DISPATCHES
July 2021
Dear
Partners,
WELCOME to
this month’s ‘DISPATCHES’ and something a wee bit different I hope... As
usual I will give you the details and dates of what King & Country will release
but I also want to share with you some of the thoughts and background info that
go into every single item K&C designs and produces not just in this
particular month but throughout the entire year.
So, let’s
get on with the show...
1. COMING
THIS JULY
A. ‘FULL
METAL JACKET’
As most of
you already know, Stanley Kubrick’s ‘FULL METAL JACKET’ is my
all-time favourite ‘VIETNAM’ movie and has
been the inspiration for a whole bunch of K&C figures notably ‘Animal
Mother’ VN093 and even ‘Miss Papillon’ VN122
to name but two!
What still
amazes me is that Kubrick ‘shot’ the entire movie (at least the
battle scenes) in a disused, former gas works on the outskirts of London!
There, he
created part of the US Marine base at Da Nang... a street scene in Da
Nang town... and, of course, the battle-scarred buildings and urban
wreckage of Hue, the former imperial capital city.
Kubrick also
created a unique group of characters to tell their stories in the movie... ‘Joker’...
‘Gomer Pyle’... ‘Cowboy’... ‘Rafterman’...
the aforementioned ‘Animal Mother’... and the cool, black dude, ‘Eightball’
as well as the classic, unforgettable ‘Gunnery Sergeant Hartman’.
A question I
often get asked is how do we translate a figure based on a movie to a sculptor
who then has to sculpt a small 1:30 scale master in
clay...?
Well, in my
case, I create a file of whatever photos I can source from books, posters,
magazines and of course, the internet.
From that
visual information I will then sketch a series of drawings with the pose I
require as well as visual information about certain accessories, weapons and
military equipment that the figure should carry or use in action.
I will also
supply the sculptor with as many actual photos of the character or the stuff he
is using. As you would expect K&C’s reference library is pretty large as
any collector who has ever visited the Hong Kong H.Q. can testify to however in
recent years the internet and Google have been an amazing bonus and Godsend in
providing even more background and important details.
VN120 ‘Full
Metal Eightball’
‘Eightball’
is a black member of
the ‘Lusthog Squad’ who combat
correspondent ‘Joker’ joins to get a close up
view of the fighting in Hue during the TET Offensive of 1968.
As the squad
moves into the city ‘Eightball’ is sent ahead to ‘scout-out’ an
area and gets ambushed by a lone female Viet Cong sniper.
The squad
medic rushes forward to help the wounded ‘Eightball’ and is also shot by
the sniper who puts a second bullet into the black Marine.
At this
point, the squad leader, ‘Cowboy’ hesitates to risk anymore casualties
and wants to withdraw when ‘Animal Mother’ leaps to his feet and charges
forward firing his M60 from the hip in a bid to rescue ‘Eightball’. The
rest of the squad follow him.
‘Animal
Mother’s’ brave, foolhardy assault on the enemy sniper allows the rest of
the squad to advance to a better forward position.
VN120 K&C’s ‘Eightball’ struggles
to get off the ground after being shot by the V.C. sniper, his M16 in front of
him.
VN121 ‘Full
Metal Joker’
Throughout
the entire movie we never get to hear ‘Joker’s’ real name. It was Gunnery
Sergeant Hartman in boot camp at Parris Island who ‘christened’
actor Mathew Modine’s young Marine recruit ‘Joker’ after Modine
interrupts Hartman’s introductory speech with an impression of John Wayne.
From ‘Joker’s’
demeanor you would expect that him to be a college student type and would
have got himself some kind of student deferment however here he is in Vietnam,
for ‘Stars ‘n’ Stripes’, the U.S. forces newspaper, and finally
in the ‘real war’ as opposed to being ‘in the rear with the gear’.
Being a ‘REMF’
(Real Echelon M... F...) he has come to the ‘real war’ armed
to the teeth with extra grenades (both fragmentation and smoke), a
bandolier of additional ammo, a .45 cal. pistol, his knife and of course, an
M16 rifle, he’s also brought along his camera to get a few ‘action’
shots... Soon, he’ll get all the ‘action’ he wants and then some!
VN123 ‘Old
Vietnamese Woman’
One thing
many American GI’s noted as they patrolled the countryside and went through
villages was how often they seemed to be populated only by young children and
old people.
Among the
many reasons for this were the facts that the young men had frequently been
drafted into the ARVN forces (Army of the Republic of Viet Nam)
or had fled and been forced into the Viet Cong. Some young women had
also been recruited into the Viet Cong or had moved to the larger towns and
cities seeking work.
That meant
many of the remaining children being left behind in the care of elderly
grandparents or other relatives.
K&C’s ‘Old
Vietnamese Woman’ leans on her stick and contemplates the world around
her. Over the decades she has seen the French Colonizers... the Japanese
Occupiers... and now, these big, bold Americans. Most of them have
come and gone. Will these Americans come and go too...? Who knows, all
she wants is for the war to stop...and peace to return.
AVAILABLE:
Early July
Additional
Note: A figure of ‘Rafterman’, ‘Joker’s buddy will follow
later.
B. ‘LITTLE
BIGHORN’
From a film
set in Vietnam but filmed in London to a body-littered hillside somewhere above
the Little Bighorn River in Montana Territory on June 25, 1876.
TRW185 ‘The
Indian Bugler’
This
brand-new figure of a victorious Sioux warrior has claimed two ‘prizes’
from his defeated enemies... a black cavalryman’s hat and... a cavalry bugle.
He does not
know how to make a sound out of it but it will make a worthy trophy in his
tepee and remind him of the great day when the Lakota Sioux and
their Cheyenne brothers together defeated the hated ‘Longknives’
under the command of Lieut. Col. George Armstrong Custer.
AVAILABLE:
Early July
C. ‘HOME
SWEET HOME’
After the
recent releases of our European Farm Gateway SP120, the European
Walls & Gates SP114 and the Wall Additions SP119
we felt it was time add the perfect centerpiece for this collection of walls
and gates...
SP122 ‘The
European Farmhouse’
The design
for this kind of farm dwelling goes all the way back to the early 17th
Century and can be found in many countries in north western Europe including
Britain, France, Belgium, Holland and Germany.
One of the
great advantages of a design like this is its historical adaptability...
It can be used in eras ranging from The Thirty Years War (1618-1648)
up through the Seven Years War (1756-1763) to the tumultuous
turmoil of the Age of Napoleon (1803-1815) followed by the
Franco Prussian War of 1870 and the double cataclysms of both World
Wars in the 20th Century.
This handsome
little structure can be the perfect backdrop for figures and all kinds of fighting
vehicles in all types of historic situations.
You tell
the story we provide the setting...
SP122 ‘The
European Farmhouse’
This
model’s dimensions are:
Length:
232mm (9 1/4”)
Depth:
82mm (3 1/4”)
Height:
273mm (10 3/4”)
Construction:
Polystone (Marble Dust & Resin)
Individually
hand-painted
AVAILABLE:
Early July
D. “HEAD
‘EM UP... MOVE ‘EM OUT!”
For some of
our older collectors and dealers, including myself, those words will bring back
memories of a terrific TV show called ‘RAWHIDE’ which ran
from1959- 1965 and helped launch the career of Clint Eastwood. Set in
the years after the Civil War it told stories of the many challenges faced by
drovers on the great cattle drives from Texas northwards to the railheads in
Kansas, Nebraska and Wyoming.
As a kid I loved
‘RAWHIDE’, it was my favourite TV ‘Western’
and helped fuel my interest in the Old West and that particular
part of its colourful and exciting history.
Now journey
forward quite a few years to when King & Country took over the ‘Kings
X’ store in San Antonio, Texas and our confounder Laura
McAllister Johnson moved to the ‘Lone Star State’ to live and work.
On my
frequent visits to Texas over the years both Laura and myself
explored different aspects of Texan history and the people and events that
shaped it.
As many of
you know K&C has long delved deep into that history with series and, ranges
that have included ‘The Alamo’ and ‘The Rough Riders’
and even individual fictional ‘Western’ and ‘Texas’ figures such
as Ranger Captains Woodrow Call and ‘Gus’ McCrae from Larry McMutry’s classic “Lonesome Dove” book and TV
series.
So, K&C
is no stranger to the ‘Old West’ or as we’ve called it ‘The Real
West’ and over all these years we’ve managed to explore different
aspects but not, until now, have we looked into the huge, and important subject
of ‘The Cattle Drives’ that developed in the years after the
Civil War.
Texas, at
that time, had millions of ‘Longhorn’ cattle both domestically reared and
in the wild that could help feed a rapidly expanding country that had a taste
for beef.
These cattle
had been raised in Texas from the time of the first Spanish settlers and were a
mix of animals from Spain together with Mexican breeds and even some cattle of
British origin brought west by Anglo-American colonists.
The result
was the ‘Texas Longhorn’, a tough, sturdy animal, used to dry,
hot surroundings with long, extended horns up to 8 feet in width!
The peak era
of the Texas Cattle Drives was just about 20 years from 1866 until the mid 1880’s. During that time a great number of herds of
between 2-3000 head of cattle would be driven northwards to the markets and
railroad-loading facilities by a crew of usually 12 men led by a ‘Trail Boss’.
Many of the
Texans who became ‘cowboys’ were former Confederate Cavalrymen
well used to a hard life on horseback and also handy
with a rifle and a six-shooter. Some others on the ‘crew’ would be
Mexican or Tejano and a few more might be black former slaves who knew a thing
or two about handling cattle and horses.
Cattle drives
usually began in the Spring after round up when grass
was plentiful and the herd could be delivered to its destination up north
before the cold, winter weather set in.
On the drive
the Trail Boss was the ultimate authority and could earn anywhere from
US$100-US$125 a month. The average cowboy, by comparison earned 30-40 dollars
each month while a good cook might get US$50-US$60.
In each crew
there were usually about 10 ‘drovers’ or ‘wranglers’ who would
take up their posts along the outside and rear of the herd as it moved along.
Most herds would cover between 10 to 15 miles a day, depending on what delays
or weather conditions were encountered.
A drive from
Texas up north to Kansas might take anywhere from 25-100 days.
Along the way
the herd and its cowboys could come up against Indians and / or rustlers as
well as a host of natural hazards including flood-swollen rivers, extreme
drought, lightning strikes and even sudden stampedes caused by thirsty animals
crazed at the smell of water.
These first
few figures paint just a small portion of a much larger portrait of a unique
part of Texan and American history that deserves to be seen... in miniature.
CD001 ‘The
Trail Boss’
A commanding
figure who led by example and was a natural-born leader. Chances are he had
been an officer in the Confederate Cavalry during the war and was looking to
one day owning his own ranch and driving his own cattle to market instead of
doing it for someone else.
CD002
‘Jake the Swing Rider’
A ‘Swing
Rider’ was a cowboy who rode closely along each side of the herd, about a
third of the way back from the ‘Point Rider’ who led the cattle.
Among Jake’s
duties are to keep the herd together and be constantly on the lookout for any
animals that might try to stray or break away.
‘Swing
Riders’ also backed up the ‘Point Man’ when the herd would turn. If
the ‘Point Man’ had to leave his position, a ‘Swing Rider’
would ride in his place until he returned.
CD003
‘Wes the Flank Rider’
‘Flank
Riders’ also rode on each side the herd but near the rear... about two
thirds of the way back behind the ‘Swing Riders’.
Their role
was to back up the ‘Swing Riders’ and keep the cattle bunched together
preventing the tail of the herd from fanning out.
And now we come
to the herd itself... Here are 6 different pairs of Texas
Longhorns with varying but typical colour
combinations.
CD004
‘2 x Texas Longhorns’
Two animals one primarily brown the other a mottled and speckled mix of white, black
and brown.
CD005
‘2 x Texas Longhorns’
Two more beasts, the far away one is
mixed black and white, the near animal is a brown and white mix.
CD006
‘2 x Texas Longhorns’
Two Black and white mixes, the farther
away Longhorn has some additional black speckles.
CD007
‘2 x Texas Longhorns’
One mostly brown animal with the other a
mix of brown and white.
CD008 ‘2 x
Texas Longhorns’
Two mostly white Longhorns with brown
patches and speckles.
CD009 ‘2 x
Texas Longhorns’
One mostly black animal with some white
areas... The other a mix of black and white.
AVAILABLE:
Mid July
E. ‘LIBERATION!’
Almost as
soon as France surrendered in June 1940 a resistance movement soon began
against the occupying Germans.
At
first small in numbers, ill-equipped and disorganized it suffered badly against
the combined forces of Vichy France’s own collaborators and the German Gestapo.
Slowly but surely the resistance grew gaining experience and expertise that by
June 1944 would provide valuable intelligence on the German occupiers, military
strength and dispositions. They would also undertake guerrilla warfare
operations that included sabotage, assassinations and ambushes that hampered
and delayed German attempts at pushing the Allies back after the Normandy
landings of June 6.
The
Resistance itself came in all shapes and sizes and all kinds of different
political beliefs. It welcomed everyone with one simple aim... Free
France from the Germans and their Vichy collaborators!
DD346 FF1
Gendarme
After
the Fall of France in 1940 most French policemen became a tool of collaboration
between Marshal Petain’s Vichy regime and the Germans. Until the end of
1942 the French Gendarmerie were used to suppress, capture and imprison
Communists and Foreigners and basically do most of the Germans’ ‘dirty work’.
By mid 1943 however many policemen were seeing the ‘way
the wind was blowing’ and began to change sides and perhaps belatedly
recognize their own patriotic feelings. Some began to join the resistance and
even take part in clandestine operations against the hated ‘Boche’.
Following
the Normandy Invasion and the liberation of towns and village it was now time
to put on the F.F.I. (French Forces of the Interior) armband,
grab your rifle and go out and round up some German prisoners!
DD347 ‘3
x Captured German Officers’
How
the mighty have fallen... This trio of German Officers are now at the mercy
of their French captors and looking distinctly worried. Fortunately for them
they are regular Wehrmacht and, generally speaking,
conducted themselves properly in occupied France.
After
all, France provided a relatively safe haven compared
to the Eastern Front.
Had
these three been Waffen SS or Gestapo their fate would have been
decided immediately and… very differently.
DD348
‘FFI Young Resistance Girl’
This
striking figure of a young girl carrying her Schmeisser
MP40 machine pistol is based on a famous photograph taken of another young
girl during the liberation of Paris in August 1944.
AVAILABLE:
Mid-Late July
F. ‘FIGHTING
CRUSADERS’
FIVE ‘Second
Editions’ of five
very popular Crusader Knights and Men-at-Arms.
MK214 ‘Crouching
Crusader Knight w/Sword’
An
alternative colour versions of one of our Foot
Knights.
MK215
‘Fighting Crusader Knight w/Sword’
Rushing
forward to meet the enemy.
MK216
‘Kneeling Crusader Archer’
MK217
‘Crusader Halberdier’
MK218
‘Crusader Archer Standing Ready’
AVAILABLE:
Mid-Late July
And that my
friends are July’s releases... Not too many but certainly contain one or two
surprises. Now onto retirements... and perhaps a slightly bigger surprise...
2. BEING
RETIRED THIS MONTH...
HK131 ‘The
Wine Shop Façade’
Just a very
few left so, if you want one don’t delay!
WoD033 ‘221b
Baker Street’
This famous
London address has been very popular indeed and is in fact sold out... So apologies if you did not get one.
THE
AUSTRALIAN LIGHT HORSE
Now, this ‘Retiral’
might come as a surprise but there are very practical reasons for it. First of all the series has been in production since 2009 and has
certainly enjoyed a good, long run and has included more than a few of my own
personal favourites but, in my opinion, it’s time to
give it a rest.
There is a
limit to how many galloping horsemen any company can produce however every
cloud has its very own silver lining and that means K&C Light Horse
Dealers & Collectors can enjoy some 40 very
special figures and battlefield accessories at some extra specially good
prices while stocks last.
So, take
advantage of this opportunity if you collect our Australian Light Horse
to add-on a few more troopers or some of their Turkish opponents
now!
|
AL007A |
Mounted
Australian Flagbearer w/ Red Ensign |
|
AL026 |
Aussie
Flagbearer |
|
AL032 |
AL
Machine Gun Set |
|
AL034 |
Turkish
Soldier Thrusting Bayonet |
|
AL035 |
Turkish
Soldier Running |
|
AL036 |
Australian
Officer |
|
AL037 |
Aye
Ready |
|
AL038 |
Shirt-Sleeve
Order |
|
AL039 |
The
Charger |
|
AL049 |
Kneeling
Turkish Radioman |
|
AL056 |
Turkish
Staff Car |
|
AL057 |
Galloping
Stretcher Bearer |
|
AL059 |
Standing
Medic |
|
AL060 |
Sergeant
firing Revolver |
|
AL061 |
Kneeling
Medic |
|
AL062 |
Trooper
with Rifle Up |
|
AL063 |
Trooper
with Rifle to the right |
|
AL064 |
Trooper
with Rifle to the left |
|
AL065 |
Corporal
w/Guidon |
|
AL066 |
Fighting
w/Bayonet |
|
AL067 |
Wounded
Johnny Turk |
|
AL068 |
Lying
Prone Turkish Machine Gunner |
|
AL069 |
Lying
Prone NCO w/Binos |
|
AL070 |
Lying
Prone Turkish Rifleman |
|
AL081 |
Turkish
NCO Aiming Rifle |
|
AL082 |
Kneeling
Firing Johnny Turk |
|
AL083 |
Turkish
Machine Gunner |
|
AL084 |
Turkish
Soldier Kneeling Reloading |
|
AL085 |
Turkish
Soldier Standing Firing |
|
AL086 |
New
Zealand Mounted Rifles Officer |
|
AL088 |
Turkish
70mm Field Gun |
|
AL089 |
Broken
& Abandoned |
|
AL090 |
The
Morning Snack |
|
AL091 |
The
Fond Farewell |
|
AL093 |
Light
Horse Bugler |
|
AL094 |
Australian
Light Horse Officer w/ Pistol |
|
AL095 |
Australian
Light Horse Bugler |
|
AL096 |
Australian
Light Horse Trooper w/ Rifle |
|
AL097 |
Australian
Light Horse Trooper Charging w/Bayonet |
|
AL098 |
Turkish
Officer w/ Flag |
|
AL101 |
Australian
Light Horseman & Koala |
|
AL106 |
ALH
Trooper Mounting Up (Black Horse Version) |
|
AL107 |
ALH
Officer Turning-in-the Saddle |
|
AL108 |
ALH
Trooper Mounting Up (Brown Horse Version) |
All the best and great sales!
Andy C. Neilson
Co-founder & Creative Director
King & Country Ltd.