December 2012 Dispatches (1 Viewer)

Peter Reuss

2nd Lieutenant
Joined
Apr 22, 2005
Messages
3,775
DISPATCHES
December 2012

IT’S THE END of another year and already we’re looking forward to the coming one. So may I take this opportunity to thank both dealers and collectors for their continued support and enthusiasm over the past twelve months and promise you that you ain’t seen nothin’ yet!

Time to lock ‘n’ load…

1. BEING RELEASED IN DECEMBER
A. “On The Frontier”…
Throughout China’s long history there has been a succession of wars where neighboring countries have tried to “smash and grab” whole states and provinces away from the central power in Beijing..
To help protect the integrity of the frontier areas of the country different emperors used different methods. Several rulers built chains of “Frontier Forts” all along the perimeter of the country.
Our new individual multi section defense work allows collectors to build a fort as big (or as small) as they need or have the room for…

IC051 “Chinese Fort Main Gate”
A complete section with open/close gates plus a wooden ladder to reach the upper platform.

IC052 “Left Tower”
Flanking the gate on both sides would have been these stucco and wood structures providing shelter and some accommodation for the garrison of the fort.

IC053 “Right Tower”
See above, this is the opposite section.

IC054 “Wooden Fences”
A straight section and a corner section to extend on to the Fort’s main structures.

AVAILABLE: NOW!

B. “Letter from Hong Kong”
Three colourful additions to K&C’s most colourful series…

HK205 “The Letter Writer Set”
Up until just a few years ago in Hong Kong you could still sometimes see an old man sitting on a little stool writing a letter for another old person who alas was illiterate and wanted to let the relatives back in China know what was going on.
This charming little vignette is a very real piece of Hong Kong history.

HK206 “Mother & Child”
Again, what was once a fairly common street sight in H.K… a mother carrying her child on her back has disappeared into history… except in “Streets of Old Hong Kong”.

AVAILABLE: NOW!

HK213 “The God of Fortune”
All of us need a little good fortune from time to time… Perhaps this mythical Chinese figure can help…?

AVAILABLE: Mid December

C. “SURPRISE VISIT THIS CHRISTMAS BY THREE MEN ON CAMELS!”

No, it’s not another set of the “Three Wise Men” for the LOJ series… It’s three mounted Australian figures of the Imperial Camel Corps on patrol.

Among the mounted units that contributed men to this British and Empire force was the Australian Light Horse. This December release provides three individual camel-mounted soldiers… one officer and two troopers.

AL036 “Australian Officer”. Turning in the saddle this officer looks back towards his men.

AL037 “Aye Ready”
Lee Enfield rifle resting on his thigh this trooper scans the distant desert horizon.

AL038 “Shirt-Sleeve Order”
“Any fool can be uncomfortable in the field”… This trooper has put away his heavy wool service jacket and looks much more comfortable with open necked shirt and rolled-up sleeves. His Lee Enfield remains “at the ready” resting across his lap.

AVAILABLE: NOW!

In addition to the first three Australian figures of the Imperial Camel Corps we are adding three variations…

AL036(B) Australian Officer
AL037(B) Aye Ready
AL038(B) Shirt-Sleeve Order

These above versions will have the “regulation” army-issued camel blankets to replace the more exotic “privately-obtained” ones.

AVAILABLE: NOW!

D. “And Now To A Very Different Frontier”
In “DISPATCHES” we go from the troubled frontiers of China to the equally troubled frontier of the Old West with the announcement of a big, bold, battling new series…”Custer’s Last Stand”.
This project has actually been “in-the-works” for several years but only now has come to fruition…
The Indian Wars following the end of the Civil War were an important time for the United States… A growing population was forever requiring more land to settle and build on as well as to explore and exploit for its abundant natural resources.
Among the land most coveted were the treaty-held territories granted to the Native American tribes. Most Indians reluctantly had to accept and agree to whatever the whitemen in Washington said. Some however did not… Especially the Lakota (Sioux) and the Cheyenne.
Eventually this would lead to war that would involve the U.S. Cavalry and the Indians. The most famous engagement of those times was The Battle of the Little Bighorn which took place on June 25/26, 1876.

This new series intends to paint a portrait in miniature of the bloody climax of those fateful days.
Our first initial release of just seven U.S. Cavalry items will be followed up in February by seven more.

TRW020 “Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer”
The commander of the famous 7th Cavalry and already a hero from the Civil War Custer together with 210 of his men would perish on and around “Last Stand Hill” just above the Little Bighorn river.
Here we show him wearing buckskin trousers with a decorative blue civilian-style shirt and colourful red neckerchief. In his hands a pair of matching Royal Irish Constabularly revolvers.

TRW022 “Captain Myles Keogh”
An Irish soldier-of-fortune who somehow ended up in the 7th Cavalry. Tough, experienced and reliable Keogh is seen wearing a Civil War kepi and the black embroidered “Patrol” jacket. With one hand he keeps Custer’s personal guidon upright… with the other he takes careful aim.

TRW023 “Bugler” Already wounded this seated Bugler attempts in vain to contact the other units of the 7th.

TRW024 “Swinging the Carbine”
With no ammunition left this corporal has no choice but to use his carbine as a club.

TRW025 “Kneeling Firing Carbine”
Due to the stifling mid summer heat this trooper has discarded his heavy wool jacket and is fighting in “shirt-sleeve order”

TRW030 “Dead Horse”
Although many horses were killed by Indian bullets and arrows others were shot by their riders to provide some cover on the sparsely covered hillside.

TRW031 “On His Knees”
Clutching a serious head wound and his carbine by his side this wounded trooper will not last long.

AVAILABLE: Mid December

SPECIAL NOTE: Remember, a second exciting batch of 7th Cavalry “personalities”, troopers and casualties will appear in February followed in April/May by no less than seven mounted Indians plus another seven fighting on foot.

E. “From Custer to Napoleon”
It’s not too big a leap as we’re actually going from an elite U.S. Cavalry regiment in the 1870’s to an elite cavalry regiment in the Age of Bonaparte…

K&C are pleased and proud to announce an entirely new French Napoleonic Cavalry Regiment… The Horse Grenadiers of the Imperial Guard… Or to give them their proper “nom”… Les Grenadiers de la Garde Imperiale”… This heavy cavalry unit was reputed to be the finest horse mounted regiment not just in the Emperor’s own army but in all of Europe!
Our bearskin clad chevaliers include.
NA217 “Officer Turning in Saddle”
A classic pose for an officer… looking back at his men.

NA218 “Officer with Regimental Guidon”

NA219 “Bugler”

NA220 “Grenadier w/Sword (looking front)”

NA221 “Grenadier w/Sword (looking left)”

NA222 “Scout Grenadier w/Musket)”

And a couple of senior French officers….

NA239 “Mounted Bessieres”
A one-time commander of the Horse Grenadiers… this richly decorated officer
was one of Napoleon’s most trusted and respected generals.

NA240 “Mounted Cuirrassier General”
Another fine addition to the Emperor’s staff.

AVAILABLE: Mid December
 
2. APPEARING IN JANUARY
The New Year sees K&C once more return to the desert battlefields of North Africa between 1940 and 1943…

A. “Desert Dust-Up!”
Two great looking Eighth Army fighting vehicles are supported by six individual “Tommies” all in action…

EA066 “Desert Dingo”
This is the third and final version of this little British armoured reconnaissance vehicle. Dingoes saw wide and varied use by British and Empire forces throughout the war in North Africa. Our new one belongs to the 7th. Armored Division” The Desert Rats” and is “christened” MORECAMBE.
The vehicle includes a driver and separate Bren Gun.

EA078 “Valentine Mk.III Tank”
The Valentine was the most produced of any British-designed tank during WW2. More than 8,000 were built in 11 different marks. They accounted for over one quarter of all British tank production between 1940 and 1944.
In addition to serving with both British and Canadian army units large numbers were supplied to Soviet Russia under lend-lease…
This is the first K&C Valentine (two more are planned) and is in the markings of the 1st. Army Tank Brigade, stationed in Tobruk, Libya in 1942.
Our model “HECTOR” wears the unique “splinter” three-colour camouflage and comes with a vehicle commander.

“… And Now For the Poor Bloody Infantry”
Providing the vital infantry backup are six individual “Toms”…
EA079 “Attacking Officer”
Webley Service Revolver in hand this young Lieutenant leads his men forward.

EA080 “Sergeant Tommy-Gunner”
Providing additional support for his officer and men the “Tommy-Gun” toting Sergeant rattles off a burst of .45 bullets!!

EA081 “Lying Prone Bren Gunner”
An invaluable asset to any squad of British and Empire infantry was the handy Bren Gunner with his Light Machine Gun.

EA082 “Lying Firing Rifleman”
Next to the Bren Gunner this rifleman acts as his “number two”.

EA083 “Charging w/Rifle and Bayonet”
Bullets are good but sometimes it takes the cold steel of a bayonet to force the enemy to retreat!

EA084 “Standing Firing Rifleman”
A British “Tommy” and his Short Magazine Lee Enfield rifle make a winning combination.

AVAILABLE : Early January

B. “On The Streets of Berlin”
From the desert sands of Libya to the cobble-stoned streets of the Reich’s capital with three single Sturmabteilung (S.A.) figures…

LAH166 “S.A. Drum Major”
Mace in hand this veteran “Musik-leiter” leads his men on parade.

LAH167 “S.A. Trumpeter”

LAH168 “S.A. Drummer”

AVAILABLE: Mid to Late January

C. “RETURN TO THE CRIMEA”
A couple of years ago when our good friends at King & Country UK decided to complete their original Crimean War series we at HQ in Hong Kong took a long, hard look at the range and decided that perhaps we could extend and develop it at some later stage.
Well, now we’re here and this is just our first installment…

“Besieging Sevastapol”
Under a hail of Russian shell and shot British infantry make their tortuous way forward.
CR003 “Kneeling Firing”

CR004 “Standing Firing”

CR005 “Pointing Corporal”

CR006 “Drummer Boy”

CR007 “Loading Rifle”

CR008 “Advancing w/Rifle at the Port”

CR009 “Advancing Forward”

CR010 “Crouching w/Rifle & Bayonet”

CR011 “Marching to the Front”

Special Note: All of these first infantry releases represent a typical English “Line” or “County” Regiment of the 1850’s Victorian Army. To select just one of the many fine regiments that fought in the Crimea would, we feel, be unfair to the others who fought and died there.

Follow Up Release: Officers, flagbearers and wounded will be released as an addition to this first release in the 2nd quarter of 2013.

AVAILABLE: Mid to Late January

D. “Saladin’s Saracens to the Rescue”
Once more we journey a little further East from the Crimea to the Middle East at the time of the Crusades… with SIX more Saracen warriors.

MK097 “Saracen Sergeant-at-Arms”
Signaling to his men this axe-wielding sergeant carefully moves forward.

MK098 “Advancing Cross Bowman”

MK099 “Charging Saracen Spearman”
Axe in one hand, spear in the other and looking for trouble…

MK100 “Advancing Saracen Spearman”

MK101 “Kneeling Saracen Spearman”

MK102 “Mounted Saracen Officer”

AVAILABLE: Mid to Late January

And that as they say is the story so far except, of course, for our usual retirement list…

3. Being Retired…

AK060 Water Supplies Set
AK061 Soldier Drinking From Jerry Can
AK062 Fuel Transporter
AK063 Field Marshal Albert "Smiling Albert" Kesselring
BBG018 Winter Scout
BBG020 Waiting and Smoking
HK172 Happy Family
LAH058 Marching Algemeine SS Man
LAH059 Marching Algemeine Officer
LAH060 Marching w/ Standard
LAH063 Wehrmacht Mounted Officer
LAH064 Wehrmacht Marching Officer
LAH065 Wehrmacht Marching Flagbearer
LAH066 Wehrmacht Marching Drummer
LAH067 Wehrmacht Marching Rifleman


Once more many thanks for your continued support and very best wishes from all of us at K&C to you this Christmas time. Here’s to a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year in 2013.


Andy C. Neilson
Co-founder & Creative Director
King & Country
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top