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NEW RELEASES FROM
KING & COUNTRY!
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Dear Partners,
Welcome to this month’s new additions and among
them is a very unique fighting vehicle
and one that K&C has never produced before and so let’s begin
right here…
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1. BEING
RELEASED THIS MONTH
A.‘Sweeping The Skies'
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The
20mm ‘Flakvierling’ 38 was
a highly effective German self-propelled anti-aircraft gun used by
both the Wehrmacht and the Luftwaffe during
World War Ⅱ.
The
weapon combined four identical 20mm Flak 38 cannons on a
single base which was then mounted onto the rear platform of the
sturdy and well-proven Krauss-Maffei 8-ton, Sd. Kfz. 7/1 Half Track.
Introduced
into service in late 1940, it was designed to counter the threat of
low-flying enemy fighter/ bomber aircraft. Although
originally designed to protect mobile armour
and motorized infantry units its massive volume of fire also made
it a much-feared opponent in the ground support role, especially
against enemy personnel and other lightly armoured
vehicles.'
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BBG132 The
‘Flakvierling’ Sd. Kfz.
7/1 20mm
This particular vehicle
is fighting somewhere deep in Russia in the middle of the dreaded
Russian winter… As can be easily seen this mighty
snow-camouflaged Half Track and its suitably attired trio of
gunners are in their own ‘snow’ suits.
Another uniform detail… The three
gunners (and additional figures) are wearing red
identification bands worn on their upper left arms.
Because both Axis and Soviet
forces sometimes wore similar winter camouflage uniforms, coloured armbands immediately helped identify
friendly units.
This K&C ‘Flakvierling’
is operating in the anti-aircraft role with the four cannon raised to approximately 30∘ as they scan the sky for
the low-flying enemy aircraft.
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BBG133 ‘Ostfront Vehicle Guards’ (2 x
fig. set)
On the Eastern Front no area was safe
whether you were in the frontline or miles behind it… You
could never be sure where the Red Army or Russian Partisans were
lurking or when they might appear. And so, while the Flak
Gunners are watching the sky two additional Crew Members are
scanning the surrounding area for any threats or danger.
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BBG139 ‘Ostfront Skywatcher’
This standing ‘Feldwebel’ (sergeant) raises
his binos to also watch out for any
enemy aircraft activity around the area.
Because this figure can stand without a base he can also stand on the gun platform
issuing orders to the gunners.
AVAILABLE: Mid-September
(hopefully in time for the Chicago Show!)
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B.‘A Return Visit to Berlin ‘38’
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It’s been quite a while since we introduced
any new items to this series although it remains one of K&C’s
most popular (and sometimes quite controversial) ranges
of figures and accessories.
All three of these new figures belong to the
premier pre war
SS regiment, the Leibstandarte
SS Adolf Hitler which was Hitler’s own personal
bodyguard unit. This grew from a small, specialized
protection company of just 117 men under the command of Sepp
Dietrich and was based in Berlin but also traveled around
Germany wherever Hitler visited.
By 1939 the LSSAH had grown to
a full regiment but soon, with the outbreak of WWⅡ, it rapidly expanded into a full
division.
Here, however they are seen in their prewar
black ‘parade’ uniforms with their white accessories,
exclusive to the LAH during parades and ceremonial
guard duties. Members wore distinctive white leather belts,
cross-straps, pistol holsters and bayonet frogs over their black
uniform.
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LAH265 ‘Leibstandarte At Parade Rest’
Standing at ease, legs apart and holding his
rifle with fixed bayonet at his feet in the centre.
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LAH-S05 ‘Leibstandarte At Parade Rest’ (Set
of 4)
Fou members of LAHSS
standing at parade rest at a slightly lower price.
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LAH266 ‘Leibstandarte At Attention’
Standing firmly at attention with his rifle
and bayonet on the left shoulder.
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LAH-S06 ‘Leibstandarte Staff Officer’
Easily recognized by the ‘Aiguilettes’ over his right shoulder
and chest.These
ornamental, braided cords indicate a specialized military role
such as an ‘Aide de Camp’… ‘Military Attache’ or even a high-level
headquarters staff member.
This LAH officer looks relatively relaxed
with his hands folded behind his back and standing-at-ease
observing the world around him.
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LAH267 ‘Leibstandarte
Staff Officer’
Easily recognized by the ‘Aiguilettes’ over his right shoulder
and chest.These
ornamental, braided cords indicate a specialized military role
such as an ‘Aide de Camp’… ‘Military Attache’ or even a high-level
headquarters staff member.
This LAH officer looks relatively relaxed
with his hands folded behind his back and standing-at-ease
observing the world around him.
AVAILABLE: Mid-Late September
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C. A
Faithful Sergeant & A Pair of Chosen Men’
From the streets of Fpre
war Berlin to over the hills and far away with Richard
Sharpe’s adventures during the Peninsular
War between 1808-1814 in Spain and Portugal.
Inspired by Bernard Cornwell’s superb
series of novels and the television adaptations may we present
our three latest recruits to K&C’s homage to these exciting
novels, television series and the great characters therein!
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NA559 ‘Chosen
Man, Rifleman Harris’
Over several years I have been fortunate to
attend many of the December London Toy Soldier Shows and
encounter actor Jason Salkey who
played the fictional ‘Rifleman Harris’ in the
television series.
At last year’s 2025 December Show, Jason was
again in attendance accompanied by fellow actor Hugh Fraser who
memorably played Sir Arthus
Wellesley, The Duke of Wellington in the same
series. On this occasion Jason was selling his memoir of
the making of the series, “From Crimea With Love: Misadventures
in the Making of Sharpe’s Rifles” which
I purchased and eagerly devoured after the show.
It’s a fantastic and fascinating account of
the production of a historic television series sometimes under
the most difficult and harrowing of circumstances. There
are all kinds of heroes, villains, knaves and scoundrels involved
and not only up on the screen but just
behind the cameras and lights as well!
Anyway it’s a great book and I
was delighted to tell Jason that he was going to be immortalized
in 1:30 scale miniature for this series and so here he is…
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NA562 ‘Chosen
Man Rifleman Daniel Hagman’
Another of the series ‘Chosen Men’ was Rifleman
Daniel Hagman played by celebrated English Folk musician
and actor, John Tams.
In the series Rifleman Hagman is
a skilled marksman and former poacher and one of the older, more
experienced ‘Chosen Men’ who joined the army to
avoid prison.
In real life, John Tams used his musical
skills to arrange, compose and perform much of the traditional
music and vocals for the series including his iconic rendition of
“Over the Hills and Faraway”.
This little figure is a tribute to his
participation and skills both in and for the series.
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NA563 ‘Sharpe’s Rifles Sergeant
Patrick Harper’
Sergeant Patrick Harper in the television
series is Richard Sharpe’s loyal best friend, fierce right hand man and the emotional soul of the
unit.
Portrayed by noted Irish actor, Daragh O’Malley Patrick
Augustine Harper is a large, powerful native of Donegal
Ireland born into a lowly, peasant family who joined the British
Army to escape dire, rural poverty.
Despite serving in the British Army, Harper
remains a staunch Irishman and proud of his Celtic heritage.
His bond with Richard Sharpe is based on
mutual respect for his tactical skills and leadership that leads
both men forming an unbreakable brotherhood and lifelong
friendship that anchors the entire series.
Our 1:30 scale Sergeant Harper makes the
perfect strong right hand for Richard Sharpe in any collection or
display of Sharpe’s 95th Rifles figures.
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AVAILABLE: Mid-Late September
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D.‘A Little Piece of Hong Kong’
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HK312 (G/M) ‘Cantonese Mother & Child’
This mother & child combination can fit
into any of our street scenes in this long-running series.
Whether the woman herself is visiting the
local market or just watching the world go by she’s a very useful
part of any old Hong Kong collection.
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AVAILABLE: Mid-Late August
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E.‘The Warriors
of Bushido’
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Bushido means ‘The Way of the
Warrior’ and served as the strict moral and ethical code of
Japan’s samurai class which had its roots in the military
traditions that began in the Kamakura Period (1192-1333).
These rules and codes were eventually
written down and shaped during the peaceful Edo period (1603-1868)
following the decisive Battle of Sekigahara in 1600.
Here are the latest additions to this colouful and dramatic series of Japanese
warriors that illustrate the Samurai and Ashigaru
of that time and that battle.
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SW015 ‘Western Army Ashigaru Kneeling Spearman’
This Ashigaru
Spearman (or Yari Ashigaru) is a foot soldier armed
with the long spear (yari) that
formed the backbone of feudal Japanese armies, especially during
the Sengoku Period (from 1467-1603).
The Yari itself
(Spear) was a long spear ranging from two to five metres in length, topped by a straight or
cross shaped steel blade.
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SW047
‘Eastern Army Ashigaru Kneeling
Spearman’
Similar to the above but in the colours of the Eastern Army.
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SW020
‘Samurai Date Masamune’
Known as the ‘One-Eyed Dragon’ this
legendary samurai warrior lost his right eye during child-hood and also faced rejection by his
family with his own mother favouring
his younger brother and even attempting to poison him!
Needless to say
with family like this Masamune grew up
to become fiercely independent and a ruthlessly aggressive
character.
During the events that eventually led up to
the Battle of Sekigahara, Masamune allied himself to the victor, Tokugawa
Ieyasu, helping the latter to
secure the Tokugawa Shogunate.
In that time, Masamune
was instantly recognizable by his distinctive style of jet-black armour and his helmet (kabuto) adorned
by a gold crescent moon shape.
Our seated figure shows Masamune
adopting a calm and static pose observing the battle through his
one good eye.
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SW026 ‘Maeda Toshiie’
Although he died just before the Battle
of Sekigahara, Maeda Toshiie (1538-1599) was still
one of Japan’s most important Samurai generals and a major
influence in creating the second most powerful clan in Japan
during the ‘Tokugawa Shogunate’.
In battle he could be easily recognized by
his tall distinctive gold helmet decorated with a mane of white
horsehair over the ‘Shikoru’, an
armoured neck guard attached to the
rear and sides of his helmet.
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SW027
‘Samurai Ronin’
In feudal Japan, a ‘Ronin’ was a
kind of drifter or ‘wandering man’ who had lost his
lord or master and, in some cases, had also severed his links
with his ‘clan’ or family.
According to the code of ‘Bushido’,
the ‘Way of the Warrior’ a Samurai was expected to kill
himself after the death of or rejection by his Lord and Master.
If one chose to live then the ‘Ronin’ became
mercenaries that guarded trade convoys or bodyguards for rich
merchants, some even turned to… a life of crime!
Our Samurai Ronin is in an obvious fighting
pose… fighting for which side… who knows…? Perhaps just fighting
for himself!
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SW034
‘Ashigaru Archer Ready’ (w/Sashimono)
This Eastern Army bowman complete with small
unit flag prepares to fire at the enemy.
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SW037
‘Ashigaru Archer Standing about to
fire’ (Eastern
Army)
Balancing bow and arrow at full stretch
ready to let loose.
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SW039
‘Ashigaru Arquebusier Kneeling and
Aiming’ (Eastern
Army)
Kneeling and taking aim just like the title
says.
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SW041
‘Ashigaru Arquebusier On
Guard’ (Eastern Army)
Proudly standing on ‘Guard Duty’ with
his matchlock musket at his feet this foot soldier complete with his ‘Sashimono’ (unit
flag) on his back is ever watchful.
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SW043 ‘Ashigaru
Arquebusier Loading His Weapon’ (Eastern Army)
Carefully loading his matchlock while still
watching the enemy.
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SW045 ‘Ashigaru
Arquebusier Advancing & Firing’ (Eastern Army)
Moving forward and opening fire at the same
time.
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SW046 ‘The Torii Gate’
A ‘Torii’ is a
traditional Japanese Gate most commonly found at the entrance of
or within a ‘Shinto’ shrine, where it symbolically
marks the transition from the mundane to the sacred.
Our latest K&C structure makes the perfect
backdrop for any of our Japanese figures, vehicles and even… some
of our aircraft!
AVAILABLE: Mid
September
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2. BEING
RETIRED THIS MONTH…
As the new comes in, some of the older ones have to move out… And here they are.
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USMC058 ‘Wet Weather Patrol'
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USMC059 ‘Lieut. Col' Lewis 'Chesty' Puller USMC
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USMC060 Marine
Officer w/Camouflage Poncho
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USMC064 Standing
Ready Marine
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USMC065
Stand-At-Ease Marine
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USMC067 Walking
Marine Sniper
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USMC068 Walking
Marine Officer
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USMC069
Walking Marine Sergeant
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USMC070 U.S. Marine
w/ B.A.R. (Browning Automatic Rifle)
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USMC071
Pointing Marine 'Gunny'
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USMC072 Shouting
Marine Officer
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All the very best and
Happy Collecting!
Andy C. Neilson
Co-founder & Creative
Director
King & Country Ltd.
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