DISPATCHES

NOVEMBER 2011

 

This past month (October) has been one of the busiest in K&C’s 28-year history…

As usual at this time of the year theChicago Show” is over and our long three-week tour of the U.S. is behind us. Upon our (Helen, Gordon and yours truly) return there’s always a huge pile of work to be tackled and dealt with. This year we’ve also been moving shop…

After 20 years in the same third floor location in Hong Kong’s premier shopping mall, “Pacific Place” we’re moving into a brand-new and bigger store one floor below our present K&C shop. This new venue gives us the opportunity to present a different style of toy soldier shop to our existing collectors and potential new ones.

The design-style of the new K&C store has been strongly influenced by two particular U.S. retailers “Ralph Lauren” and “Restoration”. This new venture is brighter, more open and boasts a lot more display space than our old one.

In addition we believe (and hope) it’s even more inviting and welcoming… we’ll post photos soon so you can see for yourself.

Anyway, as I write this “DISPATCHES” we’re closing the old store at 8:30pm tonight and opening the new one at 11:00am tomorrow morning… it’s a lot of work but it will be well worth it… both for K&C collectors and K&C itself.

So, without further ado… let’s see what November and December has to offer…

 

1. APPEARING THIS NOVEMBER…

Near the end of each year, as the first snow falls (at least in the U.S. and Europe) K&C turns our collective attention to one of the most momentous and important battles of the Second World War… “THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE”.

In October we presented our American Forces release… now it’s the turn of the Germans… As American troops pull back to Bastogne the enemy is close on their heels…

 

BBG040 “Take Some!”

An SS Panzergrenadier offers to share some of his captured U.S. “C Rations” with a Volksturm rifleman

 

BBG041 “Prisoner & Escort”

A hapless GI forlornly trudges into captivity followed closely by his German captor

 

BBG042 Jochen Peiper

A very well-known Waffen SS officer who was once a military adjutant to Adolf Hitler. His division is, of course, the Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler”… the premier SS Division.

 

BBG047 Machine Gunner

 

BBG048 Sd.Kfz. 234/1 Schwerer Panzerspahwagen

A mighty beast of a reconnaissance vehicle. This 8-wheeled behemoth has been “snow-camouflaged” and comes with a seated, full-body vehicle commander in the turret which mounts a 20mm cannon as well as an MG42 Machine GunA great winter add-on!

 

BBG049 Stug. III Ausf. G”

One of Nazi Germany’s best and most produced self-propelled guns. This is K&C’s first brand-new STUG for several years and is camouflaged in a typical, late-war 2-tone camouflage. As you can see not all “BULGE” fighting vehicles were “snow-camouflaged” or had the side-skirts.

Set includes the 1/2 body tank commander.

 

BBG050 “Winter Traffic”

With all this “heavy-metal” on the roads someone’s got to keep the traffic moving… The familiar “chained-dog” of the Feldgendarmerie could be seen all German battlefields.

 

BBG051 “The Sniper”

Taking a swift “smoke-break” this Waffen SS expert marksman prepares, once more, to take the fight to the enemy.

Note the typical SS-issue “Parka” the Sniper is wearing…distributed to members of the Waffen SS exclusively.

 

BBG052 “Suspicious Trooper”

This soldier is carrying the brand-new German Assault Weapon… Only a few thousand were available for front-line troops fighting in the Ardennes.

Our model looks like he’s just heard something and is about to investigate.

 

AVAILABLE: BBG041-42, 047-48, 050-052: Early November

BBG049: Mid to late November

 

B. Streets of Bastogne… to Streets of Old Hong Kong!?!

From the freezing cold of a European winter to the tropical heat of K&C’s home city…

 

HK201G “Marching HK Policeman” (Gloss finish)

HK201M “Marching HK Policeman” (Matt finish)

 

AVAILABLE: Early November

 

C. “IN THE LAND OF JUDEA

Another geographical move… From the sun-drenched (and very tropical) Far East all the way back to the very dry (and hot) Middle East with our latest “Life of Jesus” collection…

 

LOJ011 “In The Carpenter’s Shop”

Here we see a teenage Jesus eagerly assisting his earthly father Joseph the Carpenter. As Joseph uses a “plane” on his large workbench his son carries over a plank of wood. The set includes the two figures plus the workbench and a pile of wooden planks.

 

LOJ012 “The Water Carrier”

A woman is on her way to the village well to pick up some fresh water. Balancing the clay jug on her head she also has a basket of fresh oranges to sell at the well.

 

THE MIGHT OF ROME

During the life of Jesus and for many years later the Romans were the military power in this part of the Middle East. Roman soldiers (either regular Legionnaires or Auxiliaries) were a familiar sight in the towns, villages and roads of rural Judea.

 

LOJ013 “Standing Roman Auxiliary”

Auxiliaries, although armed like their Legionnary comrades, were quite different in appearance.

Many units wore blue as their uniform colour. Their shields were also blue with particular designs on the front peculiar to the Auxiliaries themselves.

 

LOJ014 “Auxiliary w/ Shield and Spear”

On parade… or on guard duty… the choice is yours.

 

LOJ015 “Walking Auxiliary”

Spear in one hand… shield in the other…

 

LOJ016 “Marching Auxiliary”

Spear on shoulder… shield in hand and ready for anything!

 

LOJ017 “The Centurion”

Many, if not most, of the Auxiliary officers were regular Roman soldiers seconded to an Auxiliary Unit for a specific length of service.

Here he is issuing “orders of the day” from a wax tablet.

 

AVAILABLE: Mid November

 

Special Note: More Romans are in the pipeline…

 

D. “SONS OF THE EMPIRE”

Three brand-new Ludhiana Sikhs to bolster up your Indian Army collection…

 

SOE005 “LSR Kneeling Firing Rifle”

This Sikh rifleman takes careful aim… Every bullet, well-aimed eliminates at least one of the Queen Empress’ many enemies.

 

SOE009 “LSR Reloading”

Another Sikh rifleman chambers a round into his rifle.

 

SOE013 “Standing British Officer”

Cool, calm and collected this officer indicates to his men the enemy positions.

 

AVAILABLE: Late November (we hope)/ Early December

 

2. “COMING IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS”

This festive Season promises a big, bundle of “goodies” from Santa’s little helpers at K&C in Hong Kong

 

A. “VIVE LE ROI”

“Long Live the King!” French royalty and nobility played an important role in all of the Crusades… fighting alongside and sometimes leading the armies of Christendom in their mighty struggle to regain the Holy Land.

Here are the first three French crusaders…

 

MK084 “King Philip II of France

Philip went on the “Third Crusade” (1189-1192) with Richard the Lionheart of England. His army captured the important citadel of Acre in 1191 before ill-health forced his return to France.

Our K&C mounted figure shows him greeting his soldiers and wearing the traditional blue surcoat decorated with the royal “fleur de lys.

 

MK085 “The King’s Banner Knight”

Carrying the King’s personal standard this mounted Knight follows closely behind his “liege-lord”.

 

MK088 “Royal Man-at-Arms with Banner”

Another of King Philip’s retainers… this one from the King’s own household troops and carrying a smaller version of the Royal Banner.

 

AVAILABLE: Early December

 

B. “As camp as a row of bell tents!”

That’s an old British witticism to describe a person who may (or may not be) a trifle “Limp-wristed”…

And now here is the real bell tent…

 

SP048 “Military Bell Tent”

Bell tents made their first military appearance during the campaigns in the Americas at the time of the Revolution. Since then they have proved invaluable during the Napoleonic Wars… The Crimea… The American Civil War… a host of Colonial Wars and Battles (including Isandlwhana) and both First and Second World Wars… They even showed up during the Falklands War of 1982!!!

Used as a single or in multiples they can help transform any tented area in a display or diorama… see for yourself

 

AVAILABLE: Early December

 

C. “Streets of Old Hong Kong

Two colourful new additions to this best-selling series…

 

HK191 “The Chinese Gateway”

A superb rendition of a traditional three-entrance gateway seen all over China with several examples in Hong Kong. Beautifully crafted and painted.

 

HK194 “Paper Windmill Stall”

Another common sight in what was old Hong Kong… Particularly at Chinese Folk Festivals such as the Autumn Moon Festival and Summer Solstice.

 

AVAILABLE: Mid December

 

D. “THE LIGHT HORSE AT BEERSHEBA

This is one of K&C’s most popular military ranges and… one of the most original. Its popularity now allows us to have 2 sets of releases in the year instead of just one!

 

AL027 “Australian Staff Officer”

Major Jack Haldane, a staff officer belonging to Gen. Chauvel’s Light Horse H.Q. observe the Turkish defenses at Beersheba.

 

AL028 “General Sir Edmund Allenby”

Commander-in-Chief of all British and Empire Forces in the Middle East. Allenby was a first-class soldier and leader and popular with the Australians who were normally “dismissive” of British “top brass”. Here, he is mounted on his favorite charger “Ajax and wearing the typical British pith helmet. Allenby was also much admired by T.E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia).

 

AL029 “Sir Harry Chauvel

Chauvel was the first Australian to become a Lieutenant General and command an entire Army Corps. At Beersheba his Light Horse captured the town and confirmed his military reputation for boldness and daring. Quiet and reserved he continued to serve Australia until his death in 1945.

 

AL030 “Heliograph Set”

In a war where the wireless and telephone were still in their infancy the ancient method of signaling by reflected sunlight was still valued. Here two Light Horse signalers are at work… reading the signals coming in and preparing to reply.

 

AVAILABLE: Mid December

 

E. “ACHTUNG LUFTWAFFE!”

December sees the release of K&C’s latest warbird… the Messerschmitt Bf.109 “Emil”… together with a pair of refueling carts and two well-known German air aces….

 

LW034 “Airfield Refueling Carts”

These two hand-drawn carts were a familiar sight on Luftwaffe airfields through the Second World War… From Benghazi to Stalingradand all points in between!

 

LW044 Werner Molder’s Messerschmitt Bf109 “Emil”

This “E” model 109 is in the personal markings of Oberst Werner Molders, one of Germany’s most famous and highly decorated fighter aces. Molders, who had previously flown in the Spanish Civil War would go on to have 115 “kills” to his credit before himself being killed in an air crash in 1941.

The aircraft we have portrayed is one Molders flew when he took command of JG51 in July 1940. At that time he was the Luftwaffe’s youngest Kommodore. His best friend was another top German ace… Adolf Galland.

Just 500 of this particular aircraft are being produced.

 

LW046 “Oberst Leutnant Gunther Lutzow

Another of Germany’s leading fighter pilots.

 

LW047 Kommodore Helmet Wick”

Wick achieved 56 victories before and during the Battle of Britain…Promoted to Kommodore and given command of JG2 he was shot down and drowned in the English Channel in November 1940.

 

AVAILABLE: Early December

 

3. TIME FOR RETIREMENTS

As per usual there’s a fair old bunch of “goodies” that are making room for the “new stuff”… Check ‘em out…

 

AK049 “AK Tank Riders Set”

AK052 FunkKraftwagen Afrika Korps

BBA029 “G.I. Drinking”

BBA036 “Half-Track Passenger”

BBG011 “Command Group”

DD116 “Cromwell Mk. IV Tank”

MK030 “Saracen Drawing Sword”

MK031 Sacacen Crossbow Ready”

MK046 “Knight w/ Axe”

NA086 “Scots Grey Slashing”

WS083 “General Hasso Von Manteuffel

WS085 “Moving Forward”

WS086 “Prepare to Fire!”

 

And that the story so far, best personal wishes to one and all!

 

 

 

Andy C. Neilson

Co- Founder & Creative Director

King & Country