“DISPATCHES”
JULY 2012
WELL HERE WE ARE IN
JULY after a 2-day holiday to celebrate the “Return-to-China” of
Hong Kong. It’s been 15 years since that epic night when the Union Jack was lowered
for the last time and China’s red flag was hoisted up the flagpole. It’s also
35 years since myself and Laura (K&C’s other co-founder)
arrived in what was then a British Crown Colony to begin my training as a
junior inspector in the Royal Hong Kong Police. Little did I know then
that somewhere in my future was a little toy soldier company called… King
& Country!
And so, here is what
that little company has to offer this month…
1.
FOR RELEASE IN JULY…
A .“Somewhere in the sands of Egypt”
AE047 “The
Mummy’s Statue”
A great little display item with lots of
detail that can be used primarily in an “Ancient Egypt” scenario… or
just as well with “Napoleon in Egypt” figures or even WW2’s Afrika Korps or 8th
Army.
AVAILABLE: NOW!
B .“Back to Beersheba”
Still in the Middle East but
we’ve moved across the Sinai Desert and are now in Palestine during
the First World War…
AL032
“Machine Gun Set”
Two Lighthorse troopers man a Vickers Heavy
Machine Gun in support of their charging comrades.
AL033 “Up and Over!”
This jumping Lighthorseman has leapt his mount over part of a Turkish
sandbag defense works.
AL034 “Turkish Soldier Thrusting Bayonet”
This “Johnny Turk” is doing his best to fend off the mounted Australian.
AL035 “Turkish Soldier Running”
Crouched over this Turkish soldier tries to
avoid the hoofs of the leaping horse.
Special Note: Due to popular demand there will now be at
least two releases of Australian and Turkish
Soldiers throughout the year.
AVAILABLE: NOW!
C .“… And Back to Ancient China”
K&C are issuing no less
than three famous Chinese Generals from the “Three Kingdoms” period…
IC043 “Cao Cao”
Cao Cao was a well-known military strategist
in the “Three Kingdoms” period and also an outstanding poet.
IC044 “Liu Bei”
Well known as a benevolent and humane ruler.
IC045 “Lord Guan Yu”
A General of Liu Bei. He can be
easily recognized by his red face and long lush beard. Temples and shrines
dedicated exclusively to Guan Yu can still be found in China today.
AVAILABLE: Mid July
D .“Napoleon in Egypt”
Four colourfully
dramatic additions to this very collectable series…
NE019 “Standing General w/Map”
A beautifully detailed senior officer
consults his map.
NE020 “Guide w/ Musket”
NE021 “Inspecting the Mummy ”
A French
soldier and a local Nubian guide take a closer look at a mummified body
in a casket they have unearthed.
NE026 “Smoke Break”
Another of Napoleon’s men pauses to light
his pipe.
AVAILABLE: Mid July
E .“A Place Called YALTA”
In early 1945 American President Franklin
D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston S. Churchill journeyed
to the Crimean resort of Yalta to meet Soviet Russia’s Joseph
Stalin. Together these three men decided on the final progress of the war
against Hitler’s Third Reich and their own plans for post war Germany
and the rest of Europe.
DD106 “The Big three”
The three seated leaders make a strong
contrast in style … Churchill, in his Royal Air Force uniform
ebullient and confident … Marshal Stalin, quiet and brooding in his
Red Army uniform and … Roosevelt, the sole “civilian”
but wearing a U.S. Navy boat cloak.
This great little set commemorates the last
time all three of these Allied leaders were to meet… Within a few months Roosevelt
would die…Churchill would be voted out of office… Only ”Uncle Joe”
would remain!
AVAILABLE: Mid July
F .“Fields of Battle”
From a gathering of the powerful we move to
some of the more humble participants in the Second World War… The Civilians.
FoB067 “Mother & Daughter”
A mother and daughter glance
nervously upwards at the sound of approaching aircraft … A scene that could be France
in the summer of 1940… Britain during the Blitz of 1941… or even Germany
from 1942 onwards. Another mini tableau of civilians caught in wartime.
FoB068 “Old Man & Wheel Barrow”
A companion piece to the previous set…
Pushing a few meager belongings all this man seeks is peace and safety.
“Read All About It!”
Three individual versions of the same figure… Carrying newspaper banners
telling three different stories…
FoB070 “Newspaper Seller#1”
FoB086 “Newspaper Seller#2”
FoB087
“Newspaper Seller#3”
AVAILABLE: Mid July
G .“Life of Jesus”
Three new Roman soldiers join
one of the most famous men in the Bible… Plus some very interesting
onlookers.
LoJ021 “Primum Pilus”
One
of the Legion’s senior officers and most decorated for valour.
LoJ022 “Roman Auxiliary Saluting”
The out thrust arm salute
originated with Rome’s Legions… it was only almost two millennium later if was
copied first by Mussolini’s Fascists… and then the Nazis.
LoJ023 “Roman Auxiliary Drinking”
Patrolling
the streets of Jerusalem and other towns in Israel was thirsty work. This
auxiliary pauses for a drink. Is it water or wine?
AVAILABLE: NOW!
LoJ024 “The Boot Maker”
Sitting on his work stool this craftsman
could be found operating in many Roman garrisons. Often he would be a “retired”
soldier or one who had been “invalided out of the Legion” because of
wounds.
LoJ025 “John The Baptist”
The man who baptized Jesus himself and a
well-known figure of the time preaching the length and breadth of Israel. He
foretold the coming of the Lord and met his fate at the hands of Herod’s
daughter, Salome.
LoJ026 “The Listener”
A bearded Pharisee listening to
John’s preaching.
LoJ027 “Seated Man”
Another spectator listening to John’s
preaching.
LoJ028 “Sitting Woman”
On her way back from the water well this
woman sits and listens to words of John.
LoJ029 “The Scholar”
Seated on a colourful
mat this young man is studying.
AVAILABLE: Mid to Late July
H .“Perfect For The Garage…”
SP052 “The
Petrol Pumps” (set of 3)
A set of three vintage 1930’s style petrol/
gasoline pumps to set up outside our recently released “new”
Normandy Garage (SP051)
AVAILABLE: Mid July
I .“Scouting For Trouble”
WS197 “Sd. Kf2. 234/1 Schwerer Panzerspahwagen”
After we released the “winter” version of this big 8-wheeler many
collectors requested a “summer” camouflage alternative…And here it is…
in typical three-colour late war camo
suitable for both East and West fronts specially the Normandy campaign.
AVAILABLE: Mid July
J .“The New Commanding Officer”
BR090 “Mounted Fusileer
Officer”
A full-blown colonel of the 23rd.
Royal Welch Fusileers mounted on
his favourite steed and preparing to lead his men
into battle.
AVAILABLE: Mid to Late July
2.
COMING IN AUGUST…
August is another great month for the sheer variety of what’s going to
be available for K&C dealers and collectors alike.
A .“Crusaders on the March”
After a
successful foray into a nearby Arab village these crusaders are
returning to their encampment.
MK090
“Mounted Knight Hospitaller”
This Frankish Hospitaller,
banner held high, is not only a fierce warrior but also a devout one…
MK091 “The
Treasure Seeker”
A Hospitaller
Man-at-Arms with a banded chest full of captured gold and silver.
MK092 “Boris
le Batarde”
Not all Hospitaller
Knights were as nice or as noble as our mounted leader…
MK093 “The
Trumpeter”
This particular “Horn-Blower” signals
ahead to let the guards at the Crusader encampment know the patrol is returning
home.
MK094
“Marching Bannerman”
MK095
“Marching Man-at-Arms”
MK096 “The
happy Man-at-Arms”
This smiling foot soldier is
happy be returning all in one piece.
AVAILABLE: EARLY AUGUST!
B .“D.DAY PIONEER”
DD178 “Major
General Percy Hobart”
A fine “personality” figure of one of
the “forgotten heroes” of D. Day. Percy Hobart devised and
designed many of the specialized armoured vehicles
that made the D. Day landings so successful. Here he is dressed in a classic
British “duffel coat” and wearing a tank corps black beret. He also
commanded the 79th. Armoured Division.
AVAILABLE: EARLY AUGUST!
C .“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”
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 300 are
being made.
RAF043
“Flight Lieutenant Bill Reid V.C.”
On 3 November, 1943 F/Lieut. 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
D .“FIGHTING GREEKS”
The success of our “Ancient Greece” series ensures plenty of add-ons…
Here arejust a few of the…
AG009 “Alexander
The Great”
Probably the most famous “fighting Greek” in history…
immortalized in books, films and… military miniatures. Here is our
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: Mid August
E .“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: Mid August
F .“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 Hermaun
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 the Nazi hierarchy drove him to commit suicide in 1941.
AVAILABLE: LATE AUGUST/ EARLY SEPTEMBER
3.
BEING
RETIRED…
As usual ladies and gentlemen there are more than a few interesting iterus that are making away for the newer pieces… Check them out…
AK064 “Leutnant
Hans-Arnold Stachlschmidt”
AK065 “Leutnant
Gunter Steinhausen”
AK066 “Dispatch
Rider”
AK067 “AK
Rifleman in Greatcoat Marching”
AK068 “AK
Rifleman in Greatcoat on Guard Duty”
AK069 “AK
Rifleman in Greatcoat Marching”
AK070 “AK Feldwhel Marching”
BBA032
“Artillery Add-on Set”
BBA033 “US
Artilleryman”
BBA034 “Kneeling
w/Field Telephone”
EA044 “Desert
Rolls-Royce”
FOB060
“Winning the Knight’s Cross”
FOB061 “For
You Fritz The war is over!”
FW071 “Auf Wiedersen”
FW072 “Au Revoir”
FW073 “Goodbyeee”
MK065
“Mounted with Sword”
MK069
“Standing Man at Arms”
MK070 “Dressing
For Battle”
NA014 “French
Grenadier Marching with Rifle”
NA015 “French
Grenadier Advancing with Rifle”
NA034
“Grenadier at Attention”
Once again, we thankyou for your continued
support and wish you all the best!
Andy C. Neilson
Co-founder & Creative Director