DISPATCHES
JUNE 2015
Can’t quite believe we are
already almost half way through the year...and it’s still only June!!!
Well, whether I believe it or
not time waits for no man and so without further ado...Let’s lock ‘n’
load...
Here’s the “skinny” on
this month’s releases.
1.
APPEARING
IN JUNE!
A.
“BERLIN FALLS...HITLER ALIVE!”
Just imagine, for a minute,
Adolf Hitler did not die in his bunker amid the ruins of Berlin in 1945.
What if...he had been captured alive by the Russians. What would he have looked like..?
That was the unique little
scenario we conjured up when we decided to make a special complimentary gift
figure for all those K&C collectors attending our “Saturday Night
Symposium” at the very recent 9th Texas Toy Soldier Show.
In the past when K&C has
produced a small, specialized ‘run’ of figures like this some have ended
up on ebay or elsewhere with very high prices
attached! This year we wanted to be able to offer other dealers and
collectors who cannot attend the event the opportunity to purchase the “Show
Figure” at a regular price. So, we’ve made a few extras which will be
available on a “first come-first served” basis.
LAH195
“Hitler Lives!”
As above, the now defeated
Führer stands bruised, battered and dishevelled
amidst the ruins of his “Thousand-Year Reich”.
AVAILALBLE:
Early June
B.
“KING ARTHUR & HIS KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE”
With the story of King
Arthur, his Knights and that very famous “Round Table” it’s
exceedingly hard to separate mystery, myth and legend from the few known facts
that are available.
So, K&C has carefully
picked through all of this information and selected what we think is a fair and
balanced representation of one of the most famous stories in British
history. Collectors can decide for themselves whether we’ve succeeded in
capturing the spirit and essence of these legendary figures from the Age of
Chivalry...
This release comprises the
first three knights and King Arthur himself...the
magnificent table and the King’s chair as well as a
set of 11 individual chairs that surround the table.
MK137
“King Arthur”
Arthur was a legendary British
leader of the late 5th and early 6th Centuries whose
exploits are recorded in several medieval histories and romances. In more
recent times his story and legend has been moved up several hundred years and
his appearance (and that of his Knights) is portrayed as much more
typical of the 12th and 13th Centuries.
Even in the 21st
Century Arthur’s legend burns brightly thanks to theatre...film...television
and books of all descriptions.
Our King Arthur stands
proudly...sword in one hand pointing to the centre,
his crowned helmet in his other hand and a fierce but fair expression on his
bearded face.
MK138
“Sir Galahad”
One account has him as the son of Sir Lancelot...another has him as the
younger brother of the same Knight. Suffice to say he was one of the
bravest of the Round Table and was one of the three Knights specially selected
to undertake the “Quest for the Holy Grail”.
MK139
“Mordred”
The “Black Sheep” or should that be “Black Knight” of the Round
Table...Said to be the illegitimate son of Arthur and a traitor in his
midst. He was later to declare open rebellion against his father and
would be killed at the Battle of Camlann where
Arthur himself was also fatally injured.
MK140
“Sir Lancelot”
One of the most famous of the Knights and a great friend to the King...Alas
however his love affair with Arthur’s Queen Guinevere ultimately brought
about the end of the Kingdom and the destruction of the Round Table!
MK143
“The Round Table & The King’s Chair”
A superb reconstruction in miniature of the “Winchester
Round Table” which can still be seen hanging in Winchester Great
Hall in England. This magnificent design bears the names of
various Knights of Arthur’s court and was probably painted for a tournament in
the time of Henry VIII (1491-1547). The original
wooden table itself has been dated much earlier to the reign of Edward I (1239-1307)
who was a great enthusiast of the Arthurian legends.
Accompanying the Round Table is the King’s Chair, a wooden
construction on which the King...and only the King...could sit.
MK144
“The Knights’ Chair Set”
A set of 11 identical chair/stools that are positioned behind
each knight as he stands at the table.
AVAILALBLE:
Early to Mid-June
SPECIAL
NOTE: Other Round Table characters will be
released at regular intervals.
C.
“FROM ROUND TABLES TO RED FLAGS!”
As usual we like to take you
on a little journey with each “DISPATCHES” and this one is no
exception...
From the lush green vales and
valleys of medieval England to the bomb-shattered ruins of Berlin in April and
May 1945...in one fell swoop.
RA064
“Raising The Red Flag”
A Soviet soldier has climbed
atop one of the architectural features of the Reichstag high above the
rubble-covered streets of the German capital.
His machine-pistol slung
across his back he is handed up a red banner which he unfurls over the defeated
city.
This small set includes our
soldier hero...the Red Flag...and, of course, the famous Reichstag plinth seen
in many photos of the event.
RA065
“Death to Fascists!”
Down below in the streets of the city small pockets of German resistance are
still being “flushed-out” even as the red flag flies overhead. Here
one Russian soldier leans over a dead enemy and takes a “potato-masher”
stick grenade out of the German’s belt...Let’s hope it’s not booby-trapped.
RA066
“Red Army Officer”
While most of the street fighting has died down this officer is taking no
chances...He puts a fresh magazine into his pistol.
RA067
“Pointing Russki”
Clad in his “poncho” cape this Russian indicates an enemy position.
RA068
“Red Army Rescue”
Under fire this Soldier carries a badly wounded comrade out of danger.
RA069
“Dead Russians”
Two of the fallen who have made the ultimate sacrifice for “Mother Russia”
RA070
“Victory At Last”
These two figures are again based on the same series of photographs that
inspired RA064 “Raising The Red Flag”
and go well with that set or...on their own.
AVAILABLE:
Early to Mid-June
D.
“COMMANDOS ON THE FRONTLINE”
From Berlin in its darkest
hour in May 1945 to...another dark hour sometime in 1942/43 when British
Commandos took part in raids up and down the Nazi occupied coastline of Western
Europe...usually at night.
DD256
“Advancing Tommy Gunner”
This corporal carrying the Thompson
stealthily moves forward stalking an enemy sentry perhaps.
DD257
“Crouching Officer w/Pistol”
A junior subaltern, pistol in hand, observes an enemy position.
DD258
“Dueling Pistols”
Another great little fighting duo...A commando shoots the enemy soldier
while grappling his opponent’s pistol into the air.
DD259
“Major ‘Mad Jack’ Churchill”
Jack Churchill (1906-1996) was no relation to the more famous
Winston but shared the same spirit and thirst for danger and excitement.
Originally commissioned into the British Army in 1926 he left the Army 10 years
later before rejoining at the outbreak of war in 1939. After the Fall of
France in 1940 he joined the newly-formed “Commandos” and rose, by 1942
to be second-in-command of No.3 Commando...A brave and energetic officer
he was also a certified military eccentric...playing the bagpipes...using a
bow and arrow in combat...and carrying a basket hilted Scottish broadsword into
battle!!!
He finished the war as a Lieutenant Colonel and was
awarded 2 x Distinguished Service Orders. He finally
retired from the army in 1959.
Here we show him carrying his
“Tommy Gun” in one hand...and his famous Scottish Broadsword in the
other.
DD260
“Sssh!”
A single commando warns his mates to keep quiet as an enemy sentry
approaches...
DD261
“Oddball’s Tank”
As many K&C collectors’ already know we love movies...especially WAR
MOVIES! So when we came to do our “GANG OF HEROES”
mini-series we knew we had to do this particular Sherman.
Well, here it is...Loudspeaker and all with our crazy but cool tank commander
in the turret and a couple of his guys popping their heads out of the armoured hull...where are they going...who
knows..? But there better be a whole big bundle of gold bullion at
the end of it!
DD262
“WarDaddy”
Here’s another Sherman tank commander that might prove useful...
AVAILABLE:
Mid-June
E.
“DIFFERENT WAR...DIFFERENT TIME”
From France and Germany in
1944 and ’45 let’s jump back across the English Channel and back 300 years...to
around 1645 with our latest “Pike & Musket” release.
PnM036 “English
Civil War Cannon”
An alternative version to the
Parliamentary cannon released a few months back.
PnM037
“Royalist Gunners Set A”
PnM038
“Royalist Gunners Set B”
AVAILABLE:
Mid-June
F.
“AND NOW TO THE ALAMO”
The K&C “Magic Carpet”
is certainly putting in some extra mileage this month...With a hop, skip and a
jump we’re now in San Antonio and that famous siege of the Alamo.
RTA083
“Jim Bowie”
The famous inventor of the
knife and one of the Alamo’s most famous defenders was actually on his sick bed
when the final battle took place...Even though weak Bowie puts on a brave face
as he shoots one of his Mexican attackers...His famous knife lies at his side
on the bed.
RTA084
“Mexican Casualty”
Bowie’s bullet finds its mark.
RTA085
“Mexican Bayoneteer”
This soldier rushes forward to impale the stricken Bowie and avenge his
comrade’s death.
AVAILABLE:
Late June
G.
WEHRMACHT ENGINEERS
Many years ago K&C
produced a little set of German Army engineers that proved very popular and are
much sought-after on the secondary market. So, we surmised maybe it’s
about time we did some more...Here they are...
WH024
“Standing Engineer”
Shovel in one hand and dressed
in the off-white “fatigue duties” trousers this soldier is awaiting orders.
WH025
“Engineer w/Pickaxe”
This soldier with sleeves rolled up is ready for work.
WH026
“Engineer w/Land Mines”
Among all their other duties engineers were responsible for “sowing”
mine fields.
WH027
“Engineer w/Wheel Barrow”
Moving soil from Point A...to Point B.
WH028
“Engineer w/Drill”
One more soldier hard at work breaking up concrete.
WH029
“Kneeling Engineer”
This soldier using protective gloves is affixing barbed wire to a Mine Field “Warning”
sign.
WH030
“Beach Obstacles”
These beach obstacles, sometimes known as “Czech Hedgehogs”, were
scattered in their thousands all along the beaches and bays of occupied
Europe. Using old steel railway lines they were welded together and could
rip the bottom out of any landing craft unfortunate enough to run over them at
high tide. This set contains 3 pieces.
AVAILABLE:
Mid-June
H.
“ DESERT DAIMLER ANYONE..?”
I’m not quite sure how this
one sneaked in to this month’s “DISPATCHES’ but here it is anyway...
EA093
“Daimler Mk.2 Armoured Car”
The Daimler Armoured Car was one of the most successful British armoured car designs of the Second World War.
Originally designed for ‘scouting and liaison work’ it proved its use
time and time again in all kinds of hostile environments and situations from
the early 1940’s well into the late 1950’s.
Armed with a 2 pounder main
gun and a 7.92mm Besa machine gun the
Daimler saw plenty of action from North Africa to Northern Europe
between 1941 and 1945.
Our model is in typical 8th
Army desert colours and in the markings of
the famous 7th Armoured Division “The
Desert Rats” and comes with a vehicle commander figure.
SPECIAL NOTE: A European Theatre of Operations Daimler
will be released later in the year.
AVAILABLE:
This “Desert” version will come in Late June.
I.
“BARBED WIRE”
SP069
“BARBED WIRE”
A roll or two of barbed wire
always looks good on any miniature battlefield.
AVAILABLE:
Late June
J.
“TIN PLATE WARRIOR”
The second of our tinplate trucks is now
rolling off the production line.
TP002
“The Opel ‘BLITZ’ Truck”
A very
familiar sight in any German vehicle convoy during WW2. Between 1939 and 1945 many thousands
of these trucks served all of the German Armed Forces. The 3-ton version
was the most numerous. Although K&C produced a polystone
and metal model some years back this is our first all-metal “BLITZ”.
Painted in traditional fieldgrey the open
back allows for soldiers or supplies to be put into the vehicles.
AVAILABLE:
Late June
2.
BEING
RETIRED
As new product arrives some
of our older items must head for the “happy hunting grounds”...Here
they are:
|
CW083 |
Gen. Robt. E. Lee |
|
CW084 |
General Thomas ‘Stonewall’ Jackson |
|
CW085 |
Gen. J.E.B. Stuart |
|
CW086 |
Maj. Gen. George E. Pickett |
|
CW087 |
President Abraham Lincoln |
|
CW088 |
Grant At The Table |
|
CW090 |
General George Meade |
|
CW091 |
Brig. General George A. Custer |
|
CW092 |
Colonel Chamberlain |
|
CW093 |
Sergeant Flagbearer |
|
CW094 |
Standing Ready |
|
CW095 |
Kneeling Firing |
|
CW096 |
Biting the Cartridge |
|
CW097 |
Running w/ Rifle & Bayonet |
|
CW098 |
Advancing & Firing |
|
CW099 |
Colonel William C. Oates |
|
CW100 |
15th Alabama Flagbearer |
|
CW101 |
Robt .E. Lee & His Generals |
|
CW102 |
Abraham Lincoln & His Generals |
|
CW103 |
Kneeling Firing Confederate |
|
DD172 |
In Der Fuhrer’s Face |
|
FW146 |
The Renault FT-17 Tank |
|
NA239 |
Mounted Bessieres |
|
NA240 |
Mounted Cuirassier General |
And that
is that...I hope there’re more than a few things that will interest you and
your collectors this month...If not, then there’s always next month’s
“DISPATCHES”...Until then all the very best!
Andy C. Neilson
Co-founder & Creative Director
King & Country