All Kind Of Goodies (1 Viewer)

[King & Country]

Hi Guys,
Christmas Greetings to one and all! I just got back to Hong Kong last night after my “Around The World in 17 Days” trip. It was great… I got to meet literally hundreds of dedicated K&C collectors in Paris, London and San Antonio. This is one of the most enjoyable (and exhilarating) parts of being in this hobby and business you get to meet and talk to such interesting people. You also get lots of important “feedback” and “ideas” from collectors and dealers alike that all go into the K&C mix.
Particular hilights of course were the “Champagne Open house Soiree” at Toy Soldier Paris with Frederic Genard, our French National Distributor and over 70 K&C enthusiasts from all over France. Another hilight in Paris was visitng “SoldaTelis”—a sparkling little gem of a toy soldier shop run by two beautiful French ladies a few hundreds yards from the magnificent “Arc de Triomphe” in the very heart of Paris.
“SoldaTelis” has some great displays and in addition to K&C has some delightful traditional CBG Mignot French figures. If ever you get to Paris look up both “Toy Soldier Paris” and “SoldaTelis”—you won’t be disappointed
After Paris I took the “Eurostar”train to London for the December “London Toy Soldier Show” run and organized by K&C UK in the form of the entire Neville Family, who some of you know personally.
This festive season show was a winner! Over a thousand collectors and many of the biggest names in the toy soldier world attended and it was a blast. We finally announced K&C UK’s exclusive “Crimean War” series with the “Charge of the Light Brigade” vignette and a great “Q and A”
session at the evening get-together after the show. I also let people know about some of K&C ’s 2007 First World War figures… American Civil War and at long last, the return of the British Paras!
The London Show whether in March, June or December is certainly one of the hilights of my year… I know some of you feel the same.
All too soon (the next day) I flew out of London to Mexico for several days of important business meetings before heading up to San Antonio to meet up with the folks at KINGS X and to plan the redesign and redevelopment of the store there. While at the store I met more K&C collectors including a guy from my old hometown in Scotland who now lives and works in Dallas—talk about a small world!
After 5 hectic days in San Antonio off to Los Angeles where I managed to see Mel Gibson’s movie “APOCALYPTO”… Putting aside Mel’s recent drunken outbursts for a moment… it’s a fantastic movie—exciting, dramatic and colourful. I heartily recommend it… but not for the squeamish… be warned there’s lots of blood and violence!
So now I’m back in Hong Kong and it’s back to the “salt-mines” for me.
Here’s a few answers to recent points.
1. FIESLER STORCH PHOTOS I’ll post next week. On this subject, the
“warbird” project is very much alive and kicking. However there’s still a few important points to be decided… how many? What price? How to ship effectively (and safely). To name but a few. So before we all get too excited and putting our wish lists together. Let’s try to get this first one out onto the market. Thanks for your patience and understanding.
2. The New Sherman
Underneath all those sand bags is a “cast—hull” Sherman. Glad so many of you like it.
3. Individual Tank Crew Figures
I like this idea a lot. At present we’re working on a separate 5 man German Tank Crew that would be an upgraded… redesigned… resculpted version of the old 4 man WS16.
Definitely need a separate GI set of “tankers”. Perhaps could be combined with John’s “repair” crew.
4. Also a big thankyou to all those collectors who have got into (or are
getting into) our new series of “Crusaders” and “Saracens”. It’s gratifying to go out on a limb and see so many K&C collectors who appreciate what we’re trying to do.

Finally, a very Merry Christmas to all of you and your families and here’s wishing for a happy, healthy and prosperous 2007 for all of us!
Happy Collecting…

Andy C

 

[jazzeum]

Andy,

Thanks for your report of your whirlwind tour. Sounds like you barely had time to catch your breath. Would love to make that trip with you.

We are, of course, anxiously waiting the Storch and am sure that it will do well. From my perspective, I would keep the numbers, at least initially, at a modest number, just to make sure it's a success. Once that's evident, then you can increase them. We hope the price is decent but I'm sure it will be a lot less than one of the customized ones, just due to economies of scale. As far as shipping, you can just bring Louis', Larry's, Hans' and mine with you to the Symposium in March. I'm sure they'll get there safe and sound

Merry Christmas if we don't speak for then. 2007 will be an exciting year. I'm sure you've got a few tricks up your sleeve

Your friend,

Brad

 

[Louis Badolato]

Welcome back Andy, and merry Christmas to you, your wife and daughter, Gordon, his family, and the whole K&C family! I really look forward to next week's posting of the photo of the new Storch.

 

[arnhem44mad]

Glad you're doing a tank crew like WS16, BEEN LOOKING FOR THAT LATELY!!

I posted a collector classified about wanting to buy WS16! I got a reply but had changed my mind and said to the person I would just wait till you brought out a similar set!

I'm begining to think we have the same mind Andy! I was looking for retired Arnhem British Paratroopers, you announce your bringing out new ones ! I was looking for WS16, you announce you might try to do a similar set to that one !

Maybe I'm just your favourite fan...........or maybe not!

 

[Wraith]

Andy,

Great news on the individual tanker sets, look forward to them.

Simon

 

[Mike97]

It's truly a pleasure to be collecting items from company where the Founder reaches out to their buyers- and listens. It's a new experience for me, coming over from the 1/6th scale world.
I'm looking very forward to 2007.

 

[Rob]

I very much like the sound of the extra tankers for both sides.This would make it much more realistic for a diorama and would encourage me to buy more than one of each tank.

I too used to collect 1/6 scale and it was difficult enough to find out what was coming next let alone having any input.As Mike says its fantastic to be able to talk to/slightly influence and hear the thoughts of the man at the top.This makes for exciting collecting and better understanding of the whole process of producing these excellant soldiers.It also makes me understand that its a long and much thought out project and can't be done on a whim or spur of the moement.After talking to/reading what Andy has said i think 2007 looks like its going to be a very exciting year.

Rob

 

[Louis Badolato]

It's truly a pleasure to be collecting items from company where the Founder reaches out to their buyers- and listens. It's a new experience for me, coming over from the 1/6th scale world.
I'm looking very forward to 2007.

Andy has always been very responsive to collectors. He has been a good friend of mine for years now, and has gone out of his way so many times to accomodate me and other collector friends of mine it is beyond count. If you get a chance to go to one of the shows he attends or the Symposium you will have a ball meeting Andy in person. And if you get a chance to go to San Antonio and meet Gordon Neilson, Andy's brother, don't pass on it. Gordon is really funny in that dry Scottish way, and a really terrific guy. For me, the best part of collecting is making friends with the creative people behind the figures, like Andy and Gordon from K&C and Rick from Figarti, as well as the dealers and the other collectors. That's why I love this forum so much.

 

[jazzeum]

I have found that if you email Andy with a question, a comment or a suggestion, he is quite responsive. He may not get back to you immediately but will eventually. He is one of the most down to earth people I know.