DISPATCHES
June 2022
Hi
Guys and welcome once more to a relatively modest selection of new releases
this month.
As
I’ve reported before, the current difficulties with developing as well as
producing new products in China remains a major challenge to say the least.
I
won’t bore you with all the details instead we’ll get right down to business
and show you what will be available this month...
1.
BEING
RELEASED THIS MONTH...
A.
‘Once
Upon A Time In Egypt’
One of King & Country’s most popular releases of recent
times has been the revitalization of our ‘Ancient Egypt’ series with the
addition of the slightly more modern figures depicting the discovery of the
Tomb of the boy pharaoh, TUTANKHAMUN by the Egyptologist, Howard
Carter and his sponsor Lord Carnarvon in 1922.
As this year marks the centenary of that discovery and
the ongoing interest in Tutankhamun and his ancient world K&C is pleased to
present an unusual and unique display piece that was inspired by the story of
the tomb’s discovery and perhaps a dash of the golden age of Hollywood...
AE087 “Tutankhamun’s Monument”
This large, carved monument was based on the actual
design of the heavy, solid gold ‘death mask’ placed over the head and shoulders
of the mummy containing the remains of Tutankhamun in the central burial
chamber of his tomb.
Measuring in height, 10 3/4” (27.4cm)
and with a width of 7 1/8” (18cm) this highly detailed polystone sculpture incorporates a doorway at its base
decorated with Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics.
Placed as the centre piece
of any Egyptian collection it makes the perfect dramatic backdrop for many
different historical periods in Egypt’s turbulent and exotic past.
AVAILABLE: Mid June
B.
“Forward
The 83rd!”
The American Civil War created many young officers who
rose rapidly through the ranks to become major military leaders playing vitally
important roles in some of the most important battles of that war.
One such young officer was Strong Vincent...
CW139 “Brigadier General Strong Vincent”
Strong
Vincent
(1837-1863) was
originally a lawyer who became famous as a senior U.S. Army officer who fought
and died at the pivotal Battle of Gettysburg in 1863.
At
the beginning of the Civil war in 1861, he joined the Union Army as a First
Lieutenant. Within months he had been promoted to Lieut. Colonel of
the 83rd Pennsylvania Infantry and led them
through several battles.
By
May 1863 he was promoted once more to command a brigade of the 1st
Division, Ⅴ Corps of The Army of
the Potomac.
During
the Battle of Gettysburg later that same year Strong Vincent moved his
entire brigade up to Little Round Top to thwart a major Confederate
advance.
While
directing some of his troops from atop a large boulder on the right flank of
his defense line a rebel bullet found its mark and mortally wounded him.
Carried from the field to a nearby farmhouse this brave, young officer lingered
on for 5 more days.
The
commander of the army, Gen. George Mead promoted Vincent to Brigadier
General even as he lay on his death bed.
Brigadier
General Strong Vincent has been memorialized by a statue on the 83rd
Pennsylvania monument at Little Round Top on the Gettysburg
battlefield.
Our
King & Country figure is heavily influenced by the design of that statue. AVAILABLE:
Early June
C.
“On The Streets of Old Hong Kong”
Although modern Hong Kong has a skyline that could
rival that of New York it was not so long ago that the buildings that lined its
roads and thoughfares were much more modest and
decidedly less futuristic than today’s towering glass and steel skyscrapers.
A century or more ago the average dwelling was just 2
or 3 storeys high and often the ground floor was used
as some kind of a shop or commercial enterprise. Upper
floors were sold or rented out as private residences for families and
individuals.
These ‘Shop / House’ designs followed a
general style and became familiar not only in Hong Kong but throughout the Far
East.
Even today many surviving examples can still be seen
in Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam and a few happily survive in Hong
Kong itself, squeezed in between the high-rises!
HK302
“The Pawn Shop”
From
the mid-nineteenth century until the mid-twentieth century pawn shops could be
found in most commercial districts in Hong Kong.
Pawnbroking
itself however was not legalized until 1926 although authorities usually turned
a ‘blind eye’ to most operators.
This
new SOOHK building has the ground floor pawn shop protected by decorative and
sturdy metal grills and bars while an entrance way leads upwards to the first floor dwelling and terrace.
On
this upper area figures and decorative plants can also be placed.
HK303
(G/M) “Watching The World Go By #1”
A young Hong Kong lady leans over the balcony
to call out to a friend in the street below... An ideal figure to add a little
‘human touch’ to this new building.
HK304
(G/M) “Watching The World Go By #2”
An older Chinese gentleman, perhaps the owner
of the Pawn Shop, observing the hustle and bustle of the street below.
AVAILABLE:
Mid June
D.
“Fighting
On Foot”
Here
are the final four ‘Foot Dragoons’ of Napoleon’s ‘Dragons a’
Pied’ regiment as they join our previously – released figures to form a
total of 17 dismounted dragoons plus 1 mounted
Officer.
NA486
“Foot Dragoon Loading His Musket”
Holding
his musket in his left hand as he reaches into his ammunition pouch for a fresh
cartridge.
NA493
“Foot Dragoon Standing Ready”
Preparing
for battle...
NA494
“Foot Dragoon Advancing Shoulder Arms”
Moving
forward towards the enemy.
NA500
“Foot Dragoon Running Port Arms”
AVAILABLE: Early June
E.
“Vietnam
Heavy Metal”
Since 2018, when K&C launched this ‘Vietnam’
series, there has been constant and regular releases of new figures and
fighting vehicles showing many different aspects of the conflict and the people
and machines than took part.
These three new additions provide a little extra
firepower to both sides of the war...
VN134 “Viet Cong Heavy Machine Gun Set”
Last month we released the North Vietnamese Army
version of the DShK 12.7mm Heavy
Machine Gun in the anti aircraft role.
These same guns were also supplied to the Viet Cong
to be used in the ground defense role. As such most of them were mounted on
small, wheeled carriages that could be man-handled around the battlefield and
pulled by one or two men (and women too).
Our gunner here is a young female volunteer.
VN140 “Australian Army M113” (Two Zero Alpha)
This is the second version of the Aussie M113 Armoured Personnel Carrier. Our first version ‘sold
out’ much faster than even we anticipated and since then K&C has had
many request from ‘down-under’ and elsewhere for a suitable replacement M113
for all those collectors who did not manage to get one first time around or
wanted on additional example for their collection.
So, here is the first example, with the call sign ‘Two
Zero Alpha’. As before this M113 carries the .50 calibre machine gun protected by an armoured
shield and with 2 x crew figures including the driver wearing the American
M1-style steel helmet.
VN144 “Australian Army M113” (Two Niner Juliet)
This particular M113
bears the call sign, “Two Niner Juliet” and would belong to
the Troop Sergeant. At this time an M113 Troop comprised 3 sections
of 3 vehicles plus a headquarters section that contained 4 vehicles
and would include both the Troop Leader, usually a captain, in “Two
Zero Alpha” and his second-in-command. (a Lieutenant or 2nd
Lieutenant) in “Two Zero Bravo”.
The last of the 4 x M113s would be “Two
Niner Mike”...
the Ambulance version of the Personnel Carrier.
“Two Niner Juliet” also has two original
crew figures operating the vehicle.
AVAILABLE:
Mid June
2.
BEING
RETIRED THIS MONTH
Although
this month’s releases are limited, the list of retirements is quite extensive.
Take a closer look at what is available and see what might fill a few gaps in
your own collection.
|
AE036* |
Wedding
Guest Couple |
|
AE042* |
Mother
& Son |
|
KX032 |
The
Defender & The Lady |
|
LAH255 |
LAHSS
Officer at Attention |
|
LOA014 |
Lieut.
T.E. Lawrence |
|
MK114 |
Mounted
Bodyguard |
|
MK117 |
Fighting
Flagbearer |
|
MK131 |
The
Ballista |
|
MK159 |
The
Veteran, Teutonic Knight |
|
MK167 |
Knight
Standing Ready |
|
NA339 |
Royal
Mtd. Artillery Officer |
|
NA340 |
Gunners
Set A |
|
NA341 |
Gunners
Set B |
|
NA343 |
Royal
Artillery Corporal w/Fuse Rod |
|
NA344 |
Sergeant
w/ Pike |
|
NA345 |
Battery
Sergeant Major |
|
NA346 |
Ready,
aye ready! |
|
NA347 |
Advance
to the Front |
|
SP072* |
Four
Lions Town Fountain (Sandstone) |
|
SP073* |
The
Lion’s Head Wall Fountain (Sandstone) |
|
SP074* |
Square
Statue Plinth (Greystone) |
|
SP075* |
Large
Equestrian Statue Plinth (Greystone) |
|
SP078* |
Square
Statue Plinth (Sandstone) |
|
SP079* |
Large
Equestrian Statue Plinth (Sandstone) |
|
SP080 |
Four
Lions Town Fountain (Greystone) |
|
SP081* |
The
Lion’s Head Wall Fountain (Greystone) |
|
SP084* |
The
Mounted Kaiser |
|
SP085* |
Brown
Shirt Hitler 1933 |
|
SP086* |
King
Philip of France |
|
SP087* |
The
Medieval Trumpeter |
|
SP088* |
The
Mounted Russian Officer |
|
SP089 |
Mounted
Napoleon |
|
SP090* |
General
Lasalle |
|
SP091* |
Marshal
Stalin |
|
SP092* |
Australian
Light Horse Bugler |
|
TRW095 |
Kneeling
Firing, The Apaches |
|
VN021 |
VC
Kneeling firing AK47 |
|
VN022 |
Kneeling
Firing RPG |
|
VN055 |
Hearts
& Minds #1 |
3.
End of the
Run Remainders
Some
items are added in the list of End of the Run Remainders.
And
that my friends and fellow collectors is that for another 30 days or so.
Let’s
hope there is something for you here... If not... well
there’s always another month on the horizon.
Best wishes and, as
ever, happy collecting!
Andy C. Neilson
Co-founder &
Creative Director
King & Country Ltd.