DISPATCHES
May 2021
Dear Partners,
Welcome to the
‘Merry Month of May’ and our latest K&C edition of
‘DISPATCHES’.
This month’s offerings
provide a broad and expansive mixture of all-new items and a few fresh
renditions of very popular K&C favourites
from our huge inventory.
Also, please
take note of this month’s ‘Retirement List’... It’s
a long one and contains some very special items that are only available in
small numbers... So don’t miss out on them!
Well, without
further ado, let’s get on with the show...
1.
WHAT’S
NEW IN MAY...?
A. “The
Skirl o’ The Pipes and The Beat o’ The Drum”
The origins of
the British military’s pipe bands can be traced back to the early 1800’s as
soldier / musicians were tasked with keeping pace and morale up on long marches
with their respective regiments.
This inevitably
led to the global spread and popularity of ‘piping’ as the British Empire expanded and the British Army’s Scottish Regiments ranged
far and wide both building and defending its colonies and citizens.
By the 18th
Century, the highland bagpiper would perform as a soloist or as a member of a
Regiment’s ‘Pipes & Drums’ band.
Army pipe bands
were officially recognized by the British War Office in 1854 and
thereafter became a permanent fixture and addition to all Scottish regiments.
The leading
piper became known as the ‘Pipe Major’ while the mace wielding NCO In the front of the band was the ‘Drum Major’.
With Scots,
both military and civilian at the forefront of Britain’s colonial adventures so
its national music and its pipers and drummers spread Scottish culture and
music to the four corners of the world.
Among the most
famous ‘exporters’ and ‘exponents’ of Scotland’s national music
were the men of The Black Watch.
Here is our
tribute in miniature to a fine old Scots regiment...
CE028 ‘The
Black Watch Pipes & Drums’
This
magnificent 13 figure set, laid out in its own large box contains
the following...
1 x ‘Drum
Major’
6 x ‘Pipers’ (which includes a ‘Pipe Major’)
2 x ‘Tenor
Drummers’
1 x ‘Bass
Drummer’ and
3 x ‘Side
Drummers’
Points to
note, all six Pipers
wear the ‘Royal Stewart’ tartan and the black doublet jacket. All drummers
and the Drum Major wear the regiment’s scarlett
tunics and the traditional ‘Black Watch Government Tartan’
Although
K&C has produced this 13-man set most military ‘pipes & drum’
bands are actually larger... Anywhere from 8-16
pipers and 4-6 side drummers which is why we have also made available...
CE061 ‘The
Black Watch Piper’
These
individual bagpipers can be purchased as ‘solo’ pieces to add on
to and increase your ‘pipes & drums’ or… stand alone.
CE062 ‘The
Black Watch Drummer’
A superb little
figure complete with his bugle and side drum.
AVAILABLE: Early
May
B.
‘ON
THE FIELDS OF NORMANDY’
The Sherman Firefly was
the best tank used by British and some Commonwealth and Allied armoured formations in WW2. It was based on the US M4
Sherman but fitted with the more powerful British 17-pounder gun as its
main weapon.
During the war, the British Army made
extensive use of the American-made and supplied Sherman tanks but found the US
75mm main gun less than effective against German armour.
The answer was to ‘upgun’
the Sherman with the tried and battle-tested, British 17-pounder gun. Because
of its large size this also meant redesigning the Sherman turret to accommodate
the bigger gun.
By early 1944 this ‘new’
configuration was christened the ‘Firefly’ and put into full
production in the UK.
In Normandy, following the landings in
June 1944, the Sherman ‘Firefly’ proved its worth by becoming the
first Allied tank to successfully take on and penetrate the armour
of the mighty German tanks such as the ‘Panther’ and ‘Tiger’.
DD334 ‘The
British Sherman Firefly Vc’
This K&C model is in the markings of
a ‘B’ Squadron vehicle of the 23rd Hussars, belonging
to the 11th Armoured Division during
the battle for Normandy.
Because the ‘Firefly’ had a
visibly longer main gun barrel, crews often tried to camouflage it with paint
so that the tank would look like, from a distance, the more normal and numerous,
75mm-gun M4 Sherman.
Our King & Country ‘Firefly’
comes with a ‘half-body’ tank commander and a ‘head and shoulders’
driver in the open hatches.
As additional protection this ‘Firefly’
also has extra tank tracks mounted around the turret and on the tank hull
itself.
AVAILABLE: Early
May
C.
‘BERLIN
’38 STREET DECORATIONS’
From the mud, blood and dust of Normandy
in the summer of ’44 to the banner-festooned boulevards and broad streets of Pre War Berlin in ’38...
LAH261 ‘Hitler
Jugend Street Banner’
This double-bannered street
lamp shows two red, white and black Nazi banners on one side, while the
reverse has a pair of ‘HJ’ banners in position.
Useful for any ‘Berlin ‘38’
scene or group of figures.
AVAILABLE: Early
May
D.
‘WE
GOTTA GET OUT OF THIS PLACE’
Although that might be the title of a
great old ‘Animals’ song from the 1960’s it’s
also a reminder that King & Country is in Vietnam for the long haul and ain’t pulling any troops out just yet.
Hell, we’re
even bringing in more reinforcements!
VN102 “Viet
Cong Sapper w/AK47”
Among the deadliest (and bravest)
of the enemy in ‘Nam were the VC and NVA ‘Sappers’ who
would strip down to their ‘skivvies’ to crawl through barb wire and
minefields to strike at US and ARVN airfields and firebases throughout the
country.
Here is one such ‘Sapper’ who has made
it through all the obstacles and hazards and is going ‘hunting’ with his
AK47. Most of these soldiers did not enjoy a long life and suffered horrendous
casualties... but they’re still worthy of respect from
friend and foe alike.
VN115 ‘Three
Captured Viet Cong’
This trio of forlorn captives are on
their way back for interrogation and, if they are lucky, a long stay in a South
Vietnamese prison cell.
A few were persuaded to ‘change sides’
and go over to the ARVN side and perhaps become useful as intelligence scouts
for American infantry units.
The program was originally initiated by
US Marine units operating in Vietnam.
VN117 ‘Anzac
Mortar Team’
These three stripped down ‘Diggers’
or ‘Kiwis’ if you prefer are laying down some heavy mortar fire on an
enemy position outside the perimeter wire of their base camp.
As the men were probably operating from a
secure area there was little necessity for shirts or body armour.
All three blokes are also wearing ear defenders... wise choice!
VN126 ‘Add-On
Mortar Ammunition’
A very, very useful and necessary addition to the previous
set... 12 extra mortar rounds laid out on a piece of khaki ground
sheet waiting to be fired.
Can also go with our Viet Cong
Mortar Team (VN088) and our USMC Mortar Duo
(VN116)
AVAILABLE: Mid
May
E.
European
Farm Gateway
SP120 ‘European Farm Gateway’
The perfect architectural feature to extend
and grow a European display or diorama for virtually any historical period from
the middle ages all the way up to the wars of the 20th Century and
all points in between.
The two doors can open and close and
have a wooden ‘locking bar’ to hold them in place. Goes well with SP114
and SP119.
AVAILABLE: Mid
May
F.
‘THE
ROMANOVS... BEFORE THE FALL’
The Tsar’s two eldest daughters, the
Grand Duchesses Olga and Tatiana were alas to
suffer the same horrible fate that befell the entire Royal Family on the night
of 17 July 1918... murdered in a cruel massacre by a gang of cowardly Bolsheviks.
In the happier years before the war
broke out in August 1914 both young girls were given the ranks of ‘Honorary
Colonel’ of prestigious cavalry regiments in the Imperial Army.
Grand Duchess Olga, the eldest, became ‘Honorary
Colonel’ of the 3rd Elizavetgradsky
Hussars Regiment.
Her younger sister, Grand Duchess
Tatiana was also awarded the same rank and title for the 8th
Vosnesenski Lancers.
TR004 “Grand
Duchess Olga & Grand Duchess Tatiana”
Both young women are seen in the full
dress, parade uniforms of their respective regiments.
AVAILABLE: Mid
to Late May
G.
‘THE
GLORY & DANGER OF ROME’
Ancient Rome was a dangerous place to
live in ... even for some Emperors. Plots, treason and
murder were all too common occurrencies for those who
held the top position over the city and its growing empire.
One of Rome’s best and most able
emperors, Augustus, still felt insecure enough to establish his own personal
imperial bodyguard regiment to ensure his own and his family’s safety.
For the next three centuries the ‘Praetorian
Guard’ fulfilled its duties to the emperor while still intriguing and
occasionally interfering on its own behalf. These Praetorians came to become
both a help and a hindrance to their nominal masters...
ROM053 “The
Praetorian Centurion”
A well-proven, professional soldier who
has seen plenty of active service with the regular Legions before transferring
over to the Praetorians.
Rising up through the ranks he is a
blend of military professionalism, fierce loyalty to his superiors and
dedicated ruthlessness when required with ‘no questions asked’
ROM054 “Chief
of The Praetorian Guard”
Lucius Aelius Sejanus rose to power under the reign of the
Emperor Tiberius, the adopted son of Augustus. Sejanus was the
first, but not the last, to exploit his position of Commander of the Guard to
pursue his own ambitions.
He made extensive efforts to ingratiate
himself with the Emperor while at the same time quietly eliminating any others
including Tiberius’ own family, from having any connection with the Emperor
himself.
Inevitably, he over-reached himself by
trying to get Tiberius to make him his ‘heir apparent’.
This led to his downfall and execution
but for 17 years he led the Guard and was a major power in Rome itself.
He is most notably portrayed in the
classic television series, ‘ⅠClaudius’ Our mounted figure shows him at the
pinnacle of his power.
AVAILABLE: Mid-Late
May
H.
‘SCOTLAND
FOREVER!’
From the colour
and spectacle of Ancient Rome to the blood-drenched grass of Waterloo
in 1815.
Galloping into the charge are the first
of two batches of our latest 2nd North British Dragoons...
better known as ‘The Scots Greys’... Leading them is the bold and
brave Sergeant Charles Ewart (1769-1846).
Several years ago
K&C issued its first collection of Scots Greys and they proved to be very
popular.
Having been long-retired
we have received a number of requests to come up with additional mounted
figures to add on to that first range while also introducing newer figures to
bring the range to the notice of newer Napoleonic collectors.
So, here are the first four...
NA476 “Sgt.
Ewart & The French Standard”
Probably the most
famous cavalry action that happened on the British side was Sergeant
Charles Ewart’s capture of the tricolor, regimental standard of the 45th
Line Infantry.
Our figure
shows him clutching the captured standard as he prepares to gallop to the rear
with his prize and... safety!
NA478 “The
Scots Greys Galloper”
Sabre held
vertically this trooper gallops into action.
NA480 “The
Scots Greys Slasher”
Heavy cavalry
sabers were best employed in wide, sweeping cuts that could take off an arm or
a leg.
They were not
precision weapons but could be used with deadly effect at close quarters.
Our cavalryman
is about to administer one such blow.
NA482 “The
Scots Greys Trooper”
Bringing his
horse to a halt this particular trooper has just heard
a distant bugle call ordering him to reform.
AVAILABLE: Mid-Late
May
2.
THE
RETIREMENT LIST
No less than 28 great
K&C items are being dispensed with in this release schedule and there are
some very fine pieces among them.
BBA080
DODGE WC51 Weapons
Carries (Winter Ambulance)
BBA084
The Winter Jeep
BBG118
The Winter STUG Ⅲ
LOJ033
Standing Roman
Auxiliary
LOJ034
Auxiliary w/Shield
and Spear
LOJ035
Walking
Auxiliary
LOJ036
Marching Auxiliary
LOJ037
The Centurion
LOJ038
Standing Primum
Pilus
MG046
Arnhem Universal
Carrier
MG047
M1A1 75mm Pack
Howitzer
RAF074
The Aston
Martin “Ulster” (Sky Blue)
TRW033
Cleaning a
Blockage
TRW040(P) Two
Moons
TRW048
The Cut-Throat Duel
TRW060
The Pistoleer
TRW063(P) Red Stripe
TRW068(P) Winchester Warrior
TRW073(P) War
Shield
TRW078
Lonesome
Charlie Reynolds
TRW094
Bows & Arrows,
The Apaches
TRW107
Kneeling Ready
TRW112
Watching &
Signaling
USMC048(SE) Burn ’em up!
USMC049(SE) We’ll cover you!
USMC050(SE) Eat this you sons of Nippon!
WS217
Sd. Kfz. Half Track 251
Be advised though they include many very low quantities. Please ensure you contact
your favourite dealer or K&C direct as soon as
possible to fulfill your requirements.
Check out the photos and order now!
Well, that’s
the story so for, let’s hope there’s something for you either in the new
releases or... in the old / new retirements.
Once again many thanks for your continued support and enthusiasm.
Happy Collecting,
All the best and happy collecting!
Andy C. Neilson
Co-founder & Creative Director
King & Country Ltd.