In figure sets of late Masterbox have become synonymous with sets that think outside the square and this set with a group of soldiers posing for a photographer is certainly one of those, giving us an instant diorama opportunity.
Coming in the usual Masterbox end opening box on the usual single dark yellow sprue you get five figures, two standing infantrymen, two kneeling infantrymen and the photographer. The mouldings are the typical Masterbox quality having the usual light mould seams to clean up and requiring a small ammount of filling and sanding once assembled to remove the join lines. The faces have good expressions and the hands are nicely moulded. At an average 49-50mm tall they average out at around 172-175cm tall or 5’8″-5’9″.
The camera holding figure comes in a sheepskin coat with separate parts for the lower parts and the collar to get the best definition. He carries a mapcase and a sidearm. Two of the infantrymen are wearing captured German camo smocks and carry PPsh 41 Sub-machine guns, a third infantryman has a rucksack and a Mossin Nagant rifle while the fourth has a shoulder bag style ruck and carries a Degtyarev DP27 Light Machine Gun.
There is also a spade without a cover, three spades with covers, four canteens, two PPsh 41 drum mag pouches, a DP27 drum mag pouch, two Mossin Nagant mag pouches, a pair of binoculars and what appears to be a German Luger holster. And of course the camera and a camera case.
Assembly and painting instructions are provided on the reverse of the box giving the paint numbers for Vallejo, Tamiya, Lifecolour, Humbrol and Agama paints.
This is a very nice little set that could be put in front of a German tank to give you have an instant diorama of a group of Russian soldiers recording their victory for posterity, but equally the figures are suited to a scene of infantry waiting in ambush in an urban setting.
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