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CMOT
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ARMORAMA
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Posted: Tuesday, June 25, 2019 - 02:30 AM UTC


Most of us in the West are aware of the issue of child soldiers most often found in Africa and recently in Syria with Isis. Master Box has decided to tackle this issue with the release of a new four figure set in 1/35th scale depicting two African child soldiers with I believe mercenaries.

Read the Full News Story

If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!
bill_c
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MODEL SHIPWRIGHTS
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Posted: Tuesday, June 25, 2019 - 02:57 AM UTC
I'm a firm believer in de-mythologizing war, and this can't help but do that. Dios with dead bodies, those that depict the horrors of war, are to be commended IMO.
SpeedyJ
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Posted: Tuesday, June 25, 2019 - 03:18 AM UTC
We build figures representing Hitlers Jugend, in all kinds of historical situations. Master Box does it for modern warfare, which for every day that goes by is warfare history. Just dare to build this and go to some show, see what comes out of the discussions at the judges table.
I always wondered, example given, why a Swastika that is not present on a model of a superb build, can be a Plane, Tank, AFV or Truck, gets approved by a IPMS standard of completion as a winning model in Germany. It's just incomplete. (The laws of Germany, ok!)
This set might be an eye opener for modelers. Building Native American Indian Tribes seems to be ok, so I see no objections building Africans as a kid, woman or man facing war .

Kind regards,

Robert Jan
bill_c
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MODEL SHIPWRIGHTS
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Posted: Tuesday, June 25, 2019 - 04:24 AM UTC
Robert, the only objection would be the same for films that have rape scenes in them but claim to be protesting rape: showing the violence edges over towards "war porn." Does this set significantly highlight the horror of children soldiers or exploit it? I don't know the answer.
HeavyArty
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Posted: Tuesday, June 25, 2019 - 04:52 AM UTC
What is up with the title though? Just say where it is. It is obviouslty in Africa, probably Yemen or Somalia. Why not call it just Sharing a Smoke, Special Forces in Africa, or something like that?

The disclaimers on child soldiers and smoking are a bit much too. It is just a model, get off your social high horse. I especially love how they claim no one on the Master Box team smokes or uses tobacco products.

Give us a break. The PC-ness of this set is way over the top.
CMOT
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ARMORAMA
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Posted: Tuesday, June 25, 2019 - 05:05 AM UTC
In fairness Gino in Europe farting will be a hate crime soon, especially if someone is offended.
Bravo1102
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Posted: Tuesday, June 25, 2019 - 05:08 AM UTC
The smoking disclaimer IIRC is required by the EU especially since children are shown using tobacco products.

Often such Politically correct disclaimers are government requirements.



And Masterbox wants to sell stuff and export it everywhere so you do disclaimers to cover yourself. Too many lawyers and activists in the world.
M4A1Sherman
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Posted: Tuesday, June 25, 2019 - 06:12 AM UTC

Quoted Text

We build figures representing Hitlers Jugend, in all kinds of historical situations. Master Box does it for modern warfare, which for every day that goes by is warfare history. Just dare to build this and go to some show, see what comes out of the discussions at the judges table.
I always wondered, example given, why a Swastika that is not present on a model of a superb build, can be a Plane, Tank, AFV or Truck, gets approved by a IPMS standard of completion as a winning model in Germany. It's just incomplete. (The laws of Germany, ok!)
This set might be an eye opener for modelers. Building Native American Indian Tribes seems to be ok, so I see no objections building Africans as a kid, woman or man facing war .

Kind regards,

Robert Jan


It is not only Germany that disallows the display of swastikas- Check around. Not that I especially LIKE swastikas, but my 1/48 WWII German Luftwaffe Aircraft ALL display the swastikas in their appropriate places. Quite a few of my 1/48 US and Allied Aircraft also display swastikas as "victory-markings"... SOME of my 1/35 WWII German Tanks and Vehicles also display the swastika flags which were draped over them as "air-recognition markings".

I expect that certain US politicians and "special-interest groups", i.e the "PC Police" will soon make sure that the display of swastikas on certain models in the US will be prohibited, as well... These people are CERTAINLY sticking all of their collective dirty feet in their mouths when it comes down to "freedom of expression".

My own disclaimer:

While I do not agree or condone what happened under NAZISM, I WILL NOT DENY Historical FACTS, good or bad...
M4A1Sherman
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Posted: Tuesday, June 25, 2019 - 06:32 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Robert, the only objection would be the same for films that have rape scenes in them but claim to be protesting rape: showing the violence edges over towards "war porn." Does this set significantly highlight the horror of children soldiers or exploit it? I don't know the answer.


You're right, Bill- It's a gray area. However, in my own opinion, this figure set portrays the truth: Life in this world is a real HOG-MESS in some places.

What I DO object to is the double-talking "PC POLICE" IGNORING all of those "over-the-top-blood-and-guts-all-over-the-place" trashy horror films, etc, that make the BIG money for the movie moguls and are specifically intended to be consumed by a great number of "people" who THRIVE on that kind of junk... Internet porn of the absolute worst kind is readily available to minors as well, but THAT'S OK, though...

I could easily say more in addition to all of the above, but I won't...

This site isn't meant for political "soap-boxing" or moral pontificating. I'm not going to "down" this figure set, but I wouldn't run out and buy it, either. Neither would I run out and buy some "fantasy-world" or "apocalyptic-war" figure set- These things are just not included in my various fields of interest, that's all...

I've seen this figure set announced on other hobby sites as well. It has certainly created a lot of "buzz"...
Tojo72
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Posted: Tuesday, June 25, 2019 - 08:42 AM UTC
They would work well with this Meng technicals
barkingdigger
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ARMORAMA
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Posted: Tuesday, June 25, 2019 - 09:20 AM UTC

Quoted Text

In fairness Gino in Europe farting will be a hate crime soon, especially if someone is offended.


In that case Darren, promise you'll visit me in jail!


As for the figs, or swastikas (the "angry spider" from Sound of Music) I agree we are only modelling what has been. That some symbols and scenes are unwelcome to some is not an excuse to airbrush history - that way lies Orwellian thought-control. But I do find I tend not to build things that offend me, as I have to spend my own time and money on them. Still, I appreciate seeing models by others, even if the subjects are uncomfortable and make me think about our world. (Or is that "especially if..."?)
brekinapez
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Posted: Tuesday, June 25, 2019 - 09:31 AM UTC

Quoted Text

That some symbols and scenes are unwelcome to some is not an excuse to airbrush history - that way lies Orwellian thought-control.


We are already well on the path to that, make no mistake.
Nate_W
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Posted: Tuesday, June 25, 2019 - 12:16 PM UTC
In the Kunar Province children begged for anything and everything we had including tobacco. No judgment here. I saw kids smoking using far worse substances than tobacco. 3rd world countries are different worlds. In an extremely isolated village, I once showed a village elder, a "mashar", a photo of Manhattan and the twin towers. He asked if the photo was of Kabul...like I said, different worlds.
TAFFY3
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Posted: Tuesday, June 25, 2019 - 01:17 PM UTC
And Masterbox wants to sell stuff and export it everywhere so you do disclaimers to cover yourself. Too many lawyers and activists in the world. [quoted]

I have a plastic 'swimming' pool that I bought for my grandson. It is all of eight inches deep, yet bears a warning label that says "No Diving"! Lawyers and lawsuits have brought CYA to ridiculous heights. Al
knewton
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Posted: Tuesday, June 25, 2019 - 03:57 PM UTC
I like the figure set as represented on the box art, but fear that the contents will be too far removed to warrant purchase. And if you think that this figure set is bad, wait to you see this.... https://www.themodellingnews.com/2019/06/beauty-beast-in-masterbox-two-new-24th.html no warning given! Is this equality or just plain ol’ sexist? That’s nipples in 1/24 scale plastic!
Bravo1102
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Posted: Tuesday, June 25, 2019 - 07:55 PM UTC

Quoted Text

I like the figure set as represented on the box art, but fear that the contents will be too far removed to warrant purchase. And if you think that this figure set is bad, wait to you see this.... https://www.themodellingnews.com/2019/06/beauty-beast-in-masterbox-two-new-24th.html no warning given! Is this equality or just plain ol’ sexist? That’s nipples in 1/24 scale plastic!

Skate under the radar.

Don't draw attention to it and maybe get away with it.

Besides, it's female empowerment. She may be topless but she's a real fighter!

Guy gladiators go shirtless so ... female empowerment and equality for gladiators!


I created a 200 page comic about this. It's an old established trope. Don't go on deviant art and search "female gladiators " whatever you do.

About bloody time, more females nipples so we get over ourselves and just accept it as another part of the body.
TAFFY3
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Posted: Tuesday, June 25, 2019 - 09:46 PM UTC
Despite the PC disclaimers, I like the premise and looks of this set. A vignette in a box with a difference. Al
Biggles2
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Posted: Wednesday, June 26, 2019 - 02:31 AM UTC

Quoted Text


About bloody time, more females nipples so we get over ourselves and just accept it as another part of the body.

Actually, MB had a previous set with female noodies in 1/35:

http://www.mbltd.info/figures/1-35-scale/world-war-ii-era/35157.html

pod3105
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Posted: Wednesday, June 26, 2019 - 02:48 AM UTC
Topic is a dark one, but well done to MB for their willingness to address it.
MLD
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Posted: Wednesday, June 26, 2019 - 01:09 PM UTC

Quoted Text

I like the figure set as represented on the box art, but fear that the contents will be too far removed to warrant purchase.


Agree 100%! Their modern stuff rarely matches the box art. The 'Somewhere in the Middle East' fig set, Afghans, a SF troop and a 'detainee' shows a wide range of new kit and gucci tricked-out weapons... what's in the box..? nothing even close.
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