I have always wanted to get my hands on the Masterbox figure sets but alas none of the LHS carry the range until recently. HHQ, in KL brought in a consignment which represented most of their production range and I had a field day going through the kits.
The following is a review of 2 of the kits and also a brief comparison to the recent Dragon premium kits to compare the difference in the quality of the kits.
Masterbox is from the Ukraine and rightly so, the Eastern Europeans always have a knack for producing really dramatic figures which are very nicely animated. The same can be said for Masterbox as well as MiniArt.
Box MB3518 is the German panzergrenadiers set featuring no less than 7 figures in a box
As per MB's current box format, the artwork is really good and there is always an accompanying subject, in this case, the bronze 1940 motorised infantry assault badge. The 2 sprues carry 99 parts and has an odd light beige and grey mix. Unlike the US subjects, this set does not carry any decals which the helmets shout for.
Assembly and painting instructions are typically printed at the back of the box
As noted earlier, the poses are really dramatic and the quality of the figure sculpt is good with allthe necessary creases inthe clothing well represented and the face well defined.
this shot is a side by side comparison with the dragon premiuim panzergrenadier kit on the figures which is quite close except Dragon has got a bit more details.
The same cannot be said for the weapons.
As for the faces
Dragon's DS faces (as shown) seemed a bit better sculpted for painting but the expressions in the MB set is a bit better by my standards.
this is the comparison.
The MB box retails RM36.90 for 7 figs while the Dragon set retails RM39.90 for 4
MB3521(US INFANTRY JULY1944)
Photos first
the cover and kit content. Decals!
instructions, and a good shot of a completed vignette of a very dramatic set. Looks awfully familiar to the Saving Private Ryan scene where Hanks was dragging a soldier before they got blown up.
decals are clear but looks thick. Might just do a build review after this.
sculpt and mould quality which is quite good.
face has good expressions and posing is superb. Fit? to test after this
the weak part of the kit. Poor sculpt of the weapons and flashes abound. If replacing them with sone Dragon sets is not an issue, this is another set worth every cent. Get them unless you are below 14 years old! ( Thats what the box said: below 14 years of age). This set has a price sticker reading RM 33.90
Enjoy
