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REVIEW
Master Box US Artillery Crew
bill_c
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Posted: Friday, March 08, 2013 - 05:58 AM UTC
Just arrived in the mail: Bill Cross reviews Master Box's US Artillery Crew.



Link to Item

If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!
HermannB
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Posted: Friday, March 08, 2013 - 07:03 AM UTC
just wondering.... Wouldn`t the weight of the projectile (I think some 90 pounds or more) make the use of a lifting cradle (or whatever it is called...) necessary? I also wonder why some figure wear gaiters and others not?

Just a thought

Hans-Hermann
Removed by original poster on 03/08/13 - 19:05:21 (GMT).
russamotto
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Posted: Friday, March 08, 2013 - 09:50 AM UTC
Bill, great review. AFV Club have the 155mm and 8" long guns, and ammo sets that should dress up nicely with this set, not to mention the Bronco 155mm gun, and the 105s.
Plasticbattle
#003
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Posted: Friday, March 08, 2013 - 10:15 AM UTC
There are at least 3 or 4 figures from this set that could easily have their whole upper torsos planted onto lower bodies/legs from other WW2 eras and make more cool artillery crews. Very simple conversions and as Bill pointed out ... so nice to see a crew without all the webbing. Good review Bill as well!!
SdAufKla
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Posted: Friday, March 08, 2013 - 02:06 PM UTC
It's hard to criticize MB for producing a new set of figures that fills a large void, but I gotta agree with Hans-Hermann -

The guy holding the projectile is ridiculous.

The 8" howitzer HE shell weighs about 200 lb and the 155mm HE shell weighs almost 95 lb.

I know them Red Legs is some pretty stout boys, but come on, really Master Box?

These kinds of mistakes just perpetuate all kinds of modeler errors and myths and make for dioramas and vignettes that leave veterans at model shows scratching their heads and don't any good for our credibility as serious students of history.
KurtLaughlin
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Posted: Friday, March 08, 2013 - 05:31 PM UTC
Regarding the comments that a 155mm shell is too heavy for one soldier to lift:

http://www.army-technology.com/projects/4123/images/143700/large/m777-howitzer-live-fire.jpg

http://www.gstatic.com/hostedimg/17ed8da4a12a4708_landing

KL
SdAufKla
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Posted: Saturday, March 09, 2013 - 02:04 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Regarding the comments that a 155mm shell is too heavy for one soldier to lift:

...

KL


You'll easily note that neither of those guys is holding that 90 lb shell away from his body in a pose like the MB figure.

The first guy is resting it on his knee and the second appears to barely be able to keep it from falling on the ground.

Next time you're in Home Depot, swing by the Quickcrete products and see if you can hold an 80 lb sack of cement in the same pose as the MB figure. Now try two...

(The 8" shell included in the kit is still 40 lb heavier than that.)

The pose on the MB figure shows something that's clearly wrong. The point's not that it's not humanly possible to lift the 95lb shell, however, it is that it's not likely that anyone could hold it in a static position like the MB figure pose.
KurtLaughlin
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Posted: Saturday, March 09, 2013 - 02:44 AM UTC

Quoted Text


You'll easily note that neither of those guys is holding that 90 lb shell away from his body in a pose like the MB figure . . .

. . . Next time you're in Home Depot, swing by the Quickcrete products and see if you can hold an 80 lb sack of cement in the same pose as the MB figure. . .

. . . The point . . . is that it's not likely that anyone could hold it in a static position like the MB figure pose.


That's true, but the MB pose doesn't show a static pose: it's a soldier in the process of hoisting the shell into the breech. No, I can't hold *still* with a cement bag like that, but take a photo of me heaving the bag off the cart and up into the pick-up bed . . .

What's the biggest complaint over the years of most company's figure sets? Static poses. Here MB shows someone in motion, and it turns out we don't like that either.

KL
bill_c
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Posted: Saturday, March 09, 2013 - 07:33 AM UTC

Quoted Text

AFV Club have the 155mm and 8" long guns, and ammo sets that should dress up nicely with this set, not to mention the Bronco 155mm gun, and the 105s.

Thanks, Russ, I have the 8" kit from AFV Club and simply wanked. I have emended the review, and appreciate the correction!

Guys, the shell thing can be worked out, whether pushing it into the breech or onto a loading dolly. It's a nice problem to have, though.
Youngun
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Posted: Saturday, March 09, 2013 - 08:57 AM UTC

Quoted Text

It's hard to criticize MB for producing a new set of figures that fills a large void, but I gotta agree with Hans-Hermann -

The guy holding the projectile is ridiculous.

The 8" howitzer HE shell weighs about 200 lb and the 155mm HE shell weighs almost 95 lb.

I know them Red Legs is some pretty stout boys, but come on, really Master Box?

These kinds of mistakes just perpetuate all kinds of modeler errors and myths and make for dioramas and vignettes that leave veterans at model shows scratching their heads and don't any good for our credibility as serious students of history.


Not trying to toot my own horn here but what is the problem with a redleg being able to pick up a 200lb shell? As a football player i can bench 225 around 14 times, i can shoulder shrug which essentially is the motion being made here just under 500lbs around 30 times... For someone trained and who does it daily in the prime of his life I don't really see the pose as being unrealistic but thats just my two cents
BigDaddybluesman
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Posted: Sunday, March 10, 2013 - 06:01 PM UTC
A very generic set which is a good thing. It makes it flexible enough to be used for many guns and different militaries. I am into the Vietnam era and I am using many of the parts for the diorama I am trying to make with a pair of M102 howitzers. I will use the base Hobby Fan figure kit and add some of these figures on with the addition of Vietnam era lower bodies. Since the only thing artillery men wore was a helmet it makes it much easier to do, no packs or guns. Many of the Vietnam era troops only wore a set of trousers, boots and a helmet so the bare upper torsos will help a lot.
amoz02t
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Posted: Friday, April 15, 2016 - 08:09 PM UTC
Apologies for bumping up a old (and excellent) review. I wanted to ask what kind of com gear is in this MB3577 kit? Is this the wire reel phone and if so what is the number? EE-8-B? TA-838PT? What is this box on a battery on the sprue?
amoz02t
#192
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Posted: Saturday, April 16, 2016 - 04:09 AM UTC
BC-659 radio per Frenchy at this link
http://armorama.com/forums/246682
bill_c
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Posted: Sunday, April 17, 2016 - 10:43 PM UTC
Thanks, SG, for adding that to the discussion.
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