Two great Kingcast, Ltd sets (1 Viewer)

[Iron Brigade]

I started collecting toy soldiers in late 1991. In January 1993 I got the splendid & expensive set made by Kingcast of Wales, UK of the dual elephant Gatling Gun crew of the Blackwatch regiment during the 1880's in India. I believe the set# is BI-124, the "BI" standing for the British Army in India. Along the way I got a few other Kingcast sets including the Limited Edition set of KLE1 "Saving the Colours at Isandhlawa" on January 22, 1879 of the Zulu War. I sold off the few other Kingcast sets I had, but I am glad that I have kept these two sets. As I recall Kingcast went defunct in 1994. Does anyone else still have any Kingcast sets? Or did they have them in the past? I have attached two photos of the above noted Kingcast sets. (it should be noted that the dead 24th Foot soldier was made by ANI of California)

 

[boerboy]

Hello
I have this Elephant set and also the Elephant gun team set and Underwater diving set (will take some time to find them in storage ...Kingcast made a plenty of different sets I must have their list somewhere...
Al

 

[4th Hussar]

I started collecting toy soldiers in late 1991. In January 1993 I got the splendid & expensive set made by Kingcast of Wales, UK of the dual elephant Gatling Gun crew of the Blackwatch regiment during the 1880's in India. I believe the set# is BI-124, the "BI" standing for the British Army in India. Along the way I got a few other Kingcast sets including the Limited Edition set of KLE1 "Saving the Colours at Isandhlawa" on January 22, 1879 of the Zulu War. I sold off the few other Kingcast sets I had, but I am glad that I have kept these two sets. As I recall Kingcast went defunct in 1994. Does anyone else still have any Kingcast sets? Or did they have them in the past? I have attached two photos of the above noted Kingcast sets. (it should be noted that the dead 24th Foot soldier was made by ANI of California)

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View attachment 48734

I started collecting about the same time or a bit earlier. I have chased after Kingcast over the years but have never acquired a set. The elephant gun set is one of the best. You are a lucky fellow........................

 

[ucla1967]

Yes, I also collect Kingcast! In fact, I have the same elephant set you do. I collect their Indian Army and artillery sets. Peter Cowan (ex-Mark Time, Gunner, Nostalgia, etc.) was the creator of this line. In addition to British India (BI), there are Artillery (A), British Army (BA), World Conflicts (WC), and Boxer Rebellion (BX) lines.

The numbering of Kingcast sets can be confusing since many sets have two different designations. For example, set A22 - No. 1 (Kohat) Mtn. Artillery in Action, N.W. Frontier is also set BI-108; BX1 - Dragon Gun with Boxers and Mandarian Officer is also A1; K7 - 30th Punjabis, 1900 is also BI-13; and P14 - Royal Canadian Artillery, 1890 is also WC5.

I have a Command Post (Stoughton, Mass.) Kingcast price list dated 8-1-89.

 

[glossman]

Hi Gary,

Splendid displays......I too am glad you retained these very nice glossy Kingcast sets.

I like the compact bases which are new, when I compare with the previous photographs you sent me.

You have been busy with your collection.

Best Wishes, Raymond.

 

[ucla1967]

Here is my best guess as to the sets in the Boxer Rebellion line through BX 12; I don't know if there are any higher numbered sets.

BX1 Dragon Gun with Boxers and Mandarin Officer, 1900 //A1//

BX2 Peking International Gun, China, 1900 (2 US Marines, 1 Royal Navy & 1 Royal Marine)

BX3 Russian Artillery, China, 1900, with Putilow 7.62CM Field Gun //A8//

BX4 Japanese Field Artillery, China, 1900, w/ Osaka 77mm Field Gun //A15//

BX5 Chinese Irregular Cavalry, 1900 //C3//

BX6 Chasseurs d'Afrique, China, 1900 //C6//

BX7 Russian Cossacks, 3 Troopers in Action, China, 1900 //C20//

BX8 Imperial Japanese Cavalry, China, 1900 //C22//

BX9 Imperial Chinese Cavalry, China, 1900 //C23//

BX10 Madras Sappers & Miners, China, 1900 //K24//

BX11 1st Sikh Infantry, China, 1900 //K27//

BX12 U.S. Infantry, Cold Weather Gear, China, 1900 //K28//

I have sets BX3, BX4, BX10, BX11, and BX12 (2 sets).

 

[boerboy]

Mike,
I do not have any BX sets.
I think that the most difficult to find sets are: P-13 Fowler Steam Crane Engine, P-16 Barrel Organ and K-48 Bengal Balloon Section (with elephants) and P-1 Royal Engineers Balloon section.
Al

 

[tdubel]

I have a mess of Kingcast including 2 steam tractors and am always buying it whenever I can find it! Great stuff in my opinion!

Tom

 

[ucla1967]

Mike,
I do not have any BX sets.
I think that the most difficult to find sets are: P-13 Fowler Steam Crane Engine, P-16 Barrel Organ and K-48 Bengal Balloon Section (with elephants) and P-1 Royal Engineers Balloon section.
Al

Al,

I believe you are correct. In fact, all the large sets: Balloons, the Fowler Steam Crane, elephants, and artillery gun teams are very hard to come by. I occasionaly come across the K series of Indian Army sets on eBay or at the shows. I note that P13 Fowler Steam Crane Road Engine, 1903, was selling for $550 in 1989 which compares to the K sets selling at $55.

The Command Post 1989 price list does not have any BI or BA sets listed. I am wondering if this is because by that date they had changed set designations or maybe they stopped making them. Also, does anyone know what the "P" set designation stood for?

 

[ucla1967]

I have a mess of Kingcast including 2 steam tractors and am always buying it whenever I can find it! Great stuff in my opinion!

Tom

Tom,

Do you have any duplicates you would like to sell or trade? I have a couple of extra Kingcast sets (I sold all my other duplicate sets at the West Coaster). I have about 50 MIB Hirart sets available for trade, if you are interested.


Mike

 

[Iron Brigade]

I have a mess of Kingcast including 2 steam tractors and am always buying it whenever I can find it! Great stuff in my opinion!

Tom

Dear Tom (as well as all the other members who have made replies to this Thread or Posting #1 by me):

Yes, Peter Cowan of the old Kingcast,Ltd toy soldier company made a lot of sets. Most were not in combat poses as I recall. Indeed, Kingcast really had many very unusual sets that were interesting. They made a lot of non-combat type sets. For example, I had a set of British Indian Army soldiers doing stable duty and I believe it was Kingcast set BI-121 of an Indian Army work detail of #8 figures with an elephant & rider pulling a large log with metal chain attached to elephant & of course the log. I sold this last noted set to a collector in California back nearly 5 years ago via eBay deal. In an exchange of E-mails he asked if I had any other Kingcast sets. I noted I had sets BI-124 of the Black Watch Gatling Gun with the dual elephants & the Zulu War set of "Saving the colours at Isnadhlawa". He offered me $700.00 for the BI-124 set. I got this great set from my local toy soldier store for $326.00 which was bargained down from the list price of $375.00. In any case, I came back with a counter offer of $1,000.00, but it was not accepted. I wonder what Kingcast set BI-121 is worth now?

Thanks to everyone who has left comments on this Thread,
"Iron Brigade" / Gary

 

[tdubel]

Dear Tom (as well as all the other members who have made replies to this Thread or Posting #1 by me):

Yes, Peter Cowan of the old Kingcast,Ltd toy soldier company made a lot of sets. Most were not in combat poses as I recall. Indeed, Kingcast really had many very unusual sets that were interesting. They made a lot of non-combat type sets. For example, I had a set of British Indian Army soldiers doing stable duty and I believe it was Kingcast set BI-121 of an Indian Army work detail of #8 figures with an elephant & rider pulling a large log with metal chain attached to elephant & of course the log. I sold this last noted set to a collector in California back nearly 5 years ago via eBay deal. In an exchange of E-mails he asked if I had any other Kingcast sets. I noted I had sets BI-124 of the Black Watch Gatling Gun with the dual elephants & the Zulu War set of "Saving the colours at Isnadhlawa". He offered me $700.00 for the BI-124 set. I got this great set from my local toy soldier store for $326.00 which was bargained down from the list price of $375.00. In any case, I came back with a counter offer of $1,000.00, but it was not accepted. I wonder what Kingcast set BI-121 is worth now?

Thanks to everyone who has left comments on this Thread,
"Iron Brigade" / Gary

Hi Gary,
I have the Saving the Colours and another limited one both in boxes with the Certs. They are cool. The Elephant pulling the log is one I need, missed it on the cheap last year!! I do like the sets, and have been fortunate to buy most at a good deal. I believe I have a dual elephant gun set too, they are pretty cool! I have noticed that Kingcast packaged the same sets in many different versions, figure changes, etc.

Tom

 

[boerboy]

Hello Gary,
IMHO all these sets were really great and innovative 20 years ago when there were no other sets to match them. Today there are so many sets to buy (or commission) on TS market for much less price...so I would not personally pay even original retail price for this set $575 (nothing personal ...I bought a lot of expensive (in the past) sets from many collection for a fraction of their original cost...
However do not get me wrong: many people want to have these sets right away and are willing to pay high dollars for these sets...
Another good example would be Military Pageant: a short lived company which made great TS at its time...it was famous with there carriages and civilian figures...
Al

 

[ucla1967]

Hello Gary,
IMHO all these sets were really great and innovative 20 years ago when there were no other sets to match them. Today there are so many sets to buy (or commission) on TS market for much less price...so I would not personally pay even original retail price for this set $575 (nothing personal ...I bought a lot of expensive (in the past) sets from many collection for a fraction of their original cost...
However do not get me wrong: many people want to have these sets right away and are willing to pay high dollars for these sets...
Another good example would be Military Pageant: a short lived company which made great TS at its time...it was famous with there carriages and civilian figures...
Al

Jeeez, Al. I was going to offer you my set for only $750. It is stored away since I have no room to display it.

 

[boerboy]

Jeeez, Al. I was going to offer you my set for only $750. It is stored away since I have no room to display it.

Sorry, Mike I guess you still can
Al

 

[Iron Brigade]

I started collecting toy soldiers in late 1991. In January 1993 I got the splendid & expensive set made by Kingcast of Wales, UK of the dual elephant Gatling Gun crew of the Blackwatch regiment during the 1880's in India. I believe the set# is BI-124, the "BI" standing for the British Army in India. Along the way I got a few other Kingcast sets including the Limited Edition set of KLE1 "Saving the Colours at Isandhlawa" on January 22, 1879 of the Zulu War. I sold off the few other Kingcast sets I had, but I am glad that I have kept these two sets. As I recall Kingcast went defunct in 1994. Does anyone else still have any Kingcast sets? Or did they have them in the past? I have attached two photos of the above noted Kingcast sets. (it should be noted that the dead 24th Foot soldier was made by ANI of California)

View attachment 48733

View attachment 48734

Dear fellow Forum members:

Thanks to all who were nice enough to leave nice reply back comments on my two remaining Kingcast, Ltd sets as well as comments on other assorted Kingcast sets.

Best regards, "Iron Brigade" / Gary

 

[uncled]

Dear fellow Forum members:

Thanks to all who were nice enough to leave nice reply back comments on my two remaining Kingcast, Ltd sets as well as comments on other assorted Kingcast sets.

Best regards, "Iron Brigade" / Gary

Kingcast are terrific sets, I have 7 of them including "The Wolf Gun of Mafeking" replete with Major Panzera commanding ! Also the heavy howitzer mounted for field duty w/RGA crew, the 5.6" field howitzer again w/RGA crew, the RHA Gatling Gun w/crew in full dress, the Black Watch India Gatling and crew, and finally two 40 pdr. Siege guns w/crews in different shades of khaki. Is this enough firepower, or should the reg't. seek more ??

 

[ucla1967]

Dear Tom (as well as all the other members who have made replies to this Thread or Posting #1 by me):

Yes, Peter Cowan of the old Kingcast,Ltd toy soldier company made a lot of sets. Most were not in combat poses as I recall. Indeed, Kingcast really had many very unusual sets that were interesting. They made a lot of non-combat type sets. For example, I had a set of British Indian Army soldiers doing stable duty and I believe it was Kingcast set BI-121 of an Indian Army work detail of #8 figures with an elephant & rider pulling a large log with metal chain attached to elephant & of course the log. I sold this last noted set to a collector in California back nearly 5 years ago via eBay deal. In an exchange of E-mails he asked if I had any other Kingcast sets. I noted I had sets BI-124 of the Black Watch Gatling Gun with the dual elephants & the Zulu War set of "Saving the colours at Isnadhlawa". He offered me $700.00 for the BI-124 set. I got this great set from my local toy soldier store for $326.00 which was bargained down from the list price of $375.00. In any case, I came back with a counter offer of $1,000.00, but it was not accepted. I wonder what Kingcast set BI-121 is worth now?

Thanks to everyone who has left comments on this Thread,
"Iron Brigade" / Gary

Dear Iron Brigade,

I just reread this post and realized that I have a two box Kingcast BI-124 set of the Black Watch with elephants and gatling guns that I have owned for several years and never had room to display. You don't happen to have that California collectors email address? I would be happy to sell my set to him if he is still interested. Thanks.