Next to D-Day Operation Market Garden is probably one of the better known battles of World War Two, though the selection of kits portraying British Paratroopers has always been somewhat limited, with the Old Dragon set and the older Esci set being the only offerings up until a year or so ago when Masterbox released two sets, of which this is one.
This set of four figures portrays four British Paratroopers at Arnhem during Operation Market Garden in 1944. Three are British Paratroopers whilst the third is in civilian clothing and can be portrayed as either a local resistance fighter or as just a local farmer. The single dark yellow sprue is nicely moulded and the detail is very good with very nice folds in the clothes, individual faces and separate parts for some of the smock skirts. While the detail is sharp there is a small amount of cleanup required with very small amounts of flash and some mould seams to remove.
The three Paratrooper figures are shown in relaxed poses conferring over a map, though no map is included so you will need to make your own. The officer includes a very nicely moulded moustache and comes with a Mk. V Sten Gun together with a Sten magazine bandolier. He also gets a mapcase, binoculars, holstered pistol and two double pistol mag pouches ( so one assumes the pistol is a Browning HP ).
The Bren Gunner has moulded on helmet straps with the chin cup, and his Bren gets the option of a folded or an open bipod. He also gets a spade to wear on his pack and two Mk. III Basic Ammo Pouches which are moulded rather square and firm looking, rather than as the flexible pouches that they were. The rest of his gear is a canteen in the frame holder, a haversack, and what appears to be a Pattern 37 ’08 Pack. The assembly guide shows a rope hanging from this though none is provided. Though he has the helmet straps moulded on his head is a full head and the helmet hollow so it wouldn’t be hard to model him bareheaded.
The third Paratrooper also has the moulded on chin cup and helmet straps, though once again he has the same type of head and helmet as the Bren Gunner, and is armed with a No. 4 SMLE rifle. He also has the Basic Mk. III pouches which are again a little too square and rigid looking. He appears to be wearing the Pattern 44 backpack and haversack along with an ammunition bandolier. The rest of his equipment is made up of an entrenching tool head carrier with attached helve and a canteen in a frame carrier.
The civilian figure is dressed like a game keeper and carries a double barreled shotgun which comes with the barrels as a separate part to the stock, so could be modelled open if desired. He has a small game bag and wears a soft hat with a shotgun ammunition belt around his waist. As a nice little touch he gets a dead rabbit that can be suspended from his belt. It’s a little thing but something that demonstrates good attention to detail is that his raised arm shows the end of his shirt sleeve where it would be seen as the jacket sleeve pulls back when he outstretches his arm.
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 makes up into a good looking set with some very nice features that make it stand out a little from the crowd. Although marketed as being at Arnhem, like the other set of Masterbox British Paratroopers, I’m sure they would equally be at home in the landings at Normandy and should go well with Masterbox’s Horsa Glider once it is released.
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