KING & COUNTRY
DISPATCHES
APRIL 2007
I
can’t believe it’s only a month since I last wrote you on the eve of our (Gordon and
mine) departure for the “WestCoaster”...talk about
time flying!!!
It
was a great trip and a great show. A special thanks to Sierra Toy Soldiers’ Mike & Myszka
Hall for their Saturday evening Q and A session. Also to Craig
of the Old Toy Soldier Home for helping us out with our displays and
organizing a terrific show.
A
week after the “WestCoaster” we
attended Louis Badolato’s K&C Symposium — this 2-day event was held in New York as well as
at Louis’ great home where his entire loft has been
converted into King & Country Museum that traces the history and
heritage of the company from our earliest days right up to the present. It was
also great to see K&C dealers Bill Sager and Tim Tyler at
this event. The Sunday after the Symposium all “attendees” headed out
to
A
few days after getting back to Hong Kong I was off to Bangkok on family
business but now, for the moment, I’m in
As
mentioned in last month’s “DISPATCHES” April is a bumper month for great new items… among them our first, FIRST WORLD WAR RELEASES — The Germans!
We
previewed these pieces at both the “WestCoaster” and the “Symposium” to much acclaim from dealers and collectors alike. I feel sure this is
only the beginning of what will prove to be a very exciting and dramatic series
that will do particularly well for our dealers…
FW001 “The Kaiser”
Kaiser
Wilhelm II…“Kaiser Bill” to the British Tommies
— dressed immaculately in his Feldmarshall’s uniform surveying his troops.
FW002 “Kaisers Aide De
Camp”
The monarch’s ADC in typical relaxed pose.
FW003 “The Crown Prince”
“Little Willi”, the Kaiser’s eldest son…a military incompetent
who was given, thanks to his father, a field command. He is dressed as an
honorary colonel of a Lifeguard Cavalry Regiment.
FW004 “Hindenburg”
The
fabled and imposing Paul Von Hindenburg — one of
FW005 “Mounted
A mounted Major of the 13th
Bavarian Rifles saluting.
FW006 “Marching
Sword drawn this officer of the 13th
strides purposely onwards.
FW007 “
Another officer of the 13th
carrying the German Battle Flag over his shoulder.
FW008 “Bugler”
This
Drummer/Bugler marches at the head of the column keeping up the men’s spirits.
FW009 “Rifleman”
Marching to the front confident in his
cause…his officers and…his country.
FW010 “Standing Rifleman”
About to be inspected or on guard duty…the choice is yours.
FW011 “Standing
Another officer of the 13th
awaiting orders…
FW012 “Pvt. Hitler”
Although
Austrian by birth Adolf Hitler eagerly joined the Bavarian Army on the
outbreak of War. Personally brave he was awarded the Iron
Cross First Class and rose to the dizzy heights of “Corporal”.
FW013 “The Kaiser’s Staff Car”
A handsome open-topped, automobile complete with military
driver and military police bodyguard.
These
few pieces are just the first of what K&C believe will be a very important
project for collectors and dealers all over the world. Watch out for more…
AVAILABILITY: All the figures (FW001-012) will be
ready by Early April
“The Kaiser’s Staff Car” (FW013) will be ready by Mid
April
1B. “Also
available in April”
“CHARGE”
As
if World War One was not enough K&C has a major addition to its “Age of Napoleon” figures this April…Some real “heavy metal”
in
the form of no less than 13 French Cuirassiers and one beautiful little “Cantiniere”.
Here
they are in all their glory…stabbing…slashing…cutting
their way into collections everywhere!
NA111 “Cuirassier General”
Wearing
a plumed and feathered officer’s hat this
senior officer puts himself in harm’s way
leading the charge.
NA112 “Wounder Flagbearer”
Carrying his Regiment’s Guidon this trooper has just received a blow to
the head.
NA113 “Trumpeter”
Sword drawn…trumpet bugle to the rear this musician prepares to fight…
NA114 “Charging
Sword Forward”
A typical Cavalryman’s action pose.
NA115 “Falling-off
Horse”
An unfortunate trooper, his foot caught in the
stirrup being dragged to his fate.
NA116 “Advancing
Forward”
NA117 “Charging Sword
Downward”
NA118 “Advance to the
Front”
NA119 “Slashing
with Sabre”
NA120 “Dead Cuirassier”
A fallen horse and his rider…casualties of war.
NA121 “Firing Pistol”
A cuirassier using one of his heavy
cavalry pistols.
NA122 “Cuirassier with
Saddle”
A standing cavalryman preparing to saddle
his mount.
NA123 “Cuirassier
Drinking”
Another standing trooper enjoying a
well-earned drink. Fighting is thirsty work!
NA124 “Cantiniere”
In
Napoleonic times most regiments, both foot and horse, had ladies of the
Regiment (either wives, widows or camp
followers) who made a living supplying wine and ale to the men. They often
wore parts of military uniform along with their civilian dress.
AVAILABILITY: Mid April
HK160 “The Shrine Offering”
Another
charming little set from “Streets of
Old
A woman and her daughter worship at a little
street-side shrine.
AVAILABILITY: Mid April
1D. “Redcoat
Reinforcement”
A
late addition to our earlier release of Rev. War figures is BR060“16th Light Dragoon” — this dismounted Dragoon musket in hand is shouting
to his comrades.
AVAILABILITY: Early April
The
merry month of May will see, at long last, King & Country
re-entry into the American Civil War battlefield...
No less than 13 original figures in twelve individual offerings are
available in this great new collection… and they are all CONFEDERATES*.
* Over the years many dealers and
collectors have told me that the Rebel side is vastly more popular than their
Union opponents…more variety…more colour and, perhaps, more romantic. That being the case K&C has
decided to focus our initial release on the boys in g
Among
the figures are, of course, several very famous personages among them…Nathan Bedford Forrest…Thomas “Stonewall”
Here’s a full
breakdown of this first “Civil War” release…
CW001 “General Nathan
Bedford Forrest”
A mounted portrait in miniature of one of the
Confederacy’s ablest and most daring Cavalry leaders.
CW002 “Soldier
Pointing”
Clad
in blue and g
CW003 “General
Thomas “Stonewall”
Probably
Lee’s most valuable lieutenant and a superb
tactician in his own right.
CW004 “Confederate Flagbearer” (Mtd)
A
troop sergeant of the 1st Virginia Cavalry proudly carries
the great battle flag of the Confederacy.
CW005 “Confederate Bugler”
Standing
at ease, rifle shouldered, this bugler observes the
passing parade.
CW006 “Rebel Leaning on Rifle”
Another
southern veteran watches the passing scene.
CW007 “Rebel
on Guard”
Alert
and awake this soldier stands ready to do his duty.
CW008 “Confederate Drummer boy”
Boys
as young as ten years of age ran away from home to follow the colours. This
young teenager has been lucky to find his place in a fine regiment…as his smart uniform testifies to.
CW009 “Confederate
This
officer is, perhaps, attached to Gen. Lee’s staff headquarters or maybe about to march off with his company.
CW010 “J.E.B Stuart”
Lee’s most famous and most impetuous Cavalry
commander. Known for his bravery and dash he was also known for his
recklessness and, occasionally, unreliability.
CW011 “General Robert. E. Lee”
An outstanding officer and general and the
South’s preeminent soldier. Lee often
was outnumbered…outgunned…but seldom outmaneuvered. His leadership and concern for his men was
legendary. Here, he “tips” his hat in salute as he sits on his favourite mount “Traveller”
CW012 “After The
A
wounded officer is gently led away from the battle by one of his men who salutes a passing general.
Special Note: All of these new figures work equally well as
individuals or as small groups making up a vignette or diorama. The quality of
sculpting, painting and character is…second-to-none.
Look out for more American Civil War pieces later this year.
AVAILABILITY: Early May
2B. “ACHTUNG! GERMANS IN MAY!”
We
don’t want our WW2 fans to feel neglected
either so May will also see the release of some rather unusual additions to our
German armed forces…
WS098 “German T
During
the initial assaults on Soviet Russia in 1941 and 1942 the Germans captured
massive amounts of Russian arms and equipment. One of the weapons that
impressed them most was the recently revealed T34 tank. So enamoured of it were the Nazis that they incorporated
hundreds of them into service with minimal changes. These included additional
side skirts…some extra armour
and, in certain instances, a new top turret hatch courtesy of the existing
Panzer III’s and IV’s.
To
ensure they were not attacked by their own side the Germans painted these “captured” T
Our K&C model also has a Nazi
recognition flag tied onto one of its rear appendages.
Three
German tank crew figures accompany the vehicle which is in the familiar
markings of the 2nd SS Armoured
Division “DAS REICH”.
WS099 “German
Tank Crew”
Another
frequent collectors request is for “extra” German tank crew and…here they are…Five kneeling and standing Panzer Crew in a variety of useful
poses that can accompany any of our armoured vehicles…or indeed any of our similarly sized competitors armoured units as well!
And now for
something more than a wee bit different…read on…
WS100 “The Fuhrer’s Last
Fighter”
By
the latter stages of the war Hitler and his generals were desperate for “wonder weapons” that could reverse the unstoppable tide
of Allied conquest.
One
such “wonder
weapon” was the Focke-Wulf “Rammjager”…a jet piloted by members of the Hitler jugend!
Pilots
were to literally ram their aircraft towards large formations of enemy bombers
before ejecting…if possible. To ensure
no second thoughts the aircraft was provided with no landing gear…not even a skid!
This
“Top Secret” K&C aircraft comes complete with a
young pilot (in the cockpit), a Luftwaffe guard and a flight
instructor. The “Rammjager”
itself is mounted on a separate towing trolley.
** Photo & price will be uploaded on our website next week.
WS101 “SdKfZ.252 Transporter”
This
little half track tractor was normally used to haul ammunition carts across the
battlefield. Our Luftwaffe version can pull the “Rammjager” and its trolley or any other Luftwaffe
aircraft. Vehicle includes Luftwaffe airman in top hatch.
WS102 “
Due
to many requests we’ve produced a late war version of our g
AVAILABILITY: WS098, WS099, WS102 will be ready by Mid May
WS100, WS101 will be ready in Late May/Early June
As
usual, there’s always a little taste of the
HK161 “Clock
Repair Man”
They
say you can buy anything or have it mended on the “Streets of Old
AVAILABILITY: Late May
3. “So, what’s being retired?”
Well, a whole big bunch of our French Dragoons for a start! These superb mounted
figures were among K&C’s first Napoleonic releases
and have been deservedly popular. However with the imminent release of our
heavy cavalry…The Cuirassiers coming out in April these
colourful fellows have to move over and make room on
our shelves as well, we hope, as yours.
Here’s what’s
disappearing…
NA039 French Dragoon
NA042 Dragoon on collapsing horse
NA043 Dragoon Bugler Mounted
NA044 Dragoon on the Ground
NA078 New Dragoon Guidon Bearer
NA079 New Dragoon Charging w/Sword
NA080 New Dragoon w/Pistol
NA081 New Dragoon Fighting w/Sword
If
you need to fill out your or your collections grab ‘em while you can. Limited
numbers only. Don’t delay!
And
that, as they say is that.
Best
wishes for this coming month!
Co-founder & Creative Director