“DISPATCHES”
JUNE 2012
As JUNE APPROACHES
I’m getting ready to leave for San Antonio and the “Texas 2012 Toy Soldier
Show”… By the time you read these notes the show will be over and I’ll be
on my way back home to Hong Kong… Such is life!
Anyway here goes with the latest…
1.
FOR RELEASE IN JUNE…
A .“Lawrence of Arabia”
One of my personal all-time favourite movies
is David Lean’s epic “Lawrence of Arabia” starring Peter
O’Toole, Omar Sharif, Alec Guinness and Jack Hawkins.
Since I first saw it almost 50 years ago I’ve been fascinated and enthralled by
the colour and spectacle of the movie and the tale it
told. A couple of years ago, not long after K&C started work on our
Australian Light Horse range, I decided that we should try and extend our
interest in the First World War in the Middle East to include “Lawrence” and
the Arab Revolt.
Well, here are the first
two pieces…
LOA001 “Lieut.
T.E. Lawrence”
In the movie, when Lawrence journeys into the
desert for the first time he is still dressed in regular British Army tropical
uniform. He has however exchanged his service cap for the much more sensible
Arab headdress.
Here he is mounted on a superbly detailed and colourful
camel.
LOA002 “Sherif Ali”
Played in the film by Omar Sharif Lawrence
encounters the dramatic black-clad figure of Sherif
Ali ibn el Kharish, one
of Prince Feisal’s most trusted lieutenants.
Sherif Ali sits atop his equally detailed camel, a Lee Enfield rifle
resting across his lap.
Special Note: These
are just the first two great “Lawrence” figures … look out for more
later!
AVAILABLE: NOW!
B .“TOMMIES AT WAR”
Back in May we had our first
release (in quite some time) of British infantry and armour
suitable for the battles in Normandy and Holland during the last year of the
Second World War. Then we told you of the additions already in the production
pipeline… Here they are…
DD170
“Officer w/Map Case”
This standing officer is consulting his map
and just checking to see if him and his men are exactly where they are meant to
be!!!
DD171 “Radio
Operator”
Where the officer goes… his radio goes too…
DD172 “Taking
a Pee!”
This “Tommy” has decided to let der
Fuhrer know exactly what he thinks of him… and the master-race.
DD173
“Standing Guard”
Just as the officer needs his radio it’s also good to have another “Tommy”
guarding his back.
DD174 “Humber
Heavy Utility”
This vehicle was a familiar sight wherever British and Commonwealth
troops were in action…
The sturdy Humber Heavy Utility was actually the forerunner of
the post war Landrover series of
vehicles. This “Normandy” version is the first of 3… the upcoming
ones being an “RAF” version plus an 8th. Army
“Desert” one.
AVAILABLE: Early June
C.
"TAKING TO THE SKIES"
At
last ... our three colourful Fokker DVII's arrive ready for combat... together
with some ground crew… and a leading German ‘ace’.
FW111 "Fokker DVII of Leut August Reben Jasta 18"
AVAILABLE: Early June
D .“CARRY ON UP THE KHYBER”
From Normandy and Holland in the final year of the Second World War to
the North West Frontier of Imperial India in the late 19th.
Century…
Here are the latest four additions for our “Sons of the Empire” Ludhiana
Sikhs Regiment…
SOE015 / SOE015(G) “Drum Major”
SOE016 / SOE016(G) “Ludhianna Marching Rifleman”
SOE017 / SOE017(G) “Big Drummer”
SOE018 / SOE018(G) “Ludhianna Sikhs’ Bagpiper”
AVAILABLE: NOW!
E .“IN HONGKONG HARBOUR”
Every year, for over a century now, special boat races have been held in
and around Hong Kong and other ports in South China… Each Long sleek watercraft
is propelled by a team of young men guided by a cox’n
and a drummer to set the pace. Now, there are two K&C sets to replicate the
men of the “Dragon Boats”…
HK200 (G/M)
“The Victors’ Dragon Boat”
Available in either gloss or matt paint finish each boat
carries 6 men with paddles… I cox’n…
and just 1 drummer.
HK209 (G/M) “The
Champions’ Dragon Boat”
An alternative team to compete with the above set.
AVAILABLE: NOW!
F .“TWO GREAT NEW STRUCTURES”
These two new buildings make a perfect display background for both
figures and vehicles…
SP049 “The
Roman Gateway/ Watch Tower”
These tower/ gateways could
be found all over the Roman Empire … even today examples can still be seen-
mostly in and around the Middle East.
Our model can be used in all kinds of
historical periods with all kinds of soldiers.
Moving gates, a ladder and signal beacon are
included.
SP051
“Normandy Garage”
Adapted, developed and improved
from an older design this new, full colour garage is
typical of a rural French Garage of the 1930’s and 1940’s Posters and
advertising signs give it a realistic “period” flavour.
Alongwith
some serious battle damage!
AVAILABLE: Roman Gateway: Mid to late June
French Garage: Early
to Mid June
G .“BERLIN ‘38”
LAH155 “1938 Hitler Saluting”
Wearing his simple brown uniform the Fuhrer delivers a typical casual
salute.
LAH157 “General Gerd
von Runstedt”
One of the Fuhrer’s most trusted military
advisers and a leading German General.
AVAILABLE: Mid to late June
H .“LUFTWAFFE EAGLES”
By 1944 Hitler’s Luftwaffe was very
much on the defensive… In the skies over the Third Reich British and
American bombers ranged far and wide “blitzing” all major towns and
cities. From the East the Soviet Air Force was also beginning to fly deep into
Germany in support of its advancing armies.
To combat these assaults
Germany’s aircraft builders continued to develop a number of highly – advanced
fighter aircraft… Among the best was the Focke-Wulf
FW190 “D”.
LW049
“FOCKE-WULF FW190 ‘DORA’ ”
K&C’s latest warbird is a development of
the earlier highly successful FW190 “A”… the famous “Butcher Bird”.
This “stretched” FW190
had many improved performance features as well as a higher top speed. In the hands
of top fighter pilot it was a lethal weapon and shot down many allied aircraft
during the final months of the war in Europe.
Our model is in the markings
of Jagdgeschwader 301 and carries the
distinctive red and yellow “Defence of the
Reich” bands on its fuselage.
Just 300 are being
produced
LW050
“Exiting Pilot”
To accompany this great model
we’ve designed a Luftwaffe pilot that can be positioned in the open
cockpit area… He looks happy so it must have been a successful sortie!
LW051 “Feldwebel
Willi Reschke”
Another of JG 301’s “Dora” pilots shouts
encouragement to his squadron mate… Reschke
survived the war with a total of 27 “victories” and was awarded the “Knight’s
Cross”.
LW052 “Oberfeldwebel Walter Loos”
Giving the “thumbs-up” this well-respected ace shot down 38
enemy aircraft including 22 four engine American “heavies”
and 8 Soviet aircraft.
LW053 “Fiat
Mod. 500A ”Topolino” (Luftwaffe version)
By the latter stages of the
war the Germans were using whatever transport vehicles they could lay their
hands on … Here, a Luftwaffe officer has commandeered this brightly coloured little Italian “runaround” for
official use. Only 250 are available.
AVAILABLE: LW049-LW052: Late June
LW053: Early June
2.
COMING IN JULY…
July is a great month for maximum variety to
suit all kinds of tastes… and budgets!
A .“Somewhere in the sands of Egypt”
AE047 “The
Mummy’s Statue”
A great little display item with lots of
detail that can be used primarily in an “Ancient Egypt” scenario… or
just as well with “Napoleon in Egypt” figures or even WW2’s Afrika Korps or 8th
Army.
AVAILABLE: Late June to Early July
B .“Back to Beersheba”
Still in the Middle East but we’ve moved across the Sinai Desert and are
now in Palestine during the First World War…
AL032
“Machine Gun Set”
Two Lighthorse troopers man a Vickers Heavy
Machine Gun in support of their charging comrades.
AL033 “Up and Over!”
This jumping Lighthorseman has leapt his mount over part of a Turkish
sandbag defenseworks.
AL034 “Turkish Soldier Thrusting Bayonet”
This “Johnny Turk” is doing his best to fend off the mounted Australian.
AL035 “Turkish Soldier Running”
Crouched over this Turkish soldier tries to
avoid the hoofs of the leaping horse.
Special Note: Due to popular demand there will now be two
releases of Australian and Turkish Soldiers throughout the
year.
AVAILABLE: Late June/ Early July
C. “… And Back to Ancient China”
K&C are issuing no less than three famous
Chinese Generals from the Three Kingdoms period…
IC043 “Cao Cao”
Cao Cao was a well-known military strategist
in the “Three Kingdoms” period and also an outstanding poet.
IC044 “Liu Bei”
Well known as a benevolent and humane ruler.
IC045 “Lord Guan Yu”
A General of Liu Bei. He can be
easily recognized by his red face and long lush beard. Temples and shrines
dedicated exclusively to Guan Yu can still be found in China today.
AVAILABLE: Early July
D. “Napoleon in Egypt”
Four colorfully dramatic additions to this very collectable series…
NE019 “Standing General w/Map”
A beautifully detailed senior officer
consults his map.
NE020 “Guide w/ Musket”
NE021 “Inspecting the Mummy ”
A French
soldier and a local Nubian guide take a closer look at a mummified
casket they have unearthed.
NE026 “Smoke Break”
Another of Napoleon’s men pauses to light
his pipe.
AVAILABLE: Early July
E. “A Place Called YALTA”
In early 1945 American President Franklin
D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston S. Churchill journeyed
to the Crimean resort of Yalta to meet Soviet Russia’s Joseph
Stalin. Together these three men decided on the final progress of the war
against Hitler’s Third Reich and their own plans for post war Germany and the
rest of Europe.
DD106 “The Big three”
The three seated leaders make a strong
contrast in style … Churchill, in his Royal Air Force uniform
ebullient and confident … Marshal Stalin, quiet and brooding in
his Red Army uniform and … Roosevelt, the
sole “civilian” but wearing a U.S. Navy boat cloak.
This great little set commemorates the last
time all three of these Allied leaders were to meet… Within a few months Roosevelt
would die…Churchill would be voted out of office… Only ”Uncle Joe”
would remain!
AVAILABLE: Mid July
F. “Fields of Battle”
From a gathering of the powerful we move to
the more humble participants in the Second World War… The Civilians.
FOB067 “Mother & Daughter”
A mother and daughter glance
nervously upwards at the sound of approaching aircraft … A scene that could be France
in the summer of 1940… Britain during the Blitz of 1941… or even Germany
from 1942 onwards. Another mini tableau of civilians caught in wartime.
FOB068 “Old Man & Wheel Barrow”
A companion piece to the previous set…
Pushing a few meager belongings all this man seeks is peace and safety.
“Read All About It!”
Three individual versions of the same
figure… Carrying newspaper banners telling three different stories…
FOB070 “Newspaper Seller#1”
FOB086 “Newspaper Seller#2”
FOB087 “Newspaper Seller#3”
AVAILABLE: Early to Mid July
G. “Life of Jesus”
Three new Roman soldiers join
one of the most famous men in the Bible… Plus some very interesting
onlookers.
LOJ021 “Primum Pilus”
One of the Legion’s senior officers and most decorated for valour.
LOJ022 “Roman Auxiliary Saluting”
The out thrust arm salute
originated with Rome’s Legions… it was only almost two millennium later it was
copied first by Mussolini’s Fascitls… and then
the Nazis.
LOJ023 “Roman Auxiliary Drinking”
Patrolling
the streets of Jerusalem and other towns in Israel was thirsty work. This
auxiliary pauses for a drink. Is it water or wine?
AVAILABLE:
Early July
LOJ024 “The Boot Maker”
Sitting on
his work stool this craftsman could be found operating in many Roman garrisons.
LOJ025 “John The Baptist”
The man who baptized Jesus himself and a
well-known figure of the time preaching the length and breadth of Israel. He
foretold the coming of the Lord and met his fate at the hands of Herod’s
daughter.
LOJ026 “The Listener”
A bearded Pharisee listening to
John’s preaching.
LOJ027 “Seated Man”
Another spectator listening to John’s
preaching.
LOJ028 “Sitting Woman”
On her way back from the water well this woman
sits and listens to words of John.
LOJ029 “The Scholar”
Seated on a colourful
mat this young man is studying.
AVAILABLE: Mid to Late July
H. “The New Commanding Officer”
BR090 “Mounted Fusileer
Officer”
A full-blown colonel of the 23rd.
Royal Welch Fusileers mounted on his favourite steed and preparing to lead his men into battle.
AVAILABLE: Mid to Late July
I. “ALL HANDS TO THE PUMPS!”
No, it’s not nautical this time… Here are three
vintage 1930 Petrol/ Gas Pumps that you would find at any
garage in France or Belgium during the thirties up to the early sixties.
SP052 “Petrol/ Gas Pumps” (set of 3)
AVAILABLE: Mid to Late July
J. “Looking For The Enemy”
A second version of the Sd. Kfz 234/1 eight-wheel armoured
car… perfect for operations in France, Belgium, Holland… or even the
Eastern Front.
WS197“Sd. Kfz
234/1”Schwerer Panzerspahwagen
That’s quite a mouthful in anyone’s
language. This Wehrmacht version of the eight-wheeler is in
typical late-war three colour camouflage, armed with
both an MG42 machine gun and a 20mm cannon it comes complete with
a seated, full-body vehicle commander.
AVAILABLE: Early to Mid July
3.
On
the Retired List…
Quite a mixed bunch this month and… some
real bargains!
Check ‘em out…
AF003 “Captain Brett Cutler”
AF004 “Air Force MPs”
AF005 “Crew Chief”
FOB020 “German Kubelwagen
Car”
FOB041 “Stretcher Party”
HK150(G/M) “The New Mahjong Set (Gloss/Matt)
LAH046 “SA Man Marching”
LAH047 “SA Standard Bearer”
LAH048 “SA Officer Marching”
LAH057 “Dr. Goebbels”
LAH088 “Reichminister
Rudolf Hess”
LAH091 “Reichsmarschall
Hermann Goring”
LAH095 “Marching Officer”
LAH096 “Admiral Karl Donitz”
LW026 “Luftwaffe Field Division, Searchlight”
LW027 “Luftwaffe Field Division, Spotter”
MK074 “Crusader Tent 2”
MK075 “Crusader Tent 3”
RAF008 “RAF Ground Crew Set”
RAF018 “WAAF Officer Pointing”
RAF019 “WAAF Sergeant”
And that friends and colleagues is the story
so far… Let’s hope there’s something for you and your collectors. In the
meantime very best wishes!
Andy C. Neilson
Co-founder & Creative Director
King & Country