DISPATCHES
APRIL 2010
Well
March is over and April is upon us… But what a March! Very special thank you’s and greetings go out to the many, many K&C
collectors we met on our recent U.S. sojourn… and also to all the great K&C
dealers who put on special “meet ‘n’ greet” events… Matt at Hobby
Bunker… Tony at the Toy Soldier Gallery and Joan, Martin, Adam and Ruth at
Kings X.
Not to be
outdone or forgotten… Louis, Larry, Hans and Mark who put together a
great “Symposium”… as usual. Muchos Gracias.
Finally,
a special word of gratitude to two terrific guys… Craig and Woody of
California’s Old Toy Soldier Shop in Vista
A
heartfelt thanks to each and everyone of you…
1. “Now… What’s New In April?”
A. Well,
we’re definitely back somewhere on the Eastern Front… on anti-partisan patrol
against all kinds of elusive enemies… Could be the
WS134 “Panzer III Tank”
One of
the workhorses of the German armoured divisions… This
medium tank is in typical mid-war camouflage and comes with a vehicle commander
in the turret hatch.
WS142 “Cossack Feldgendarmerie
with Prisoner”
A
dismounted Cossack field policeman with an unfortunate Partisan suspect.
WS143 “Mounted Cossack Officer”
Wearing
the traditional Cossack costume (with German badges) this officer, sabre in hand, is issuing orders.
WS144 “Cossack Scout”
Scanning
the horizon for enemy activity.
WS145 “Cossack holding Rifle”
Looking
to the right this Cossack, rifle held steady, is on patrol.
WS146 “Cossack holding Rifle”
Looking
to the left and with his rifle across the front of his saddle this is another
member of the patrol.
WS147 “Standing Cossack and Horse”
This
young Cossack cavalryman is awaiting inspection.
WS148 “Cossack Pointing”
Another
member of the patrol indicating while making his report.
WS149 “Dismounted Cossack NCO”
WS150 “General Helmuth Von Pannwitz”
This
German cavalry officer was the commander of the Cossack Cavalry Corps.
Extremely popular with his men he often wore full Cossack uniform.
After the
war he chose to remain with his men when they were handed over to the Russians.
He suffered a similar fate to most of his men… he was executed by the Soviets
in 1947.
AVAILABILITY: NOW!
B. “Remember the
With one
of K&C’s two flagship stores in
Here’s
our latest offerings… Three brand-new renderings of the three most famous
RTA048 “Fighting Jim Bowie”
RTA049 “Buckskin Davy Crockett”
RTA050 “Gallant Colonel Travis”
These new
pieces replace the earlier versions of our heroes. (Now retired)
Opposing
these three heroic defenders of the doomed mission are FOUR dramatic mounted
figures of Mexican Dragoons of Santa Anna’s “Dolores Regiment of Cavalry”.
RTA051 “Officer charging w/sword”
RTA052 “Dragoon w/lance forward”
RTA053 “Dragoon w/lance thrusting down”
RTA054 “Dragoon w/lance held up”
AVAILABILITY: Mid April
C. “Market
Garden Reinforcements”
After a
long delay they’re almost here… Our eagerly-awaited para
reinforcements.
MG028 “The Big Jump”
For the
very first time… two of
our British Paras (both different) jumping
into the hell that was
MG029 “Radio Jeep”
Jeeps
were essential to these airborne soldiers and so were radios… Fortunately the
jeeps worked… unfortunately the radios did not! However, it’s all part
of the “
MG030 “Army Photographic Unit Cameraman”
Sgt.
Dennis Smith kneels down to film some of the action during the doomed battle.
MG031 “Mortar Team”
One of
the iconic images of the battle were the photos of a lone British Mortar Team
in action with their
MG032 “Captured!”
Sadly all
too many of the British 1st. Airborne Division at Arnhem ended up killed,
wounded or captured.
Here, a
casually smoking SS Panzer Grenadier guards two Paras…
one seriously wounded. A poignant little set.
Look out
for more Paras later!
AVAILABILITY:
Mid April
2. COMING IN MAY
From
airborne landings to seaborne invasions is not such a big jump. Here’s a little
something in the preparation stage.
A. “D.
Day Minus One”
The day
before the “Day of Days”… All over
DD126 “D. Day Minus One”
Three US
Army “Rangers” stand on a cold, wet English dockside waiting to board
their Landing craft that will ferry them to
DD127 “Standing Ranger”
His rifle
resting at his feet another Ranger contemplates the coming battle.
DD128 “Standing B.A.R. Gunner”
One more
Ranger holding his B.A.R. machine gun.
DD129 “Medic”
Holding
his folded stretcher this Medic prepares to board.
DD132 “
A 2-man
US Navy team test out their equipment.
DD133 “Marching Ranger”
Rifle
slung over his shoulder this GI heads for the landing craft.
DD134 “Marching Ranger Officer”
This
officer is leading his troops into position.
Not only
were American getting ready for the big invasion so were their British Allies…
DD135 “
Another
long-awaited and much-requested piece of Armour…
the
Our model
is in the markings of “B” Squadron of the 2nd. Armoured
Battalion of the Irish Guards, part of the famous Guards Armoured Division.
This
K&C Firefly comes with two crew figures and a detachable radio Antenna and “back-pack”
of extra supplies.
DD136 “Dismounted British Tank Crewmen”
Three
superb “portraits” of typical British “tankies”…
goes great alongside the Firefly.
AVAILABILITY: Early May
B. “Fighting
Johnny Turk”
As part
of K&C’s “First World War in The Desert” we’re proud to
announce our first Turkish soldiers… Six individual infantrymen in a variety of
fighting poses… These are just the first “installment” of a major “push”
into the Desert campaigns of the 14/18 War. Even more figures including
artillery, more infantry and military personalities will be released later this
year…
AL008 “Turkish Soldier Standing
Firing”
AL009 “Turkish Soldier Kneeling
Firing”
AL010 “Turkish Soldier Kneeling
Loading”
AL011 “Turkish Soldier Standing Ready”
AL012 “Turkish Machine Gunner”
AL013 “Standing Ready”
AVAILABILITY:
Mid May
C.
“Royal Horse Artillery… in action!”
For our
K&C Napoleonic collectors… a little “add-on” to their British “gun-line”…
NA200 “RHA Officer Shouting Orders”
NA201 “RHA Gun Set in Action”
Three
gunners ready their field piece for immediate action.
AVAILABILITY: Mid to Late May
D.
“From
With one
mighty leap we jump forward almost a century and… half a world away with our
latest “Streets of Old
HK176 “18 Ship Street”
A
faithful reproduction (in miniature) of one of the few genuinely
old-type “shop-houses” which used to be a familiar sight all over
colonial
Fortunately
for us the real “
Dimensions:
AVAILABILITY:
Mid May
E. “ACHTUNG PANZER!”
Earlier
in this release we introduced our latest American and British WW2 forces. Now,
it’s only fair we show you the “opposition”…
WS140 “Collaboration”
A young Wehrmacht soldier “chats-up” a pretty French girl in
this unusual little two-figure set.
WS141 “Street Patrol”
Three Wehrmacht soldiers go about their business somewhere in an
occupied country.
WS151 “TIGER
K&C’s
latest and (we think) best “homage” to
This
newest version of the beast is in the markings of the 2nd. SS Division “Das
Reich” as it appeared during the epic battle of
WS153 “Additional German Tankers”
Two Army
tank crew complete with “jerricans” full of
fuel and water.
WS154 “Major Hermann von Oppeln- Bronikowski”
This
titled nobleman had a fine wartime record as both a superb field commander and
a tank ace.
WS155 “Standing Tank Officer”
Wearing
the distinctive all-black tank uniform this officer is assessing the situation.
WS156 “Panzer Crewman at ease”
Dressed
for an inspection or parade this tanker carries the standard German infantry
rifle.
WS157 “Panzer Crewman on Guard”
WS158 “Panzer Crewman
Marching”
WS159 “Panzer Feldgendarme”
Like all
German military units even the Panzer Korps had their
own “Field Police”. This one carries the MP40 Machine Pistol… better
known as the “Schmeisser”.
WS160 “Panzer Tank Ace”
The
Germans produced many decorated and skilled tank “aces”. This confident
officer is wearing Italian camouflage trousers with his black uniform jacket.
Please
Note: All of
our Waffen SS tank crew figures are wearing the “Das
Reich” cuff title.
AVAILABILITY: End of May/Early June
3. “NOW, WHAT’S BEING RETIRED”
Well, not
an awful lot this month…
So, if
there’s something you like… grab it while you can!
A. “American Civil War”
CW013 “Mounted Confederate Officer”
CW017 “marching Confederate Rifleman
w/pipe in hand”
CW020 “Running Confederate Rifleman”
B. “Fields of
FoB038 “Stug
III (
A great
little vignette and at a terrific price… outstanding value!
C. “
BBA026 “Wounded”
D. “Eighth Army”
EA024 “LRDG 30cwt. Chevrolet Camouflaged”
And
that’s the story so far… hope, as usual, there’s something that you will like!
Best
personal wishes!
Andy C. Neilson
Co-founder & Creative Director
King & Country