DISPATCHES
JULY 2010
JULY is
here and here comes a whole raft of great, exciting releases that I honestly
believe are among some of the very best and most original work KING &
COUNTRY has ever produced… So, here goes…
1. BEING RELEASED THIS MONTH
A.
“REFUGEES ON THE ROAD”
A sad,
tragic fact of life (and war) is that when armies start to march
innocent civilians often get caught up in the fighting or try to get away from
it. These new figures are amongst the most poignant and moving K&C has ever
produced. Primarily designed for use in Second World War scenarios a few
could even be used in any suitable diorama of The Great War involving “behind-the-lines”
scenes.
Our
figures have been based on actual photographs taken during the attack on
I believe
they can provide an extra depth and realism to any wartime diorama. See for
yourself…
FoB062 “The Refugee Cart”
A man
pulls a heavily-laden hand cart overflowing with a family’s pitiful belongings…
As he struggles to pull the cart along his young daughter tries to help by
pushing…
FoB063 “Old Woman by the Road”
This old
lady cannot believe that for the second time in a lifetime her world is about
to be destroyed by war.
FoB064 “The Pram Set”
A mother
pushing a pram with a young baby inside leads her other little girl by the
hand… both of them carrying pathetic little backpacks… Where are they going?
Even they don’t know… but as long as it’s away from the fighting.
FoB065 “Father & Son”
Perhaps this is the husband and
father of the woman with the pram and children?
The man
carries two heavy suitcases… his little boy a small case… They join the flow of
refugees on the road.
FoB066 “The Old Couple”
An
elderly grey-bearded man gently leads his wife down the road… First, their
house had been taken over by the soldiers… then it lay in ruins… Now they have
nothing but each other to hold on to…
SPECIAL NOTE:
These
civilian figures are part of the “Fields of
AVAILABILITY:
Early July
B. “THE
BUTCHER BIRD”
LW028 “Focke-Wulf
Fw
Professor Kurt Tank’s most famous design… the Focke-Wulf
190 caused shock and consternation when it first appeared in the skies over
For 12
whole months there was nothing either the British or the Americans (or the
Russians) could successfully put up against it. A simple, straight forward
design the “
By 1944
however even the “
Our
K&C model is in the “personal” markings of one of the Third Reich’s
top fighter “aces”… Major Heinz Bär.
This particular “
On the
tail can be seen Bär’s tally of “kills” on the
white section, Bär himself can be seen in the cockpit
underneath the sliding canopy. Underneath the aircraft’s belly is the special
extra fuel, centre-line, drop-tank.
As an
added bonus a full set of fuel drums and jerricans is
included with the aircraft. Each complete aircraft and fuel drums comes in its
own specially-designed presentation box.
“Planned Production Run” on this particular Heinz Bär
Fw190 is just 750 pieces.
About Heinz Bär
Bär joined the Luftwaffe in 1935, flew over 1,000
combat missions and shot down 220 British, American and Russian aircraft
by the end of the war.
Tragically
he was killed flying a light civilian airplane in 1957.
AVAILABILITY: Late
July
C. “ACES
HIGH”
LW029 “Oberstleutnant Josef “Pips” Priller”
Priller is perhaps most famous for flying his Fw190 on a
single strafing run of “Sword Beach” on D. Day as seen in the epic “The
Longest Day”.
“Pips” Priller, during WW2, flew over 1,300 combat missions
and shot down 101 Allied aircraft… including 68 Spitfires! This
is the highest of any Lufwaffe ace’s tally for this
particular aircraft.
LW030 “Leutnant Josef “Sepp”
Wurmheller”
Before he
was killed on
His most
successful day was during the ill-fated “
Our
K&C figure shows “Sepp”, still recovering,
on crutches.
LW031 “Major Siegfried Schnell”
Another
notable Luftwaffe fighter ace with 93 “kills” and recipient of the “Knight’s
Cross with Oak Leaves”. Although most of his victories were gained flying
the Fw190 he himself was shot down and killed in February 1944 flying a
Messerschmitt Bf109 “Gustav”.
AVAILABILITY: Mid
July
D. “AWAY
ALL BOATS!”
Our great
new “Higgins Boat” is about to hit the beaches of
DD130 “
This deck
officer, dressed in workaday khaki can be seen on the dockside… on
ship… or in one of our new landing craft.
DD131 “Standing Sailor”
There’s
always some guy around who just likes to stand and watch!!!
DD137 “
The first
of our two Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel boats originally designed by Andrew
Higgins and built in one of his 7 factories in
This is
K&C’s second version and it is a real beaut and a
big improvement… It comes with a cox’n and
two .30 calibre machine guns and gunners…
The ramp raises and lowers and it can accommodate a whole bunch of GI’s or a
jeep and trailer.
DD138 “
The
Second LCVP (for those collectors who need at least 2 for their displays).
This second craft has a different cox’n figure
plus, of course, the two .30 calibre machine guns
and gunners and a different hull number. As the other LCVP the ramp
raises and lowers… as required.
DD139 “Sailor with Binos”
Wearing
his “steelpot” and navy blue windcheater
jacket this sailor is on “lookout” duty.
DD140 “Sailor putting on Life Jacket”
It pays to be safe at sea… life on the ocean wave can be dangerous so it
makes sense to wear your life jacket at all times…
DD144 “Crewman with Radio”
This
sailor on shore duty using his “walkie-talkie” to contact one of the
landing craft.
DD145 “Crewman Shouting”
Another “swabbie” making his presence felt!
AVAILABILITY: Mid July
E. “ALL
AT SEA OR BACK ON DRY LAND”
HK184 “The Fisherman”
A Chinese
fisherman doing what fisherman do the whole world over…
AVAILABILITY: Mid
July
2. COMING IN AUGUST
A.
“SPITFIRE SUMMER”
During
the summer of 1940
Only Britain,
its army narrowly escaping the clutches of Adolf Hitler at Dunkirk… the
ships of the Royal Navy and a handful of Spitfires and Hurricanes
were left to stand up to the might of the Nazi war machine…
This
August, the 70th. Anniversary of the Battle of Britain, K&C is
releasing the second iconic British fighter plane of that epic aerial struggle…
The Supermarine Spitfire.
Along
with our superb model of a Spitfire Mk.1 we are also launching a batch
of new “ace” pilot figures, several ground personnel and the RAF
airfield version of the Austin K2 Ambulance.
RAF015 “RAF
A
familiar and reassuring sight on dozens of RAF airfields across the length and
breadth of
Our model
carries the markings of “Biggin Hill”, one of
the most famous RAF fighter stations of WW2 and is driven by a female WAAF (Women’s
Auxiliary Air Force) driver.
Planned Production Run: Just
250 vehicles
RAF016 “Supermarine
Spitfire Mk
A
superbly detailed model of R.J. Mitchell’s magnificent fighter aircraft.
Although twice as many Hawker Hurricanes actually fought in the
Our
K&C “Spit” is in the personal markings of Flight Lieutenant Alan
“AL” Deere, a young New Zealander, flying with 54 Squadron during
the
His
Spitfire Mk.1, complete with smoke stains from the gun ports and engine
exhausts makes a worthy companion to our earlier released Hawker Hurricanes.
Planned Production Run: 750
models
RAF018 “WAAF Officer”
All the Women’s
Auxiliary Air Force personnel played a vital ground support role during the
RAF019 “WAAF Sergeant”
Clipboard
in hand this female NCO is on an “inspection tour” of the
airfield.
RAF020 “Sergeant Pilot George Unwin”
George “Grumpy” Unwin enlisted in the RAF in 1929. In
1935 he was selected for pilot training and was eventually posted to 19
Squadron as a Spitfire pilot. By the end of the Battle of Britain he was
credited with 14 enemy aircraft.
He was
commissioned in 1941 and survived the war. He died in 2006.
RAF021 “Sergeant Pilot Antoni Glowacki”
Toni Glowacki was a Free Polish Air
Force pilot who shot down 5 German aircraft on one day (
RAF022 “Flying Officer Andy Mamedoff”
Andy Mamedoff was one of the first American
pilots to fly with the Royal Air Force during the Battle of Britain. Initially Mamedoff came to Europe to fly for
When
RAF023 “Flying Officer John “Pancho” Villa”
“Pancho” flew with 72 Squadron throughout the
RAF024 RAF
Policeman
An
airfield security corporal on guard duty…somewhere in
RAF025 RAF
Kneeling Armourer
This armourer, festooned with belts of .303 ammunition, for the
guns of a Hurricane or Spitfire.
SPECIAL NOTE:
Look out for another RAF Airfield vehicle in, September’s release
schedule.
AVAILABILITY: Early August
B. “THE
REGIMENT WILL ADVANCE!”
As our
existing Revolutionary War British line regiment is being retired another takes
to the field… And it’s a famous one too!
The Royal
Welch Fusiliers
During
the America Revolution this regiment saw action in virtually every major
campaign (except Burgoyne’s). It fought from
BACKGROUND:
For many
years now K&C has been a “permanent fixture” at the annual “WestCoaster” Toy Soldier Show held in
The show
always begins with a parade around the hall of “living history re enactors” usually
led by a contingent of 23rd Foot (Royal Welch Fusiliers). Two years ago
the members of this fine regiment stopped by the K&C tables and we got
talking… There and then we decided that they would be our next Rev. War British
regiment… And so we took lots of reference photos of the guys in a multitude of
poses and attitudes and here are the first results… enjoy!
BR075 “RWF Officer with Gloves”
A senior
of the Regiment, very cool and calm (as British senior officers invariably
are) prepares for battle!
BR076 “RWF Officer Saluting”
A junior
officer reports to his superior that the men are “standing to” and ready
for action.
BR077 “Fusilier Presenting Arms”
Fusilier
in a “classic” pose.
BR078 “Fusilier Making Ready”
BR079 “Fusilier Standing Firing”
BR080 “Fusilier Kneeling Firing”
BR081 “Fusilier Kneeling Ready”
BR082 “RWF Officer with King’s Colour”
A
standing Fusilier Ensign holding the great Union Standard (Jack) that is
the King’s Colour
AVAILABILITY: Mid
August
C.
“HITLERJUGEND IN
Raised in
1943 this Waffen SS Division (the 12th.)
comprised almost 20,000 seventeen-year old members of the Nazi Party’s Youth
Organization… all volunteers.
The
Division’s veteran officers and NCO’s were mostly seconded or transferred from
the premier Waffen SS unit, 1st SS “Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler”.
In the
Spring of 1944 after it completed its training and received its full quota of
arms and equipment it was transferred to
On
This is
the first of two releases showing the “HJ in action” during the
early days of the fighting in
WS175 “Summer Raupenschlepper”
Two years
ago K&C released a very popular “winter” version of this great
little tracked transporter. We received many requests to produce a “summer”
one… and here it is!
But, this
new version is a brand-new sculpt with several additional features…
First of all, the “canvas” top is removable and can be replaced
with the steel metal frame in its place.
Also
included a load of supplies that can either be put into the vehicles (or
stand by its side). This Raupenschlepper
has a towing hook as well allowing collectors to pull an artillery piece
or trailer. Finally there is also an all-new driver as well.
AVAILABILITY: Early
August
WS176 “Hitlerjugend Panther Ausf.
A”
Another essential
part of the division’s fighting inventory was a company of Panther tanks.
This
latest Panther Ausf. A tank is definitely
K&C’s most detailed Panther to date. Covered in “zimmerit”
paste and battle-worn, two crew members can be seen with the vehicle as it
prepares to engage the enemy.
WS163 “Talking Tankers”
Two Waffen SS Panzer officers discuss the
tactical situation.
WS164 “Kneeling HJ Officer”
One of
the veteran 1st SS officers transferred to lead the young inexperienced HJ
boys into battle.
WS165 “Pak 97/38 Anti Tank Gun”
This was
a typical German combination of utilizing a captured enemy weapon (in this
case the French canon de 75 model 1897) and the carriage of their proven
German Pak 38.
Entering
wide-spread service in 1942 it was one of the principal anti tank guns supplied
to the Hitlerjugend Division just
before
Our model
comes with a three-man crew in action poses.
SPECIAL NOTE:
This gun
can also be “pulled” behind by the new Raupenschlepper.
WS166 “Laying the MG42 Gun Set”
Providing
the extra fire power to keep the Allied heads down this three-man set takes
careful aim.
SPECIAL NOTE:
Look out for more “HJ” infantrymen in action in September.
Waffen SS on Parade
WS162 “Waffen
SS Officer w/Sword”
This 2nd
SS “DAS REICH” armoured division officer in
full Panzer black uniform w/ sword.
WS178 ““DAS REICH” Banner Bearer”
Another
marching officer in full Panzer black uniform with Divisional Banner.
AVAILABILITY: Late
August
1. “BEING RETIRED”
Another
substantial list of figures is being retired this month… Here they are…
American Revolution “
AR044 “New George Washington on Horseback”
AR046 “Standing Loading Corporal”
AR047 “Standing Ready”
AR048 “Present Arms”
AR049 “Marine Officer Saluting”
AR051 “Flagbearer”
BR033 “Mounted General Cornwallis”
BR034 “Marching Officer w/ Sword”
BR035 “Marching Officer w/ Union Flag”
BR036 “Marching Officer w/ Regimental
Flag”
BR037 “Shouting Sergeant w/ Rifle”
BR038 “Marching Drummer/Fifer”
BR039 “Advancing w/ Rifle & Boynet”
BR040 “Marching w/ Rifle Ready”
BR041 “Kneeling Firing Rifle”
BR048 “'Standing Firing Rifle”
BR049 “Running Rifleman”
BR050 “Red Coat Causalty”
“Remember The
RTA037 “Wounded Mexican Soldier”
RTA040 “James Buchanan,
“
BBA027 “So, What's New…Are We Winning?”
BBA028 “Takin' it Easy”
BBG010 “Ski Troopers”
BBG019 “German Medics Set”
And that is that… at least for another month… Thank you gain for your continued support
and business. It is always appreciated…
With best
wishes, for good health… and great sales!
Andy C. Neilson
Co-founder & Creative
Director
King & Country