Peter Reuss
2nd Lieutenant
- Joined
- Apr 22, 2005
- Messages
- 3,775
“DISPATCHES”
APRIL 2011
SOME, IF NOT ALL, of you know that the expense of manufacturing in China has been steadily increasing over the last few years. You also no doubt know about the surging prices in the costs of raw materials.
What many of you may not know is that China is, in addition, suffering from a shortage of labour!
This may come as a shock to many… after all with a population approaching 1.4 billion people how can this be? Let me explain…
The vast majority of the factories K&C (and other toy soldier companies) use are located in Southern China and along the coastline. Most of the skilled workers who are employed in these factories journey hundreds (sometimes thousands) of kilometres from the Chinese countryside and their homes to work in these factories.
This has brought great prosperity to the south (and elsewhere) and attracted even more factories producing everything under the sun and a lot more besides.
With more work opportunities opening up a skilled workforce is a valuable commodity and, with full order books, factories are screaming for more workers.
Along with all of this prosperity comes… a rising cost of living… and that is part of the problem.
Although workers’ wages have been greatly increased so has the price of living and working in China’s “boom areas”. Many of the workers decide after a while (usually Chinese New Year) to go back and stay back in their rural areas. Although this means less money it also means a less stressful more peaceful existence.
Those workers that remain in place can now pick and choose where they want to work, who they want to work for and what kind of work they want to do…
The result my friends is a substantial reduction in the number of expert casters… skilled painters and other talented workers K&C has been able to utilize to produce for us in the past.
So, what is the answer…?
Well, we continue to look for more factories in more distant parts where we can produce what we want and need to manufacture for our collectors all over the world.
In the meantime however we have to reduce the quantities of what we can produce in order that we can keep the broad spectrum of monthly releases that is a hallmark of K&C.
To give you a couple of examples… In the past K&C would produce say 1,000 Sherman tanks all at one time or perhaps a similar number of a particular figure or range of figures.
From today onwards these amounts will have to be dramatically reduced. In effect K&C is about to get more rare… Whereas in former times an item or items might remain in production for one, two or even three years that is just no longer possible.
The choice for us was quite clear… either reduce the overall quantities of all of our existing product ranges or reduce the number of new and fresh releases which collectors and dealers eagerly look forward to every month. We made that tough call… Thankyou in advance for your patience and, I hope, understanding.
And so…onto this month’s releases…
1. AVAILABLE IN APRIL…
“Napoleon in Egypt”
For some time now K&C has wanted to do a Napoleonic range with a difference… Now don’t worry we’re not abandoning our existing series we’re just kind of extending part of it in a different direction…into the Middle East in general and Egypt in particular!
In 1798 Napoleon Bonaparte launched an invasion of Egypt to extend French influence and power in that part of the Mediterranean and to block any overland access to India by the British.
At the same time Napoleon wanted to explore and investigate one of the world’s great ancient civilization. To help do that he brought, along with his army, a host of engineers, architects, historians, archaeologists and artists to record and research all aspects of Egypt’s amazing history and culture.
Relatively few toy soldier makers have ventured into Napoleon’s ill-fated Egyptian adventure until now… And so K&C has… Another reason for doing this is that K&C has already developed a broad and growing series of Middle Eastern-themed series that utilize some excellent display accessories… Among them our existing “Ancient Egypt”… “Desert Village”…and even our “Life of Jesus”.
“Napoleon in Egypt” seems to us like a very natural and fascinating addition. We hope you agree…
NE001 “Napoleon on Camel”
Inspired by the famous painting by renowned “Orientalist” painter Jean-Leon Gerome this mounted Bonaparte shields his eyes from the blazing sun as he gazes upon the ruined wonders of an ancient civilization.
NE002 “Arab Guide”
Even back in the late eighteenth century there were always local people who were only too happy (for a fee) to show the foreign visitors around!
NE003 “Flagbearer”
Clutching his regimental banner in one hand and his sabre in the other this subaltern accompanies his General.
NE006 “Drinking Soldier”
Amidst the sweltening desert heat this young French soldier gulps down a flask full of water… or is it wine?
NE008 “Kneeling Soldier”
Another soldier kneels down to study an ancient stone tablet with some strange signs carved on it.
NE010 “The Artist & The Dragoon”
A military artist sits and draws some of the amazing structures before him… A standing Guide, shaded by an umbrella, observes the artist at work.
NE012 “Temple Ruins”
Two handsomely carved stone pillars support a piece of an ancient carved keystone.
Special Note: Additional “Napoleon in Egypt” pieces have already been prepared to be released later in the year.
AVAILABLE: Early April
B. “SONS OF THE EMPIRE”
The time: The high noon of British Empire…the late 19th. Century…
The place: The North West Frontier between British India and Afghanistan…The dreaded Khyber Pass!
For K&C’s second foray into the “Sons of the Empire” we have selected one of its most famous infantry regiments… the “15th Ludhiana Sikhs”. It’s also a Regiment we featured over 20 years ago. Now, we’re returning with the first five figures of what promises to be a very exciting and colourful range within a range.
MATT OR GLOSS?
THE CHOICE IS YOURS!
And here’s a little surprise… these new figures will be available in a choice of either MATT or TRADITIONAL GLOSS paint finish.
Why you might ask?
Well, in our humble opinion, it just seemed to suit the subject matter which has echoes of the “traditional toy soldier” but with a lot more detail in both the sculpting and the painting…
SOE004 “L.S.R. Standing at Attention”
SOE010 “L.S.R. Drummer with Bugle”
SOE011 “L.S.R. Native Officer Saluting”
SOE012 “L.S.R. Mounted British Officer”
Although all Indian Army Regiments had a mix of both British and Indian Officers… All Colonels, Second-in-command, Adjutants and Squadron or Company Commanders were usually British.
Our mounted British officer is a Major (in charge of a Rifle Company).
SOE014 “L.S.R. Queen’s Colour Flagbearer”
Special Note: As you will see from the “missing numbers” more figures will be released across several months later this year. Photos of all this year’s Ludhianas appear in the latest “COLLECTOR”.
AVAILABLE: Mid April
APRIL 2011
SOME, IF NOT ALL, of you know that the expense of manufacturing in China has been steadily increasing over the last few years. You also no doubt know about the surging prices in the costs of raw materials.
What many of you may not know is that China is, in addition, suffering from a shortage of labour!
This may come as a shock to many… after all with a population approaching 1.4 billion people how can this be? Let me explain…
The vast majority of the factories K&C (and other toy soldier companies) use are located in Southern China and along the coastline. Most of the skilled workers who are employed in these factories journey hundreds (sometimes thousands) of kilometres from the Chinese countryside and their homes to work in these factories.
This has brought great prosperity to the south (and elsewhere) and attracted even more factories producing everything under the sun and a lot more besides.
With more work opportunities opening up a skilled workforce is a valuable commodity and, with full order books, factories are screaming for more workers.
Along with all of this prosperity comes… a rising cost of living… and that is part of the problem.
Although workers’ wages have been greatly increased so has the price of living and working in China’s “boom areas”. Many of the workers decide after a while (usually Chinese New Year) to go back and stay back in their rural areas. Although this means less money it also means a less stressful more peaceful existence.
Those workers that remain in place can now pick and choose where they want to work, who they want to work for and what kind of work they want to do…
The result my friends is a substantial reduction in the number of expert casters… skilled painters and other talented workers K&C has been able to utilize to produce for us in the past.
So, what is the answer…?
Well, we continue to look for more factories in more distant parts where we can produce what we want and need to manufacture for our collectors all over the world.
In the meantime however we have to reduce the quantities of what we can produce in order that we can keep the broad spectrum of monthly releases that is a hallmark of K&C.
To give you a couple of examples… In the past K&C would produce say 1,000 Sherman tanks all at one time or perhaps a similar number of a particular figure or range of figures.
From today onwards these amounts will have to be dramatically reduced. In effect K&C is about to get more rare… Whereas in former times an item or items might remain in production for one, two or even three years that is just no longer possible.
The choice for us was quite clear… either reduce the overall quantities of all of our existing product ranges or reduce the number of new and fresh releases which collectors and dealers eagerly look forward to every month. We made that tough call… Thankyou in advance for your patience and, I hope, understanding.
And so…onto this month’s releases…
1. AVAILABLE IN APRIL…
“Napoleon in Egypt”
For some time now K&C has wanted to do a Napoleonic range with a difference… Now don’t worry we’re not abandoning our existing series we’re just kind of extending part of it in a different direction…into the Middle East in general and Egypt in particular!
In 1798 Napoleon Bonaparte launched an invasion of Egypt to extend French influence and power in that part of the Mediterranean and to block any overland access to India by the British.
At the same time Napoleon wanted to explore and investigate one of the world’s great ancient civilization. To help do that he brought, along with his army, a host of engineers, architects, historians, archaeologists and artists to record and research all aspects of Egypt’s amazing history and culture.
Relatively few toy soldier makers have ventured into Napoleon’s ill-fated Egyptian adventure until now… And so K&C has… Another reason for doing this is that K&C has already developed a broad and growing series of Middle Eastern-themed series that utilize some excellent display accessories… Among them our existing “Ancient Egypt”… “Desert Village”…and even our “Life of Jesus”.
“Napoleon in Egypt” seems to us like a very natural and fascinating addition. We hope you agree…
NE001 “Napoleon on Camel”
Inspired by the famous painting by renowned “Orientalist” painter Jean-Leon Gerome this mounted Bonaparte shields his eyes from the blazing sun as he gazes upon the ruined wonders of an ancient civilization.
NE002 “Arab Guide”
Even back in the late eighteenth century there were always local people who were only too happy (for a fee) to show the foreign visitors around!
NE003 “Flagbearer”
Clutching his regimental banner in one hand and his sabre in the other this subaltern accompanies his General.
NE006 “Drinking Soldier”
Amidst the sweltening desert heat this young French soldier gulps down a flask full of water… or is it wine?
NE008 “Kneeling Soldier”
Another soldier kneels down to study an ancient stone tablet with some strange signs carved on it.
NE010 “The Artist & The Dragoon”
A military artist sits and draws some of the amazing structures before him… A standing Guide, shaded by an umbrella, observes the artist at work.
NE012 “Temple Ruins”
Two handsomely carved stone pillars support a piece of an ancient carved keystone.
Special Note: Additional “Napoleon in Egypt” pieces have already been prepared to be released later in the year.
AVAILABLE: Early April
B. “SONS OF THE EMPIRE”
The time: The high noon of British Empire…the late 19th. Century…
The place: The North West Frontier between British India and Afghanistan…The dreaded Khyber Pass!
For K&C’s second foray into the “Sons of the Empire” we have selected one of its most famous infantry regiments… the “15th Ludhiana Sikhs”. It’s also a Regiment we featured over 20 years ago. Now, we’re returning with the first five figures of what promises to be a very exciting and colourful range within a range.
MATT OR GLOSS?
THE CHOICE IS YOURS!
And here’s a little surprise… these new figures will be available in a choice of either MATT or TRADITIONAL GLOSS paint finish.
Why you might ask?
Well, in our humble opinion, it just seemed to suit the subject matter which has echoes of the “traditional toy soldier” but with a lot more detail in both the sculpting and the painting…
SOE004 “L.S.R. Standing at Attention”
SOE010 “L.S.R. Drummer with Bugle”
SOE011 “L.S.R. Native Officer Saluting”
SOE012 “L.S.R. Mounted British Officer”
Although all Indian Army Regiments had a mix of both British and Indian Officers… All Colonels, Second-in-command, Adjutants and Squadron or Company Commanders were usually British.
Our mounted British officer is a Major (in charge of a Rifle Company).
SOE014 “L.S.R. Queen’s Colour Flagbearer”
Special Note: As you will see from the “missing numbers” more figures will be released across several months later this year. Photos of all this year’s Ludhianas appear in the latest “COLLECTOR”.
AVAILABLE: Mid April