KING & COUNTRY
“DISPATCHES”
AUGUST 2012
AUGUST is always
one of the hottest months in the Hong Kong calendar but it’s a month closer to
September and… September means the Chicago Show and cooler weather.
However, before all that … there’s all of this…
1.
BEING RELEASED THIS AUGUST…
A .“KNIGHTS of the BLACK CROSS”
Last year when we released our first three Albatros bi planes the demand far out stripped the
supply and so we decided to produce two more versions of this iconic German WWI
aircraft…
Unlike the first three these two new models
include a seated pilot figure and are cast from a brand new mold.
FW114 “Albatros DV”
(Uffz. Paul Baumer)
This brightly-coloured
machine is decorated with the “Edelweiss” mountain flower on both sides
of the fuselage. Baumer flew this
aircraft with Jagdstaffel 5, in June
1917 and by war’s end in November 1918 had scored 43 victories and been
awarded the coveted “Blue Max”. He died in an aircrash
in 1927.
FW115 “Albatros DV” (Ernst Udet)
Ernst Udet, later to become a General in Hitler’s
Luftwaffe and a flying contemporary of Hermann Goering, flew this smart
silver-coloured Albatros
while flying with Jasta 37 in the
Autumn of 1917.
By the end of hostilities his tally would be
62 “kills”. Although promoted to General in World War Two his conflicts with
others in the Nazi hierarchy drove him to commit suicide in 1941.
AVAILABLE: Mid August
B .“THE RAF COLLECTION”
“Per Ardua
Ad Astra” Through
Adversity To The Stars is
the motto of Britain’s Royal Air Force and August is a bumper
month for RAF releases…
RAF041
“Humber Heavy Utility Staff Car”
The second version of this classic British WW2 transport… this time in “RAF
blue” with a female driver and roundel on the
bonnet. A very familiar sight on wartime airfields.
RAF042
“Spitfire Mk. IX”
This Mark IX Spitfire was reckoned by many
pilots to be their favourite “Spit” to fly… It
was also the most produced version of the 24 different kinds built during and
after the war (over 9,000 Mk. IX’s were manufactured).
But this Spitfire is also very special. It is in the markings of Wing
Commander J.E. “Johnnie” Johnson, Britain’s top-scoring ace of WW2 (34
“kills”).
Our K&C model is in D.Day
markings and carries Johnson’s own initials (J.E.J.) on the fuselage. In
addition it also has the “maple leaf” insignia as Johnnie was commanding
the Canadian Spitfire Wing at that time… Just 400 are being made.
RAF043
“Flight Lieutenant Bill Reid V.C.”
On 3 November, 1943 Flight/Lieutenant. Reid. Captained
Lancaster “O for Oscar” on a 600 bomber raid on Dusseldorf. While
passing over Holland his aircraft was attacked by an Me.110 nightfighter. Bill Reid was seriously wounded by shell
fragments and the Lancaster badly damaged but still flyable. Bill and his crew
pressed on to their target.
Over Germany they were again attacked…by a FW190
this time and two crew were fatally injured. Bill along with his flight
engineer was wounded again and lost their compass. Still they continued the
mission… and dropped their bombs exactly on target!
On the route back to the U.K. their
Lancaster encountered heavy flak over Holland but just managed to fly over the
North Sea.
Although losing power (on all four
engines at one point) Bill Reid managed to restart them and make an
emergency landing at an airfield in Norfolk. His badly shot up Lancaster just
managed to touch ground before the undercarriage collapsed and it completed the
arrival on its belly.
For his courage, tenacity and leadership
Bill Reid was awarded the Victoria Cross.
This brave but modest Scot passed away in
2001.
RAF044 “Air
Vice Marshal Arthur “Bomber” Harris”
“Bomber” Harris was the “architect” of the RAF’s
bombing offensive on Germany from 1942 until the end of the war in Europe. When
Britain had no other way to hit back at the Germans Harris provided the leadership
and the means.
RAF045 “RAF
Airfield Tractor”
These “David Brown” tractors
were a fixture on most British airfields from the war years until well into the
1950’s. Our distinctive version has the highly visible blue and yellow colour scheme and comes with a WRAF driver.
RAF046 “RAF
Airfield Starter Cart”
Yet another familiar wartime sight… This
little starter cart is pulled by an RAF Aircraftsman (an ERK).
RAF052 “RAF
Dispatch Rider”
An RAF Police Dispatch Rider on a BSA
Motorcycle.
RAF053 “Wing
Commander J.E. “Johnnie” Johnson”
James Edgar “Johnnie” Johnson, C.B.E., D.S.O. & Two Bars, DFC &
Bar was one of the RAF’s most famous and decorated wartime pilots… His
record of 34 “kills”, 7“shared”, 3”probables”, 10”damaged”, make him the
highest scoring Western Ace against the Luftwaffe during WW2.
In March 1944 he was put in charge of 144
(RCAF) Wing and flew Spitfires over Normandy before, during and after the
invasion.
After the war he had a long and
distinguished career in the RAF becoming an Air Vice Marshal. He passed
away in 2001.
The K&C figure has him “kitted-out”
in RAF Battledress and wearing a “Mae-West” Life Vest and carrying a side arm
just in case he has to bale out over enemy territory!
AVAILABLE: Mid August
C .“THE SOUND OF MUSIC”
Traditional Chinese music to Western ears is
definitely an acquired taste however with these three young ladies playing it
the task becomes much more pleasant.
HK203 “The
Musical Trio”
AVAILABLE: Early / Mid August
D .“FIGHTING GREEKS”
The success of our “Ancient Greece” series ensures plenty of add-ons…
Here are just a few of them…
AG009
“Alexander The Great”
Probably the most famous “fighting Greek” in history…
immortalized in books, films and… military miniatures. Here is the
K&C version -
AG010
“Charging Forward w/Sword.”
AG011
“Attacking Swordsman”
AG012
“Slashing Swordsman”
More “Fighting Greeks” are in the pipeline as well as their opponents… The
Persians! Watch out for them.
AVAILABLE: Early / Mid August
2.
“COMING IN SEPTEMBER”
A. “BACK TO THE BOCAGE…”
It’s been a while (too long) since we
brought in some reinforcements for our beleaguered G.I.’s fighting up from
those Normandy beaches and into the high-sided (and dangerous) “Bocage” of the Norman countryside. So, here they are… a
section of 1st Infantry Division “The Big Red One” guys ready
to go head-to-head with the Krauts…
DD180 “The
Universal Jeep”
As you guys know K&C loves jeeps of all
shapes and sizes… we’ve put machine guns on ‘em…
we’ve fitted them out as “Medic Jeeps”…
…We’ve covered them in snow… Heck, we’ve
even delivered Santa in a jeep. Now, we surmised how about doing just your
BASIC JEEP… no guns… no stretchers… just a jeep and driver, pure and simple.
Plus, of course, the canvas cover.
SPECIAL NOTE: In upcoming
“DISPATCHES” you’ll be seeing jeeps for the U.S. Army Air Corps… the Royal
Air Force and … the British 8th. Army in the Desert… And
even a Red Army Lend-Lease jeep. Look out for’em!
DD182
“Shouting NCO”
Holding his MI Carbine this NCO shouts out instructions
to his men.
DD183
“Machine Gun Team”
Providing fire support for the riflemen in
the section is this brand-new 30 Calibre MG
team of two.
DD184
“Standing Firing Rifle”
A classic pose for a classic infantryman.
DD185
“Advancing w/Rifle & Bayonet”
Carefully making his way forward this G.I.
is taking no changes… bayonet fixed!
DD186
“Kneeling w/ Rifle & Bayonet”
As his buddy advances this G. I. kneels
ready to guard his back.
DD187
“Crouching Pointing”
Another G. I. indicates a
target to his front.
DD188 “With
Rifle & Grenade”
This G. I. advances with rifle and grenade
ready…
AVAILABLE: Late August / Early September
B .“SONS of the EMPIRE”
Three more colourful additions to a very colourful
series featuring one of the
Raj’s most famous cavalry regiments… “SKINNER’ s HORSE”
SOE024
“Skinner’s Horse Flagbearer”
Carrying the “Union Jack” this trooper looks
every inch the proud cavalryman.
SOE025
“Skinner’s Horse Bugler”
SOE026 “Skinner’s Horse Scout”
Although most Skinner’s Horse troopers
carried the famous long bamboo lance they also carried Martini- Henry carbines…
just like this fellow.
AVAILABLE: Mid September
C .“SS-HAUPTAMT”
After retiring our old SS
Headquarters Building a while back we had many collectors request a
replacement… and here it is…
LAH169 “SS-Hauptampt” SS Central Command H.Q.
This 2-storey façade has been specially –
designed to go with our earlier façade releases but beasts a far larger upper
balcony (to accommodate more of the Berlin ’38 personalities).
Additional side pieces (to
extend a display) will be released later.
LAH156
“Brown-Shirt Hitler 1933”
Throughout the period of the late 1920’s and
into the first half of the 1930’s Hitler most often appeared in public this
simple version of the SA brown-shirt uniform. The pose is also typical …
AVAILABLE: Mid September
D .“THE THREE KINGDOMS”
Continuing this new series with a few useful
additions…
IC047
“Chinese Banner Type #1”
IC048
“Chinese Banner Type #2”
IC049
“Chinese Spearman”
IC050
“Chinese w/ Sword”
AVAILABLE: Mid September
E .“BACK TO THE MAHJONG TABLES”
One of the most popular “Street of Old
Hong Kong” Sets… Here is the latest edition…
HK208 “The
NEW Mahjong Set”
AVAILABLE: Mid September
3.
“And Now for The RETIREMENTS…”
Not so many this month… but some goodies at really great original
prices!!!
BBA040 “Truck
Winter Passengers (Set one)”
DD108 “Bren
Gun Team”
DD109 “Medic
& Wounded”
DD110
“Attacking”
DD111 “Moving
Inland”
DD112
“Command Set”
DD113
“Attack!”
DD114 “Casualty
of War”
DD115 “Road
Sign “CAEN””
NA184
“Mounted Officer”
NA185
“Walking Flagbearer”
NA186
“Marching Officer w/ Sword”
NA187
“Marching Sergeant”
NA188
“Marching Pioneer”
NA189
“Marching Guardsman”
NA190
“Guardsman At attention”
NA191 “Saving
The Boy”
NA192 “Camp
Follower”
NA193
“Advancing Guardsman”
NA194
“Marching Flagbearer”
Once more, thank you for your continued support and best wishes!
Andy C. Neilson
Co-founder & Creative Director
SPECIAL WEHRMACHT
SUPPLEMENT!
“CLASSIC GERMAN SOLDIERS”
For many years K&C has
produced many different kinds of different WW2 German soldiers wearing a
variety of camouflage uniforms that the Wehrmacht
and the Waffen SS pioneered.
Now we feel it’s time to “get
back to basics” i.e. return to the classic image of the German soldier from
the first half of the Second World War… the simple, unadorned steel
helmet, the grey/ green jacket, the field-grey trousers tucked into the long
jackboots. All covered in the fine dust of France and the Low Countries and the
endless steppes of Russia…
But first, one of our favourite German generals… Erwin Rommel.
WS196 “Rommel
in France”
K&C has produced several Rommel figures,
mostly in his Afrika Korps
uniform but never one as he appeared in France in 1940 during his command
of the 7th. Panzer Division.
Here he pauses at the side of a country road
perhaps enjoying a sandwich and a cup of
coffee.
WS200
“Walking Officer”
With his Schmeisser
Machine Pistol slung over his back this confident officer could be
somewhere in France in 1940… or anywhere in western Russia in 1941.
WS201 “Marching MG34 Gunner”
Many photos of the early – war
period show German infantry on the march looking tired but successful… Is
this gunner’s next stop Paris… or Moscow?
WS202 “The
Ammo Carrier”
MG34’s used up prodigious amounts of belted
ammo and so other soldiers in the gunner’s section were detailed to “hump”
additional boxes of ammunition.
WS203 “NCO w/ Binos”
It was not just officers that
were issued with expensive field binoculars. Even junior NCO’s managed to beg,
borrow or steal a good pair of binos for their
personal use.
WS209 “Sd. Kfz. 222 Armoured Car”
Another great German classic! The 222 has long been a favourite
of K&C and now we’re going to release a small varied selection for
different “theatres of war”.
Here’s our first…
Dust-covered and in
field-grey this early/ mid war version has the vehicle commander carefully
protected inside the gun cupola.
Two other versions are
being released later this year…
AVAILABLE: Mid September
Andy C. Neilson
Co-founder & Creative Director