Joined: May 14, 2006
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Posted: Tuesday, June 22, 2010 - 07:09 PM UTC
I see what you mean about the rifle Julian. very good review Randy.
jimbrae
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Provincia de Lugo, Spain / España
Joined: April 23, 2003
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Posted: Tuesday, June 22, 2010 - 08:49 PM UTC
Randy, an excellent Review. I've also built this kit (for Review as well, although you beat me to the punch ) so, I agree with your asessment.

There are a couple of things that MBox need to improve on. This is particularly true with the fit of the headgear. They need to take a slightly different approach.

There are two figures in particular which really caught my eye - the officer and the greatcoated figure - both of them have massive possibilities for other settings.
grom
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England - North West, United Kingdom
Joined: July 28, 2005
KitMaker: 214 posts
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Posted: Tuesday, June 22, 2010 - 11:26 PM UTC
Julien I see you have the same problem as me sneaking new kits into the house,if you have a sucessful method let me know....lol
exer
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Dublin, Ireland
Joined: November 27, 2004
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Posted: Wednesday, June 23, 2010 - 03:31 AM UTC
Good review, I built this set too. With careful clean up and some scribing around pockets and with replacement heads these are great figures.
afv_rob
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England - East Anglia, United Kingdom
Joined: October 09, 2005
KitMaker: 2,556 posts
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Posted: Wednesday, June 23, 2010 - 10:12 AM UTC
A good review with excellent pics and plenty of detail.

Now a point I must make, and its not really just directed and you but all reviewers in general is the rating you gave the figure set. 85% to me implies a set of figures which is pretty flawless apart from a few small problems, however very clearly based on your photos the figures will require lots of filling and cleaning up. To me 85%, despite the cool subject, seems way to high a rating for these figures, that places them on par with DML figures in terms of rating which, it cannot be denied, are far superior in terms of detail and quality of molding.
As I said this isnt really an attack on you, more an attack on what I consider the problematic rating system.
MartynSmith
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England - North, United Kingdom
Joined: January 11, 2010
KitMaker: 73 posts
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Posted: Wednesday, June 23, 2010 - 12:06 PM UTC
Randy

A great review thanks for sharing it...and your time.

Kit does look good though and I agree about the SVT40 it looks massive

Martyn
dioman13
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Indiana, United States
Joined: August 19, 2007
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Posted: Friday, June 25, 2010 - 02:20 AM UTC
Darn good review. To see the figures built up without any filling ect. is very professional. What you see, is what you get and is in my mind very important. Looks like another must have set for me. We can always replace the oversized weapon and the heads don't look too bad. Lots of potential for this set. Thanks Randy.
HARV
#012
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Wyoming, United States
Joined: November 07, 2003
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Posted: Friday, June 25, 2010 - 06:23 AM UTC
Thank you for the feedback everyone. I appreciate hearing all of your comments. I am glad that you like the way I display and describe everything. It makes me want to continue writing the reviews.

I do like this set and there are several possible uses for the figures. I have a diorama in mind that I will use these figures in, if I ever get a chance!! I really like the German in the greatcoat. For some reason he just has a cool look. I guess he just looks tired, worn out and ready to go home.

Thanks again everyone. I really appreciate the comments.

HARV
Heikkola
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Finland
Joined: November 25, 2009
KitMaker: 2 posts
Armorama: 1 posts
Posted: Saturday, June 26, 2010 - 01:13 AM UTC
A very nice review. It is always good when a reviewer actually builds the figures, then the public can see for themselves how the endproduct looks like!
I also reviewed this set for a Finnish magazine. One thing you failed to notice is that these German troops are not actually Mountain troops. Like you said one of the Germans has an Engineers backpack and pouches. I suppose the name of this set is only some sort of a translation error?
One odd thing I noticed is that the sculpting of these figures is not as good as the earlier MB figures had. The wrinkles and drapery are not as sharp etc. These figures are not bad and the poses are top notch. I only hope MB will regain their earlier level of sculpting.
MSGsummit
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Tennessee, United States
Joined: November 16, 2002
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Posted: Saturday, June 26, 2010 - 01:45 AM UTC
Randy,
Thanks for the review! Nicely done and exceptionally helpful. I really like your built photos showing all the warts and problem areas one can expect (and actually see!) to have to deal with. Thanks again!
HARV
#012
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Wyoming, United States
Joined: November 07, 2003
KitMaker: 3,098 posts
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Posted: Tuesday, June 29, 2010 - 05:36 AM UTC
Thank you for the feedback. I appreciate any and all that I get as it helps me write better reviews in the future and also gives me ideas as to what I should research more.

I am glad that you liked the review.

Thanks again,

HARV
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