DISPATCHES

MAY 2011

FIRST OF ALL a very big thank you to all of you guys who made this April the best ever April in the history of the company!

                Even in these difficult times and with plenty of competition K&C can still confound our critics and deliver on what we promise… when we promise it.

                It’s not always easy but it is worth the extra effort and hard work the entire K&C team put into it. We also thank you, our dealers and collectors. We know and understand there is plenty of choice and variety out there and we most definitely appreciate both your business and continued support…

                Now, onto this month’s release…

 

1.      AVAILABLE IN MAY…

A.     “Remember The Alamo!”

The epic battle and one of America’s iconic struggles which became legendary…

 

RTA055 “JOE”

“Joe”, the personal manservant of Col. Travis was one of the few African- Americans present at the battle. Santa Anna spared only the women and the children and… a few black slaves after the Alamo’s capture. “Joe” was one of the fortunate ones!

 

RTA056 “General Sam Houston”

Although not at the Alamo, Sam Houston’s pivotal role in the fight for Texas Independence gives him an honoured role amongst the Alamo’s heroes.

 

RTA057 “James Nowlan

James Nowlan was one of the volunteers who journeyed to the Alamo to fight in its last battle. A friend of Almeron Dickinson he was wounded prior to the final assault.

 

RTA058 “Shot Mexican Dragoon”

 

RTA059 “Robert McKinney”

Another of Davy Crockett’s fighting Tennesseans, Robt. McKinney perished along with his leader.

 

AVAILABLE: Early May

 

B.     “ITALIAN TANK… GERMAN STYLE”

AK075The Carro Armato M13/40 (Afrika Korps)”

One of the most serious problems for the Afrika Korps was getting resupplied! Both with vehicles and men…

Rommel’s Afrika Korps took full advantage of the hundreds of Allied fighting vehicles they captured. Often all they had to do was paint their own enlarged German insignia on the captured vehicles and, if still operational, put them straight back onto the battlefield.

The Afrika Korps also “borrowed” fighting vehicles from their Axis allies in the desert to augment their own armoured units… Here is just one example…AK075Carro Armato M13/40 (Afrika Korps)”

 

AVAILABLE: Mid May

 

C.     “OFF WE GO INTO THE WILD BLUE YONDER!”

K&C’s latest warbird and our biggest, heaviest one yet … The Republic P47 “Thunderbolt”

AF012 “The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt”

The U.S. Army Air Force’s most powerful single engined fighter of WW2. The “Jug”… “T/Bolt” or simply the “Juggernaut” was developed by the Republic Aviation Corp. and saw active duty on many of the major war fronts of WW2.

K&C’s P-47 belongs to the 5th Rescue Squadron of the 8th Air Force based at RAF Boxted in southern England in June 1944… hence the bold black and white “invasion” stripes. It comes in its own specially designed box with seated pilot and gear down.

Just 500 are being produced!

 

AF014 “Climbing Pilot”

One foot resting on a metal ladder this USAAF pilot figure can be placed next to any of our K&C warbirds.

 

AF016 “Ground Crewman on Bicycle”

Useful on any airfield scene.

 

AF017 “Crew Chief with Clipboard”

 

AVAILABLE: Mid to Late May

 

D.    “GOTTERDAMMERUNG!”

Hitler’s “Thousand- Year Reich” is collapsing around his ears but still the last desperate battle goes on…

 

WS187 “HALT! SS trooper with MP44”

With units being decimated and survivors fleeing the battlefield this SS man is stopping and checking all vehicles and their passengers.

 

WS188 “HJ Guard”

Providing “back-up” for the SS man is this young Hitlerjugend rifleman.

 

WS189Wehrmacht Inspecting Officer”

This veteran officer surveys the serious situation

 

WS190 “MG42 Instruction”

Whilst the Hitlerjugend boy lies prone behind the machine gun his Luftwaffe instructor tries to explain the workings of the MG42.

 

WS191 Volksturm with Bicycle”

WS192 Hitlerjugend with Bicycle”

 

AVAILABLE: Mid to Late May

 

E.     “VOLKSWAGEN at WAR”

LW043 “Luftwaffe Volkswagen”

This is the first of three military Volkswagen “Beetles” being released as part of K&C’s Series 250 range of multi optional choices of fighting vehicles. This particular Holzbrenner Beetle was fueled by a wood gas generator because of the gasoline shortage and comes complete with a roof rack full of supplies and a Luftwaffe driver.

 

Please note: Planned Production is just 250 vehicles of this version.

 

Other Versions: The two other VW versions include a camouflaged Waffen SS one and an Afrika Korps adaptation. They will be released shortly after the Luftwaffe Beetle.

 

AVAILABLE: Mid to Late May

 

2.      COMING NEXT MONTH (June)

A.     “Streets of Old Hong Kong

The pursuit of wealth, health and happiness are among the main features of Hong Kong society… at all levels.

                In many HK homes and offices there is often found a small statue of “The God of Longevity” to help bring the promise of a long and happy life.

 

HK193 “The GOD of LONGEVITY”

A sturdy, robust figure… this little figure is full of character, colour and sure to be popular.

 

AVAILABLE: Early JUNE

 

B.     “SONS of EMPIRE”

As promised here is the second detachment of what I believe is a great new range of late Colonial, Indian Army figures…

 

SOE006Ludhiana Sikh Kneeling Ready”

Another great addition to this Regiment… available in either matte or gloss finish.

 

SOE007 Ludhiana Sikh Lying Firing”

SOE008 Ludhiana Sikh Standing Firing”

 

Please note: More Ludhianas will be released in a few months with even more on the way.

AVAILABLE: Early JUNE

 

C.     Waffen SS ‘BEETLE’ at WAR”

This is the second version of our “SERIES 250” Wartime Volkswagens”. Painted in three-colour, typical late-war German fashion camouflage scheme.

 

WS194 Waffen SS VOLKSWAGEN”

This “VW at WAR” features the markings of the 5th SS Panzer Division “VIKING” and comes with a driver and a full roof rack of extra supplies and fuel.

 

AVAILABLE: Mid JUNE

 

D.    “FIGHTING IN THE NORMANDY BOCAGE”

We’ve needed fighting reinforcements for our GI’s struggling to battle through the Bocageof the Norman countryside… and here they are… all from the “BIG RED ONE”, 1st. Infantry Division.

 

DD147 “Lying Prone OFFICER w/ Tommy –Gun”

This young officer shouts out orders to his men as the enemy move rearer.

 

DD148 “Firing BACK”

A neat little two-figure riflemen set… As one GI fires his Garand the other loads a new clip into his rifle.

 

DD149 “Prone GI with .30 Cal. Machine Gun”

This gunner lays down some medium fire support.

 

DD150 “Sitting B.A.R. Gunner”

This sitting GI reloads his B.A.R. Light Machine Gun.

 

DD151 “Grenade ATTACK!”

As one GI prepares to throw his grenade the other guy with the rifle gets ready to “cover” him.

 

DD152 “The M7 PRIEST S.P.G.”

It’s been a long, long time since K&C produced one of these big beauties. This new, much more detailed “priest” mounts the classic 105mm field piece and comes with a vehicle commander.

 

DD153 “M7 PRIEST CREW Additions”

Two very useful artillery gunners to help man the “Priest”.

 

Special Note: In addition to this American “Priest” another British 8th. Army “Priest” will be released later this year. Watch out for it!

 

AVAILABLE: Mid to Late JUNE

E.     “An RAF CLASSIC”

The Bedford QL Fuel Bowser was used by Britain’s Royal Air Force throughout WW2 and for many years after it.

K&C first produced a hand-carved wooden version way back in 1995.

This new polystone resin and metal version is being released as part of K&C’s SERIES 250 offering collectors at least 3 different versions… UK, blue and yellow livery… Normandy “Mickey Mouse” pattern Olive Drab and Black plus… a DESERT Air Force in sand colour.

ALL three will be made available over a period of months. The first is…

 

RAF027 “RAF Bedford QL Fuel Bowser”

A familiar sight on all wartime British Air fields. The “blue and yellow” sported a distinctly colouful paint scheme and comes with an RAF driver.

 

AVAILABLE: Late JUNE/ Early JULY

PRICE: TO BE ANNOUNCED

 

F.     “Winston on the Warpath”

As everyone knows Britain’s wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill was a former soldier and loved to “test” all kinds of new weaponry…

 

DD105 “Winston and his Tommy-Gun”

After test-firing a Thompson Sub-Machine Gun on a rifle range early in the war Winston declared it was a “real war-winner”.

On hearing this in America, Franklin Delano Roosevelt had a special Thompson made for the P.M. and presented it to him at the Casablanca Conference.

Our Churchill is based on a famous photograph taken during the war.

 

AVAILABLE: Mid to Late JUNE

 

3.      BEING RETIRED THIS MONTH…

Another large batch of older items… If you like ‘em… grab ‘em while you can…

 

AE017     The Royal Mascot

AE025     Opening of the Mouth Ceremony

AE038     Egyptian Obelisk

DD075    US Patrol Jeep

DD107    Landing Craft Assualt (#LCA718)

DD107-01Landing Craft Assualt (#LCA711)

FOB045  French Motorcycle Combo

FOB054  Generalfeldmarschall Erich von Manstein

FOB055  German Mounted Adjutant

FOB056  Wehrmacht Mounted Officer

FW049    British Mark IV Heavy Tank

FW051   Grenadier Set

HK136    Gate Guardian Lions

LAH087  Der Fuhrer’s New Staff Car

WS117    “Get Ready!”

WS118    “Moving Forward”

WS119    “On the Road”

WS120    Walking Machine Gun Team

 

And that my friends is that… Needless to say there will be a few of the usual comments from a few of the usual suspects but I’m sure for most K&C collectors there will be something they like and want to get…

                Best wishes to one and all!

 

 

Andy C. Neilson

Co-Founder & Creative Director

King & Country