Message to Andy Neilson - Thanks to K&C - Hong Kong (1 Viewer)

[Harrytheheid]

Andy,
This is an open message on the forum.

I would really like to express my appreciation towards both Dely and Ruby at the K&C shop in Pacific Place for the help they extended towards me today. Could you please send them both my very best regards. They provided excellent assistance in my decision-making process as to what items I ought to purchase on this occasion and their professionalism had to be seen to be believed. I only had to quote a catalogue number, and they both instantly knew which piece or set I was referring to.

I initially obtained the following items;

1 x AK038, Stug III Set
1 x AK030, Panzer II Set
1 x EA021, On Guard
1 x EA025, SAS Recce Jeep
1 x AK035, Motorcycle Combo
1 x AK016, Attack Set
1 x AK021, Machine Gun Set
1 x SP028, Oasis Well
1 x AK032, VF Arab Camel Corp
1 x AK033, VF Arab Camel Corp On Guard
1 x HK129, Chinese Festival Sign Writer Set
1 x HK113, Dai Pai Dong Set
1 x HK164, Fish Seller Set
1 x HK130, Man Holding Lucky Sign Set
1 x HK103, Two Kitchen Helpers Set
1 x HK151, Suckling Pig Set
1 x HK 160, Shrine Offering Set
1 x HK114, Food Barrels Set

Dely and Ruby then took the time to show me each individual item I was purchasing, and wrapped each one in bubble wrap. (The boxes would have been too bulky for me to put in my luggage).

I then visited the "Kelly & Walsh" bookshop you suggested during our phone conversation. Excellent shop. I noticed they have a new George McDonald Fraser offering called "Reivers" that I want to get at the end of December. Looks like a good laugh. They also have some good Military reading as you mentioned, including Max Hastings new book about the fall of Japan as discussed previously with Rob.

Then went outside for a ***, drink of iced tea and a think about airline luggage weight restrictions and other things. Decided to return to the shop and bought the following goodies;

1 x AE009, Standing Guardsman
1 x AE027, Egyptian Slave Buyer
1 x AE028, Nubian Slave Guard
1 x HK147, Photographer
1 x EA023, LRDG 30cwt Chevrolet Uncamouflaged
1 x EA024, LRDG 30cwt Chevrolet Camouflaged
1 x WS085, Moving Forward Set
1 x WS086, Prepare to Fire Set

They have also reserved this beautiful St Petersburg figure of Morgan Le Faye for me which I'll buy at the end of December.

Now, I know I said I wasn't going to get the LRDG Chevy's until end of December - but I couldn't resist it. When you hear a strange skreeching sound in Hong Kong around 22:00PM tomorrow night - don't be alarmed. It'll only be Missus Heid's response filtering all the way down from Dalian after she opens my luggage and all is revealed.
You'll be hearing things like;

MH, "Hally daahleeng, you are velly, velly, Lady-Man. Why you buy all this $hite in one go?"
HtH, "Listen darling, just don't push it, or you'll be getting no housekeeping money this month. Anyway, you like the SOHK stuff don't you? I got them cos I, hmmm, missed you so much".

As we discussed, it'll be a Blitz on Naps and Crusaders next time I travel through Hong Kong.

Met up with Bob Neville and his wife Julie later on tonight in Central District. Had an excellent Thai meal and a few beers. Mentioned that I might decide to ship Missus Heid down from Dalian for Hogmany celebrations when I return to HK at end of December. Really depends on how much verbal (and possibly physical) ear-ache she hands out when she sees what I've bought this time around.

So, once again, thanks you to all at K&C, especially those I've mentioned by name. It's not often you meet such nice people and obtain such excellent service in this day and age.
I'll see you all next time plus those I missed on this occasion, around 29th December and we must set up a wee pre-Hogmany restaraunt visit (and a few drams) together.
Looking forward to it already.

Very Best Regards
HarryTheHeid

 

[aujj65]

That's a tidy old list isn't it!!

I like your taste in SOHK, I can't remember if you collect the matt or gloss versions? Regarding a blitz on Napoleonics have you thought about the Crimean range instead? I've just deviated from Naps to getting some of the first releases, I'm glad I did (see my post under the Crimean thread)

Regards

Jeff

 

[Harrytheheid]

That's a tidy old list isn't it!!

I like your taste in SOHK, I can't remember if you collect the matt or gloss versions? Regarding a blitz on Napoleonics have you thought about the Crimean range instead? I've just deviated from Naps to getting some of the first releases, I'm glad I did (see my post under the Crimean thread)

Regards

Jeff

Hi Jeff,

Missus Heid prefers the Matt SOHK, as do I.
I already have the Crimea War Set 1, and Set 2 is on pre-order. Magnificent aren't they?
The Naps I'll be getting next time I'm in HK are the Kilties vs the Cuirieser French Cavalry plus a few other Nap odds and ends.
Oh man, I hope that kidney sells for a good price on E-Bay.......

Cheers
H

 

[Louis Badolato]

Harry,

I new George MacDonald Fraser book! I will be running to the book store this evening. Thanks for the heads up. And congrats on your shopping spree. I wish I had the vacation time to go to Hong Kong (sadly, when you are your own boss, you have no vacation time, the one drawback to working for yourself - the five day weekend in Chicago is my vacation for the year).

 

[Harrytheheid]

Harry,

I new George MacDonald Fraser book! I will be running to the book store this evening. Thanks for the heads up. And congrats on your shopping spree. I wish I had the vacation time to go to Hong Kong (sadly, when you are your own boss, you have no vacation time, the one drawback to working for yourself - the five day weekend in Chicago is my vacation for the year).

Yes Louis......I'm sure it was called "Reivers" and is humerous fiction set on the Scottish/English border during the reign of Good/Bad (depends on your point of view) Queen Bess 1st of England. I'll get it in December and provide a review.
As for my shopping spree......better leave the congrats until next week when I get discharged from whatever Chinese hospital I end up in tonight. Missus Heid will go mental when she sees how much I bought yesterday...!!!
Last time we spoke on the phone I did promise faithfully to ease up on my toy soldier purchases in future - but you know how that one goes.


Cheers
H

 

[Capitolron]

Harry

The next time you go to Hong Kong - Why dont you buy something ??

I mean come on - thats all you got when you were there ??

 

[Simpson & his donkey.]

Yes Louis......I'm sure it was called "Reivers" and is humerous fiction set on the Scottish/English border during the reign of Good/Bad (depends on your point of view) Queen Bess 1st of England. I'll get it in December and provide a review.
As for my shopping spree......better leave the congrats until next week when I get discharged from whatever Chinese hospital I end up in tonight. Missus Heid will go mental when she sees how much I bought yesterday...!!!
Last time we spoke on the phone I did promise faithfully to ease up on my toy soldier purchases in future - but you know how that one goes.


Cheers
H

How great it is to have another great guy who knows who must be obeyed.I have the same good time as you Harry .My wife loves what I buy but can't understand why I just don't buy one thing at a time.Us men must stick together on this and stand strong.She tells me I am in charge of the dog when she is not home.But who is in charge of me when I am at THE MILITARY WORKSHOP .Nobody!.

 

[Harrytheheid]

How great it is to have another great guy who knows who must be obeyed.I have the same good time as you Harry .My wife loves what I buy but can't understand why I just don't buy one thing at a time.Us men must stick together on this and stand strong.She tells me I am in charge of the dog when she is not home.But who is in charge of me when I am at THE MILITARY WORKSHOP .Nobody!.

Harry

The next time you go to Hong Kong - Why dont you buy something ??

I mean come on - thats all you got when you were there ??

Simpson,
My ears have been bleeding for the past 3 hours or so since I got home.... "She Who Must Be Obeyed" flipped when she opened my luggage. What made it worse was the only jewels I brought home this time were the SOHK stuff plus a few arabic perfume bottles.....

As for you Ron,
Haw Haw.....I had to leave a bunch of books, Audio CD's and clothing with a friend in Hong Kong cos of the flight weight restrictions. As it was the luggage was JUST under the Air China regulations for the flight from HK up to Dalian. And my right arm has grown around 6 inches due to lugging that suitcase full of K&C and diorama goodies around - plus I was carrying 2 laptops as well - and 1 of them's a Toshiba Quasmio which is no lightweight machine...!!!!!

At least all my purchases made it home. A few bent rifle barrels here and there - but easily fixed (unlike me).

Talk to you guys later - once I get out of traction.


Cheers
H

 

[Harrytheheid]

Harry,

I new George MacDonald Fraser book! I will be running to the book store this evening. Thanks for the heads up. And congrats on your shopping spree. I wish I had the vacation time to go to Hong Kong (sadly, when you are your own boss, you have no vacation time, the one drawback to working for yourself - the five day weekend in Chicago is my vacation for the year).

Louis,
I bought the new GMF book today at Hong Kong Airport. Unless you're well up on British slang and current in-jokes you might have some trouble with it to be honest. Worth getting though, cos I've got to chapter 4 so far and its pretty funny. I'll scan the front cover and the blurb on the back when I get a chance and post it so's you'll know what to look for.

Cheers
H

 

[Harrytheheid]

Curses, Muttley.
Just discovered this morning that the LRDG Uncamouflaged Chevy did in fact get damaged in transit. The entire right hand side panel at the back was broken off.
Oh well, it's the chance you take when you transport these items the way I had to, so it'll be out with the acrylics and paintbrush once the superglue dries properly. Reckon I can disguise it as "battle damage".
The Bren Gun for the front cab mounting also can't be found despite 2 frantic searches through all the bubble wrap. Guess I can find something else to put into the mounting, a radio arial maybe - hey, I'll have a unique Chevy Truck then.
Just as well I don't buy K&C as an investment and have no intention of ever selling any of our collection.


Cheers
H

 

[Wraith]

That's unlucky mate. I thought you were being brave when you said you'd had them bubble wrapped. Hope they're fixable.

Simon

 

[Harrytheheid]

That's unlucky mate. I thought you were being brave when you said you'd had them bubble wrapped. Hope they're fixable.

Simon

No worries Simon. Like I said, it's the chance you take and I'd never have got all the boxes into my luggage anyway.
I'm going to give the superglue a few hours and I can then disguise the damage. It's no biggie. Can't figure out how that Bren Gun got lost though? I'll have a hunt through my spares box and see if I can substitute something else.
The few rifle barrels that got bent are fixed already - and I didn't loose any paint on them. I'll figure out a better way of protecting future purchases, especially as Nap bayonets, swords, etc. can bend/break pretty easily. Maybe use some of the foam from the original packaging.
Thanks anyway.

Tell you what though, that St Petersburg figure of Morgan Le Faye that the ladies in the K&C shop are holding for me is just STUNNING......So's the price as well like - but I simply MUST have it - and it'll be transported in the biggest and best-protected bl@@dy box I can find.

Cheers
H

 

[Harrytheheid]

Louis,
I bought the new GMF book today at Hong Kong Airport. Unless you're well up on British slang and current in-jokes you might have some trouble with it to be honest. Worth getting though, cos I've got to chapter 4 so far and its pretty funny. I'll scan the front cover and the blurb on the back when I get a chance and post it so's you'll know what to look for.

Cheers
H

Louis,
Here's the book you'll be looking for.

Front Cover

Back Cover

Cheers
H

 

[Canadian Samurai]

Hey Harry,

Sorry to hear about the damages. I'm pretty unlucky about receiving damaged stuff in the mail, including a few days ago, so I know how you feel. Because everything's so fragile this hobby can be quite annoying at times.

 

[Harrytheheid]

Hey Harry,

Sorry to hear about the damages. I'm pretty unlucky about receiving damaged stuff in the mail, including a few days ago, so I know how you feel. Because everything's so fragile this hobby can be quite annoying at times.

Thanks for that CS.
Like I said to Simon it was a calculated risk. But now the superglue has cured properly it's hardly noticable externally. The internal break lines just the other side of the Lewis Gunner are clearly visible, but I can hide that by putting in extra packs and other equipment - so it's not a disaster. I am pi$$ed off about loosing the Bren Gun though. Must've slipped out of its bubble wrap, but I'll find something to put in the gun mounting besides the front seat passenger. Dunno, maybe a flag or something. I reckon I got off lightly anyway considering the way everything was crammed into that suitcase. No-one to blame but myself.

As you say, I also have received damaged items by post as well - usually just bent bayonets or rifle barrels which are quite easy to fix.

Will just have to exercise some restraint and not buy so much next time......ho, ho, and pigs might fly.

Cheers
H

 

[OldCelt]

Hh. Sorry as well old Boy'O.
But I find repairs an amussing passtime on a cool winters eve.
I lucked out. I recieved an Ebay aquired EA 07 Matilda wrapped loosely in strips of foam.
In an over sized DD60 box. In a very badly maulled carton. (Looks like the UPS team used it as a soccar ball.)...AND....Every thing was perfect not a scratch nick or bend in the lot!!!
O.C. AKA Lucky!!

 

[Harrytheheid]

Hh. Sorry as well old Boy'O.
But I find repairs an amussing passtime on a cool winters eve.
I lucked out. I recieved an Ebay aquired EA 07 Matilda wrapped loosely in strips of foam.
In an over sized DD60 box. In a very badly maulled carton. (Looks like the UPS team used it as a soccar ball.)...AND....Every thing was perfect not a scratch nick or bend in the lot!!!
O.C. AKA Lucky!!

Ach well, thanks for the kind thought OC but like I keep saying it's not really a biggie. I'm more pi$$ed off about the Bren Gun, but thats just tough. I've stuck some old sledge hammer in the mounting for the BG just to cover up the hole. If I can find time during my next visit to HK, I'll have a look in some of the modelling stores and see if I can come up with an alternative.

Cheers
H

 

[Louis Badolato]

Ach well, thanks for the kind thought OC but like I keep saying it's not really a biggie. I'm more pi$$ed off about the Bren Gun, but thats just tough. I've stuck some old sledge hammer in the mounting for the BG just to cover up the hole. If I can find time during my next visit to HK, I'll have a look in some of the modelling stores and see if I can come up with an alternative.

Cheers
H

Why don't you just e-mail Andy or Tammi at K&C? I have asked for replacement parts in the past, and know of other people who have made similar requests, and Andy has always been helpful. A lot of times they receive sets back with damage, and have extra undamaged parts they can send a collector if he has a lost or damaged part like the Bren Gun in question.

 

[Harrytheheid]

Why don't you just e-mail Andy or Tammi at K&C? I have asked for replacement parts in the past, and know of other people who have made similar requests, and Andy has always been helpful. A lot of times they receive sets back with damage, and have extra undamaged parts they can send a collector if he has a lost or damaged part like the Bren Gun in question.

Hmmm, check my PM when you get the chance.

Cheers
H