Masterbox Ltd. have just sent us images of their latest In-Progress Set of U.S. Infantry in Iraq. Interesting though these images doubltless are, the company has also made a request - for your comments any areas which need attention such as equipment, uniform details etc. Your suggestions are strongly welcomed! Post them in THIS thread as Masterbox have a very keen interest in any comments about their product line. Initial images of the New set, can be seen:

Link to Item

If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

They look great so far. I'd only say the knee pads look a tad small? Maybe thats just my own eyes, and the helmets might be off. Other than that they look great. What I would also love to see is maybe the inclusion of the FN SCAR as I believe that is the new AR or at least is/will be used but that is my own wishful thinking.

Looks good so far. However, if Masterbox wants an accurate depiction of the photo, some of the obvious is missing. Figure modelers like new stuff not in other kits.

I KNOW THIS IS STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS...

* Where are the radio walkie-talkies, antennaes, and radio cords? Even DML, Legends, BLAST, Hobbyfan, and others have these. This is perhaps one item that separates modern figures from say 1980-1990 ones. Comms is one of the key ingredient in OEF and OIF.

* Where are the NVG helmet clip brackets?

* Where are the eye shades and eye protection wear? Airborne Miniatures replicated this nicely by sinking in the eyes and adding a little rim to denote the clear shades. One can then use white glue or clear lens solution to fill in the impression and make own clear shades.

* Where are the rifle accessories? Even the plastic competitors have these accessories.

* Also, to really upgrade the figures, think of pouches beyond the typical M-4 magazine pouches...most every competitor has those. One can even buy resin conversion sets for those pouches. Add First Aid pouches, zip pouches, compass pouch, knife, radio pouches, grenade pouches, smoke canisters, NVG case, battery pouches, IFF blinkers, etc.

It's the little things added on that separate and really enhance the modernity of the figures.

I'm not being critical here. I just want to point out that adding these items will bring these figures up to the current standards and dates of the competitors. If these items are not added, then the date of these figures may be behind other new releases---such as Hobbyfan's which is going MultiCam already. Plastic figures already lag behind resin ones in terms of modern accessories.

Now thats more like it, why the hell didnt they do this for the previous modern release.

These look pretty good, much better than their last Iraq offering. The only things that look off to me are the helmets - they look too small or something, plus they look like older Kevlar helmets and not the newer ICH (Improved Combat Helmet) with shorter sides and back.

Kevler Helmet:



ICH:



Secondly, the M249 SAW needs updating as well. The skeletol buttstock went away a while ago. It now has either a collapsable Para stock with a shorter barrel, or a solid buttstock that looks similar to the M240B.

Para SAW


Solid Buttstock


Other than the above corrections, they look pretty good to me.

I agree with the mentioned issues:
1. wrong helmets
2. small knee pads (why don't they just get rid of them like in the real photo?)
3. M249 buttstock
4. Additional items mentioned by Trisaw would definitely improve.

Additional issues that caught my eyes:
1. M4 rifle looks a bit off with the barrel and magazine
2. Maybe it's my eyes but pouches look a bit oversized.

Overall, good effort on MB's part, and it's great to see how they want our feedback.

Congratulations Masterbox.
You are to be commended for your approach in developing this set of figures.
I bought both Iraq sets and after seeing the art work for set No1 i was disappointed. The insurgents set is great. This is looking a lot more promising. Hopefully we are finally going to get quality modern figures in plastic at a reasonable cost
I know the guys in the picture dont have knee pads but i would like to see them on some figures.

Look forward to seeing these completed

Cookie.

Hi,

New modern figures are always welcome, as Jim has asked for comments I'll post a few.
1. The soldier with the M14 will hit nothing, no point in having the figure 'adjusting' the sight for windage, range yes windage no. The photograph is a moment in time and the figure could have a slightly different pose. Weapon in shoulder for correct sight picture, but the weapon should be the SCAR L.
2. Body Armour is too loose, this is worn tigh on the body so you can run wearing it, if it flaps round it reduces the effectiveness of the trauma plates.
3. Helmets are too high on the head or are too large.
4. Knee pads ditto everyones comments, but you could have them round an ankle, when not engaging in CQB or on a firefight they get pushed down to the ankle.
5. Ditto radio kit, and weapon add-ons.

Maybe have one of the figures with binoculars and radio it would complement the sharpshooter, A team leader reporting something and the sharpshooter covering, although if the sharpshooter is covering everyoen else would be 'ready'.

Just my input, but bottom line a good set of figures WILL get my money. So please Masterbox please read and take on our comments I am sure you might even get input from serving troops.

Regards

Brian

yepp,
knee pads, helmets, weapons (except for the m14 or whatever that sniper rifle is) and comm equipment would need to be redone.
btw. I don't want to sound offensive, or incriminating, but I think those weapons do look pretty similar to some dragon (m4) and trumpeter(m16 and m249) parts. in case those are copies, why don't you use the more accurate new trumpeter sets, or the afv club/hobby fan releases?

as for the body armor, I don't think those look too loose, more too thick overall and too tight around the neck... if you have a look at the reference photo it clearly shows that the collars being way wider than in the set (also in hot countries like Iraq and Afghanistan I think most soldiers wouldn't bottom up everything in order to keep cool ) so wilst the IBA's should be a little smaller/tighter the collars should definitely sit a little more loose... in my opinion the main issue with the kit, since everything else could be changed pretty easily, while there's no replacement for those IBA's...

other than that I think this is going to be a must have set, I recon it's the first modern plastic figure set showing slightly sagged pants with side pockets, which I think is a real innovation!

Cheers, Max

Yep aii good things come to those that wait, additions sunglasses,side arms, gloves plus all the other goodies previously mentioned

I just got the first Iraq sets from Master Box, so my comments apply to them also:

- the weapons of the kit would be perfect if they were "full and solid". In the first sets they are given without the grips (in order to have a "perfect" contact/touch in the hands) so they are almost useless away from the figures(i.e. they cannot be used as "accessories" on a vehicle etc.)

- this applies to all the "accessories". they should be made in a way that they could be used away from the figures on vehicles, dioramas etc.

- I agree that a cooperation with Trumpeter would be great because their newest M-16/M-4 weapons are perfect.

Stavros Soulis (IPMS Hellas 228)
Athens, Greece

It'll be nice if MasterBox or another plastic company starts making modern Special Ops 4-man teams again instead of just conventional U.S. soldiers. Seems like lots of resin companies are making the M4 and M-14 riflemen. Ever since DML stopped making modern figures with their "Modern Marines," no other plastic company has taken the torch or could compete with DML, which I find interesting since the only real competition is from resin makers now.

After all, the DML 1993 Delta Force "Somalia" is the only 4-man plastic Delta Force kit out there and those figures wear outdated "Ranger Body Armor."

Suprising that no plastic company has made an updated set, especially what with all the available references, movies, books, dolls, video games, graphics, and action figures out there of these SOF units.

Think having the figures wearing the Improved Outer Tactical Vest (IOTV) would be more suitable, as shown in the actual photo instead of what looks like the older woodland camo Interceptor body armor. HobbyFan seem to be the first manufacturer producing figures wearing the IOTV

They appear to be wearing IOTVs to me. The front of the vest is a narrower, solid piece without a flap like the IBAs had.

I'm fairly certain that the WIP figures are wearing the older IBA and not the IOTV. The rear of the body armor is definitely not the IOTV as it doesn't have the PALS webbing up to the SAPI flap and also the casualty drag strap on the IOTV is different to the IBA. The front is kind of vague as it sort of resembles the IOTV but not enough details can be seen. As they said, it's a WIP so hopefully they'll get it right when it goes into production

The backs do look more like IBAs. We'll see how they look when they hit the market. Either way, they look better than any other modern plastic figure set out there.