DISPATCHES
December 2024
Welcome once more to this month’s ‘YULETIDE DISPATCHES’ and…
a relatively modest batch of releases for this Christmas Season.
Having said that, they are all very useful additions for two
very different ranges of figures depicting everyday life in two very different
parts of the world… America’s panoramic ‘Old West’ of
the 1870s and the busy, bustling streets of Colonial Hong Kong in
the turbulent 1960s.
BEING
RELEASED IN DECEMBER
A. ‘John Ford Cavalry
Reinforcements’
One of the big hits of K&C’s
recent trip to the Round Top Antiques Fair was the handsome and
historic wooden frontier fort specially-built to display many of our ‘John
Ford Cavalry’ figures, both mounted and on foot.
At the same time, we took the opportunity to show some of upcoming JFC releases
including these ones being released this month.
This particular subseries of ‘The
Real West’ is our special ‘homage’ to a great American film-maker and story teller who had his own personal
vision of the history of ‘The West’ and how it should be
portrayed on the big screen.
During a long and prolific career that spanned more than half a century John
Ford’s films were exceptionally varied but he
always seemed most at ease when directing stories about the people and places
that populated the ‘Old West’.
From his first ‘Western’ feature in 1917, ‘Straight Shooting’ until
his last ‘Cheyenne Autumn’ in 1964, Ford made the genre his
own.
JOHN
FORD’S CAVALRY TRILOGY
Three particular
‘Westerns’ Ford directed in just three years, 1948, 1949 and 1950
symbolized his fondness for one particular part of the ‘Old West’ …
The officers and men of the U.S. Cavalry.
‘FORT APACHE’ (1948), ‘SHE WORE A YELLOW RIBBON’ (1949) and
‘RIO GRANDE’ (1950) all told tales of the hard and often
dangerous life of the men guarding and patrolling the rugged and majestic
country of the Southwest U.S.A. particularly Texas, Utah and Arizona.
The area’s magnificent ‘Monument Valley’ made the perfect backdrop
for many of the most exciting and memorable scenes in all three films.
Another important feature of Ford’s ‘Trilogy’ was the ‘look’ and
dress of these U.S. Cavalry soldiers shown up on the big screen.
From the battered and weathered white stetsons to
the faded yellow neckerchiefs and, of course, those white ‘braces’ (suspenders) set
against navy blue shirts and pale blue riding pants. John Ford’s Cavalry were
always colourful, even in black and white movies.
Only ‘Rio’ Grande was actually filmed in
colour.
Whether guarding the gates and manning the ramparts of their wooden frontier
fort or taking a mounted patrol across Monument Valley, John Ford’s
Cavalry always looked great.
They also provided the inspiration for this particular
range of U.S. Cavalrymen… both on foot and mounted.
On a side note… A few years after
the ‘Trilogy’ appeared John Ford was attending some kind of official
function in Washington D.C. when a then famous female film critic pulled him
to one side saying, “You know Mr. Ford the U.S. Cavalry you like to
portray in your movies never did wear white hats, yellow scarves and white
suspenders!”
Ford thought about her remark for
a moment before replying, “Historically ma’am, you might be right but in
my movies they look a damn sight better!”
King & Country’s ‘John
Ford Cavalry’ officers and troopers are very clearly based on
many of the characters seen in the ‘Trilogy’ and these new
additions are a welcome group of fighting reinforcements to a little piece of
movie history.
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TRW195 ‘Officer Firing Pistol’
A
classic firing pose, arm fully extended and taking careful aim.
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TRW196 ‘Standing Ready Trooper’
In all of Ford’s
‘Trilogy’ movies the main weapon of his cavalrymen is the
Springfield
Model 1873 Carbine!
In addition, all ranks would carry the ‘Colt Single Action Army’ pistol
with the 7.5” long barrel.
Also of note. All of
these new figures, with the exception of the officer have a black leather Carbine
Sling worn over their left shoulders. This allowed mounted soldiers to
be able to ride their horses and use both hands while their carbines were
attached securely to the leather sling on their right side but still be
within easy reach.
Previously this ‘Carbine
Sling’ was not seen on earlier JFC figures but was much requested
by K&C collectors of the range.
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TRW197 'Trooper Kneeling Firing Carbine'
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TRW198 ‘Corporal Crouching Loading
Carbine’
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TRW199 ‘Trooper Standing Firing Carbine’
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TRW200 ‘Trooper Crouching Ready’
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TRW201 ‘Trooper Reloading Carbine’
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TRW202 ‘Corporal / Bugler with Carbine’
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TRW203 ‘Trooper Kneeling & Waiting’
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TRW204 ‘Trooper Lying Prone Firing
Carbine’
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AVAILABLE: Early December
B. ON THE BEAT IN HONG KONG
Among the many great delights of living and working in th great city of Hong Kong for almost 50 years (47 to
be exact) is being able to tell overseas visitors and tourists how clean
and safe it is to walk around it, day or night. Certainly, a lot safer and
cleaner than many great cities in Europe or in the U.S.
One of the main reasons for this safe street environment is the very visible
but not intrusive presence of patrolling police officers on foot
and on the beat.
Today, the Hong Kong Police numbers about 34,000 men and women,
mostly regular but including around 4.000 part-time Auxiliaries.
Throughout its long history the Force has been serving the people of Hong Kong
in good times and bad while weathering storms, typhoons and all kinds of
trials and tribulations in both colonial and more recent times.
These latest Royal Hong Kong Police figures go back to the
mid-late 1960s when the then British Colony was going through a period of
rapid change and tumultuous times in the city
In 1969 as peace and law & order returned the Police Force was granted
the ‘Royal’ for their steadfast loyalty and support
throughout the civil disturbances.
As can be seen here the uniforms shown are typical of the British Colonial style
of the post World War Two era. All three figures
are wearing their ‘Summer’ uniforms with ‘Shorts’ and long
sox.
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HKY022 ‘The Protestor & The
Inspector’
This little 2-figure set is based on actual photo taken some time in the late
1960s and shows a small confrontation between a petite Hong Kong woman and
a taller European Police Inspector.
In order not to inflame the situation the ‘Gweilo*’ Inspector
listens calmly to the lady’s complaint making no comment.
*’Gweilo’ is a common
Cantonese slang term for a Westerner. It means ‘white devil or ghost’.
Once a perjorative term and a mild form of insult
it has, for many years, been ‘adopted’ by most long-term
Western residents of the city living and working in Hong Kong as a friendly
term to describe themselves!
Generally speaking it is no longer seen as any kind of an insult or
derogatory term.
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HKY023 ‘Royal Hong Kong Policeman On The
Street’
Because of its relatively small size and compactness Hong Kong has no major
requirement for large fleets of squad cars manned by one or two officers.
Instead substantial numbers of officers can be seen patrolling the city’s
many streets on foot, usually in groups of two or occasionally three. This
ensures a regular police presence on most of the city’s streets, day and
night.
Should additional resources and manpower be required mobile vehicle patrols
can be called upon. The vast majority of Hong
Kong’s residents appreciate the regular presence of the ordinary policeman ‘on
the beat’ in their neighbourhoods
keeping them and their streets safe.
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HKY024 ‘Royal Hong Kong Police Sergeant’
Like all great disciplined services such as armies and police forces the
backbone of the organisation depends on the
quality and reliability of NCOs (non-commissioned officers).
These men and women have risen through the ranks because of their service,
loyalty and ability to a position of command and respect.
Here, our RHKP sergeant takes down notes into his police notebook.
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AVAILABLE: Early December
And that my friends is that… at least for December.
Towards the end of November and
into December I will be in Florence, Italy to attend a Show there
and meet up with Stefano of Saimex,
our K&C National Distributor for Italy.
Then it’s onto Paris to join Phylip,
Valerie & Pierre of Figurines & Collections for
their special event. While in Paris, I will also visit Solda’
Telis and Sylvie & Marie Alix in their great little
toy soldier shop near the Arc de Triomphe.
From there it’s across the channel (or more correctly under the channel by
Eurostar) to London for the December Show (on Saturday 7
December) where, once again, I’ll be with Stefano at the Saimex Tables.
After London it’s up to bonnie Scotland for a
few days in beautiful Edinburgh to visit family before returning to HK on
December 12… just in time for Christmas!
Talking of which here’s to a joyful and merry Christmas to one and all
and… a peaceful, prosperous and healthy New Year.
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Andy C. Neilson
Co-founder & Creative Director
King & Country
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