Early K&C Diorama (1 Viewer)

[King & Country]

Hi Guys,



Here’s a photo of the very first diorama I ever produced way back in 1995/96.



It was to display our first few sets of ARNHEM’44 and featured several hand-made pieces — all of the buildings in the fore-ground including the bridge/archway. In the background I utilized a bunch of our papier-mache “Streets of Old Hong Kong” buildings.



For the “eagle-eyed” among you the Dutch building in the center of the pic — the red one — was strongly influenced by a Verlinden model house...The Knocked-out German half track was an old plastic model I painted up and “accessorized”...Just behind it you can see one of our original wooden Sturmgeschutz models, which were made in the Philippines. The whole display measured about 36” long by 18” deep by roughly 15’ high.



What happened to the model? It was on display in our Hong Kong store window for about a year and then it was bought by a K&C collector from Jakarta in Indonesia. It took me almost 6 months to build it as I did it at weekends and in the evenings after work.



Thought you might like this wee story from K&C’s dim and distant past...



Best wishes and...happy collecting!

Andy C.

 

[jazzeum]

Andy,

Over on Toy Soldier Chat, Bill Moore posted the following photos. What can you tell us about those?

 

[jazzeum]

Photo Number 2:

 

[jazzeum]

Photo Number 3:

 

[jazzeum]

Andy posted the following on Toy Soldier Chat regarding the diorama Bill Moore has that I posted photos of:

*****

Hi Guys,

Long time no speak! However to help make amends for my absence here’s the “skinny” on Bill’s mini diorama featured on the recent post...

If memory serves me it was done back in 1998 by...me. Gordon was not involved in this particular one. It was also one of the first dioramas I ever attempted...so apologies for its relative simplicity. I remember I showed it in Chicago and sold it to a collector after the show. My friend Bill Moore came across it a couple of years later and grabbed it straight away — good on him!

And yes, originally it had British Paratroopers of our “ARNHEM’44” series on it.

Since that time my creative appetite for displays and dioramas has only increased. In my humble opinion, no matter how good a set of figures or a fighting vehicle look on their own once you incorporate them into a diorama they become GREAT! For me, dioramas make figures and vehicles “come alive” and make for a little war movie all of my very own.

Anyway that’s my tuppence worth! What d’ you guys think?

Best wishes and...happy collecting!

Andy C.

 

[Steven Chong]

... I remember I showed it in Chicago and sold it to a collector after the show. My friend Bill Moore came across it a couple of years later and grabbed it straight away — good on him!

I can add a little to the story of this particular diorama. At the Chicago Show a few years ago, the collector who owned this particular diorama was selling his entire collection, which was huge!!! He had many of the early K&C WWII sets, the original K&C paper-mache Roman fort, many other K&C sets made in the early 90's, and two of the dioramas made by K&C for shows (including the one pictured by Andy); all the Frontline ACW and Napoleonic sets; all of the East of India samurai sets; and many Conte sets -- all at 20% off the original list price!!! I remember Brian (Warbuff26) buying some of his stuff. In return for a big discount, I ended up helping him pack-up and move his collection down to the show on Sunday.

Now, he had an interesting reason for selling everything. His wife was pregnant and had given him an ultimatum. Convert his study (which displayed most of his toy soldier collection) to a nursery, or buy her a bigger house. The collector believed his wife thought he would buy the bigger house to keep his collection. He told me he "showed her" by packing up everything, and selling it at toy soldier shows. I have always wondered who showed who, especially when all the early K&C stuff drastically increased in value.

 

[jazzeum]

Steven,

That's a pretty funny story. A real Hobson's choice. I wonder what decision we'd all make if confronted with that decision. I'd like to think I'd go for the bigger house (assuming I could afford it).

Reminds me of the old saw about the husband recounting the ultimatum given by his wife ("it's me or [fill in your hobby]") and the husband ends the story by saying "my wife, I'm going to miss her."

I think I may have a small part of that collection. Warbuff sold me the Arnhem Daimler over a year ago.

 

[Louis Badolato]

I can add to the story as well. Hans Hedrich was at his first Chicago Show that year. Brian (Warbuff26) came to tell him about this guy selling his entire collection, including a bunch of K&C, but he was doing Bill Moore a favor and watching his room so Bill could look around. Bill hit the room hard and bought everything K&C the guy had left. When Bill returned to his room, Hans and Brian went to the guys room, but Bill had gotten all the K&C.

I can further add to the story:

Before the collector in question had the diorama, it was in the possession of a Pennsylvania K&C dealer (a really good guy, who will remain nameless, because this story reflects poorly on his temper). I, doing my usual monthly phone rounds of the dealers, called this gentleman, with whom I had never done business, and asked if he had any out of production K&C for sale. He told me that he had this wonderful diorama of a destroyed SS headquarters and ruined Church, and that he wanted $750 for it. Now back then $750 was a lot for anything K&C, and a lot of money to me personally to spend on a collectible, especially sight unseen, so I asked him if I could have a friend who lived closer to him (another K&C dealer) check it out for me. I wanted to make sure it was something I would want, and was worth me laying out what then was like a quarter year's funds for collecting. I certainly did not mean to impugn this dealer's credibility, but he took it that way, flipped out on me, and told me he wouldn't sell it to me, ever, at any price. So if I hadn't been too lazy to drive to Pennsylvania, this excellent diorama would have been in my collection right now. What are you going to do?

 

[Louis Badolato]

Hi Guys,



Here’s a photo of the very first diorama I ever produced way back in 1995/96.



It was to display our first few sets of ARNHEM’44 and featured several hand-made pieces — all of the buildings in the fore-ground including the bridge/archway. In the background I utilized a bunch of our papier-mache “Streets of Old Hong Kong” buildings.



For the “eagle-eyed” among you the Dutch building in the center of the pic — the red one — was strongly influenced by a Verlinden model house...The Knocked-out German half track was an old plastic model I painted up and “accessorized”...Just behind it you can see one of our original wooden Sturmgeschutz models, which were made in the Philippines. The whole display measured about 36” long by 18” deep by roughly 15’ high.



What happened to the model? It was on display in our Hong Kong store window for about a year and then it was bought by a K&C collector from Jakarta in Indonesia. It took me almost 6 months to build it as I did it at weekends and in the evenings after work.



Thought you might like this wee story from K&C’s dim and distant past...



Best wishes and...happy collecting!

Andy C.

I remember calling Andy to try to buy this particular diorama in late 1997 or early 1998. He told me he had just sold it to that gentleman in Jakarta. To console me, he sold me the Afrika Corps. diorama from the September 1997 Flyer, and built me the dark gray cobblestoned version of the dockside quays connected by a bridge so I could use his backlot buildings and make my own diorama. I still think the guy in Jakarta got the better deal! I love this diorama!!

 

[jazzeum]

I can add to the story as well. Hans Hedrich was at his first Chicago Show that year. Brian (Warbuff26) came to tell him about this guy selling his entire collection, including a bunch of K&C, but he was doing Bill Moore a favor and watching his room so Bill could look around. Bill hit the room hard and bought everything K&C the guy had left. When Bill returned to his room, Hans and Brian went to the guys room, but Bill had gotten all the K&C.

I can further add to the story:

Before the collector in question had the diorama, it was in the possession of a Pennsylvania K&C dealer (a really good guy, who will remain nameless, because this story reflects poorly on his temper). I, doing my usual monthly phone rounds of the dealers, called this gentleman, with whom I had never done business, and asked if he had any out of production K&C for sale. He told me that he had this wonderful diorama of a destroyed SS headquarters and ruined Church, and that he wanted $750 for it. Now back then $750 was a lot for anything K&C, and a lot of money to me personally to spend on a collectible, especially sight unseen, so I asked him if I could have a friend who lived closer to him (another K&C dealer) check it out for me. I wanted to make sure it was something I would want, and was worth me laying out what then was like a quarter year's funds for collecting. I certainly did not mean to impugn this dealer's credibility, but he took it that way, flipped out on me, and told me he wouldn't sell it to me, ever, at any price. So if I hadn't been too lazy to drive to Pennsylvania, this excellent diorama would have been in my collection right now. What are you going to do?

What are we going to do? We're going to get in the bloody car and head to Pennsylvania right now! But first....

I remember calling Andy to try to buy this particular diorama in late 1997 or early 1998. He told me he had just sold it to that gentleman in Jakarta. To console me, he sold me the Afrika Corps. diorama from the September 1997 Flyer, and built me the dark gray cobblestoned version of the dockside quays connected by a bridge so I could use his backlot buildings and make my own diorama. I still think the guy in Jakarta got the better deal! I love this diorama!!

We are going to Indonesia. Anybody say "Road Trip"?

 

[Louis Badolato]

I think "plane trip" is more appropriate, but I'm in. I want that diorama!

 

[Steven Chong]

...Warbuff sold me the Arnhem Daimler over a year ago.

Yes, he had all the Arnhem stuff for 20% off list, but I was not interested and passed on it.

 

[Steven Chong]

... When Bill returned to his room, Hans and Brian went to the guys room, but Bill had gotten all the K&C ...

But I got there first.

 

[Louis Badolato]

But I got there first.

So what did you get? Something good I hope!

 

[Louis Badolato]

But I got there first.

So what did you get? Something good I hope!

 

[jazzeum]

Yes, he had all the Arnhem stuff for 20% off list, but I was not interested and passed on it.

Upon reflection, how do you feel about that now?

 

[Steven Chong]

Upon reflection, how do you feel about that now?

In retrospection, I occasionally wish I had purchased all of this collector's K&C stuff, or bought some other now rare and expensive set when it was readily available from Andy or dealers at a discount. I purchased my first K&C figure in Hong Kong in 1987, and have seen most everything. I thought the wooden vehicles at $385 were too expensive, and told Andy at the time that few collectors could afford it. Many of the really rare glossy figures that I own were only purchased when they were on sale or close-out at $8 a figure -- I refused to pay $16 for Charlie Chaplin but got it when it was 50% of list. However, I am quite satisified with my collection and have no real regrets. My first and greatest interest in K&C is the Streets of Old Hong Kong series, and I am most happy that I have everything in this theme, though I may be missing one or two color variants.

 

[arnhem44mad]

Does anyone think they could make something similar to that Arnhem diorama for me

 

[Louis Badolato]

Contact Gordon Neilson through the K&C website. He can make you a diorama just like that one, but it will not be cheap.

 

[Louis Badolato]

Hi Guys,



Here’s a photo of the very first diorama I ever produced way back in 1995/96.



It was to display our first few sets of ARNHEM’44 and featured several hand-made pieces — all of the buildings in the fore-ground including the bridge/archway. In the background I utilized a bunch of our papier-mache “Streets of Old Hong Kong” buildings.



For the “eagle-eyed” among you the Dutch building in the center of the pic — the red one — was strongly influenced by a Verlinden model house...The Knocked-out German half track was an old plastic model I painted up and “accessorized”...Just behind it you can see one of our original wooden Sturmgeschutz models, which were made in the Philippines. The whole display measured about 36” long by 18” deep by roughly 15’ high.



What happened to the model? It was on display in our Hong Kong store window for about a year and then it was bought by a K&C collector from Jakarta in Indonesia. It took me almost 6 months to build it as I did it at weekends and in the evenings after work.



Thought you might like this wee story from K&C’s dim and distant past...



Best wishes and...happy collecting!

Andy C.

If you look carefully in the photo, through the archway, just to the right of the hanging French flag, you can see what I believe is one of the really early wood Panthers, #711.