By way of an ''advance'' here are images of Masterbox Ltd.'s first figure set of Japanese Infantry in 1/35th scale. The Photo-Report can be seen:

Link to Item

If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

Thankyou for the report Jim, it is good to finally see some images after having the carrot dangled in front of us for so long!

The kit looks promising.

Chas

Look eminently buyable, though I can't remember offhand when the SNLF switched over from their greenish uniforms to army khaki. Would have liked a figure operating a grenade discharger instead of another sword-wielding officer, but we can't have everything

David

David,

By 1943, production and supply of quality uniforms was becoming an issue. Supply of consistent dyes was a significant problem. This meant the SNLF had to accept a variety of green shades, or make do with the more numerous army issued khaki uniforms.

There is a small error in the box-art. The SNLF wore either black 'landing shoes' or tabi boots, as opposed to the standard army brown issue shown on the box.

Chas

Hi Chad,

Would these work as ordinary Japanese infantry?

Al

Alan,

Yes, with some minor modifications such as the removal of the anchor emblem on the helmet and replacing it with the army star. The black SNLF badge on the arm will also need to be removed. I'm not sure if these are raised details, if not it shouldn't be a problem.

Hope this helps,

Chas

Thanks

Al

This kit and its two partners have been released.

http://www.mbltd.info/news.htm

Pat or Jim, are you going to announce this?

*whip cracks* *whip cracks*

Chas

The rice sacks around the waist are a neat touch, but where are the mess-tins shown in the boxart? Not a major disaster, just a minor mystery.

David

Figure I'd drag this back up. I am pretty stoked about this set and it companion sets and am vacilating about grabbing a set. As a japanese militaria collector is is neat to see some more japanese sets as so few have been released. The one reason I am hesitant is I have no experience with Master Box kits. I have only worked with dragon/DML (mostly) Tamiya (years ago) and a few resin figures. How does Master Box stack up?

As far as the my initial impressions, I was also disapointed at the MIA rice cookers, though german ones are similar enough, I could use them with some modification. The tube carry all is a novel addition

Very,very well indeed. They aren't without (like many manufacturers' products) the need for some cleaning-up. They have (along with MiniArt) become one of the leaders in figure sets - mainly because of a FAR more imaginative approach to subjects. In the last year or so, the quality has improved beyond all recognition - and continues to improve.

Here is the link to ALL the Reviews of their sets we've published here:

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=Reviews&file=index&req=showmaker&makerid=231

Just a quick note, These are available now, Saw them at Duxford.

Are the flags on the rifles included in the set? If so, is the Hinomaru and assorted writing included? They look like a nice set of figures. Thanks for the announcement. "Q"

Thanks for the feedback and the links. I went ahead and ordered the hand to hand set and the imperial marine set, I have a good bit of US marines on hand already so I opted out of the set of three.

As far as the Hinomaru's go you could go to one of the japanese collector sites, such as gunboards(dot)com's japanese forum and look for some pics of simpler flags.Most didn't have huge amounts of writing, and alot were basic slogans.

Hi
I picked up all 3 sets at the Duxford show last weekend.
On quick inspection they seem reasonably clean from any flash & have got some very nice detail . Waterbottle, rifles etc seem to be in scale.
Have built a few MB figure's resently & have found that they build up to be very nice figure's.
I have also found that the plastic used to make them is a little softer than the likes of Dragon. I like them & will be buying more especially if they keep adding sets of figure's that other comapny's dont seem to want to touch.

I received the 2 sets I ordered (japanese marines and the hand to hand set) and on my first impression of them out of the box, I am not impressed, actually I am fairly disappointed. The quality of the figures and their details look good, but the devil is in the details and it is the weapons and equipment that bother me. The type 38 rifles are "okay" and having separate bolt handles are a big plus. In the Japanese Marine set one of the 4 type 38 rifles doesn't have a bayonet attached. While this option may appeal to some, it is not at all realistic for the set and its poses. There are very few situations in which a japanese infantryman would not have the bayonet attached, especially in a charge. If there were extra weapons this would be okay, but there isn't. The US Marines' M1s lack detail and look a tad chunky to me and may be replaced. I am undecided with the carbine, but it is also chunky.
It was mentioned above that the mess kits were missing and they are. This stinks because they are illustrated on the box and if the soldier bothered bringing his pack, he'd likely have his messkit, but I will substitute some Geman kits. I haven't checked yet to see if the tube hold all was ever naval issue, but this could be debated and likely never proven one way or the other. I was delighted to see the proper Naval issue canteen on the box art and devestated to find standard army canteens with their distinct web carrier on the sprues. this kind of kills it as a japanese marine set to me. They are now standard army infantry and would not be on Tarawa, as it was a Navy garrison. The US Marines have the typical USMC issue crossflap canteencarrier, a nice touch that Dragon missed over the years, even in their vaunted Gen 2 set, even if they do have a bit of molding flash on my examples. On the USMC equipment some of the bottons are oddly missing. For those interested the flags are included as nicely done decals, though I am not sure how to employ them, they are there. Some things I did like were that MB molds the entire head and the helmets fits over it, (again my First MB kits, this may be the norm). So I am mixed, the quality of the kits as plastic figure kits go appears good, but the details shown on the box and missing from the kit or incorrect kill it for me. I would do an official review, but I haven't the gear at the moment for photos, I just wanted to share my feelings on the kits.