DISPATCHES
October
2019
WELCOME
TO OCTOBER and
this month’s ‘DISPATCHES’... I’m presently writing this on
the Saturday before I fly off to Chicago for the big show and after we sent off
all of our displays and dioramas earlier this week.
Now, if
you have never been to CHICAGO SHOW you are already too late for this one... However start planning for 2020 one which will be the 40th
Anniversary of this world-beating toy soldier event and promises to be
a BIGGIE!!!
For the
moment though let’s stay in the present and tell you about K&C’s ‘October
Releases’...
Please note: Our office will be closed
on 7 October (Mon) for public holiday. Operation will be resumed on 8 October
(Tue).
1.
BEING
RELEASED IN OCTOBER...
A.
‘How
To Build A Pyramid’
First
of all find a large, empty space somewhere in Ancient
Egypt conveniently if possible, close to the River Nile…
Then...
gather together thousands of skilled craftsmen, building workers and
slaves. After that, spread out your construction plan on the desert sand
and explain to the assembled multitude who is doing what, when and where... and
begin work!
Also give
them a ‘works deadline’ while, at the same time, informing them of the
dire consequences should any or all of them fail to meet your strict building
schedule...
And there
you have it... how to build a pyramid in one simple lesson!
AE065 ‘Egyptian Master-of-Works’
While the Architects
and Engineers are responsible for the overall design of the Pyramid, the
Master-of-Works is the man in charge of the building site itself and the
workers employed to transform the 2 dimensional plans
into 3 dimensional reality.
AE071 ‘The Brick Carrier’
A strong (by
necessity) labourer tasked with carrying the
many, many loads of clay bricks up from ground level to the upper work stations as the Pyramid rises up day after day.
AE072 ‘The Water Carriers’
Working
under the blazing heat of the Egyptian sun, from dawn till dusk, demanded
copious amounts of fresh water for the workers.
These 2
men are transporting a large stone jar of fresh water to a central point near
the Pyramid where the teams of individual female Nubian ‘water carriers’
would gather to fill up their own smaller vessels.
AE074 ‘The Cruel Overseer’
As the
Egyptian builders used thousands of slaves on their construction sites they in turn were under the direct control of ‘Overseers’,
usually Egyptian but sometimes slaves themselves who had ‘risen up through
the ranks’ to the position of ‘overseer’.
Most of
these ‘Overseers’ would often use physical punishment to ensure
both obedience and discipline... Some more than others.
AVAILABLE:
Early October
B.
‘Battle
Command Conference’
General
Walter Model was one
of Hitler’s most able and trusted Wehrmacht commanders. A dedicated Nazi and
personally loyal to Hitler, Model had more than fulfilled his
battlefield duties several times over in Hitler’s eyes on both the Eastern and
Western fronts.
BBG120
‘Winter Battlefield Conference’
Here we
see Model, in the greatcoat, together with a senior Panzer commander and
one of his infantry officers as they discuss their attack plan during the early
stages of the ‘Battle of the Bulge’.
These
three officers make a welcome addition the other just-previously released BBG
sets or indeed any of K&C’s ‘Winter Germans’ currently available.
AVAILABLE:
Mid October
C.
More
Market Garden...
Three extra
ARNHEM ’44 sets that provide additional depth and colour to this long-running and very popular King &
Country WW2 series of British Airborne figures, vehicles, artillery and
aircraft...
MG078 ‘Destination : ARNHEM’
A poignant
little set of a British paratrooper, Lee Enfield .303 rifle in hand
studying an ARNHEM street sign on the outskirts of the famous Dutch town.
MG079 ‘Arnhem
Defenders’
A little
way forward of MG078 and further into Arnhem, two British paratroopers have
already come under fire from the Germans and taken cover.
As one
Para sits the other kneeling Para cautiously looks out to see where exactly the
enemy fire is coming from.
There two
Paras look great next to a wall or building or perhaps even an abandoned
jeep... You make the decision!
MG083 ‘British
Humber Mk.1 Scout Car’
Anyone who
collects ARNHEM ’44 is sure to know about the classic movie ‘A Bridge Too
Far’ (1977) directed by Sir Richard Attenborough that
depicted the ill-fated ‘Operation Market Garden’ in general and
the Arnhem battle in particular.
Among the
many great movie stars in this WW2 epic was Michael Caine who
depicted Lt. Col. J.O.E. Vandeleur of the Irish Guards in
the film.
Vandeleur led
the front element of the British XXX Corps in his Humber Scout Car and
that’s what we have portrayed in this great little set.
Lt.
Col. Vandeleur (Michael
Caine) stands erect in his Humber scout car as his forces attempt to reach
Arnhem... just like in the movie!
AVAILABLE:
Mid-Late October
D.
‘Another
battle... Another time’
Journey
back in history more than a century before and we’ve landed deep in a European
field, somewhere on the continent in the Napoleonic Era.
NA448 ‘Planning
The Battle’
A
brand-new sculpt and painting of an older, long-retired
favourite...
The Emperor
pores over one of his campaign maps as he traces out the positions of his own
troops... as well as his enemy’s.
Assisting
him are a very senior Ordnance officer and one of his ‘Generals de
Brigade’
SPECIAL
NOTE: To accompany
this great set a new version of the Emperors’ Personal
Tent will soon be available complete with Napoleon’s own standard flying over
it.
NA449 ‘Taking
Notes... Issuing Orders’
Nearby the
above set NA448, is one of Napoleon’s Staff Colonels writing
down the Emperor’s orders as well as issuing his instructions ready to be
delivered by one of his Aide de Camps to his various Field Commanders.
NA450 ‘The
Faithful Roustan’
A couple
of months back we released a special ‘personality’ figure of Roustan, the long-serving
Mameluke bodyguard and valet to the Emperor.
Here we
see a ‘dismounted’ Roustan bringing forth a
simple tray which holds a bottle of the Emperor’s favourite
brandy.
Man
cannot live by bread alone!
NA451 ‘Preparing
The Table’
Talking
of food and drink...
Two of the
Emperor’s own personal staff unpack some crockery for a meal before the battle
as well as pour some water into a bowl for the emperor to refresh himself.
These two
green-liveried servants belong to Napoleon’s own household and were often
former soldiers themselves.
They would
follow him on campaign and take care of all his personal requirements and
attempt to make his life on the field of battle as comfortable as possible.
AVAILABLE:
Mid October
E.
A
DIFFERENT KIND OF BATTLE... A very different place!
From the
lush green fields of Western Europe to a hot and humid, monsoon-drenched battle
in a rubber plantation in South Vietnam... that’s quite a jump!
But for
K&C, the difficult takes some time... the impossible a little longer!
THE
BATTLE OF LONG TAN in
August 1966 has gone down in Australian military history as one of their ‘Finest
Hours’ during the Vietnam War.
‘D’
Company of the 6th
Royal Australian Regiment (just 106 men) were patrolling
through a rubber plantation not far from their base at Nui Dat, South Vietnam when they were confronted by a much
larger combined force of North Vietnamese and Viet Cong infantry of about 1,500
strong.
Pinned
down and vastly outnumbered the Australians fought courageously and held their
defensive perimeter against numerous enemy attacks over many hours.
Accurate
long-range artillery fire helped the Aussies hold on while a relief force was
readied and eventually reached their beleaguered position.
Australian
casualties were 18 killed and 24 wounded, Australia’s greatest
one-day loss during its involvement in the Vietnam War.
Long
Tan is now
remembered and honoured as a symbol of Aussie
military bravery, endurance and teamwork in a very tough battlefield situation.
King
& Country is
proud and privileged to portray the Australian soldier in miniature fighting
off the enemy in this first 4-man set (with more to follow)...
VN071 ‘The
Battle of Long Tan Set #1’
A kneeling
NCO (non commissioned
officer) kneels and opens fire with his Australian-made Owen
Submachine Gun.
Backing
him up are two lying prone soldiers... one fires the American M60,
belt-fed machine gun while the other utilizes the standard L1A1 SLR (self loading rifle).
The fourth
member of the section is the radio man holding his M16 rifle in
one hand while he calls in a SITREP (situation report) on the handset of
his PRC-25 radio set.
SPECIAL
NOTE: The Battle of Long Tan Set #2 is already at the production state and again features
4 different Australian infantry in dramatic action
poses to complement and add to set #1. For release in a
few months time.
AVAILABLE:
Mid October
F.
‘Santa
Comes But Once A Year...’
Well,
October will soon run into November and November’s next to December and so...
before you know it... it’s Christmas!
So,
without further ado.... Here is K&C’s Annual Christmas Offering...
XM019-01
‘A Surprise For Santa’
When Santa
clambers down a chimney he always hopes for a quiet and peaceful household and,
perhaps, a cool glass of milk and a plate of cookies to greet him.
Well, at least,
that’s what I was always told when I was a wee boy back in Bonnie Scotland in
the dim and distant past!
So, you
can imagine his surprise to be greeted as he emerged from the empty fireplace
with a very suspicious bulldog who has just bit a lump out of Santa’s bright
red costume.
The
startled Santa has retreated up a little step ladder as the bulldog waits
patiently at the bottom... Santa’s bag of toys (containing some K&C sets)
is also included. A great little set.
XM019-02
‘Santa’s Christmas Cottage’
A
long-promised and very attractive little rendering of Mr. Claus’ abode,
suitably snow-covered and frosted in all the right places.
The
perfect backdrop, as you can see, for previous K&C Santas
and other Christmas themed accessories.
AVAILABLE:
Late October (in
plenty of time for Christmas and the Yuletide Season)
Special
Note: A few of
our recent Santa Collections are still available grab’em
while stocks last… especially XM018 The Sitting Santa… he looks great in that
little cottage!
2.
BEING
RETIRED
HK216(G/M) Mother & Child
MG073
Comparing Notes
RAF052
RAF Dispatch
Rider
RAF065
Anti
Aircraft
Bren Gun Team
SP019
Table and
Chairs
SP065
Battle Damaged
Building
VN061
The Aussie M113
Armoured Personnel Carrier
WH032
The 20-piece
Classic Wehrmacht Band
Well, that’s the story so far for
one more month. Hope you find something to like in this little September
collection.
In the meantime...
Look out for upcoming display photos of what’s on show in Chicago from the 18th
of September onwards.
Plus as usual, best wishes and very
happy collecting!!!
All the best and happy collecting!
Andy C.
Neilson
Co-founder
& Creative Director
King & Country Ltd.