King & Country
DISPATCHES
MARCH 2005
By the time you get
this month’s DISPATCHES, I should already be in
Along with the OTSN Show in
Although I no longer sell at these shows – I let you guys do that
– I like to take along samples of brand-new items that are about to be released
in the next few months. This year I’m
bringing painted samples of our “
Chicago and LA are very special shows to me. I get to personally meet and talk with
K&C dealers and collectors often on a “one-to-one” basis. It’s an incredibly valuable opportunity and
really does have an influence on what we produce and when we produce it. I can’t wait to get there. AROUND THE WORLD IN 19 DAYS!
After LA, it’s down to Cabo in
After 4 days in
I also hope to attend a New Jersey Show on Sunday 13 March. That evening I fly to
After
The following day I’m off to
Now down to business…
1.
AVAILABLE NOW!
“OK Marines Let’s get the hell outta here!” Dept.
For once, the stocks arrived early – all of the new
Bill Moore, our Chicago dealer did a show a
couple of days ago and sold two complete sets (12 sets) to just one K&C
collector!
2.
SO WHAT’S NEW?
The long-awaited American Revolution British Forces are about to
be released this month March – probably towards the end. As well as Redcoats, there’s our first
Woodland Indians to accompany them.
Now that’s the good news… the not-so-good news is that the particular
factory producing them can only manage to get a portion of our order to
us. That means in fairness to everyone,
that we will get you some of your order but, alas, not all of it.
I know it’s a familiar story to you by now – demand outstripping
capacity. One part of the problem is that
we are committed to releasing our “Fall of
We know “
We will continue however to seek out
additional factories wherever quality and price are compatible. Many thanks for your patience and
understanding. Here, though, is a list
of the new Rev. War Brits and Indians…
BR33 Mounted
General Cornwallis
BR34 Marching
BR35 Marching
BR36 Marching
BR37 Shouting
Sergeant w/ Rifle
BR38 Marching
Drummer / Fifer
BR39 Advancing
w/ Rifle & Bayonet
BR40 Marching
w/ Rifle Ready
BR41 Kneeling
Firing Rifle
BR42 Advancing
Indian w/ Rifle
BR43 Indian
Ready w/ Rifle
BR44 Kneeling
Indian w/ Rifle
BR45 Indian
Firing Bow
BR46 Indian
Firing Rifle
BR47 “Take No
Prisoners!”
All of our British Forces, with the exception of the mounted General
Cornwallis are from a non-specific British Line Regiment – that’s why they have
George III’s Royal Cypher
on their back packs and flags.
Our Woodland Indians are something else – no two are alike and
some even sport red coats themselves (gifts not trophies). BR47 is especially interesting … an Indian
with a club prepares to deliver the “coup de grace” to a helpless
Colonial infantryman. Gruesome yes but
realistic and authentic… definitely.
AVAILABLE: LATE
MARCH
3.
“FALL OF
Many of you will already have seen the advance promotional material on
this epic new World War Two series. It’s
going to be a biggie… no less than 17 sets of soldiers… fighting vehicles… and
diorama set pieces.
Here’s what it’s all about…
WS63 “The Defenders” Two SS troopers join up with two “Volksgrenadiers” – one of the SS men has a captured
Russian machine pistol… the other looks to his rear. Meanwhile one “Volksgrenadier”
prepares to throw his “potato-masher” while his fellow sniper takes
careful aim.
WS64 “The Russians Are Coming!” A “Volksturm”
officer with his MP44 leads a mixed group of “Volksgrenadier”
(with schmeisser) and another with rifle and
grenade. The fourth “Volksturm” is nearvously
kneeling, rifle in one hand… grenade in the other.
WS65 “The Last Stand” This little group of Waffen
SS men know the Russians are unlikely to take them prisoner! An SS officer
pistol in hand tries to support a wounded comrade. Another kneeling SS trooper with a captured PPsH M.1941 sub-machine-gun and a dismounted SS tanker with
his “Schmeisser” ready complete the set.
WS66 “ Anti-Tank Gun Set” Two “Volksgrenadiers” man a small 37mm Anti-Tank Gun
Specially modified to fire the Panzerfaust
rocket. Another kneeling Grenadier is
shoulder-firing the same weapon.
WS67 “King Tiger” This is the one literally hundreds (may be
thousands) of K&C collectors have been anxiously waiting for… the
mighty KING TIGER. The most
powerful tank of World War Two comes complete with a typical late war paint
finish (and rust stains) plus three visible tank crew. Our “Porsche” turret version is simply
the largest fighting vehicle K&C has produced and is sure to be even more
popular than Michael Wittman’s last Tiger. As usual, the model is full of character and
makes a great
WS68 “Puma Armoured Car” This is an unusual one – the 8-wheel armoured assault vehicle upgunned
with a short-barrel 75mm gun. Our model
is again in a late-war camo finish and comes with two
standing SS crew figures.
SP14 “
SP15 “ Reich Chancellery Gateway”
Another
SP16 “Reich Chancellery Annex” The perfect companion piece to the gateway. Again, two Reich Chancellery windows stand
forlornly open framed by a battle scarred outer wall. This piece has been specially designed to
flank the Reich Chancellery Gateway on the left and right, thus forming an
extended façade frontage and dramatic backdrop to any “Fall of
RA08 “Attack!” Led
by a wary sergeant, this 4-man Red Army patrol make
their way forward towards the hated fascist beasts. With their ubiquitous PPsH
sub-machine-guns, Russian troops boasted formidable fire power in any fire
fight.
RA09 “Tank Riders” Because motor transport was
extremely rare in the Red Army, most front-line troops rode into battle
on top of their tanks and other armoured
vehicles. This four-man group is led by
an NCO carrying the Soviet flag complete with hammer and sickle.
RA10 “Anti-Tank Gun Set” Three Red Army artillerymen man their small
anti-tank gun – the gun itself is a Russian adaptation of an earlier German
model.
RA11 “Support Set” Providing covering fire for the assault is this little
group. Lying prone our gunner fire his
belt-fed M1910 Maxim Machine Gun.
Kneeling behind him an expert sniper picks off enemy officers. Two fur-hatted
Russian soldiers (one an NCO) complete the set.
RA12 “Captured!” Two Germans have had the misforture to fall into the hands of a couple of NKVD
(Soviet Secret Police) officers. The
standing “Volksturm” medic may be lucky and be
spared for a Russian prison camp in
RA13 “T34/85 Tank” Even the Germans admired the simple, robust T34
tank. Our model is upgunned
with the 85mm tank gun. In addition, it
has been “field-adapted” with old iron bedframes
to act as anti-panzerfaust screens. Two Russian crew figures fill out the set.
RA14 “Katyusha Rocket Launcher”
One of Russian’s great “War Winners” – The “Katyusha”
or “Stalin’s Organs” was a dreaded rocket launch vehicle that was much
used by the Russians and much feared by the Germans. Our model, in the fixed-firing mode, comes
with a
RA15 “Traffic controller” Finally, there is this solo figure – based on a great
illustration in Blandford Books’ Army Uniforms of
World War 2. This single female Military
Police woman, flags in hand, expertly guides tanks and vehicles on their way to
the front.
AVAILABILITY: All the GERMAN sets should start arriving in late
April/early May
The RED ARMY is scheduled for late May/early June delivery
4.
BEING RETIRED
(A)
Imperial Chinese Army… The Silk Road… and SOOHK sets HK098; HK099; HK100. All of the above are being retired – However
both the Imperial Chinese Army and The Silk Road are going to be re-designed,
re-sculpted and re-issued at a later date.
(B)
Still available but in very limited numbers
are the following:-
(i)
FJ02 Fallschirmjager
– “The Attackers”
(ii)
RN01 Naval
(iii)
RN02 Petty
GHO Gordon
Highlander
GHSM Gordon
Highlander Sergeant Major with Rifle (Marching)
Get them now, these
days there is always someone on Ebay looking out for
older or retired K&C items!
In the meantime best wishes to every one and … great sales!
Andy C. Neilson
Co-founder and
Creative Director