Introduction

In this, the third and final look at Masterbox's newly-announced U.S. Army Infantry sets, the subject is U.S. Infantry as they would have been seen following the Normandy break-out in July 1944. This is NOT a 'conventional' review, rather a quick 'delve' into the box to give the site-users an idea as to what they can expect in the set.

One of the problems for modellers of Allied vehicles and equipment is that although the new (and many existing) vehicle kits is superlative, there still remains a shortage of good, plastic figure sets. Masterbox, with three new sets of U.S. Infantry have managed to 'widen' the options considerably with sets that will be of immense value to the U.S. 'Specialist'...

The figure set.

3521: U.S. Infantry, July 1944 is a four-figure, 1/35th scale, plastic kit consisting of 55 parts. The set is moulded in the usual grey plastic on a single sprue. Once again, each (basic) figure consists of seven parts plus seperately moulded equipment.

POSES: What has become VERY notable from Masterbox in their recent releases, has been the 'active' nature of the poses of the figures. This set is no exception. The centerpiece of this set is a two-figure 'vignette' consisting of a wounded Infantryman being dragged to safety by another. The other two figures are of an infantryman firing and onother throwing a grenade.

Equipment: All the usual equipment is provided - rifle pouches, entrenching tools and the small U.S. backpack.

WEAPONRY: The figures come with the usual weapons - M1 Garands and a Thomson SMG. With weapons from other manufacturers sets, even more variation could be produced.

UNIFORMS: In common with the other two sets, the figures are dressed in the commonly-seen U.S. infantry M-1941 Field jacket (Parson's Jacket). Footwear is the (commonly seen) Model 1939 shoe worn with gaiters. Once again, sculpting the figures with the Parson's jacket allows a great deal of flexibility with using the figures in a variety of settings - from North Africa onwards.

Conclusions

Masterbox are taking a gret deal of care in the design of their sets to permit them to be used in a 'modular' or 'multipose' manner. All of the three new sets are compatible permitting the interchange of arms and equipment to avoid the repetitive 'OOB' look. As to the (always) problematic subject of compatibility with other 1/35th scale figures, I, personally, can't see any problems whatsoever. The figures scale-out well with other manufacturers' sets and shouldn't cause any difficulties whatsoever. Once again, an excellent and HIGHLY versatile set which deserves to sell by the truckload..

My thanks to Alexander of Masterbox Ltd. for the opportunity to give the users of Kitmaker Network an advance look at these and the other NEW sets..