K&C October 2012 Dispatch (1 Viewer)

[Peter Reuss]

King & Country
“DISPATCHES”
October 2012

BY THE TIME you guys read this the “CHICAGO SHOW” will be over for another year and the K&C gang will be hard at work getting ready for Christmas… the Euro Tour and next “WESTCOASTER”… Ah well, no rest for the wicked as they say!
But first there’s this…

1. A. “WINTER IS HERE!”
German soldiers fought through six “winters of war” between 1939 and 1945 on both the Eastern and Western fronts. Here at K&C we thought it might be a good idea to portray a selection of “Classic Germans” dressed for battling it out in the worst winter weathers… We made the figures… You choose in which campaign or battle you think most suitable for your display or collection.

BBG054 “Sd. Kfz. 222 Armoured Car (Winter camouflage)”
Another great version of a great-looking vehicle. Set includes a commander seen just inside the 222’s turret.

BBG055 “Winter Guards”
A pair of greatcoat-clad “soldaten” perfect for guarding a strong-point, a bridge crossing or anything you like. One carries the obsolete (but still used) Bergmann submachine gun .

BBG056 “Advancing w/Rifle #1”
Looking straight ahead, left leg forward, and ready for battle…

BBG057 “Advancing w/Rifle #2”
Looking to the left, right leg forward, going into action…

BBG058 “Shouting Officer”
This officer is urging his men to speed up and stay together… despite the terrible weather conditions.

BBG059 “Winter MG34 Gunner”
Carrying his MG34 machine gun over his shoulder plus an extra box of ammunition.

BBG060 “I hate this weather!”
Rifle slung over the shoulder and other hand thrust deep into his greatcoat pocket this soldier seems to say “I wish I was anywhere but here!”

BBG061 “Advancing, well-wrapped up!”
This soldier is doing his best to stay warm and alert… all at the same time.

BBG062 “Sergeant w/MP40”
Machine Pistol at the ready this NCO knows some enemy might be in the vicinity.


AVAILABLE: NOW!

B .“Early Tiger On The Prowl”
As all of you guys know K&C “loves” the Panzerkampfwagen VI better known of course as the “Tiger”… Over the years we’ve done quite a few…but still not every kind of variant!
One particular variant, and much requested, is the early field-grey “Tiger”… and here, at long last, it’s…

WS216 “Tiger 1 (Early Production)”
This particular Tiger, the first of two “Early Production” models is #”213” belonging to the famous Abteilung 503, the 503 rd. Heavy Panzer Battalion. This grey, battle-weary veteran has already seen some “hard-action” on the Russian Front. Both track guards have been lost and its missing a front left wheel cover!
Another unique feature is the rear baggage bin behind the turret… “cannibalized” from a Panzer III. This allows us to place this tank operational in Russia between August and November 1942. A shirt-sleeved commander completes the model.

AVAILABLE: Mid October


C .“CHRISTMAS COMES BUT ONCE A YEAR”
As always around this time K&C produces its “SPECIAL YULETIDE SET.” This year we’ve returned to that famous “Christmas Truce” of 1914 where British and German troops left their trenches and met each other in “No Man’s Land” and fraternized for the one and only time during that terrible conflict.

XM012-01 “Christmas 1914”
A British “Tommy” has brought out a Xmas Pudding and a jar of Rum to share with some of the “Opposing Team”. One of his German opponents has in turn brought a wicker hamper full of wine, beer, Schnapps and good old German sausage.
One of his comrades takes a photo of the memorable occasion.

AVAILABLE: Mid October

D. “…AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.”
Never were Monty Python’s words written with more meaning…
Much as K&C has built its reputation on World War Two and its many campaigns and battles its nice, now and then, to design and produce something that’s not khaki, field grey or olive drab!
And so, we decided to return to our roots so to speak and do something traditional and colourful… but in the K&C way.

“SECOND-TO-NONE”
That’s the motto of the Queen’s 2nd. Regiment of Foot Guards – The Coldstream Guards. Here to begin our new “Ceremonial Series” are a selection of “Coldstreamers” on parade.

CE001 “Shoulder Arms”

CE002 “Saluting Guards Officer”

CE003 “Marching Guards Officer”

CE004 “Marching Guardsman w/Rifle”

CE005 “Marching Officer w/King’s Colour”

CE006 “Drum Sergeant”

CE007 “Guards Drummer”

CE008 “Guards Fifer”

CE009 “Stand-At-Ease”

SPECIAL UNIFORM NOTE: All of the previous 10x Coldstream Guards figures are in the Parade and Style Dress of the mid 1930’s. At that time Guardsmen wore the by then obsolete Slade-Wallace white fighting order and carried the Lee Enfield .303 rifle with sword bayonet.
Officers and Musicians uniforms today are virtually identical to the 1930’s period.

ROYAL SALUTE
Like millions of television viewers the world over I was transfixed by the Royal Wedding of Prince William to Miss Catherine Middleton back in 2011.
I thought then (and now) it would be nice to produce a figure of both of them on their big day.

CE011 “William & Kate”
Kate in her traditional-style wedding dress and Prince William in his uniform as Honorary Colonel of the Irish Guards make a handsome couple… I hope you agree.

AVAILABLE: Mid-Late October

 

[Peter Reuss]

2. “LOOK OUT FOR NOVEMBER”
November is another “Bumper Month” for releases and includes no less than four of our best-selling ranges with some exciting additions…

A .“DISMOUNT AND FIGHT”
Last July, on our K&C trip down-under we previewed some of the “masters” for figures in the Aussie Light Horse range. At the time the figures were just unpainted grey pieces. Now here they are in all their glory…

AL039 “The Charger”
We’ve had many requests to produce another “bayonets forward” trooper on a galloping horse and here he is.

AL040 “Goodbye Old Girl”
Inspired by an original WWI painting by Fortunino Matania… this forlorn trooper kneels by his fallen horse comforting the dying beast.

AL041 “Officer w/ Pistol”

AL042 “Standing Firing”
A dismounted trooper takes careful aim.

AL043 “Standing Loading”
This “en pied” figure is cocking his rifle and putting another round up-the-spout.

AL044 “Lying Firing”


AVAILABLE: Early November

B .“THE WINTER WARRIORS”
As is our usual habit… Winter means “Battle of the Bulge” and more German and American forces in combat (or moving towards it). Well you’ve already seen the German side so it’s only fair that we should introduce our cousins from across the pond…

BBA054 “The M4A3E8 Easy-Eight SHERMAN”
This is actually the first “real” Easy Eight K&C has ever produced… Many moons ago… around 1999 we manufactured a “Hybrid” that utilized a proper “Easy Eight” turret complete with 76mm gun but we “married” it to the body of an Israeli “Isherman”.
Now, this time it’s the “real-deal”… It’s big, bold and brassy and it’s one helluva tank… And it’s “snow-camouflaged” as well.


INFANTRY SUPPORT
To go alongside this “beauty” we’ve brought together 4 individual, great-coated figures…

BBA061 “Kneeling Loading Rifle”

BBA062 “Standing Firing Rifle”

BBA063 “Advancing BAR Gunner”

BBA064 “Advancing Radio Man”

AVAILABLE: Early November

C .“NAPOLEON IN EGYPT”
This popular and colourful series just gets bigger and better… Here’s the latest…

NE018 “Standing Guides Officer”
With arms folded this soldier looks every inch… an officer and gentlemen.

“LES DROMADAIRES”
Faced with a desperate shortage of cavalry in Egypt, Napoleon ordered the formation of a regiment mounted on camels!
Instead of using regular cavalry he chose infantrymen from his many demi-brigades to make up the strength of his new unit.
These soldiers enjoyed the same privileges and pay as Dragoons and were uniformed in, as Napoleon described it, “The Oriental Style” with huge offwhite cloaks and baggy, loose fitting pantaloons.
Here are our first selection…

NE028 “Camel Cavalier w/Musket”
Musket held aloft and scanning the horizon.

NE029 “Camel Cavalier with Baggy red pantaloons”

NE030 “Camel Cavalier w/Rifle Across”
Another of the patrol still wearing his old French uniform.

NE031 “The Leader”
This “Camel Cavalier” looks through his telescope to see, if any, sight of the enemy.

NE032 “The Bugler”
Relatively few regular cavalry served with Napoleon in Egypt. Here, however is one of the exceptions. This bugler has adapted to the local weather conditions. He also carries a “Mameluke-style” sabre.

AVAILABLE: Mid November

D .“CLASSIC GERMANS… IN ACTION”
Dressed in dust-covered field-grey these Wehrmacht “soldaten”are a useful “add-on” to our first four field-grey “classics” issued in October.

WS211 “Unteroffizier w/ Schmeisser”
This standing NCO pulls back the cocking handle on his machine pistol.

WS212 “Kneeling Ready”
The battle is about to begin and this soldier is ready…

WS213 “Kneeling w/ Ammo Box”
Another soldier carrying an extra box of machine gun ammunition.

WS214 “Wait!”
As this soldier moves forward he orders his comrades to stay under cover.

WS215 “Just Looking”
One soldier bends down to peer round a corner while his comrade leans forward to get a better view.

WS220 “The Winter Tiger1”
The second of our new, early-production models of this iconic German tank. This second version has been given a thin coat of whitewash to help camouflage it… Already however the original “fieldgrau” is showing through.
The vehicle comes with a new Tank Commander figure.

AVAILABLE: Mid November


3. Being Retired:

AK041 “Marching AK Officer”
AK042 “Marching AK Sergeant”
AK043 “Marching AK Corporal”
AK048 “Marching AK Rifleman”
AK054 “AK Newsreel Crew”
AK055 “New Machine Gun Crew”
AK056 “Rifle Section”
AK057 “Attack Group”
FOB057 “Wehrmacht marching officer”
FOB058 “Wehrmacht marching rifleman”
FOB059 “Wehrmacht Bugler”
LOJ005A “Standing Camel”
LOJ005B “Grazing Camel”
LOJ005C “Sitting Camel”
MG015 “Advance to Contact”
MG018 “Manning the PIAT”
MG019 “Anti-tank Gun Set”
MG021 “Lying Firing Sten Gun”
RTA011A “Standing Mexican (No Moustache)”
RTA011B “Standing Mexican (with Moustache)”
RTA013 “Wounded Mexican”
RTA021 “Joseph Kerr, LA - Firing Pistols”
RTA024 “John Forsyth, NY - w/Musket Bayonet”
WS163 “Talking Tankers”
WS164 “Kneeling HJ Officer”
WS172 “Hitlerjugend, Casualty Evacuation”
WS174 “Walking Wounded”
WS175 “Summer Raupenschlepper”

And that my friends… is that … for about another 30 days. Best wishes to one and all.

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