DISPATCHES
April 2021
Dear Partners,
Well here we in April, the beginning of a ‘New Financial Year’ and with a modest but interesting draft of new figures.
Looking back on the past 12 months it’s encouraging to see a healthy increase in sales both to dealers and private collectors all over the world... So, we must be doing something right!
Looking forward I’m happy to report a lot of exciting new additions to existing series are already ‘in the works’ while some others are still on the drawing board and being readied to be passed over to our skilled and talented team of sculptors.
So, as I wrote earlier here’s a ‘look-see’ at what will be available for K&C Dealers and Collectors this month...
1. WHAT COMING IN APRIL...
A. ‘On Parade’
Among the most popular of King & Country’s more recent series has been the ‘CEREMONIAL’ range of soldiers and marines on parade.
These kind of figures go all the way back to the very earliest days of toy soldier collecting both for the hobby and myself.
As a wee boy, growing up in Scotland in the 1950’s, I would marvel at the displays of massed ranks of toy soldiers on display in the toy departments of major stores in nearby Glasgow.
I remember one particular Christmas display seeing a painted model backdrop of Buckingham Palace in front of which were hundreds of red-coated Guardsmen marching past a figure of Queen Elizabeth II on horseback.
Standing to one side of the monarch and other mounted officers was a 50 piece Grenadier Guards Band playing while standing at attention.
On the other side of the Queen were two long files of horsemen from the Household Cavalry resplendent in their blue and red tunics, plumed helmets and shining silver breastplates.
Together all of these toy soldiers made a splendid and impressive spectacle that was this little boy’s dream.
“One day”, I thought, “I’ll have a collection like that!” Wishful thinking indeed!
I never dreamt, in my wildest dreams, that I would ever have the opportunity to not only collect, but actually design and produce, many thousands of our own ‘Ceremonial’ toy soldiers for collectors all over the world to buy, appreciate and create their own spectacular parades and displays.
Here are the latest K&C parade participants and reinforcements...
CE066 ‘Royal Marines Colour Sergeant’
In any military force the Non Commissioned Officers, NCO’s, are the backbone of that unit, regiment or corps.
Britain’s ‘Sea Soldiers’, the Royal Marines have some of the finest. This particular RM Colour Sergeant is a Drill Instructor and the man who trains and instructs every Marine on the parade ground. Nothing escapes his eagle eye and woe betide any individual who gives less than 150% effort on the parade square.
‘Parade Drill’ is the movement and actions of a mass of soldiers moving in close-order formations.
Originally intended to move bodies of troops on the battlefield it is now almost entirely used for ceremonial purposes although still practised to instill unit cohesion, discipline and martial pride.
Our Colour Sergeant stands smartly at attention, his swagger stick held firmly under his left arm.
CE067 ‘Black Watch Officer Marching’
This marching Black Watch Officer carries the 1828 Pattern Highland Officer’s Sword which was issued to all Officers of Scottish Highland Regiments such as The Black Watch.
It was carried (and used) throughout many campaigns in the 19th Century and even saw limited service in WW1. Today it is still in use, but only for ceremonial occasions.
CE068 ‘Black Watch Officer At Attention’
This other Black Watch Officer is standing firmly at attention, again with his 1828 Highland Officer’s Sword held to the front ready to salute.
CE070 ‘The Black Watch Colour Party’
This colourful 5-piece set comprises 2 x flag bearing officers, one holding the Regimental Standard, the other holding the Sovereign’s Standard (it can be the Queen’s Colour or King’s Colour, depending on the monarch on the throne).
Between them marches a ‘Colour Sergeant’, usually a senior non- commissioned officer.
Bringing up the rear are 2 x Black Watch Privates with rifles and bayonets fixed. Together they make a fine display and a terrific centerpiece leading any parade.
AVAILABE: Early April
B. ‘PRE WW1 PRUSSIAN INFANTRY’
At the close of the 19th and the early years of the 20th centuries many national armies still clung to their traditional colourful uniforms... Among the most famous was the army of Kaiser WilhelmⅡ.
Before the official adoption of ‘Feldgrau’ (field grey) in 1910 the many different German states that comprised the recently-created Kingdom uniformed their infantry soldiers in dark blue for both parades and field operations.
In the summer months however many of these same regiments adopted white, cotton trousers especially the Prussian infantry regiments.
These ‘Second Edition’ figures shows the soldiers on their summer maneuvers. This is the initial release with more to follow... in action.
FW241 ‘General Helmuth von Moltke’
Helmuth von Moltke (1848-1916) first saw active service in the Franco / Prussian War of 1870. Rapidly rising through the ranks of the officer corps he became aide-de-camp to Kaiser WilhelmⅡ, thus becoming part of the Emperor’s inner circle.
In 1902 he was promoted to Lieutenant General and was given, two years later, the post of Deputy Chief of the General staff.
Here he inspects the Prussian Infantry on maneuvers.
FW242 ‘Mounted Prussian Line Infantry Officer’
Accompanying the General on his tour of inspection is one of the Prussian Regiment’s own senior officers, complete with binos.
FW247 ‘Prussian Line Infantry Rifleman / Bugler’
Apart from regular regimental musicians most Line Infantry regiments also relied on additional buglers drawn from its ranks of riflemen.
FW248 ‘Prussian Line Infantry Present Arms’
With so many ‘top brass’ around this rifleman smartly offers a formal salute in the form of ‘present arms’ to his superiors.
AVAILABE: Mid-Late April
C. ‘Hard-At-Work’
Hong Kong has always been justly famous for the quality of its tailoring. Back in the day all kinds of tailoring operations could be found all over the great port city and gateway to China.
HK296 ‘The Chinese Sewing Lady’
Using a Singer sewing machine imported from the West this Chinese lady employs all her skills and talents to create a new garment the echoes the more traditional style and colour of the East.
AVAILABE: Early April
D. ‘ARTILLERY ON THE COAST’
In the aftermath of Imperial Japan’s rapid ‘blitzkrieg’ across the Asia Pacific region in 1941 and 1942 a large number of captured coastal artillery guns were dismantled and repositioned all across a chain of islands in the Pacific.
These islands were to provide a strong fortified barrier against any expected Allied counterattack aimed at Japan itself.
Entire British, French, Dutch and American coastal batteries were dismantled and then reinstalled in dozens of lonely, island outposts throughout this newly-won Japanese empire. All of them prepared to open fire on their previous ‘owners’.
JN067 ‘The Japanese Coastal Gun’
This French-made 155mm gun first served during WW1. Afterwards some were adapted and shipped out to French Indochina and used in coastal batteries protecting the ports of Saigon in the South and Haiphong in the North.
The same guns, captured in mainland France, were also utilized by the Germans to help defend their ‘Atlantic Wall’.
This model has been recamouflaged in a typical Japanese colour scheme similar in design and composition to Japanese armour of the same WW2 period.
JN068 ‘Japanese Coastal Gun Crew Set’
This 4-man set of IJA gunners is the perfect accompaniment to JN067.
AVAILABE: Mid-Late April
E. ‘RED NAVY REINFORCEMENTS’
Four more Russian Naval Infantry go on the attack against the all-mighty Wehrmacht!
All four of these figures were suggested by dedicated collectors of the Russian Naval Infantry and provide a little extra firepower against the hated invaders and despoilers of Mother Russia...
RA088 ‘RNI Standing Firing Moisant Nagant Rifle’
This bolt-action rifle combined a simple, straight forward design with a 5 x round box magazine. Its long service life from 1892 until late in WW2 testifies to its sturdiness and reliability.
Our standing Naval Infantryman leans forward while he aims his weapon and takes the shot.
RA089 ‘RNI Kneeling Firing Rifle’
Again, this Naval Infantryman is using the Moisant Nagant... this time in the kneeling position.
RA090 ‘RNI Advancing w/MP40’
This particular Naval Infantrymen has acquired a much coveted German MP40... Better known as the ‘Schmeisser’.
Unlike the Russian sub machine gun the German MP40 was a finely-detailed and expertly-made weapon. Our Naval Infantryman carefully moves forward his MP40 at the ‘ready’.
RA091 ‘RNI Lying Prone Sniper’
With more than 300,000 specialist sniper rifles produced these particular Moisant Nagant weapons were a familiar sight on the Eastern Front battlefields.
AVAILABE: Mid-Late April
F. ‘GOOD MORNING VIETNAM!’
What’s a ‘DISPATCHES’ without a little ‘VIETNAM’... Here are two new additions...
VN109 ‘Marines on Patrol’
The first three Marines of a section that will be on patrol when finally complete.
The two ‘light green’ marines are carrying their M16’s while the ‘dark green’ ‘Grunt’ is humping the M60.
VN116 ‘Marines Mortar Team’
These two ‘Grunts’ prepare to fire their mortar at the enemy. It was said during the Battle of Hue in early 1968 that mortar fire caused the greatest number of casualties... on both sides!
AVAILABE: Early April
G. ‘FLYING THE FLAG’
From the biggest firebase to the loneliest outpost all across Vietnam it was important to show your ‘colours’... both to announce your presence and... to annoy the enemy!
SP116 ‘The Australian Base Flag Set’
Using a trio of soil-filled, 50 gallon oil drums as a base topped by a few sandbags a length a steel pole supports the national flag of Australia.
Flown since the beginning of the 20th Century, the flag consists of the British Blue Ensign joined by a large seven-pointed ‘Commonwealth Star’ and five smaller stars representing the constellation of the Southern Cross.
SP121 ‘The American Base Flag Set’
Similar to the above but flying the ‘Stars ‘n’ Stripes’.
AVAILABE: Mid April
2. BEING RETIRED...
As the new guys come in... some of the older ones go out...
Grab ‘em while you can!
DD289 A Taste of Real Chocolate from WW2 U.S. Airborne
DD291 D.DAY IKE
DD315 D. DAY COMMANDERS PLANNING GROUP
RA024 Soldier Holding burp gun
RA028 Russian Tanker with Map
RA029 Winter Tanker with PPSH
RA046 Sitting burp gunner
RA047 Sitting w/Rifle
RA048 Kneeling w/Rifle
RA050 Red Army Platoon Leader
RA055 Standing Guard Female Sniper
RA065 Death to Fascists!
RA069 Dead Russians
RA071 The Souvenir Collector
RA073 Attack!
RA076 Captured!
SP108X Corner Wall Tower
VN005 Shotgun Ready
VN009 Corpsman & Wounded Marine
VN028 Moving Supplies
VN037 Shouting Instructions
VN039 Marine Grenadier
VN047 Sitting & Waiting
VN066 Sitting Vehicle Commander with Binos
WS352 Michael Wittmann’s First Battlefield Tiger
And that my friends is that for another month. I hope you find something of interest for your collection. If not, don’t fret about it, there will always be something new next month... and the month after that too.
All the best and happy collecting!
Andy C. Neilson
Co-founder & Creative Director
King & Country Ltd.