KING & COUNTRY
DISPATCHES
OCTOBER 2007
Well, I
just arrived back from
I think
this year’s show has to have been one of the best. Brother Gordon and myself arrived on the Tuesday preceding the show and were
able to set up our display room by the Wednesday morning. Helen, our new
Managing Director and Tammi, our Assistant Operations Manager arrived
the following evening. Add to that delightful mix the “Three Musketeers”
from K&C UK… Bob, Tony and “Dispatch Dave” and you have a
pretty formidable K&C presence in
And
now, back to business…
1.
AVAILABLE THIS MONTH OF OCTOBER
A. An additional Desert Warrior
EA024 LRDG
30cwt. Chevrolet (Camouflaged)
As
previewed previously, this is the two-tone camouflaged version of the famous
LRDG 30cwt. truck. Complete with 3 original crew members, this vehicle boasts a
varied armament… including a “Boyes” anti tank
rifle… a spare Bren gun and a “Tommy-gun” toting vehicle commander.
Availability: Mid-October
B.
RETURN TO 1914…
From the
deserts of World War Two North Africa we go back in time to the
battlefields of Northern France and
FW014 “Standing
Firing Rifleman”
FW015 “Kneeling
Firing Rifleman”
FW016 “Charging
w/Rifle and Bayonet”
FW017 “Running
w/Rifle and Bugle”
FW018 “
FW019 “German
Machine Gun Set”
A lying
prone machine gunner “mans” his Maxim gun. A kneeling gun commander with
binos directs fire.
FW020 “Shot
German”
An enemy
bullet finds its mark!
FW021 “Dead
German”
FW022 “Standing
Loading Rifleman”
FW023 “Kneeling
Loading Rifleman”
Availability: Mid-October
C.
“HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS”
XM007-01
“Christmas Truce 1914”
As is our custom
now, every Christmas we release a “special” set with a Festive theme
relating to one of our different series. This year, 2007, with the release of
the “1914” First World War range we felt we should remember the
unique “cease-fire” that took place on Christmas Day 1914 when British
and German soldiers organized an “unofficial” cessation of hostilities
to celebrate the birth of Christ. Meeting in “No-Man’s-Land” the
opposing troops exchanged simple gifts… shared each other’s drinks, rations and
even played a soccer match!
Here is our
scene… Father Christmas distributes gifts to a German “Fritz” and
a Scottish “Jock” who, for a few short hours,
enjoy the peace and quiet of Christmas day. Just 650 of these very special sets
are being produced.
Availability: Mid-October
D.
“RETURN TO THE BULGE… THE GERMANS”
We
previewed these all-new sets of “winter” Germans at this year’s show and
the response was tremendous… well here’s another preview of them for you… don’t
miss out!
BBG010 “Ski Troopers”
Two superb
German infantry mounted on skis heading into battle… could be “The
BBG011 “Command
Group”
One
great-coated German officer reports to his superior on the tactical situation…
BBG012 “Radio
Group”
Two
mountain troopers make their way through the winter snow… One
listening intently to his back-pack radio.
BBG013 “Mountain
Troopers”
Another excellent
2-man set of Mountain Troopers… one carrying his skis the other with an ice
pick.
BBG014 “Snow
Patrol”
Four
camouflaged and partially camouflaged infantry trudge through the winter-clad
countryside…
Availability: Mid
to Late October
2.
COMING IN NOVEMEBER
A.
BBG009 “Raupen Schlepper”
The first of two tracked vehicles specially designed to accompany our “winter” German troops
released in mid October. This great little transport vehicle is a “real beaut” and comes in an authentic “war-weary” snow camouflage… The rear canvas canopy is removable… The driver’s cab
interior is fully detailed… complete with driver… A little ammunition trailer
attaches to the rear of the vehicle and… there’s an additional snow-camouflaged
pointing NCO to complete the set. Great set… outstanding value!
Availability: Mid-November
B.
“OPERATION MARKET GARDEN”
At last, the much-anticipated new British Paras
are about to “descend
from the heavens” and land into the hell
that was the little Dutch town called…
Immortalized in the book and then the movie, “A Bridge Too Far”, K&C proudly and
defiantly returns and improves on our first big World War Two Success — “ARNHEM’44”.
That series was the very first major toy soldier range to introduce,
what has now become, the “industry
standard” — the Matt-painted toy soldier accompanied by
a wide variety of scale model fighting vehicles.
It’s sometimes forgotten that before K&C developed these matt
figures 99% of toy soldiers (from all
companies) were high gloss finish. We literally “broke the mold” and started a
mini revolution in producing and collecting which continues to this day. Scale
wise the original
Anyway, enough of the history… let’s get down to the basics…
MG001 “The Recce Jeep”
A two-man set sitting in a very well-armed jeep… a pair of twin Lewis guns plus a Bren gun and a whole host of fuel, ammo
and supplies make this particular jeep set a “must-have”. An additional feature
of all of these new “
(driver) Lance
Corporal Tony Neville and (gunner) Sergeant Jack Edwards.
MG003 “Walking Wounded”
Perhaps this 2-man set should be better titled “Carrying Wounded”… here Corporal
Frank Townsend shoulders a seriously
wounded Private Arthur Coates to an aid station.
MG004 “The Scout”
A crouching Lance
Corporal Pete Robinson keeps a careful eye out
for the enemy… Sten gun at the ready.
MG005 “Patrol Leader”
Private
John Young silently signals a “halt” to his men.
MG006 “Walking
Rifleman”
Working the bolt of his Lee Enfield rifle Private Bill Luke moves forward.
MG007 “Pointing NCO”
Staff Sergeant Dave Hull gives direction to his men.
MG008 “Kneeling Rifleman”
Down on one knee Lance
Corporal John Ross readies himself for
action…
MG009 “Kneeling Firing Rifleman”
Private
Eddie Davies takes careful aim with his .303 Lee
MG010 “Walking Radionman”
Headset in place… Sten gun held ready… Lance Corporal Robert Thompson advances to the front.
MG011 “Lieutenant with Sten
Gun”
Lieutenant
Jack Bromley a para platoon leader
moves forward.
MG012 “Standing Firing Sten
Gun”
Private Dan Maclean fires a burst from his Sten.
MG013 “Lying Firing Bren Gun”
Using a couple of handy sand bags to steady his Bren, Private Keith Caldicott provides covering fire for his fellow paratroopers.
MG014 “Kneeling with Umbrella”
Inspired by a character in the movie “A Bridge Too Far” Major Harry Pope nonchalantly
observes the enemy positions.
MG015 “Advance to contact”
Three airborne men edge cautiously forward-- Glider Pilot Sergeant Chris Hopwood… Corporal Pete
Foster with the Bren gun and… Private Eric Stanley clutching his Sten gun.
MG016 “Major General Roy Urquhart”
A superb standing study of the commander of
the British 1st Airborne division during the ill-fated
Availability: Early November
Special Note: A second batch of British 1st Airborne Paras and glider troops will be “dropped-in” along with
other new releases in December!
Look out for another great “ARNHEM” jeep set MG002 (complete with trailer)… a 6 pounder anti tank gun plus 3 man crew…
a 2-man PIAT team and… four fighting single Paras. Even more reinforcements are planned for 2008!
3.
BEING RETIRED THIS MONTH…
As usual we’ve got to let a few old favourites
go… in order to bring a few new ones in… So, here’s the latest bunch of
retirees…
Second World War Germans
WS038 “MG34 Gun
Set”
WS039 “Attack!”
WS042 “37mm Anti
Tank Gun Set”
WS046 “Traffic
Control”
Allied D.Day
Sets
DD053 “Commando
Attack Group”
DD054 “The Beach
Master Set”
DD063 “The DUKW
Amphibious Vehicle Set”
Streets of Old
HK115 “The Fire
Cracker set”
HK148 “The Bride
& Groom Set”
And that Lords,
Ladies & Gentlemen, boys and girls is just about
that… Once again, many thanks for your continued support and feedback… we
appreciate both.
Until next time
very best wishes …
Andy C. Neilson
Co-founder & Creative Director