KING & COUNTRY Dispatches -- April 2018 (1 Viewer)

[MichaelRutherford]

I like the Polish invasion series. I have been waiting for this series for a long time. The Fallschirmjager soldiers dont look very good in my opinion. They lack detail.

 

[Guest]

Yes I have limited funds and space too, but I'll be picking up the remaining Ramcke troops, as the desert is my main interest area.
What do you have concerns over with these AK troops, be interested to hear ?

They look like nice figures, very plain, as someone else posted there is a lot of the normal 'detail' missing from the figures. Had a look at the figures and tried to think why I had thoughts on the figures and a couple of the poses just do not look natural, the standing and kneeing firing for example, I do not know enough about the uniforms but the helmets do not look right, not historically, but just do not seem to sit right on the heads. I saw the first group at the London show and was not impressed, they just did not have the wow factor, but I did buy some other K & C figures.

 

[King & Country]

They look like nice figures, very plain, as someone else posted there is a lot of the normal 'detail' missing from the figures. Had a look at the figures and tried to think why I had thoughts on the figures and a couple of the poses just do not look natural, the standing and kneeing firing for example, I do not know enough about the uniforms but the helmets do not look right, not historically, but just do not seem to sit right on the heads. I saw the first group at the London show and was not impressed, they just did not have the wow factor, but I did buy some other K & C figures


Hi Mr. W,
I truly wish I could please all of the people all of the time with everything we produce... But alas that will never happen and, over the years, I have learned that if you can please some of the people some of the time... then at least you've made some collectors happy...and you live and work with that.
Best wishes and happy collecting,
Andy.

 

[Rudi Starnberg]

They look like nice figures, very plain, as someone else posted there is a lot of the normal 'detail' missing from the figures. Had a look at the figures and tried to think why I had thoughts on the figures and a couple of the poses just do not look natural, the standing and kneeing firing for example, I do not know enough about the uniforms but the helmets do not look right, not historically, but just do not seem to sit right on the heads. I saw the first group at the London show and was not impressed, they just did not have the wow factor, but I did buy some other K & C figures.

Thanks W, interesting to read your thoughts. It is always subjective of course as to what each of us thinks is impressive, and we have to go with our gut- reaction and first impression on that. Contrastingly I think the poses are natural and well done.

The uniforms are plain, but accurate in terms of what the Brigade actually wore in the desert, short sleeved shirts, rather than tunics for the most part...but maybe a mixture of the two could have worked ?
I have been waiting for Ramcke brigade figures for years, so I am in the camp of being very pleased with these new additions overall ! I do have the RB figures I have purchased so far set up with many of the earlier K & C Afrika Korps figures ( including the tropically dressed Skorzeny collectors club figure of a few years ago ) and they all look great together. I have quite a few tropical Honour Bound, Collectors Showcase and Gunn FJ's mixed in with them too, and they fit in well.

 

[MichaelRutherford]

They look like nice figures, very plain, as someone else posted there is a lot of the normal 'detail' missing from the figures. Had a look at the figures and tried to think why I had thoughts on the figures and a couple of the poses just do not look natural, the standing and kneeing firing for example, I do not know enough about the uniforms but the helmets do not look right, not historically, but just do not seem to sit right on the heads. I saw the first group at the London show and was not impressed, they just did not have the wow factor, but I did buy some other K & C figures


Hi Mr. W,
I truly wish I could please all of the people all of the time with everything we produce... But alas that will never happen and, over the years, I have learned that if you can please some of the people some of the time... then at least you've made some collectors happy...and you live and work with that.
Best wishes and happy collecting,
Andy.

Andy , You and your company make many nice products. Just keep in mind that most of your customers are also very into history, in which detail is a part of. A lot of the collectors here on this forum are very knowledgeable and point out things that are "off". It's not necessarily attacks on you or your company. Cheers,Mike

 

[Rutledge]

Andy , You and your company make many nice products. Just keep in mind that most of your customers are also very into history, in which detail is a part of. A lot of the collectors here on this forum are very knowledgeable and point out things that are "off". It's not necessarily attacks on you or your company. Cheers,Mike

I don’t know that you can stand behind the claim that “Most” KandC customers are “very into history”. Is that based on empirical evidence of just your sense? Though I’m not quite sure how you would define it. Clearly SOME collectors are “into history”. Including probably yourself? That’s fine, but anecdotes and personal experiences are not necessarily valid for making sweeping generalizations.

Moreever, one can appreciate history and still recognize that toy soldiers will always have an artistic and even playful component. I certainly do. How much you like / tolerate — and will pay for — is of course a personal decision. As always Free Market / Demand is the most effective way of driving what the makers make / supply.

 

[MichaelRutherford]

I don’t know that you can stand behind the claim that “Most” KandC customers are “very into history”. Is that based on empirical evidence of just your sense? Though I’m not quite sure how you would define it. Clearly SOME collectors are “into history”. Including probably yourself? That’s fine, but anecdotes and personal experiences are not necessarily valid for making sweeping generalizations.

Moreever, one can appreciate history and still recognize that toy soldiers will always have an artistic and even playful component. I certainly do. How much you like / tolerate — and will pay for — is of course a personal decision. As always Free Market / Demand is the most effective way of driving what the makers make / supply.

Hi Rutledge, I just thought that by definition of collecting historical miniatures that one would have some type of interest in history. That's all I meant. I have no scientific or court of law proof behind it,just a common sense kind of thought. Cheers,Mike

 

[Guest]

They look like nice figures, very plain, as someone else posted there is a lot of the normal 'detail' missing from the figures. Had a look at the figures and tried to think why I had thoughts on the figures and a couple of the poses just do not look natural, the standing and kneeing firing for example, I do not know enough about the uniforms but the helmets do not look right, not historically, but just do not seem to sit right on the heads. I saw the first group at the London show and was not impressed, they just did not have the wow factor, but I did buy some other K & C figures


Hi Mr. W,
I truly wish I could please all of the people all of the time with everything we produce... But alas that will never happen and, over the years, I have learned that if you can please some of the people some of the time... then at least you've made some collectors happy...and you live and work with that.
Best wishes and happy collecting,
Andy.

Thanks for the reply, if you read some of my previous posts I am very impressed with your figures and have been complimentary. I renewed my TS insurance last month and it is up to £80,000 to replace, most of which are K & C. However with any company that produces such a diverse range there are some figures which appeal and some which do not.

 

[Napoleon1er]

I don’t know that you can stand behind the claim that “Most” KandC customers are “very into history”. Is that based on empirical evidence of just your sense? Though I’m not quite sure how you would define it. Clearly SOME collectors are “into history”. Including probably yourself? That’s fine, but anecdotes and personal experiences are not necessarily valid for making sweeping generalizations.

Hi Rutledge, I just thought that by definition of collecting historical miniatures that one would have some type of interest in history. That's all I meant. I have no scientific or court of law proof behind it,just a common sense kind of thought. Cheers,Mike

I'm with Mike here. This is an inherently history-based hobby. I'm very tempted to write something as snarky as Rutledge's comment with some suggestions for how to modify your figures to be ahistorical and have more bling, but I suppose the free market will take care of his request and supply him Napoleonic samurais.

 

[Rudi Starnberg]

Andy , You and your company make many nice products. Just keep in mind that most of your customers are also very into history, in which detail is a part of. A lot of the collectors here on this forum are very knowledgeable and point out things that are "off". It's not necessarily attacks on you or your company. Cheers,Mike

Well, it must be said that historically the Ramcke figures are pretty much spot on as far as uniforms and equipment go.
The helmet bolts are in the wrong places for an m38 and there were no tan chinstraps, but these are miniscule issues overall.

 

[graycap]

Surely it is unfair to level any criticsm at Andy Nielson re the Ramcke figures. Surely if anyone is to to "blame" it is General Ramcke himself for equipping his men to operate in the Desert conditions they found themselves in 1942, which Andy's team have accurately modelled!

 

[Fitzgibbon]

Another great assortment Andy. The ladies will be travelling down under as will be the iconic Marine stretcher team. The Poland barrier breakers are quite unusal and to be considered. Robin.

Hi Andy, have to agree with Robin - another great line up...And the ladies are great for dioramas, though I'm not sure that Alexandre D would have put that hat with Lady de Winter's outfit . When are you going to do that Hussar with the squeeze box? Well done again, Bob

 

[AIDMAN]

Hi, Steve,
First off, I also want to state that I am in NO WAY an expert on WWII USMC Pacific uniforms, but I will have to respectfully disagree with you on the shirt question. Below is just one search which shows USMC during WWII.

https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=US+Marines+WW2+in+Color&FORM=RESTAB

https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=US+Marines+WW2+Okinawa&FORM=IRIBIP


While I agree that there were some cases after long days (and nights) of fighting, as well as the terrible conditions of the jungle or island heat and humidity, there was no breakdown in dress.



Hello Larry

I believe the original question to which i answered was "Could the new release of the USMC stretcher party be converted for the European Theatre) My answer in my humble opinion was NO not really...It is still No not really!!!.

The USMC uniform as i stated was very different in many details to his US. Army counterpart, and the profile of a Marine after days/weeks in combat was also very different and could never.(almost never) be mistaken as to where the soldier was in combat.

I used the word sloppy, but i also stated that this was due to the combat situation ie, Heat, Humidity, and never suggested a breakdown-(your words) of Discipline-Moraal-Integrity....No it was a sensible adaptation to the land and circumstances in which they were fighting.

The US. Army G.I. in Europe fought in a completely different enviroment where it more often than not cool or just plain..COLD!! so he had a much more buttoned-up appearence.

I still think that the KC USMC stretcher party with their loose shirts would look out of place in a Normandy street!!!!!!.

Remember and Respect

Steve

 

[Normandy1944]

I have a blasphemous question: is the Marine uniform similar enough to the Army uniform of the period that the set could be repainted to portray an Army stretcher party? I am an Army medical officer and there is a real lack of four-man stretcher sets, so I would love to have someone convert the stretcher and some of the other medical sets to represent my unit.

Hi maybe this helps! I have repaint this figure from IWJ021 from Marine to G.I set a few years ago.









have a nice weekend
Harrie

 

[AIDMAN]

Hi maybe this helps! I have repaint this figure from IWJ021 from Marine to G.I set a few years ago.



View attachment 230581

View attachment 230582

View attachment 230583

have a nice weekend
Harrie

Hi Harrie

Good point!!! With this set yes it works well, and it works because this early set of Marines from KC quite honestly looked more like G.I.s (exept for the backpack) than Marine Corps.....Nice work.


Remember and Respect


Steve

 

[Larry Allen]

Hi, Steve,
First off, I also want to state that I am in NO WAY an expert on WWII USMC Pacific uniforms, but I will have to respectfully disagree with you on the shirt question. Below is just one search which shows USMC during WWII.

https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=US+Marines+WW2+in+Color&FORM=RESTAB

https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=US+Marines+WW2+Okinawa&FORM=IRIBIP


While I agree that there were some cases after long days (and nights) of fighting, as well as the terrible conditions of the jungle or island heat and humidity, there was no breakdown in dress.



Hello Larry

I believe the original question to which i answered was "Could the new release of the USMC stretcher party be converted for the European Theatre) My answer in my humble opinion was NO not really...It is still No not really!!!.

The USMC uniform as i stated was very different in many details to his US. Army counterpart, and the profile of a Marine after days/weeks in combat was also very different and could never.(almost never) be mistaken as to where the soldier was in combat.

I used the word sloppy, but i also stated that this was due to the combat situation ie, Heat, Humidity, and never suggested a breakdown-(your words) of Discipline-Moraal-Integrity....No it was a sensible adaptation to the land and circumstances in which they were fighting.

The US. Army G.I. in Europe fought in a completely different enviroment where it more often than not cool or just plain..COLD!! so he had a much more buttoned-up appearence.

I still think that the KC USMC stretcher party with their loose shirts would look out of place in a Normandy street!!!!!!.

Remember and Respect

Steve

Morning, Steve,
My apologies if I mistook the original question.

You are correct; the question was more direct towards one item (the USMC stretcher set) , I misread it to mean all USMC soldiers looked
disheveled and sloppy all the time .....ooooooooppssss .:redface2:

And yes the stretcher set, as-is, it would appear very out of place, but it looks like Harrie has come to the rescue with a possible option.
But then again, I wouldn't have Harrie's skill for conversion.

If I tried that, the figures might be suitable for a "Walking Dead Diorama" ...{sm2}

--- LaRRy

 

[AIDMAN]

Morning, Steve,
My apologies if I mistook the original question.

You are correct; the question was more direct towards one item (the USMC stretcher set) , I misread it to mean all USMC soldiers looked
disheveled and sloppy all the time .....ooooooooppssss .:redface2:

And yes the stretcher set, as-is, it would appear very out of place, but it looks like Harrie has come to the rescue with a possible option.
But then again, I wouldn't have Harrie's skill for conversion.

If I tried that, the figures might be suitable for a "Walking Dead Diorama" ...{sm2}

--- LaRRy

Hello Larry

No problems friend....it takes a man to stand up and apologise when he is out of line!!....apologie accepted.


Remember and Respect


Steve

 

[General Custer]

Question about TRW132 War Bonnet w/Guidon

Please let me know if guidon is removable?