DISPATCHES
April 2020
To say these are ‘difficult times’ we are all living
through at present would be more than a minor understatement.
The current Coronavirus epidemic that has spread far and wide
will have repercussions that none of us will be able to predict or forecast
going forward.
All that I can say is that eventually, sooner or later, the vast majority of us will get through it if we remain
sensible, take appropriate and necessary health advice and stay calm.
As many of you already know production and delivery
schedules have been affected by all of this however we
are still receiving orders from all over the world and still sending out
packages to K&C collectors and dealers on our usual regular basis.
Amazingly, we even have some exciting, new items to tell you
about and so, without further ado, here’s some good news!
1.
APPEARING IN APRIL...
A.
‘Running The
Buffalo’
For
the Plains Indians, life revolved around two principal elements: ‘Hunting’
and ‘War’. One meant sustenance for the body, the other,
honour to warm the soul.
Some
tribes planted crops, others traded meant, fur and horses to those same farming
Indians for foodstuffs their nomadic ways or horseman’s pride would not allow
them to plant and grow for themselves.
Although
the ‘hunters’ killed deer, antelope and smaller wild game for meat their
greatest dependence was upon the largest walking beast to be found on the North
American continent... The Buffalo.
The American Bison, more
commonly called the ‘buffalo’ furnished most of the Plains tribes daily
necessities; meat, warm robes for winter, skins to cover their tepees, leather
for moccasins and leggings as well as coverings for war shields. The buffalo’s
bones also provided glue for binding and could be fashioned into cooking and
eating utensils, sewing implements and the frames for saddles. Buffalo
hair was even woven into ropes or used to stuff saddle pads or any item that
required cushioning.
The Indians used virtually everything from the animal... nothing
was thrown away!
Once the horse was introduced, hunting became even easier
and much more successful especially hunting the buffalo.
Bands of warriors would follow the herds in the Fall each
year, carefully selecting which beasts to go after. Their families would follow
the hunters, staying well back and downwind. Though the buffalo’s eyesight was
poor, its sense of smell was strong.
As the hunters burst upon the grazing animals, the first
goal was to make the animals run in a circle, creating what was called a ‘surround’.
This confined the ‘kills’ to a limited area, a convenience for the
following women who would do most of the butchering of the carcasses.
Every hunter had a special horse or pony that had been
trained to ride close to the buffalo so the arrow or lance could be driven
accurately into the animal.
When the hunt was complete a signal would be given for the
women and followers to move in and begin harvesting the meat.
These latest K&C releases portray the herd under attack
by some Sioux and Cheyenne warriors in a most dramatic fashion.
TRW159 “Running Buffalo” Set #1
Three different mighty beasts running at full gallop
as they try to escape the Indian arrows and lances.
TRW160 “Fallen Buffalo”
Two buffalo casualties... One lies dead, felled by
two of the Indian arrows.
The other buffalo falls head over heels struck down by an
expertly aimed arrow.
TRW-S03 ‘The Combined Buffalo Set’
All five individual buffaloes brought together at a valued-added
price. AVAILABLE: Early April
B.
“I don’t want no teenage
queen... All I wants my M
fourteen!”
With ‘VIETNAM’ being one of K&C’s most popular
modern ranges rarely does a month go by without some addition(s) to this
contemporary series. Here is April’s...
VN070 “The M14 Marines In
Action Set”
The M14 Battle Rifle, for only a decade, was the
principal US Service rifle before being replaced by the lighter,
smaller-caliber M16.
During that time however many experts considered the
heavier, 7.62mm firing M14 the best rifle to ever see service with the US
Military.
Originally designed for war in Europe alongside other battle
rifles such as the Belgian / British FN Self Loading Rifle (also using
7.62mm ammunition) the M14 had its ‘Baptism of Fire’ in Vietnam.
Within the US Armed Services the USMC
was particularly fond of the rifle because of the Marines high value on
marksmanship and battlefield reliability.
All of the Marines that were deployed to Vietnam in 1965 and
1966 were issued with M14’s and found them to be excellent weapons in combat
with many fine characteristics even in the most difficult of circumstances and
conditions.
Indeed it was, with great
reluctance, that many Marines exchanged their tried and tested M14’s with
the early M16’s. Many unit quartermasters managed to retain at
least some weapons which were then issued to individual snipers and proved,
once more, to be both useful and excellent combat weapons.
This first, USMC 4-man ‘Vietnam’ combat set shows
a section of 4x Marines in action poses all utilizing
their favourite M14’s.
AVAILABLE: Early April
C.
‘On The
Autobahn’
Following the Nazis taking power in Germany in 1933 one of
their first moves was to enlarge and expand the power and size of the Schutz
Staffel (the SS) especially the
Fuhrer’s own bodyguard regiment, the Leibstandarte
Adolf Hitler.
Among the new units created was a company of motorcyclists
who could accompany the leader’s motorcades as he journeyed throughout Berlin
and the rest of the Third Reich as extra mobile protection.
These additional ‘out-riders’ could also be used as ‘Dispatch
Messengers’ to pick up and deliver important papers and instructions on
behalf of the Fuhrer himself and the Party.
Here
is our latest...
LAH257 “Leibstandarte
Motorcyclist”
This black-clad rider is easily identifiable as a member of
the LAH ‘Adolf Hitler’ by the white-belted accoutrements only worn by
this, the premier regiment of the SS... and his ‘Adolf Hitler’ cuff
title.
AVAILABLE: Mid-Late April
D.
“The Fighting Fallschirmjager”
Six
more add-ons to join our existing Luftwaffe Fallschirmjager
in action.
LW073
“Fallschirmjager Sergeant”
Armed with the well-proven MP40 “Schmeisser”
Machine Pistol this kneeling FJ sergeant bellows out orders and instructions to
his men.
LW074
“FJ MG42 Machine Gunner”
A
lying prone MG42 gunner takes careful aim at the enemy.
LW075
“FJ with the FG42 Assault Rifle”
The FG42 was a revolutionary Assault Rifle that was
exclusively supplied to the Luftwaffe’s paratroopers. Firing a 7.92mm
round it could be fitted with a 10 or 20 round magazine.
It was produced in relatively few numbers and therefore was
given to only certain unit members, usually officers and some NCO’S.
LW076 “FJ Sniper”
This standing sniper has a special scope fitted to his KAR
98 rifle.
LW077
“FJ Rifleman”
Stealthily moving forward with his KAR 98 rifle.
LW078
“FJ Rifleman Kneeling ready ”
As above... but kneeling this time.
LW-S01
“The FJ Fire Support Group Set”
All 6 x Fallschirmjagers at a more
inclusive price when you buy them together!
AVAILABLE: Mid-Late April
E.
“The Palace Guard of
Ancient Rome”
Virtually
every king, emperor or all-important ruler has felt the need to have a military
unit that was expressly loyal to himself and for his and his family’s personal
protection... Rome’s rulers were no exception!
The Praetorian
Guard (Latin: cohortes praetoriae) was an elite formation of the Roman Army
whose soldiers served as the personal body guards and
intelligence service for the Roman Emperors.
During
the Roman Republic, the Praetorians served as a small escort force for
high-ranking officials such as senators or provincial governors.
With
the transformation into the Roman Empire the first emperor, Augustus,
altered the Guard to become his personal security detail to the exclusion of
all their former duties and responsibilities. In this capacity they continued
in existence for the next three centuries.
The
Guard became famous or perhaps, infamous for their intrigue and interference in
Roman politics overthrowing and sometimes even killing their emperors,
Caligula being their most notable victim.
The
Praetorian Guard, like other Roman Legionaries carried the standard sword
and dagger and in the Imperial period, which K&C portray, wear the ‘Lorica
Segmentata’ armour over
a white tunic. Shields carried were the oval and more robust shape rather than
the regular Legion rectangular ones. Their terms of service, food and lodging
were much better than other Roman soldiers and only Roman citizens could be
recruited to their ranks.
Symbols
carried on their shields and banners included stars, crescents and...
scorpions.
Here
are the first releases...
ROM036
“Praetorian on Guard Duty”
A
standing Guardsman complete with oval shield and long Pilum on guard outside
the Emperor’s quarters.
ROM037
“Marching Praetorian”
On
patrol in the grounds of the Imperial Palace.
ROM038
“Gaius Julius Caesar”
The
first of our Roman rulers and probably, the most famous. A Roman statesman and
military general, Caesar played a critical role in the events that led to the
demise of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Roman Empire. Among his many
achievements were the successful acquisition of Britain and the defeat
of Gaul and bridging the Rhine.
As
the successful victor of the Roman Civil War he enjoyed unrivalled power
and influence and used it to begin a program of social and governmental
reforms, including the creation of the Julian Calendar.
He
also gave citizenship to many residents of the far regions of the Roman
Republic as well as providing land reform and financial support for army
veterans.
Although
popular with most of Rome’s people he angered many of the city’s elite and in 44
BC was assassinated.
Still,
he remains, to this day, Ancient Rome’s most famous ruler. We depict him as he
appeared on campaign, leading his army.
ROM039 “The Emperor Augustus”
Caesar’s adopted heir, Gaius Octavius was born into
one of Rome’s noblest families and was named by Caesar himself to be his
successor.
Upon taking power and renaming himself Augustus
the young ruler dramatically enlarged the Empire around the Mediterranean and
into Africa. He completed the conquest of Hispania, (present day Spain)
and developed a broad network of fine roads connecting the far
flung parts of the Empire.
Much of Rome itself was also rebuilt and improved during his
reign which included creating a police force and a fire-fighting service.
Augustus died in AD14 at the ripe old age of 75, possibly from
natural causes but probably by poison, given to him by his wife Livia to
ensure that her son, Tiberius would succeed him.
Such was life (and death) in Ancient Rome!
ROM042 “Praetorian Cohort Standard Bearer”
This Cohort Standard Bearer is wearing the head and pelt of
a Grey Wolf. The banner itself features one of the Guard’s favourite symbols... a scorpion.
ROM043 “Praetorian Acquilifer”
The greatest honour that any
member of the Guard could have was to carry the unit’s ceremonial gold eagle...
presented to the Praetorians by the Emperor himself.
This senior enlisted Praetorian wears the Lion’s head and
skin as befits his senior rank and responsibility.
ROM044 “Praetorian Cornicen”
The third and final member of the unit’s ‘Honour Guard’.
AVAILABLE: Mid-Late April
2. BEING
RETIRED
Quite a varied and colourful
selection that includes some excellent pieces... at some very affordable prices
– Check them out!
BBA051
Supplies Trailer (winter)
NA273 Mounted French V Officer Shouting
NA274
Fr. V Flagbearer
Advancing
NA275
Fr. V
Charging Port Arms
NA276
Fr. V
Trumpeter
NA277
Fr. V
Advancing Firing
NA278
Fr. V
Kneeling Firing
NA279
Fr. V
Advancing Loading
NA280
Fr. V Charging with Bayonet
NA281
Fr. V
Advancing with Rifle Up
NA282
Fr. V
Advancing Pointing
NA354X
3rd Hussar w/ Hat in Hand
NA355X
3rd Hussar w/Sword
NA356
3rd
Hussar Guidon Bearer
NA357
Mounted 3rd Hussar
RA027
Red Army
General
RA040
Combat
Leader
RA042
Sniper
RA043
Kneeling
Firing
RA044
Advancing
RA067
Pointing
Russki
3.
END OF THE RUN REMAINDERS
Here are more items remaining for your selection. Please
check out the attached list and complete your collection at very attractive
prices! Our loss is your gain!
And that my friends is that...
shorter than usual but understandable due to the current circumstances we all
find ourselves in.
In the meantime... Stay safe and
well and...
Happy Collecting!
Andy C. Neilson
Co-founder &
Creative Director
King & Country Ltd.