DISPATCHES
December 2012
IT’S THE END of
another year and already we’re looking forward to the coming one. So may
I take this opportunity to thank both dealers and collectors for their
continued support and enthusiasm over the past twelve months and promise you
that you ain’t seen nothin’
yet!
1.
BEING
RELEASED IN DECEMBER
A.
“On The Frontier”…
Throughout China’s long history there
has been a succession of wars where neighboring countries have tried to “smash
and grab” whole states and provinces away from the central power in
Beijing..
To help protect the integrity of the
frontier areas of the country different emperors used different methods.
Several rulers built chains of “Frontier Forts” all along the perimeter
of the country.
Our new individual multi section
defense work allows collectors to build a fort as big (or as small) as
they need or have the room for…
IC051 “Chinese Fort Main Gate”
A complete section with open/close
gates plus a wooden ladder to reach the upper platform.
IC052 “Left Tower”
Flanking the gate on both sides
would have been these stucco and wood structures providing shelter and some
accommodation for the garrison of the fort.
IC053 “Right Tower”
See above, this is the opposite
section.
IC054 “Wooden Fences”
A straight section and a corner
section to extend on to the Fort’s main structures.
AVAILABLE: NOW!
B. “Letter from Hong Kong”
Three colourful
additions to K&C’s most colourful series…
HK205 “The Letter Writer Set”
Up until just a few years ago in Hong Kong
you could still sometimes see an old man sitting on a little stool writing a
letter for another old person who alas was illiterate and wanted to let the
relatives back in China know what was going on.
This charming little vignette is a
very real piece of Hong Kong history.
HK206 “Mother & Child”
Again, what was once a fairly
common street sight in H.K… a mother carrying her child on her back has
disappeared into history… except in “Streets of Old Hong Kong”.
AVAILABLE: NOW!
HK213 “The God of Fortune”
All of us need a little good
fortune from time to time… Perhaps this mythical Chinese figure can help…?
AVAILABLE: Mid December
C. “SURPRISE VISIT THIS
CHRISTMAS BY THREE MEN ON CAMELS!”
No, it’s not another set of the “Three
Wise Men” for the LOJ series… It’s three mounted Australian figures of the Imperial
Camel Corps on patrol.
Among the mounted units that contributed men
to this British and Empire force was the Australian Light Horse.
This December release provides three individual camel-mounted soldiers… one
officer and two troopers.
AL036 “Australian Officer”. Turning in the saddle this officer looks
back towards his men.
AL037 “Aye Ready”
Lee Enfield rifle resting on his thigh this
trooper scans the distant desert horizon.
AL038 “Shirt-Sleeve Order”
“Any fool can be uncomfortable in the
field”… This trooper has put away his heavy wool service jacket and looks much
more comfortable with open necked shirt and rolled-up sleeves. His Lee
Enfield remains “at the ready” resting across his lap.
AVAILABLE: NOW!
In addition to the first three Australian
figures of the Imperial Camel Corps we are adding three variations…
AL036(B)
Australian Officer
AL037(B) Aye Ready
AL038(B)
Shirt-Sleeve Order
These above versions will have the
“regulation” army-issued camel blankets to replace the more exotic
“privately-obtained” ones.
AVAILABLE: NOW!
D. “And Now To A Very
Different Frontier”
In
“DISPATCHES” we go from the troubled frontiers of China to the equally troubled
frontier of the Old West with the announcement of a big, bold, battling new
series…”Custer’s Last Stand”.
This project
has actually been “in-the-works” for several years but only now has come
to fruition…
The Indian
Wars following the end of the Civil War were an important time for the United
States… A growing population was forever requiring more land to settle and build
on as well as to explore and exploit for its abundant natural resources.
Among the
land most coveted were the treaty-held territories granted to the Native
American tribes. Most Indians reluctantly had to accept and agree to
whatever the whitemen in Washington said. Some
however did not… Especially the Lakota (Sioux) and the Cheyenne.
Eventually
this would lead to war that would involve the U.S. Cavalry and the
Indians. The most famous engagement of those times was The Battle
of the Little Bighorn which took place on June 25/26, 1876.
This new
series intends to paint a portrait in miniature of the bloody climax of those
fateful days.
Our first
initial release of just seven U.S. Cavalry items will be followed up in
February by seven more.
TRW020 “Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer”
The
commander of the famous 7th Cavalry and already a hero from the Civil War
Custer together with 210 of his men would perish on and around “Last Stand
Hill” just above the Little Bighorn river.
Here we show
him wearing buckskin trousers with a decorative blue civilian-style shirt and colourful red neckerchief. In his hands a pair of
matching Royal Irish Constabularly
revolvers.
TRW022 “Captain
Myles Keogh”
An Irish
soldier-of-fortune who somehow ended up in the 7th Cavalry. Tough, experienced
and reliable Keogh is seen wearing a Civil War kepi and the black
embroidered “Patrol” jacket. With one hand he keeps Custer’s
personal guidon upright… with the other he takes
careful aim.
TRW023 “Bugler” Already wounded this seated Bugler attempts
in vain to contact the other units of the 7th.
TRW024 “Swinging the Carbine”
With no ammunition left this corporal has no choice but to use his carbine as a
club.
TRW025 “Kneeling Firing Carbine”
Due to the stifling mid summer heat this trooper has discarded his heavy wool
jacket and is fighting in “shirt-sleeve order”
TRW030 “Dead Horse”
Although many horses were killed by Indian bullets and arrows others were shot
by their riders to provide some cover on the sparsely covered hillside.
TRW031 “On His Knees”
Clutching a serious head wound and his carbine by his side this wounded trooper
will not last long.
AVAILABLE: Mid December
SPECIAL NOTE: Remember, a second exciting batch of 7th Cavalry “personalities”,
troopers and casualties will appear in February followed in April/May by
no less than seven mounted Indians plus another seven fighting on
foot.
E. “From Custer to
Napoleon”
It’s not
too big a leap as we’re actually going from an elite U.S. Cavalry regiment in
the 1870’s to an elite cavalry regiment in the Age of Bonaparte…
K&C are pleased and proud to announce an entirely new French Napoleonic
Cavalry Regiment… The Horse Grenadiers of the Imperial Guard… Or
to give them their proper “nom”… Les Grenadiers de la Garde
Imperiale”… This heavy cavalry unit was reputed
to be the finest horse mounted regiment not just in the Emperor’s own army but
in all of Europe!
Our bearskin clad chevaliers include.
NA217 “Officer Turning in Saddle”
A classic pose for an officer… looking back
at his men.
NA218 “Officer with Regimental Guidon”
NA219 “Bugler”
NA220 “Grenadier w/Sword (looking front)”
NA221 “Grenadier w/Sword (looking left)”
NA222 “Scout Grenadier
w/Musket)”
And a couple of senior French officers….
NA239 “Mounted Bessieres”
A one-time commander of the Horse
Grenadiers… this richly decorated officer
was one of Napoleon’s most trusted and
respected generals.
NA240 “Mounted Cuirrassier
General”
Another fine addition to the Emperor’s staff.
AVAILABLE: Mid December
2.
APPEARING
IN JANUARY
The New Year sees K&C once more return to the desert battlefields of
North Africa between 1940 and 1943…
A.
“Desert Dust-Up!”
Two great looking Eighth Army fighting
vehicles are supported by six individual “Tommies”
all in action…
EA066 “Desert Dingo”
This is the third and final version of this
little British armoured reconnaissance vehicle.
Dingoes saw wide and varied use by British and Empire forces
throughout the war in North Africa. Our new one belongs to the 7th.
Armored Division” The Desert Rats” and is “christened” MORECAMBE.
The vehicle includes a driver and
separate Bren Gun.
EA078 “Valentine Mk.III Tank”
The Valentine was the most produced of any British-designed tank during
WW2. More than 8,000 were built in 11 different marks. They accounted for
over one quarter of all British tank production between 1940 and 1944.
In addition to serving with both
British and Canadian army units large numbers were supplied to Soviet Russia
under lend-lease…
This is the first K&C Valentine
(two more are planned) and is in the markings of the 1st. Army Tank
Brigade, stationed in Tobruk, Libya
in 1942.
Our model “HECTOR” wears the
unique “splinter” three-colour camouflage and comes
with a vehicle commander.
“… And Now For the Poor Bloody Infantry”
Providing the vital infantry backup are six individual “Toms”…
EA079 “Attacking Officer”
Webley Service Revolver in hand this young Lieutenant leads his men
forward.
EA080 “Sergeant Tommy-Gunner”
Providing additional support for his officer and men the “Tommy-Gun”
toting Sergeant rattles off a burst of .45 bullets!!
EA081 “Lying Prone Bren Gunner”
An invaluable asset to any squad
of British and Empire infantry was the handy Bren Gunner with his Light Machine
Gun.
EA082 “Lying
Firing Rifleman”
Next to the Bren Gunner this rifleman acts
as his “number two”.
EA083 “Charging
w/Rifle and Bayonet”
Bullets are good but sometimes
it takes the cold steel of a bayonet to force the enemy to retreat!
EA084 “Standing Firing Rifleman”
A British “Tommy” and his Short Magazine Lee Enfield rifle
make a winning combination.
AVAILABLE : Early January
B.
“On
The Streets of Berlin”
From the desert sands of Libya
to the cobble-stoned streets of the Reich’s capital with three single Sturmabteilung (S.A.) figures…
LAH166 “S.A. Drum Major”
Mace in hand this veteran “Musik-leiter” leads his men on parade.
LAH167
“S.A. Trumpeter”
LAH168
“S.A. Drummer”
AVAILABLE: Mid to Late
January
C.
“RETURN
TO THE CRIMEA”
A couple of years ago when our good friends
at King & Country UK decided to complete their original Crimean War series
we at HQ in Hong Kong took a long, hard look at the range and decided that
perhaps we could extend and develop it at some later stage.
Well, now we’re here and this is
just our first installment…
“Besieging Sevastapol”
Under a hail of Russian shell and shot
British infantry make their tortuous way forward.
CR003 “Kneeling Firing”
CR004 “Standing Firing”
CR005 “Pointing Corporal”
CR006 “Drummer Boy”
CR007 “Loading Rifle”
CR008 “Advancing w/Rifle at the Port”
CR009 “Advancing Forward”
CR010 “Crouching w/Rifle & Bayonet”
CR011 “Marching to the Front”
Special Note: All of these first infantry releases
represent a typical English “Line” or “County” Regiment of the
1850’s Victorian Army. To select just one of the many fine regiments that
fought in the Crimea would, we feel, be unfair to the others who fought and
died there.
Follow Up Release: Officers, flagbearers
and wounded will be released as an addition to this first release in the 2nd
quarter of 2013.
AVAILABLE: Mid to Late January
D.
“Saladin’s
Saracens to the Rescue”
Once more we journey a little further East
from the Crimea to the Middle East at the time of the Crusades… with SIX
more Saracen warriors.
MK097 “Saracen Sergeant-at-Arms”
Signaling to his
men this axe-wielding sergeant carefully moves forward.
MK098 “Advancing
Cross Bowman”
MK099 “Charging Saracen Spearman”
Axe in one hand, spear in the other and
looking for trouble…
MK100 “Advancing Saracen Spearman”
MK101 “Kneeling
Saracen Spearman”
MK102 “Mounted
Saracen Officer”
AVAILABLE: Mid
to Late January
And that as they say is the story so far
except, of course, for our usual retirement list…
3.
Being
Retired…
AK060 Water Supplies Set
AK061 Soldier Drinking From Jerry Can
AK062
Fuel Transporter
AK063
Field Marshal Albert "Smiling
Albert" Kesselring
BBG018 Winter Scout
BBG020 Waiting and Smoking
HK172 Happy Family
LAH058 Marching Algemeine SS
Man
LAH059 Marching Algemeine
Officer
LAH060 Marching w/ Standard
LAH063 Wehrmacht Mounted
Officer
LAH064 Wehrmacht Marching
Officer
LAH065
Wehrmacht Marching Flagbearer
LAH066
Wehrmacht Marching Drummer
LAH067 Wehrmacht Marching
Rifleman
Once more many thanks
for your continued support and very best wishes from all of us at K&C to
you this Christmas time. Here’s to a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year in
2013.
Andy C. Neilson
Co-founder & Creative Director
King & Country