How did you discover K&C? (1 Viewer)

[cantinetozzo]

I had been collecting Minichamps 1:35 tanks, Corgi 1:50 armour and finally 1:72 Dragon. But Minichamps introduction of new vehicles was very slow and after a few years of good production, Corgi virtually stopped making armour. Dragon just did one repaint after another, and I wasn't too happy with 1:72. I liked the Minichamps 1:35 size the most. So I had virtually stopped collecting tanks when a friend mentioned the King & Country collection. So I began collecting only the few armour pieces I really liked - no figures or dioramas.

Terry

It was the same for me..Dragon Armor started well with metal armour then shifted to plastic, beautiful models but the price was out of my budget ,after a while i started with 1/6 dragon figures but then it was the space the problm and the fact that taken out of their boxes they decreased in value.In the meanwhile in a model store i noticed a beautiful set (it was the Beachmaster sold separately from the other figures)but the cost was prohibitive for one figure only...searching the net i found the same figure and i knew it was K&C and not a custom made figure, day after day i returned on that site (it was KCUK) and then i decided to buy a figure!!!I'm really happy with that choice!

 

[Rob]

Six or more years ago I was attending the London Toy soldier show.At this point I had a large collection of Toy Army Workshops WW1 Toy soldiers,I was looking for their table when I came across K&C and Mike Neville behind the tables.I had to stop and examine them,they were quite simply the most realistic WW2 Toy Soldiers I'd ever seen.Mike took the time to talk to me and point out some sets.Now this was unusual because with many stallholders in those days it was very much 'if you're not buying keep moving' sort of attitude.

I liked them straight away but didn't have extra cash so came away empty handed.At the next show Mike again took the time to talk me through their releases,afterwards I tried walking away but it was no good,I went back and purchased the US D Day Infantry patrol,I was hooked!

I have no idea how I walked away from the first show with no K&C bags,can't imagine doing that now!

Rob

 

[Cyber Field Marshall]

I was surfing the "net" one day in 2006 and went to Ebay. I was looking to sell my old Matchbox, Airfix and Britains Deetail plastic toy soldiers and was curious what they fetched, unfortunately very little. However during my search some K&C pieces popped up and for one soldier they wanted $20!!!! My entire collection of Matchbox, Airfix and Britains didn't add up to that and I had hundreds so I was instantly curious. The rest is really history as I got more and more information on K&C I was hooked. They reignited my passion for toy soldiers. I couldn't believe how realistic and improved they were compaired to my old toys. Despite the prices I now have a respectable collection and a hobby which brings me a lot of satisfaction in my spare time.

Cheers
CFM

 

[lancer]

I discovered KC while wandering through shops in Gettysburg about 10 years ago. I had been buying glossies, mostly Trophy, Somerset, and some Union Jacks and had no real idea that matte figures were now being done. I was walking past Graystones (now OOB) and saw their window displays of hundreds of different soldiers, including vast numbers of what turned out to be KC. I went in and was just stunned by the huge amount of matte figures and the huge variety. There were the Vietnam series, all sorts of WW2 figures and vehicles, the gloss LAH, ACW, AWI, buildings, etc. I was simply shocked that all this was available and that I had never known it. Talk about a kid in a candy store. I ended up purchasing all sorts of sets, with no theme in mind. My prizes included the early T-34 and Russian infantry, a summer Panther and summer and winter SS infantry, and some scenic stuff, along with some glossy Britains. Bad day for my wallet, but it was the day I became hooked on KC, so it was a great day overall. I have never had the same WOW factor since then. Just a remarkable way to discover a passion. -- lancer

 

[Normandy1944]

I have built 1/35 WWII models for years and then started collecting die cast 1/72 scale stuff

I discovered KC at an old school friend.
And my first K&C set was DD50 the M18 Hellcat Tank Destroyer


Now I'm 4 years a member of the Dutch King&Country Club.

Harrie

 

[Doughboy]

I had been seeing an ad for Troops of Time in a local alt weekly paper, and one day I didnt have anything to do so I took my 3 year old son and we checked it out. My first purchase was the 1914 standing firing German soldier; I have been hooked ever since.

 

[panda1gen]

I saw the Arnhem44 sets in a shop in London in the 1990's. I thought that they were superbly realistic and like no other toy soldiers I had ever seen, but I had kids and was skint.

In late 2003 I bought my first sets - the Wittman Tiger and a couple of German para sets from Mike Neville......................I get huge pleasure from this hobby, but never collected toy soldiers since my childhood Airfix before this as they were too 'toy like' for my taste.

 

[6th Wisconsin]

I had looked at K&C online for years, since I started collecting soldiers in 2000, but I only collected Civil War for a long time and stuck to Britains/Conte/Frontline. A couple of years ago, I decided to expand to WWII, and it was a no brainer to start collecting K&C. I also picked up Burnside Bridge and several CW figures as well.

 

[Deitz]

When I first started collecting I was only collecting Timpo and Glossy AZW. I would always look at the K&C at the Toy Soldier Shoppe, but did not want to start collecting matte. Then I saw the Tunsian Tiger at the shoppe and that was it. It was my first K&C purchase, I have added to it since. My most recent buy was the Hurricane.

 

[Warbuff26]

Good to see this thread dusted off and back in use......did you read the good comments on Patton......Louis threadjacked this baby....and nobody got hurt or upset or infractions....ah the good ole days!

 

[Grognard]

Until 5 years ago I was getting all my Naps toy soldiers from France or during some trips to Russia. The unfavorable exchange $/Euro rate forced me to rethink my supply chain strategy and to look for some more cost friendly but still quality alternatives on the Web. Fortunately I then discovered K&C and the rest is (Napoleonic) history. My first K&C was the 42nd Blackwatch bagpiper.

 

[GulfportEagle77]

First discovered K&C while walking past Kings X by chance, while on vacation in San Antonio about a year ago. I didn't purchase anything while I was at the store, but i was hooked!

The first night I got back to MS, I was online looking for vendors that sell K&C. I started with ACW, but have since ventured to Alamo, WWI & II, and a few of the LAH series.

John

 

[vinodadnani]

For me it was at HAMLEY's toy shop in LONDON, they had a good range of K C & Britains.

 

[wayne556517]

Good to see this thread dusted off and back in use......did you read the good comments on Patton......Louis threadjacked this baby....and nobody got hurt or upset or infractions....ah the good ole days!

That was a good read i gather Louis dos'nt like Patton.......... Now back to the thread i was browsing the web and came across Bretts web site (Military workshop) and now thousands of dollars later all well spent in my eyes,not many share that opinion with me family and friend wise but hey a mans got to have a hobby and this is the best one going IMO.

 

[marksable]

Is that shop (I believe it was Classic Toys) still around? I used to live in the area and pop in (years before I started collecting - no way I would have had room in my tiny 1 bedroom back then). I'm actually visiting NY this week, and going to be in the Village this afternoon. It would be fun to stop by.

My daughter graduated from Law School in 2000 and got a job in New York City. On a trip to visit her I discoved King & Country in a small shop on Sullivan St in the Village. Some of the early stuff was a little crude but other items were terrific. I couldn't find it anywhere else for a couple of years until I found this nice site. Now 85 sets later I'm going strong.
JA

 

[kilted vampire]

The Halls were selling K&C at a flea market in the South Bay. Just one look at all the Napoleonics was all it took

 

[forlornhoper]

I found K&C whilst looking for a Blues and Royals figure for a birthday gift for my partners father ,still havnt found it yet,and have never looked back and the best of all is, that it was "All her idea",dont know how many times i have reminded her of that fact,yes i do ,everytime she says the immortal words "How much"? and the story gets even better,K&C UK and showroom is only 30 miles from my front door,how great is that? and all thanks to my beloved.Life is so good. ken.

 

[SGT Rock]

I think I got you beat Ken. I discovered K&C at Kings X in San Antonio, which is in the historic (and haunted) Menger Hotel across the street from the Alamo. If you're in to Toy Soldiers, then it's a little piece of heaven. Best of all, it's only two blocks from my office, so I get to go there everyday on my lunch break. It's nice to be able to see everything K&C has to offer in one little store, as sometimes an item doesn't look as good in the store as it does on the internet, and sometimes it looks so much better in person than it does on the internet.

 

[marksable]

I discover K&C through a rather circuitous route. I started collecting Modern Era/Iraq figures - first Forces of Valor, then Figarti. Someone here suggested K&C's special forces line. While it wasn't as extensive as the other lines, they weren't exactly to scale with my other soldiers, and I still don't have all the figures (hint to someone who's promised to sell me a humvee on this forum, it was quickly clear there something special about K&C soldiers.

I think Andy has mentioned this before, but for me, it's less the style than the storytelling. Individual figures have a lot of personality, and when ranges are released sometimes just a few figures add up to create a very evocative scene.

My favorite range so far has been the Charge of the Light Brigade for that reason. Just a great tableau. Same with Ancient Egypt, and the SOHK. I thought the recent D-Day releases centered around the LCA and Atlantic Wall Bunker also made a great displays and became must haves for me.

 

[Simpson & his donkey.]

I was walking along the street one day minding my own business when I caught sight of a sign advertising nude women with implements.Having lost my concentration I fell over on a raised piece of concrete and hit my head on concrete stairs leading up into The Military Workshop.Having gotten to my feet slowly wiping away the blood on my for head this bloke with a kind face reached down and helped me up.This off course was Brett and he helped me into his shop to give me first aid and a cool drink.After a small time in his shop the bleeding stopped and I had a real good look around at his displays of tanks and soldiers.After asking how much a set of Americans Paratroopers were I nearly fell over again.But from that moment on I was hooked .Its all Bretts fault if he hadn't of picked me up I would of wondered into the other shop with the nude women and things.So as you say its all history now.Simmo.