KING & COUNTRY
DISPATCHES
MARCH 2007
I’m sitting at my desk on Tuesday evening 27th
February at
Gordon and myself
will be previewing many of our new figures and upcoming releases as well as
showing off a few surprises!
Well enough of that… Let’s get down to
business…
1.
WHAT’S NEW IN MARCH?
As most of you know March will be a bumper month
for all of us with a great set of German WW2 releases…with the emphasis on
transport!
WS087 “HALT!” A 2-man motorcycle combo set. Two German “Feldgendarmes” have stopped their machine to conduct a
“spot check” on all passing vehicles. As the driver sits astride his bike,
his dismounted partner, machine pistol at-the-ready, flags down all cars and
trucks.
WS088 “ROAD BLOCK!” Two more “chained- dogs” or Feldgendarmes have dismounted and are setting up an
identity check of civilians.
WS089 “Dispatch Rider” A
single Feldgendarme on his BMW motorcycle
delivering an important message.
From two and three wheels we go to four
wheels for our next examples of German WW2 transports…
WS090 “Opel BLITZ Truck” This, the
most famous and ubiquitous German truck of WW2 has been a long-requested item
for many dedicated K&C collectors. Our first release is the “
WS091 “GESTAPO ARREST!” With their chronic shortage of motorized
transport the Germans were only too happy to confiscate all kinds of vehicles
in occupied lands. One of their favourites was the Traction
11CV built by the famous French auto company Citroen.
Here this little 4 door saloon/staff car is
in the colours and markings of the dreaded Gestapo! An SD (Secret Police)
officer and SD man closely guard a resistance suspects being taken for
interrogation. Set includes a seated SD driver.
WS092 “TOUR OF INSPECTION”
This time our model is in Wehrmacht markings and camouflage and… has a very
important passenger…Albert Speer, Hitler’s favourite
architect and head of Organization TODT…the party organization tasked
with, among many other things, the design and construction of “The Atlantic
Wall”…Hitler’s chain of fortifications and obstacles stretching from Norway
in the North to the beaches of Normandy in the West. Speer chats with an
OT building foreman while a German General looks on. A seated
driver is also included in the fully detailed car interior.
Dressed in full “fighting order”,
this young Wehrmacht soldier proudly gives the
“regular” soldier’s salute not the Nazi “Sieg
Heil”.
WS094 “Standing German Guard”
Well wrapped up in his long greatcoat this
German “soldaten” with shouldered rifle is
alert and ready for anything!
WS095 “Marching German
Striding forward this German
WS096 “Marching German Soldier”
Dressed in typical late war Wehrmacht uniform this rifleman looks even better in
multiples!
WS097 “Medical Evacuation Motorcycle Combo”
Although short of 4-wheeled transport the
Germans had a wealth of motorcycles. Here one has been specially converted to
carry a stretcher and patient to the nearest first aid post.
AVAILABILITY: Early Next Week (WS087 to 089, WS093
to 097)
Mid March (WS090 to 092)
On the “Afrikan
Front” there’s also the release of…
AK037 “Opel BLITZ
Truck” (Afrika Korps)
A very useful desert variation on WS090 complete
with fully detailed cab interior…removable rear canopy…rolling
wheels…an AK Driver and a battle-worn paint finish.
AVAILABILITY: Mid March
Oh, and just in case you think it’s only WW2
and only German we’ve also get a little package from Hong Kong.
HK159 “The Metal Worker”
Another superb little old
AVAILABILITY: Mid March
2.
“What’s Being Retired…?”
Actually, sorry to disappoint you…Nothing
this month everything seems to be selling quite nicely thank you!
3.
COMING IN APRIL…
April will definitely be different this year
with the launch of King & Country’s entry into WORLD
WAR ONE figures and fighting vehicles. Many collectors and more than a few
dealers have been requesting that K&C produce WW1 figures for quite a while
now. Well, it’s finally happened! To be honest I’ve always loved this
historical period and been fascinated by the many different battles and
campaigns that the Great War offers to a military miniature make.
So, K&C is going back to the beginning
with “1914…The March on
FW001 “The Kaiser”
Kaiser Wilhelm II…“Kaiser Bill” to
the British Tommies — dressed immaculately in his Feldmarshall’s uniform surveying his troops.
FW002 “Kaisers Aide De Camp”
The monarch’s ADC in typical relaxed pose.
FW003 “The Crown Prince”
“Little Willie”, the Kaiser’s eldest son…a military
incompetent who was given, thanks to his father, a field command. He is dressed
as an honorary colonel of a Lifeguard Cavalry Regiment.
FW004 “Hindenburg”
The fabled and imposing Paul Von Hindenburg
— one of
FW005 “Mounted
A mounted Major of the 13th
Bavarian Rifles saluting.
FW006 “Marching
Sword drawn this officer
of the 13th strides purposely onwards.
FW007 “
Another officer of the 13th
carrying the German Battle Flag over his shoulder.
FW008 “Bugler”
This Drummer/Bugler marches at the head of
the column keeping up the men’s spirits.
FW009 “Rifleman”
Marching to the front
confident in his cause…his officers and…his country.
FW010 “Standing Rifleman”
About to be inspected or on guard duty…the
choice is yours.
FW011 “Standing
Another officer of the 13th
awaiting orders…
FW012 “Corporal Hitler”
Although Austrian by birth Adolf Hitler
eagerly joined the Bavarian Army on the outbreak of War.
Personally brave he was awarded the Iron Cross and rose to the dizzy heights of
“Corporal”.
FW013 “The Kaiser’s Staff Car”
A handsome open-topped,
automobile complete with military driver and military police bodyguard.
These few pieces are just the first of what
K&C believe will be a very important project for collectors and dealers all
over the world. Watch out for more…
AVAILABILITY: Early April (FW001 to 012)
Mid
April (FW013)
“CHARGE!”
As if World War One was not enough K&C
has a major addition to its “Age of Napoleon” figures this April…Some
real “heavy metal” in the form of no less than 13 French Cuirassiers and
one beautiful little “Cantiniere”.
Here they are in all their
glory…stabbing…slashing…cutting their way into collections everywhere!
NA111 “Cuirassier General”
Wearing a plumed and feathered officers hat this senior officers puts himself in harm’s way
leading the charge.
Carrying his Regiment’s Guidon this trooper
has just received a blow to the head.
Sword drawn…trumpet bugle to the rear this
musician prepares to fight...
A typical Cavalryman’s
action pose.
NA115 “Falling-off Horse”
An unfortunate trooper, his foot caught in
his stirrup being dragged to his fate.
NA116 “Advancing Forward”
NA117 “Charging Sword Upward”
NA118 “Advance to the Front”
NA120 “Dead Cuirassier”
A fallen horse and his
rider…casualties of war.
NA121 “Firing Pistol”
A cuirassier using one of
his heavy cavalry pistols.
NA122 “Cuirassier with Saddle”
A standing cavalryman
preparing to saddle his mount.
NA123 “Cuirassier Drinking”
Another standing trooper
enjoying a well-earned drink. Fighting is thirsty work!
NA124 “Cantiniere”
In Napoleonic times most regiments, both foot
and horse, had ladies of the Regiment (either wives,
widows or camp followers) who made living supplying wine and ale to the
men. They often wore parts of military uniform along with their civilian dress.
AVAILABILITY: Mid to Late April
ALSO IN APRIL…
a) HK160 “The Shrine
Offering”
Another charming little set from “Streets
of Old
A woman and her daughter worship at a little
street side shrine.
b) BR060 “16th Light
Dragoon”
A late edition to our
earlier release of American Revolutionary War pieces. This dragoon is on foot shouting to his
comrades.
AVAILABILITY: Early April
And that, my friends, is that…the night is
late…supper awaits and my Regiment marches at dawn…
Oh well, off to the
Best wishes to one and all.
Co-founder & Creative Director