DISPATCHES
October 2020
Dear Partners,
And so, we arrive at October, normally of course I would have been writing this just before flying off to Chicago and taking part in the Annual Show.
Well we all know what happened to that however I’m happy to say that although some things in life go astray ‘DISPATCHES’ just goes rolling along and so, without further ado here’s what you can expect this month of October...
1. BEING RELEASED THIS MONTH
A. ‘ANCIENT EYGPT’
You could say that ‘A’ stands for ‘Ancient Egypt’ and that’s always a good place to start... Especially, with this very attractive group of minimally-clad dancers, musicians and performers.
AE082 “The New Kingdom Dance Troupe”
Three energetic and talented young ladies only too happy to enjoy Egypt’s fine and warm weather with the barest of bare essential covering.
AE083 “The Court Musicians”
These two ladies are providing additional musical accompaniment for the Dancing Troupe and are also very pleasing to the eye.
AE084 “The Snake Charmer”
Snakes, especially Cobras, were revered and highly-prized in Ancient Egypt. Their images and representations can be found in and on many surviving monuments the length and breadth of the Land of The Nile.
Court performers would also include these beautiful but highly poisonous creatures in their performances... Here is one such example.
AE023 “The Original Temple Dancers”
A second opportunity to obtain two of K&C’s most popular ‘Ancient Egyptians’. Back by popular demand after we revitalized and relaunched this series in 2019... at that year’s Chicago Show.
AVAILABLE: Mid-Late October
B. ‘RULE BRITANNIA!’
From the desert sands of Ancient Egypt to the cold, Atlantic waters of Cape Trafalgar off the southwest coast of Spain in the year 1805.
NA456 “Admiral Lord Nelson”
A revised and upgraded paint version of Britain’s greatest naval hero... Admiral Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson and the doomed victor of Trafalgar where the Royal Navy decisively defeated the combined French and Spanish Fleets of 33 ships-of-the-line compared to Nelson’s 27.
Nelson is wearing the dress uniform of a Vice Admiral complete with his many medals and decorations. This, alas, was to be his undoing...
In the midst of the battle a sharpshooter on the French 74-gun ‘Redoutable’ fired onto the deck of ‘HMS Victory,’ Nelson’s flagship. His musket ball found its mark and the Admiral sank to his knees. The ball had entered his left shoulder, passed through his spine and lodged in the muscles of his back. Nelson died three hours later.
Since that time the admiral has had a treasured place in British history... Monuments, ships, naval shore establishments and many British pubs have been named in his memory.
This is our little tribute...
“Italian Grenadiers of the Guard”.
In 1804, when Napoleon Bonaparte proclaimed himself ‘Emperor’ of the French Empire, the Italian Republic was similarly transformed, becoming the ‘Kingdom of Italy’ with Napoleon as its monarch.
For some time Italy had been a client state of France with its capital in Milan. This ‘new’ kingdom now ruled over most of northern Italy.
Its army was organized along French military lines and included regular line infantry, light infantry, dragoons and light horse. It soon grew to add on chasseurs, elite mounted gendarmes and... Royal Grenadiers of the Guard.
Many of the regiments wore green coats instead of French ‘blue’ however their general style and cut was copied from the French military fashion of the period.
Here are our first ‘Grenadiers of The Guard’ on parade... somewhere in northern Italy.
NA457 “Marching Officer w/Sabre”
Officers of the Regiment had uniform jackets in green with white facings on the chest. They would wear riding boots instead of the long dark grey leggings of the majority of the rank and file Grenadiers.
NA458 “Subaltern w/Regimental Colour”
The regiment’s colour and eagle were usually carried by a junior officer and based on French models but again with Italian ‘green’ replacing French ‘blue’.
This particular officer has chosen to wear the same leggings as his men.
NA460 “Marching Grenadier”
Musket and bayonet held on the right side of the body this Grenadier marches forward.
NA461 “Marching Drummer”
An essential member of any parade note the ‘red’ uniform facings on the chest and cuffs.
NA462 “Grenadier Officer Saluting”
Sabre held to the front this officer comes to the ‘salute’.
NA463 “Grenadier Presenting Arm”’
The ‘classic’ parade pose... One looks good, ten look even better!
NA464 “Grenadier on Guard Duty”
This figure also works particularly well with K&C’s Napoleonic Guard Box (NA316)
AVAILABLE: Early October
C. ‘Good Morning Vietnam!’
It’s a long, long way from colourful Italy in the early 19th Century to war-torn Vietnam in the late 1960’s but it’s a jump we’re happy to make...
VN088 “The Viet Cong Mortar Set”
An essential part of any modern army’s offensive inventory is the mortar. During the Vietnam War the Viet Cong made much use of captured U.S. made weapons and ammunition. One of the most important was the M29 Mortar, an American-produced 81mm mortar that came into use near the end of the Korean War in 1952.
The M29 was lighter and easier to transport than its WW2 predecessors and, importantly, had greater range. The mortar’s maximum rate of fire was 30 rounds for the first minute followed by 4-12 rounds per additional minute. Its range was just over 5,100 yards and it was normally ‘crewed’ by up to five soldiers but could be operated by as few as two as seen here. Our Viet Cong team comprises a female loader and her male ‘gunner’.
SPECIAL NOTE:
Look out for TWO more ‘Mortar Sets’ in the coming months... A 3-man Australian set and a 2-man USMC set.
VN089 “The 106mm Recoilless Rifle Set”
One of our first ‘Vietnam’ fighting vehicle sets was the Six-Barrelled M50 ‘ONTOS’ self-propelled, light armoured, tracked, anti tank vehicle.
Since its retirement K&C has received multiple requests for the single tubed 106mm recoilless rifle and here it is on its unique tripod gun mounting together with a
US Marine gunner operating the weapon.
The perfect addition for any ‘street-fighting’ scene during the TET Offensive of 1968 in Hue or any other urban environment the Marines fought in.
ALSO AVAILABLE:
K&C also has a number of 106mm Loaders VN016 readily available to make your set look even better PLUS VN014 ‘The Marine NCO w/Binos’ spotting for the gun crew.
AVAILABLE: Mid October
D. “CUSTER’S LAST STAND LATEST!”
Four more dynamic figures and sets that help tell the story of the desperate struggle on the banks and bluffs above The Little Big Horn River on that fateful day in June 1876...
TRW175 “Bloody Lance”
This bold Cheyenne Dog Soldier stretches down from his war pony to spear one of Custer’s men as they fight for their lives...
Alternatively he can be used in our buffalo hunt scenes as he lances a fleeing animal...
TRW176 “Fighting to the End”
As his wounded horse writhes in pain this dismounted corporal, cavalry pistol in hand prepares to meet his end.
TRW177 “Holding on to his Horse”
Another of Custer’s men attempts to control his panicking horse as the animal desperately tries to escape the murderous mayhem all around.
TRW178 “Eagle’s Wing”
A Sioux bowman strings another arrow to fire at the hated ‘Longknives’!
AVAILABLE: Early October
E. “STREETS OF OLD HONG KONG”
A ‘Second Edition’ of a great set.
HK300(G/M) “The Street Toy Seller”
Back in the day when all toys were hand-made this skilled craftsman tempts a young boy with one of his latest creations.
As the boy’s AMAH (faithful servant), tries to pull away the young lad another boy takes a closer look at the Toy Maker’s offerings.
A great little set...
AVAILABLE: Early October
F. ‘A CHRISTMAS OFFERING...’
From a street in Hong Kong to a very different street in Dickens ‘Olde London’...
XM020 “The Young Carol Singers”
A young boy and his even younger sister come together to sing their favourite Christmas carols accompanied by a little snowman.
A perfect Yuletide Gift!
AVAILABLE: Mid-Late October
2. BEING RETIRED
This month’s retirement list contains a lot of great K&C ‘Classics’ check ‘em out and make your list... You won’t regret it!
AE041 Baker Set
AE043 The Water Carrier
AE044 Fruit Seller Set
AL041 Officer w/Pistol
AL042 Standing Firing
AL043 Standing Loading w/Rifle & Bayonet
AL044 Lying Firing w/Rifle & Bayonet
DD171 Radio Operator
DD295 General Omar Bradley
FoB076 Tommy on Guard
FoB081 Marching Tommy
FoB114 Marching Poilus
FoB115 Marching Machine Gunner
FoB116 Marching Medic
FoB117 Hotchkiss Machine Gun Crew Set
FoB119 Walking Wounded
FoB120 Sling Arms
FoB121 Rifle at Trail
FoB122 Marching Officer
FoB124 Truck Passengers
FoB125 Knackered!
FoB126 Corporal w/Rifle & Bayonet
FoB127 Dog-Tired
FoB128 Friends helping Friends
FoB129 Down... but not quiet out
LAH162 KM Kettle Drummer
NA350X Napoleonic 7th Hussar At Ease (KnC Xclusive)
NA351X Napoleonic 7th Hussar With Sabre Drawn (KnC Xclusive)
NA352 Napoleonic 7th Hussar Guidon Bearer
NA353 Napoleonic 7th Hussar with Standing Horse
RAF063* The Card Game
SP056 La Cremerie
And that’s that for another month. As usual I hope there’s something for you... If not, well there’s always November!
All the best and happy collecting.
Andy C. Neilson
Co-founder & Creative Director
King & Country Ltd.