This is one of Masterbox’s early sets, and the first one in their “Eastern Front Series” which combines this kit with an opposing set of Russian figures plus a third set with two German and Two Russian soldiers in hand to hand combat.
The four figures contained in this kit come on a single dark yellow sprue contained within the usual Masterbox open ended box, with the usual attractive artwork. The mouldings are good with nice detail on the uniforms, webbing and faces, though perhaps a little soft on some of the creases and the moulded on helmet chin straps could do with sharpening up. There is a small amount of cleanup required with very small amounts of flash and some mould seams to remove, as well as a few shallow sinkholes in the tops of the helmets. Fit and finish is good with just a small amount of filling and sanding required to eliminate all the join lines completely.
All four wear the M40 field uniform with the M35 helmet, with the three enlisted men having Y-straps while the officer has none. Two also have moulded on gas mask container straps. All four wear marching boots, though one has his trouser legs worn outside of the boot tops rather than being tucked in, and the officer wears gloves and breeches. One figure is depicted as having just been shot and the pose pulls this off quite well.
The figure holding the MP40 has the magazine moulded into his hand which means you get a proper looking grip, though it does mean the MP40 then comes with no magazine, as it is intended to be attached to the one being held in the hand. The officer likewise has his P38 Walther pistol moulded into his hand with a holster on his belt, though the holster is moulded with the flap buckled closed, so this would look better if the holster was resculpted to have the flap open and the holster empty.
Equipmentwise you get two gas mask containers, three canteens, three bread bags, four Kar 98k triple ammo pouches, one mess tin, and two short shovels in carriers with attached bayonets. There is also a pair of binoculars, the P38 holster as mentioned above, and two MP40 triple mag pouches, one of which has the smaller cleaning kit pouch.
The weapons included are the MP40 which as mentioned comes without it’s mag, the P38 in the officer’s hand, and two Kar 98K rifles. The details and mouldings on the weapons and equipment is good overall, though the Kar 98K pouches seem a bit small, and the hangers on the entrenching tool carrier need beveling in. The buckles etc on the harnesses though are very well done.
Assembly and painting instructions are provided on the reverse of the box giving the paint numbers for Vallejo, Tamiya, Lifecolour, Humbrol and Agama paints.
On it’s own this makes a good enough little action oriented set, but where it really comes to life is when it is combined with the other two sets in the series to create a small vignette of a battle at close quarters, whether a vehicle is included or not.
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