DISPATCHES
JUNE 2011
Earlier this morning, before I
started writing this latest “DISPATCHES”, I was on the phone with San Antonio,
Texas and our guys and gals at KINGS X.
The reason was to find out how the
“TEXAS TOY SOLDIER SHOW” went this past weekend. (Memorial Day Weekend).
I am delighted to report that it was a HUGE SUCCESS for all concerned.
What makes this doubly satisfying is
that just weeks ago the show founder and organizer (and good friend) Nick
Versteeg suffered a stroke! Amazingly Nick with
the strength and support of his lovely wife Deanne made the brave and
bold decision to go ahead with the show and what a resounding success it was.
Nick, Deanne and their company “Toy
Soldiers of San Diego” are one of the stalwarts of this hobby and business.
They are a major presence in Chicago and at the West Coaster…I
love what they do and how they do it! I am sure all of us wish Nick a full and
speedy recovery and a big thank you to both him and his wife for making another
great toy soldier show… even greater!
Now, back
to the trenches…
1. WHAT’S NEW
IN JUNE…
A. “Into
the Wild Blue Yonder”
We had hoped to release our P-47 and
ground crew figures in May but production delays meant it fell into June…
so here goes…
AF012 “The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt”
The U.S. Army Air
Force’s most powerful single engined fighter of WW2.
The “Jug”… “T/Bolt” or simply the “Juggernaut” was developed by
the Republic Aviation Corp. and saw active duty on many of the major war
fronts of WW2.
K&C’s P-47 belongs
to the 5th Rescue Squadron of the 8th Air Force
based at RAF Boxted in southern England in
June 1944… hence the bold black and white “invasion” stripes. It comes
in its own specially designed box with seated pilot and gear down.
Please note: Just 500
are being produced!
AF014 “Climbing Pilot”
One foot resting on a
metal ladder this USAAF pilot figure can be placed next to any of our K&C warbirds.
AF016 “Ground Crewman on Bicycle”
Useful on any airfield
scene.
AF017 “Crew Chief with Clipboard”
AVAILABLE: NOW!
B. “VOLKSWAGEN at WAR”
Here are the first two
of the three SERIES 250 VW “Beetles” being released that offer
collectors a range of multi optional choices.
LW043 “Luftwaffe Volkswagen”
As the driver anxiously
scans the skies for enemy fighter bombers this heavily laden field gray vehicle
makes its way to the front…
WS194 “Waffen SS
Volkswagen”
Far less numerous
than the “Kubelwagen” the Waffen
SS made sure they were given priority in delivery from the VW factory. This
model is in typical mid/late war three colour
camouflage and belongs to the 5th SS “Viking” Division.
Please note: both vehicles are “Holzbrenner”
“Beetles” fuelled by wood gas generators… hence the strange looking
tanks on the front of the cars.
AVAILABLE : NOW!
C. “Long
life and Happiness”
The pursuit of wealth,
health and happiness are among the principle features of Hong Kong society…at
all levels.
In many HK homes and
offices there is often found a small statue of “The God of Longevity” and
here he is…
HK193 “The God of Longevity”
AVAILABLE: Early June
D. “SONS
of the EMPIRE”
Here is the second detachment
of this colourful Indian Army infantry regiment… Available
in either gloss or matt finish.
SOE006 “Ludhiana Sikh Kneeling Ready”
SOE007 “Ludhiana Sikh Lying Firing”
SOE008 “Ludhiana Sikh Standing Firing”
Special
note: More Ludhianas are in the works for release
in the coming months…
AVAILABLE:
Mid June
E. “On
the Beaches and Bocage of Normandy”
We’ve needed fighting reinforcements
for our GI’s struggling to battle through the “Bocage”
of the Norman countryside… and here they are… all from the “BIG
RED ONE”, 1st. Infantry Division.
DD147 “Lying Prone OFFICER w/ Tommy –Gun”
This young officer shouts out orders
to his men as the enemy move nearer.
DD148 “Firing BACK”
A neat little two-figure riflemen
set… As one GI fires his Garand the other loads a new clip into his
rifle.
DD149 “Prone GI with .30 Cal. Machine Gun”
This gunner lays down some medium
fire support.
DD150 “Sitting B.A.R. Gunner”
This sitting GI reloads his B.A.R.
Light Machine Gun.
DD151 “Grenade ATTACK!”
As one GI prepares to throw his
grenade the other guy with the rifle gets ready to “cover” him.
available: Mid
June
DD152 “The M7 PRIEST S.P.G.”
It’s been a long, long time since
K&C produced one of these big beauties. This new, much more detailed
“Priest” mounts the classic 105mm field piece and comes with a vehicle
commander.
DD153 “M7 PRIEST CREW Additions”
Two very useful artillery gunners to
help man the “Priest”.
available: Late
June
F. “Winston
taking aim”
As most people know Britain’s
wartime Prime Minister was a former soldier who loved to “try-out” all kinds of
new weaponry.
DD105 “Churchill with his Tommy-Gun”
After test-firing a Thompson
Sub-Machine Gun on a rifle range early in the war Winston declared it was a
“real war-winner”.
On hearing this in America,
Franklin Delano Roosevelt had a special Thompson made for the P.M. and presented
it to him at the Casablanca Conference.
Our
Churchill is based on a famous photograph taken during the war.
AVAILABLE:
Mid June
2. “COMING IN
JULY…”
A. “KEEP ‘EM
FLYING!”
Although it’s usually the pilots and
aircraft of the WW2 Royal Air Force that gets all the glory and kudos it’s
important to remember that it was the dedication and hard work of the ground
crew who kept them both in the air…
In recognition of that important
fact K&C has long produced all kinds of ground crew figures and vehicles to
honour their memory… Our newest RAF releases do
just that…
RAF027 “RAF
Bedford QL Fuel Bowser”
This is
the iconic fuel truck of WW2…
painted in the distinctive RAF blue and yellow for easy recognition on UK
airfields these vehicles remained on active service long after the end of the
war. On a personal note it was one of the first AIRFIX plastic kits I assembled
and painted as a young hobbyist many, many moons ago!
K&C
also produced an extremely rare hand-carved, hand-painted wooden version back
in the mid-nineties!!!
AVAILABLE:
Mid July
RAF029“RAF
Bedford QL Fuel Bowser Normandy”
This alternative fuel bowser is in “Mickey Mouse” black and olive drab
camouflage and is typical of RAF (and Army) vehicles used on the
continent after the D.Day landings.
Please
note: Both vehicles come with RAF drivers.
SPECIAL: These particular models have additional fine detail and some
delicate parts. EXTRA CARE should be taken when handling them or taking them
out of their packaging. PLEASE DO NOT GRIP THEM by the extension arms… fuel
lines or side walkways. Thank
you!
AVAILABLE:
Late July
B. “SNEAK…
PEEK”
I know quite a few of you guys will
be disappointed that there is no “WARBIRD” this month of July… You’ll have to
wait until August but in the meantime here’s a few pictures to keep you going…
Gentlemen,
may we introduce…
“THE
HAWKER TYPHOON Mk.1B”
AVAILABLE:
August
C. “From
France ‘44 to Belgium 1815”
From the skies above Normandy in
June 1944 to the fields around Waterloo, Belgium in 1815 is quite a big jump…
but we’ll do it anyway… with our brand-new French Line Infantry…
NA228 “French Line Infantry Mtd.
Officer”
NA229 “French Line Infantry Marching Officer”
NA230 “French Line Infantry Flagbearer”
NA231 “French Line Infantry Drummer Boy”
NA232 “French Line Infantry Marching Rifleman (right
shoulder)”
NA233 “French Line Infantry Marching Rifleman (left shoulder)”
NA234 “French Line Infantry Marching Rifleman (w/ beard)”
NA235 “Make Ready”
NA236 “Advancing Forward”
All of these new “French Line”
wear the updated “1812” pattern tunic and show the more relaxed (or
practical) style of military dress adopted by the Emperor’s army during the
“100 day” campaign.
Again, more additional figures are
in the production pipeline for release later.
AVAILABLE:
Early July
D. “AFRIKA
KORPS ADD-ONS”
AK074 “Afrika Korps
Volkswagen”
The third of our “Series 250”
VW’s. This version has, again, a roofrack full of
extra supplies of ammunition, fuel and water. In addition a swastika emblazoned
flag has been attached to the roof for easy aircraft recognition.
AK076 “Afrika Korps Feldgendarme”
The ubiquitous “chained dogs”
get everywhere… even North Africa!
K&C’s single figure is dressed
in typical AK attire topped off with German-style “Solar Topee”
(sun helmet).
AVAILABLE:
Mid July
E. “BEERSHEBA
1917”
The latest of our Turkish and
Australian Light Horse soldiers which we will be previewing in person in Brisbane
and Sydney between the 6th and 12th June.
AL021 “Standing Lighthorseman”
While most of the Brigade were
charging the Turkish defenses in and around Beersheba some men had to be left
behind to guard the supplies and the headquarters. Our “digger” is one of
them.
AL022 “Turkish Casualty”
As he runs toward the Australian
horseman this unfortunate “Johnny Turk” takes a bullet in the neck!
AL023 “Surrender or Die!”
A wounded Turk is given a dramatic
option by a dismounted Light Horseman.
AL024 “Collapsing Horseman”
The Turks were not the only
casualties of the battle… Here a fallen Lighthorseman
is almost trampled to death by his wounded charger.
AL025 “General Kemal Attaturk”
Although the founder of modern,
progressive Turkey was not at Beersheba here is how he might have looked had he
been!!!
This Turkish senior officer fears
for the worst as the Australians get nearer and nearer… pistol in one hand… binos in the other.
AVAILABLE:
Mid July
Please note:
Look out for another Light Horse
release pre-Christmas!
3. HEADING TO
THE HAPPY HUNTING GROUNDS…
As usual these days a batch of “goodies”
are making way for some “newbies”… Now read
on…
BBG015 “Schwimmwagen (Winter)
BBG023 “Steyr 1500 FunkKraftwagen”
EA025 “SAS “RECCE” JEEP”
FW043 “Kneeling Ready”
FW045 “Dead Casualty”
FW046 “Wounded”
FW047 “Grenadier”
IF009 “Semovente M40-75/18”
NA033 “Marching French Flagbearer”
NA123 “Cuirassier Drinking”
NA180 “Ready to Repel”
NA181 “Standing Attention”
NA182 “Present Arms”
NA183 “Standing Officer”
And that, my friends is that… for
another month. I sincerely hope there is something in here that you like for
your collections…and collectors.
All the
best!
Andy C. Neilson
Co-Founder & Creative Director
King & Country