Master Box 1/35
Russian Tankmen 1943-44

Master Box Ltd. is a fairly new model company based in the Ukraine.

This kit is in an end-opening type box. It contains one lonely light green tree of parts.

The box art shows four Soviet tank crewmen at leisure around their tank. One figure is perched on the fender and is cleaning a PPSH-41 sub machine-gun that he has hinged open. He is shown smoking a cigarette. A second figure is seated on the ground and is sewing a repair into part of his clothing. The third figure is bent forward at the waist and holding his hands out, palm up, in front of him while the fourth figure pours water from a bucket over his hands. These two figures are wearing the black Soviet tanker’s uniform and the guy with his hands out has his top rolled to the waist. The one cleaning the PPSH is in a black uniform with a small skull cap on his head. The seated fellow is wearing jack boots, along with the guy cleaning the gun. The other two have low shoes on. (34 parts).

A side panel has hazard warnings in several languages, including English. Another side panel shows the box arts of 3 other figure kits that Master Box markets. “Bail out” Russian tank crew, Kursk 1943 (3 figures shown bailing out of a tank, kit no. MB3532), “Checkpoint” (a set of German soldiers checking civilians through a checkpoint (5 figures, maybe a German shepherd dog too, kit no. MB3527) and Russian Infantry, Korson-Shevchenkovskiy 1944 (5 figures, kit no. MB3529).

The back of the box serves as the instructions. It shows the figures each made up with labels telling the parts numbers and colors to use. There is a parts tree illustration and a paint listing for colors by Vallejo, Tamiya, Lifecolor, Humbrol and Agama. There are two photos that show the figures gathered around a T-34 tank (no tank in the kit). All these illustrations are in full color.

Parts are for four Soviet tank crewmen that are at rest. They are divided up on the ONLY parts tree into separate torso, arms, legs and heads. There is a bucket and a PPSh-41 sub-machine gun on the tree. This tree is in a re-sealable cello bag.

These are neat poses. However, I have to say, given what is in the box…this is overpriced.

I recommend it for the unique poses, but it is no bargain.