King & Country
DISPATCHES
SEPTEMBER 2005
September is, next to December,
probably my favourite month of the year and there’re
two big reasons for that –
It’s a great opportunity to meet old
friends … make new ones … talk with dealers and collectors alike and … see
what the opposition is up to!!! For these few days the entire world of toy
soldiers (or a large part of it) is at the Hyatt Regency Woodfield – it’s the most fun you can have with your
clothes on.
This year I’ll be bringing our
latest
After
I always have a whole bunch of
business meetings in
Apart from business I also get the
opportunity to go to Laura’s 1200 acre ranch … ride horses … and shoot real
guns!!! My all time favourite is the lever action
Model 93 Winchester rifle – just like the movies.
Anyway enough fun ‘n’ games
let’s get down to business …
1.
‘
A big thankyou to
all the dealers who joined this special promotion. All of the great looking banners will be
shipped–out with the latest ‘Battle of the Bulge’ German sets in the
second week of September.
2.
Several months ago I was in conversation with Don Pielin, one of the principal forces behind this successful
show. Together we decided to produce a unique show ‘giveaway’ that would
be both practical and a nice memento of the show – a big shoulder carry
shopping bag. The stylish all black bag has a large show logo emphasising the 25th Anniversary on one side … on the
reverse is a neat looking K & C logo and message statement.
These environmentally friendly bags – they are
bio degradable – will be given away free to all attendees of the show.
In addition, we have produced some additional bags
for our K & C dealers. Every dealer should receive some inside their next
shipment.
3.
SO WHAT’S
NEW?
The big, big news this month is, of course, our ‘Winter’ Germans for ‘The Battle of The
Bulge’ series. All you will, by now, have seen the photos. The response
from dealers and collectors is very exciting and enthusiastic.
I feel confident all of us – dealers and
manufacturer will be extremely pleased with the collector sales.
Here’s a quick reminder of the sets:
BBG01 ‘GRILLE’
Self Propelled Gun Set (includes 2 full figures)
BBG02 ‘Winter
Patrol’ – Four walking figures
BBG03 ‘Winter
Tank Riders’ – Four sitting, crouching,
kneeling and standing Panzer Grenadiers
BBG04 ‘GI
Prisoners’ – Three captured GI’s plus
their Volksgrenadier guard.
BBG05 ‘The
HETZER Tank’ – Fighting vehicle plus two
figures and a road sign
BBG06 ‘Crossing
The Road’ – Four
action SS Grenadiers
BBG07 ‘Sepp Dietrich’ – ‘Personality’ figure of the 6th Panzer Army
commander
AVAILABILITY: Second week of September
4.
‘Streets of
Old
The forces of law and order –
HK137 Policeman with Martini Henry carbine
standing on guard duty
HK138 Police Corporal with notebook taking
notes
HK139 Policeman on Patrol. Chinese ‘Bobby’ on the beat
AVAILABILITY: Late September
5.
ANNOUNCING ‘FIELDS
of
King & Country’s FIELDS of BATTLE is a new series
that many of you will not have heard of. Let me give you the background …
Some time last year we decided we wanted to broaden
our sales appeal by producing a range of ‘UNPAINTED’ castings for
connoisseur painters to paint for themselves.
After much thought we chose to do a small
group of figures with a WW2 theme. However we
did not want to compete with any of our own existing ‘painted’ WW2
series – “
We went ahead designed and cast 8 original figures
and 1 tank which we intended to launch in ‘kit form’ to be assembled and
painted by the buyer.
Back in June and July this year. I took samples of the unpainted castings and
painted versions to the States and
That being the case we rethought our entire sales
and marketing strategy and decided to launch ‘FIELDS of BATTLE’ as a ‘specialist’
WW2 range that would focus on less well–known battles and campaigns. Although
this new series is not ‘limited edition’ we do propose to produce
smaller quantities of the different pieces until we see the general response of
K & C collectors.
Having said that I personally am very excited
about ‘FIELDS of BATTLE’ and its many potential possibilities. I hope you are too …
THE FRENCH ARMY
FOB001 French General’s Aide de Camp
FOB002 French
FOB003 French ‘Poilu’
Presenting Arms
FOB004 French ‘Poilu’
Marching
THE BRITISH FORCES
FOB005 British Naval
FOB006 British Bren Gunner Marching
FOB007 British ‘Tommy’ Marching
(no helmet)
FOB008 British ‘Tommy’ Standing
FIGHTING VEHICLE
FOB009 French Char B1bis Tank (with Vehicle
Commander)
Special Note: All figures will be sold individually except for
the vehicle commander who comes only with the tank.
AVAILABILITY: Late
October
6.
Appearing in
Early - Mid October will be our latest additions to our controversial and
politically incorrect (but very successful)
This new bunch of villains includes the following:
LAH57 Dr. Josef Goebbels – Hitler’s
Propaganda Minister and a particularly nasty little Nazi with a big mouth.
LAH58 Algemeine SS Man Marching. The Algemeine SS or ‘General’ SS were
recruited all over
LAH59 Algemeine SS
LAH60 Algemeine SS Standard Bearer Marching
LAH61 Leibstandarte SS Oath Taking Ceremony. While a Standard Bearer holds the LAH Banner
horizontally two new LAH recruits, one hand on the flag, one raised, take the ‘blood’
oath of loyalty to the Fuhrer. (3 figure set)
LAH62 ‘Taking The Oath’.
Additional LAH recruit single figure.
WEHRMACHT ON PARADE
Five new Classic Wehrmacht
soldiers in traditional parade uniform – all marching.
LAH63 Mounted Wehrmacht
LAH64 Wehrmacht
LAH65 Wehrmacht Flag Bearer
w/Reich
LAH66 Wehrmacht Drummer
LAH67 Wehrmacht Rifleman
PARADE VEHICLE
LAH68 Panzer 1 Tankette w/vehicle commander. Volunteers from Leibstandarte
AH were given tank training in 1938 and paraded before Hitler on his
birthday of that same year. Later after the outbreak of WW2 Leibstandarte
AH was converted into the 1st SS Panzer Division.
AVAILABILITY of LAH68: November
7.
WS70SL ‘WINTER TIGER’ Strictly Limited
I’ve left this little surprise for almost the last
item … After numerous requests we have decided to produce a very special
limited edition ‘Winter Tiger’.
This new snow camouflaged Tiger is
in the markings of the 2nd SS Division ‘DAS REICH’ as
it would have appeared in the winter of 1943/44. Packed in a strong, sturdy ‘specially’
designed black box with silver graphics and lettering this set comprises the
Tiger itself plus a full 5 man crew in winter uniform (all brand–new
figures). An informative four page folder includes the individual number of
the model itself.
In order to satisfy the higher
demand for this extra special ‘Winter Tiger’ this edition has been
limited to exactly 999 pieces – no more no less. This
I personally guarantee!
We believe the worldwide appeal of
this Tiger will be exceptional – don’t lose out on yours.
AVAILABILITY: Mid October
See more details and photos
elsewhere in this DISPATCHES.
So, that’s the story so far … I look
forward to seeing some of you in
Best wishes to one and all.
Andy C. Neilson