DISPATCHES

APRIL 2015 Part One

 

Hi Guys,

        Here is just the first half of a 2-part “DISPATCHES” which will appear this month.

        Because of a reconfiguration of our release schedule we’ve been moving some pieces around a bit. So this first part is considerably smaller than our usual cornucopia!

        Here goes...

 

1.  BEING RELEASED IN APRIL
A.     “Wehrmacht...Wunderbar!!!”

For collectors of K&C’s “Classic Field Grey” German troops April is one big bumper month!

No less than 13 all-new releases that should please Wehrmacht Collectors whether they like their figures “on Parade” or...”On The Battlefield.”

 

WH013          “The 12-piece Classic Wehrmacht Band”

These 12 musicians will march proudly into any collection that features “feldgrau” infantry. Dressed in their traditional everyday uniform, albeit with decorative silver and red “swallow-nests” on their shoulders, German military bands were a familiar sight on the streets of cities and towns in Nazi-occupied Europe.

 

WH014          “At Attention”

                               A new version of a typical guard duty pose.

 

WH015          “Marching Officer”

On parade and leading the way...This officer has both the 1st and 2nd Class “Iron Cross” awards on his tunic.

 

WH016          “Marching Rifleman”

                               The perfect accompaniment to WH015.

 

WH017          “Wehrmacht Mortar Team”

                               Two kneeling “Soldaten” man their 81mm mortar and prepare to launch a bomb.

 

 

WH018          “Dismounted Armoured Vehicle Crewmen

                               With so many K&C German tanks, armoured cars and other vehicles in collections it’s always useful to have additional crew members available in “non-action” roles...

                       *WH018-G The two crewmen in “feldgrau” armoured vehicle jackets.

                       *WH018-B Two crewmen wearing the Panzer black wrap-around short jackets.

                       The choice is yours...

 

WH019          “Take a breather!”

                               His stalhelm held in one hand, this “soldaten” rests on his rifle...He’s marched over 20 miles this day and he’ll march another 20 tomorrow. It’s often forgotten that the majority of German infantry in the first half of the war journeyed into battle...on foot!

 

WH020          “Happy...!”

                               This field-grey infantryman seems pleased with himself...Has he just been given a leave pass?

 

WH021          “Pz. Kpfw. III Ausf.N”

                               The Panzer III Ausf.N variant was an “assault tank” that was produced to meet the specific need for a stronger tank that could more effectively take on the Soviet T34.

                               Designers decided to use the short-barreled 7.5cm main gun along with a special “hollow-charge” shell.

                               Additional armour was also included in this model, especially around the turret.

                               Production of these “N” variants began in June 1942 and continued through until August ’43. Just over 700 were built in this time. Most being conversions and upgrades from existing Ausf.L. and Ausf. M. tanks.

                               This new version earned a good reputation from its crews and mostly saw action on the Eastern Front. Some models were also transferred from German stocks to Romania, Slovakia and Croatia after their replacement by more updated German armour.

                               Our K&C model is in typical field grey and comes with a tank commander figure.

 

WH031          “Eat when you can”

                               As every soldier knows...”Sleep when you can...Eat when you can!”  This man enjoys a mess-tin of hot food.

 

WH032          “The 20-piece Classic Wehrmacht Band”

                               12 x marching musicians look good... 20 look even better!

                       All of the different German armed services supplied bands and musicians to accompany their troops in the field.  When not engaged in musical activities bandsmen often acted as stretcher bearers and assistants to the German military medical services.

 

WH-S01         “Standing at Attention Set”

                               This little 2-man set gives you two great figures at a “special” price.

 

WH-S02         “On The March Set”

                               A 3-man marching set to follow your marching officer (WH015).  If you think 3 look good...try making it 33...!  Now that will really impress your friends.  A “special value” package again!

 

AVAILABLE:    Mid-April

 

B.     “Policing The Trenches”

Even in the midst of battle it was necessary to employ Military Policemen...Their duties were many and varied...From directing traffic to ensuring supplies of ammunition get to the front.  The Military Police also collected enemy prisoners and any soldier attempting to escape or evade their duties in the front line.  They enforced military discipline and also provided security for the “top brass”.  They were not alas, universally popular...

 

FW198            “WW1 Military Policemen”

A pair of “Red Caps” (on account of their red service cap covers) directing traffic and on the lookout for deserters, malingerers and others trying to evade their duties.

 

Special Note:   All rank and file Military Policemen were Non Commissioned Officers.  The older Corporal is pointing, the younger Lance Corporal is watching.

 

AVAILABLE:      Mid to Late April

 

C.     “Into Battle...In the Middle East”

From the mud and blood of Flanders in 1916 and 1917 to the sand and dust of the Holy Land in the time of the Crusades...With a fine selection of warriors.

 

MK126             “The Kneeling Spearman”

Crouched behind his large shield this Man-at-arms prepares for the enemy...

 

MK127             “Standing, Firing Crossbowman”

                                 A Germanic Man-at-arms fires into the enemy horde.

 

MK128             “Bending and Loading Crossbowman”

                                 As he keeps a watchful eye on the enemy another German Man-at-Arms prepares his next ‘shot’.

 

MK129             “Kneeling Firing Crossbowman”

                                 This soldier takes very careful aim at the enemy.

 

MK130             “Loading Crossbow”

                                 Another Crusader Crossbowman prepares to shoot again.

 

MK131             “The Ballista”

                                 This medium size weapon had been in use since Ancient Roman times and could prove deadly.  Our rock-firing version is manned by one Crusader...backed up by others.

 

MK132             “The Rock Carriers”

                                 This is one of the back-up crews of the “Ballista”.  Here manfully carrying a stretcher full of large stones towards the weapon these two men-at-arms make their way forward.

 

MK133             “Single Rock Carrier”

                                 One individual rock carrier.

MK134             “Saracen Assassins”

                                 A pair of blood-thirsty Islamic warriors descend on a fallen Germanic knight.

 

MK135             “The Fallen Knight”

                                 This Germanic horseman falls to the ground as his mount is fatally wounded. When surrounded and attacked by the MK134 set his outlook is looking desperate...no matter how bravely he fights!

 

AVAILABLE:      Mid to Late April

 

END OF PART ONE RELEASES...LOOK OUT FOR PART TWO COMING SOON!

 

2.      BEING RETIRED...

Some interesting pieces here...Grab ‘em while you can!

 

LAH143

Standing-At-Ease SS Officer

MK094

Marching Bannerman

MK095

Marching Man-at-Arms

MK096

The happy Man-at-Arms

NA228

French Line Infantry Mtd. Officer

NA229

French Line Marching Officer

NA230

French Line Flagbearer

NA231

French Line Drummer Boy

NA232

French Line Marching Rifleman (right shoulder)

NA233

French Line Marching Rifleman (left shoulder)

NA234

French Line Marching Rifleman (w/ beard)

NA235

French Line Make Ready

NA236

French Line Advancing Forward

TRW027

First Aid

TRW029

The Trapped Horseman

TRW030

Dead Horse

TRW031

On His Knees

TRW032

Lying Firing Carbine

TRW039(P)

American Horse

 

 

 

And that’s that...for a little while at least...As we said, look out for Part Two!

Best wishes to one and all...

 

 

 

 

 

Andy C. Neilson

Co-founder & Creative Director

King & Country

 

 

APRIL DISPATCHES

PART TWO

 

Hi Guys,

        As we told you earlier in the month there would be a little “add-on” to this month’s releases...and here they are...

 

1.      “MUD, BLOOD & GUTS!”

We return to the trenches of the First World War with several new releases that reflect the harsh everyday reality of life...and death...on the Western Front in 1916 and 1917

 

FW158     “A Soldier’s Prayer”

A British Army Padre reads a simple prayer over the dead body of a fallen “Tommy”.

The design of the dead soldier was inspired by a similar figure which can be seen on the powerful Royal Artillery Memorial near London’s Hyde Park.

During the Great War, three Army chaplains won the Victoria Cross, Britain’s highest award for gallantry and 179 were killed-in-action.

 

        FW163     “Hold On Son, We’re Almost There!”

A British Army medical orderly is assisted by a soldier to carry a badly wounded “Tom” back to the nearest Aid Station situated in or close behind the actual front line position.

 

FW173      “Nursing Sister”

                         Between 1914 and 1918 over 10,000 regular and reserve members of Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service were at work in France, the Middle East, Italy, East Africa and India.  Wherever they went they were easily recognized by their grey and white uniforms and scarlet red capes.  This nurse is typical.

 

FW186      “German Casualties of War”

                         For these three fallen “Sodaten” their war and suffering is over...

 

FW200      “Rescue Under Fire”

                         Even though the battle still rages above their heads one “Tommy” has crawled into “No Man’s Land” to try and pull a wounded mate to safety...

FW201      “Spoils Of War”

                         Two abandoned “Maschinengewehr 08” or MG08’s were the German Army’s standard machine gun during World War One.  Adapted from the original 1884 “Maxim” gun these weapons were widely used on all fronts the Kaiser’s Army fought on...with deadly effect.

                         Their nominal range was 2,000 meters although they could be deadly up to 3,500 meters!

                         Allied troops hated them with a vengeance because of the huge casualties they inflicted.  If and when these guns were overrun attacking soldiers would often, without hesitation, kill the gun crews, even if they tried to surrender!

                         These two guns fit perfectly with set no. FW186.

 

2.      “On A Lighter Note...

From the Western Front to the Far East with a small but colourful addition to our “Streets of Old Hong Kong” series...

 

HK235      “The New Bride & Groom”

As the “Victorian Era” began to change into the “Edwardian” one so too did dress and styles in the British Crown Colony of Hong Kong.

For younger Chinese men “pigtails” were seen as a symbol of the old, decadent, down-trodden "Middle Kingdom". Smart, short hair was adopted as one symbol of modernity and being part of the new 20th Century.

Women and girls also started to cut their hair and emulate their Western counterparts.

At the same time traditional Chinese costume was being simplified and becoming more comfortable and practical to wear.

This thoroughly modern young Bride & Groom exemplify the new movement.

 

3.      "MOUNTIES ON PARADE"

Two all-new K&C CLUB FIGURES are being released soon…And they feature one of our favorite Imperial Police Forces –

“The North West Mounted Police”

Established in 1873 this unit was the fore runner of today’s Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

It was founded to patrol the vast Northwest Territories of the Dominion of Canada and provide law and order where none was.  From the beginning it was organized like a British Army cavalry regiment of that time and was to wear red coats.

Our two “Mounties” are dressed in typical parade dress which remained in use from about 1876 until 1903.  Here, worn with a bandolier of rifle ammunition for the Winchester carbine.  The winter fur cap with the yellow “bag” and the white gauntlets is also worn along with a holstered sidearm attached to a long white lanyard.

HOW TO GET THESE FIGURES?

Simply join the King & Country Collectors Club for one year…and you’ll get one FREE FIGURE…Join for TWO YEARS and you’ll get BOTH!  Check the details on the King & Country website at www.kingandcountry.com

 

AVAILABILITY :

         All of the above sets will be available in late April or early May...Look out for them...And a great big bunch of other new items in May’s Dispatches!

 

          Best wishes!

 

 

Andy C. Neilson

Co-founder & Creative Director

King & Country