DISPATCHES
JULY 2011
AS SOME
OF YOU KNOW, Helen (K&C’s Managing Director) and yours truly got back from
a 9 day trip to Australia in mid-June. This annual event (our third) gives us
the opportunity to meet and talk with many Aussie collectors and our two main
dealers in Australia. During these visits we get to preview our upcoming Australia
Light Horse releases but even more importantly we get the chance to hear
what both collectors and dealers would like to see for their particular
market. The ideas and suggestions are extremely helpful while at the same
time bringing collector, dealer and manufacturer closer together.
We’ve
found the same experience when we go to the States twice a year… to Chicago,
Irvine and San Antonio. Add in our December trip to Italy, France and the U.K.,
and you begin to get a broader appreciation of the international appeal of toy
soldiers… and the different national tastes in each country.
All of
this information (plus a lot more) goes into what K&C does… when we do it…
and how. So, having said all that… here’s this and next month’s releases…
1. WHAT’s NEW IN JULY…
A. “Belgium 1815… Marching to Waterloo.”
Our new “French
Line Infantry Regt.” are wearing the updated “1812” pattern
tunic and the more relaxed (or practical) style of military dress
adopted by the Emperor’s army during the “100 Days” campaign following
his escape from Elba.
NA228 “French
Line Infantry Mtd. Officer”
NA229 “French
Line Marching Officer”
NA230 “French
Line Flagbearer”
NA231 “French
Line Drummer Boy”
NA232 “French
Line Marching Rifleman (right shoulder)”
NA233 “French
Line Marching Rifleman (left shoulder)”
NA234 “French
Line Marching Rifleman (w/ beard)”
NA235 “French
Line Make Ready”
NA236 “French Line Advancing Forward”
AVAILABLE: NOW
B. “Afrika Korps Add-Ons”
AK074 “Afrika Korps Volkswagen”
This is
the third and final “Series 250” Volkswagen. This version has, again, a roofrack of extra supplies of ammunition, fuel and water.
In addition a swastika emblazoned flag has been attached to the roof for
easy aircraft recognition.
AK076 “Afrika
Korps Feldgendarme”
The
ubiquitous “chained dogs” get everywhere… even North Africa!
K&C’s
single figure is dressed in typical AK attire topped off with German-style “Solar
Topee” (sun helmet).
AVAILABLE: Mid July
C. “Beersheba 1917”
Our
newest addition to the very popular Australia Light Horse series of Aussie
and Turkish soldiers battling it out at the Palestinian town of Beersheba…
AL021 “Standing
Lighthorseman”
While
most of the Brigade were charging the Turkish defenses in and around Beersheba
some men had to be left behind to guard the supplies and the headquarters. Our
“digger” is one of them.
AL022 “Turkish
Casualty”
As he
runs toward the Australian horseman this unfortunate “Johnny Turk” takes
a bullet in the neck!
AL023 “Surrender
or Die!”
A wounded
Turk is given a dramatic option by a dismounted Light Horseman.
AL024 “Collapsing
Horseman”
The Turks
were not the only casualties of the battle… Here a fallen Lighthorseman
is almost trampled to death by his wounded charger.
AL025 “General
Kemal Attaturk”
Although
the founder of modern, progressive Turkey was not at Beersheba here is how he
might have looked had he been!!!
This
Turkish senior officer fears for the worst as the Australians get nearer and
nearer… pistol in one hand… binos in the other.
AVAILABLE: Mid July
D. “Royal Air Force Support Vehicles”
From the
deserts of the Middle East in 1917 to airfields in Britain and France during
the Second World War…
RAF027 “RAF Bedford QL Fuel
Bowser” (Series 250)
UK version
This
is the iconic fuel truck of WW2 and for many years after the war… Painted
in the distinctive blue and yellow colour scheme for
easy recognition in UK airfields these vehicles remained on active service for
many years after 1945.
AVAILABLE: Mid July
RAF029 “RAF
Bedford QL Fuel Bowser” (Series 250) Normandy version
This
alternative fuel bowser is in the “Mickey Mouse”
pattern (black and olive drab) camouflage typical of RAF and British
Army vehicles used on the continent after the D.Day
landings.
AVAILABLE: Late July
SPECIAL NOTE: These particular models have additional fine detail and
some delicate parts. EXTRA CARE should be taken when opening, removing and
handling them out of their packaging. PLEASE DO NOT GRIP THEM by their
extension arms… fuel lines or side walkways. A special photo instruction
leaflet is included in each box. Thanks!
2. COMING IN AUGUST
A. “Napoleon in Egypt… Part 2”
Many
thanks to all the collectors who welcomed this new series into the “Age of
Napoleon”. We’re proud to announce the next five pieces…
NE004 “Soldier
Pointing”
Another
of Bonaparte’s men pointing out the ancient wonders of the Land of the Nile.
NE005 “Soldier
with Sun Canopy”
This
infantryman has rigged up an ingenious way to shade himself from the blazing
desert sun…
NE007 “Chef
de Musique”
This colourful Napoleonic musician has definitely “gone
native”… In addition to his baggy Mameluke-style
pantaloons he has also equipped himself with a Mameluke
sabre.
NE009 “The
Monument”
Soldiers
the world over, have, for centuries sought to leave their mark… On these
ancient stones one of Bonaparte’s men has already carved the General’s name.
NE014 “The
Graffiti Artist”
One more
French infantryman cannot resist the impulse to leave his name on the “Ancient
World”
NOTE: Look
out for more “Napoleon in Egypt” releases later this year!
AVAILABLE: Early August
B. “Ancient Egypt again… A little earlier.”
Many
centuries before Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Egypt another ruler made her name
there… Cleopatra!
AE039 “Cleopatra
and Her Handmaidens”
Egypt’s
fabled Queen enhances her natural attractions with a little cosmetic
assistance. Three figure set.
AE040 “Court
Official”
While the
Queen beautiful herself one her high officials makes a report…
From the
goings-on at court we move to a more humble duty…
AE043 “Woman carrying Water”
A classic
pose for an everyday occurrence and… a useful figure in any Middle Eastern
scenario.
AVAILABLE: Early August
MOVING FORWARD A FEW CENTURIES MORE… AND A LONG WAY AWAY…
C. “SCOTS WHA HAE!”
In Scotland in 1314, the nation was still under English rule… the times
however were about to change and the Scots were about to challenge the might of
the English Crown…
During my
schooldays (many moons ago) every Scottish school boy knew the story of
the Battle of Bannockburn when King Robert the Bruce won
Scotland’s freedom from England and the rule of Edward II.
One of the most famous events of the battle actually happened the day
before…
Robert the Bruce was in front of his small Scottish Army when on English Knight… Sir
Henry de Bohun detached himself from the much
larger English Army and charged his heavy war horse across the heath that
separated both forces and headed straight for The Bruce.
De Bohun, lowered his lance and prepared to “spear” the
lightly armed Bruce from his saddle… At the last minute Bruce neatly
sidestepped his own mount and brought down his battle axe on de Bohun’s helmet,
cleaving it and its owner’s head in two! A great cheer went up from the
Scots… a loud collective groan from the English…
One nil for Scotland and a terrific omen for the battle the following
day…
MK083(SL) “THE DUEL” (Robert the Bruce and Henry de Bohun)
This
great two-piece vignette captures the moment when the Scottish King is about to
bring his battle axe down on de Bohun’s head!
A “Strictly Limited” Edition of 750 sets
AVAILABLE: Mid August
D. “THE TYPHOON TANKBUSTER”
Moving on
from a time when English and Scots were fighting each other to a time when
together they were fighting a much more dangerous and deadly foe…
RAF030 “The
HAWKER TYPHOON MK.1B”
Widely
recognized as the best and toughest ground /attack fighter bomber of WW2 the
HAWKER TYPHOON is K&C’s most detailed warbird
yet! Our version of this powerful aircraft carries 8 underwing,
anti- tank rockets and has 4 hard- hitting Hispano cannon. A
seated pilot is in the cockpit of this Typhoon from 257 squadron, Royal Air
Force. It also bears the bold black and white “invasion stripes” of
all Allied aircraft flying over the Normandy landing beaches on and after June
6, 1944.
NOTE: Just 500 are being manufactured.
Supporting this Typhoon on the ground are a selection of RAF ground
crew…
RAF031 “Rocket Primers”
Two RAF
Aircraftsmen assemble one of the tank-busting rockets.
RAF032 “Rocket
Handler”
A single
RAF ground crew member “shoulders” one of the rockets to the aircraft.
RAF033 “Sitting
Airman”
Many
wartime photos show airmen “perched” on the wing of an aircraft…
including Typhoons.
RAF034 “Airman
Radio Operator”
Equipped
with a back pack radio this airman is in touch with other RAF ground / air
units in the area.
RAF035 “Typhoon
Pilot”
Enjoying
a welcome “smoke” and a cup of “Char” this pilot is taking a
welcome breather between ops!
RAF036 “Flight
Sergeant”
A “new”
version of an old favourite… from our Battle of
Britain set of RAF Ground Crew dating back almost 20 years!
UNIFORM NOTE: By
mid-war many RAF pilots and ground crew could be seen wearing British Army
battledress (with relevant RAF rank badges) while on active duty.
As these
releases go with our new Hawker Typhoon as it might be seen in forward
battle airfields in Normandy after the invasion it is appropriate that some of
them are in army Khaki as well as RAF blue.
AVAILABLE: Late August
E. “RETURN TO AFRIKA”
And you thought we had finished with our adventures in the Middle East…
AK078 “AK
Officer with Schmeisser”
Wearing
his AK greatcoat to fend off the desert chill this officer is about to fire a
burst from his machine pistol…
AK079 “AK
Rifle Section”
Two more
greatcoat-clad infantrymen with rifles.
AK080 “AK
Grenadier”
AK081 “AK Machine Gunner”
Difficult but not impossible… this gunner fires his magazine- fed MG34 from
the hip.
AK082 “AK
Observation Team”
This
two-man set of officer and NCO… One observes the enemy position… the other
uses the field telephone to call in an artillery or mortar strike.
AK083 “British
Prisoner”
For this
dejected Tommy a POW cage looms up!
AK084 “Panzerjager 1”
Based on
a Panzer 1 tank chassis this self-propelled gun mounts a 4.7 cm
Czech-made Skoda gun and was the first German tank destroyer of WW2.
Our model
comes with a standing crewman.
SPECIAL NOTE: A
field-grey version will be released later in the year.
AVAILABLE: Late August
F. COMING IN EARLY SEPTEMBER
AK077 “AK
Captured Morris CS8 15cwt. Truck” (Series 250)
As
virtually everyone knows the German Army made much use of “captured”
enemy vehicles throughout the war… Rommel’s Afrika
Korps were no exception!
Here,
complete with driver, is one of the “liberated” vehicles, the classic
British Morris 15cwt. Truck still in its 8th Army colour scheme but with prominently displayed German crosses
on the sides and on top of the engine.
Special Note: This
little 15cwt truck is a “Series 250” release, three other versions will be
available…
i) RAF (blue) with WRAF driver.
ii) 8th Army (desert splinter camo) with Aussie Driver
iii) British Army (black /Olive drab Mickey Mouse camo) with British Army driver.
Price / Release dates to be announced.
3. HEADING INTO THE SUNSET…”
And here
are the latest retirements…
“Ancient Egypt”
AE029 “The Gift Givers”
“Saracens”
MK027 “Mounted Saladin”
“Age of Napoleon”
NA100 “French Line Infantry Sergeant
Advancing”
NA101 “FLI Charging w/ Bayonet”
NA102 “FLI
Advancing w/Rifle”
NA103 “FLI
Advancing Loading”
NA104 “FLI Advancing Firing”
NA105 “FLI
Advancing Casualty”
NA106 “FLI Advancing Pointing”
NA107 “FLI Kneeling Firing”
NA108 “FLI Kneeling Helping”
NA109 “FLI
Lying Casualty”
NA110 “FLI
Standing Firing Rifleman”
“Remember the Alamo!”
RTA038 “James
McGee, Ireland -- Fighting Duo #1”
RTA041 “Andrew
Kent, KY -- Fighting Duo #2”
“World War Two”
WS107 “German
War Correspondent Set”
WS116 “Wehrmacht Officer Pointing”
WS131 “Sd. Kfz. 251/22 “Pakwagen” Ausf. D (Summer)”
And so friends, that’s the story so far… I hope you find something that
you can add to your collections.
Many thanks again for your support and advice.
All the best and… adios for now!
Andy C. Neilson
Co-Founder & Creative Director
King & Country