Master Box Ltd Ukranian Soldiers, Defence of Kyiv, March 2022 (MB35223) 1:35

[Mike]

Ukranian Soldiers, Defence of Kyiv, March 2022 (MB35223)

1:35 Master Box Ltd via Creative Models Ltd

 

 

On 24th February 2022 Russian troops crossed the border into Ukraine on the pretence of a “Special Military Operation”.  The less said about that the better.  Ukraine mobilised quickly and have been fighting the invader ever since, making excellent progress at removing the attackers from the country at time of writing, although winter is coming and who knows what will happen next?  Nothing bad, I hope.

 

Please note: Any political statements on either side will be removed and the posters suspended for 31 days.

 

 

 

This figure set depicts a quartet of Ukrainian soldiers, although their uniforms may not always match, fight well together and have each other’s backs when the chips are down.  Inside the end-opening figure-sized box is a single sprue of parts to create a group of four soldiers wearing modern MOLLE combat vests and BDUs, some of them wearing MICH-style covered helmets while the others wear warm knitted hats and tube scarfs.  The little slice of life that is the norm to fighting-age individuals in Ukraine depicted by this boxing is a rare moment of peace where three soldiers are posing for a photo being taken by a comrade with his smart phone.  The photographer is holding his AK in one hand while he takes the snap, while one guy poses with his across his chest with a long pouch on his back, the second poser is crouching down with an RPG held vertically in his hand.  The final subject of the photo is leaning with one hand on something with one foot on a shallow object, depicted on the box as looking inside a knocked-out tank.

 

 

Sculpting is up to Master Box’s usual standards, with crisply moulded equipment, realistic drape and creasing of the clothing, and natural poses.  The breakdown of parts is as you’d expect, with separate arms, legs, torsos and heads, each of the heads being fully represented, while the soldiers with helmets have their chin-straps moulded into their faces.  Oddly, the box tells us that the smart phone being used to take the photo isn’t included, which seems odd, although it won’t take much effort to create one from a thin slip of styrene sheet and a raised round, or rectangular part to represent the camera of your chosen type.  It’s a small omission, but strange given that it is at the core of the set.

 

 

The part numbers for each figure are shown on the rear of the box, which has photos or renderings of the completed figures, some from a few angles to help with positioning of parts, plus a sprue diagram.  An example of the digital camouflage often worn is also printed as a swatch on the box, with a colour conversion table for Vallejo, Lifecolor, Mr Color, Tamiya and AMMO paint codes.  There is also a QR code that leads to Vallejo and AMMO’s sites depending on which one you point your phone camera at.

 

 

Conclusion

A good-looking set of figures for a contemporary situation, which may be of interest to anyone wishing to build modern Russian AFVs without putting a controversial star on it.

 

Highly recommended.

 

 

Review sample courtesy of