Masterbox Models

1/35 German Tank Crew Kursk 1943 "Out of the Frying Pan, into the Fire"

Kit Number: MTB3536

Reviewed by  Howie Belkin, IPMS# 16

MSRP: $9.95 Review sample from Dragon Models USA: Website: www.dragonmodelsusa.com First Look Master Box Ltd.'s artistic team of sculptor A. Gagarin and illustrator A. Karaschuk continue to raise the bar with another outstanding figure set. This set represents a German tank crew that has exited its burning tank, and as per its title, find them in the open, "into the fire". Two crewmen with painful wounds are being helped away while the commander is about to throw a grenade to cover them. One look at the grimaces of the wounded and you can almost feel their pain. Their rescuers show their fear and exhaustion captured, as few injection plastic figures seem able to do.

Their 2 piece black tanker uniforms have raised, molded on insignia and awards when they can be seen (i.e. One of the wounded is being carried slung over another's back, obscuring said detail). But therein lies my frustration with Master Box. A good painter with a steady hand may be able to pick out the insignia and awards. The average and inexperienced modelers will have a hard time of it, especially catching the very fine pink armor piping. Earlier MB Ltd figures took the bold and highly effective solution of providing water slide decals. Now it seems they've stopped including them. The difference drops my recommendation down from 'Highly recommended For All Modelers' to a still very respectable 'Highly recommended For All Experienced Modelers.' The front of the box states that there are parts for four complete figures when in fact there are five, adding to an excellent value. The back of the box shows a color photo of each of the five figures, keyed off to the single sprue of 34 parts and color coded for Vallejo, Tamiya, Lifecolor, Humbrol and Agama paints. As this is a "First Look" review, I can only guess that very little A&B Putty will be needed to fill any gaps as part fit was excellent with all the other Master Box Figure sets I've completed. Thanks to distributor Dragon for the review sample www.dragonmodelsusa.com. I highly recommend these as the most animated injection molded figures I've seen, an excellent value for your money. Master Box has raised the bar for injection molded figures. I hope MB goes back to including decals in all of their future releases and keep construction simple. Their site shows some of the next sets to come. If all of a sudden you see others finally including decals and figures that are 'emotionally charged,' look to the Ukraine and thank Master Box Ltd! References World War II Combat Uniforms and Insignia by Martin Windrow Army Uniforms of World War II by Andrew Mollo The Armed Forces of World War II by Andrew Mollo