KING & COUNTRY Dispatches -- April 2022 (1 Viewer)

[King & Country]

KING & COUNTRY DISPATCHES
April 2022​

Hi Guys and welcome to this month’s ‘DISPATCHES’ and our monthly ‘Look-see’ at what King & Country will be releasing over the next 30 days…

As I write these words I am still in San Antonio Texas and working alongside our hard-working, general manager Amber in the brand-new ‘KING & COUNTRY TEXAS’ store.

Back in late January I flew out to the U.S. to see the new store and attend the ‘Official Opening’ of the venue in its great new location at 5945 Broadway, San Antonio.

Originally, my intention was to stay for just 3 weeks but because of flight bans and travel restrictions that has ended up to more than 9 weeks of exile in San Antonio.

Now, don’t get me wrong if anyone has to be ‘exiled’ anywhere I can heartily suggest that Texas in general and San Antonio in particular is the place to be… The people are friendly, the weather has been fantastic and the food delicious. PLUS as a history enthusiast Texas and San Antonio have a wealth of historic attractions, sites and amazing museums.

I’ve had a great time and also the opportunity to meet many of our local collectors and make a host of new friends…

My enforced absence from Hong Kong also gave myself and K&C’s cofounder Laura McAllister Johnson the opportunity to fly up to Los Angeles and attend Hobby Bunker’s ‘WESTCOASTER’ toy soldier show. A great time was had by everyone who attended and I even got to meet and talk with a real, live movie director, John Landis , who attended the show and importantly for us, is a dedicated K&C Collector!

Meanwhile, back in Texas it has been great assisting Amber in the store and getting to know more about what collectors like…. don’t like... and, of course, what they would like to see in the future.

So, to that effect, allow me to invite all of you to pay a visit to ‘KING & COUNTRY TEXAS’ and see for yourself the very best of our many different series in a terrific setting and a great town.

At this point in time I will be leaving for Hong Kong on April 4th, but would like to thank everyone here for a fantastic time.

However, putting all that to one side for a moment, here is what you may have come looking for…

1. ‘WHAT’S NEW…?’

A. ‘To The Sands of Ancient Egypt’

First of all, a note of thanks for all those K&C Collectors who have enthusiastically embraced ‘The Discovery of TUTANKHAMUN’ figures and set that have so far been released. Now, to add to these pieces are a small collection of Egyptian workmen who helped excavate the burial site of the ill-fated boy pharaoh and carried some of his treasures into the harsh, light-of-day in the modern age.
At the same time we have also included a fictional addition to the series which would certainly come as a surprise to all of those diligently digging…

 

[King & Country]

AE091 ‘Carrying the Queen’
A young worker carefully carries an almost perfect rendition of an Ancient Egyptian female ruler to the surface.
Although the statue has lain in the sands of Egypt for many hundreds of years it still retains its original colour and fine finish.



AE093 ‘Carrying Anubis Set’
Two more Egyptian labourers carry a heavier burden in the shape of ‘Anubis’ , the ancient ‘God of The Dead’ sometimes represented as a jackal or, occasionally, a man with the head of a jackal.



AE094 ‘The Mummy’s Revenge’
No horror movie from Hollywood U.S.A. to Hammer Films in the UK is ever complete without an Egyptian ‘Mummy’!
For decades whenever Ancient Egypt was evoked on the screen, one of these long-dead, wrapped-up monsters would appear and come alive again and go out looking for likely victims…female if possible!



AVAILABLE: Early to Mid April

 

[King & Country]

B. ‘On Duty but Dismounted’
TWO small additions to our ‘Ceremonial Series’ in the shape of a pair of dismounted Life Guards troopers.



CE076 ‘Standing Life Guards Trooper’
Visitors to London almost always go, at least once, to see ‘The Changing of The Guard’ at Buckingham Palace where the ceremony is usually performed by one of the five regiments of Foot Guards in their scarlet tunics and tall black bearskins.
Lesser known, but just as colorful, is the Guard Changes on Horse Guards Parade at Whitehall in central London performed by soldiers of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment on a daily basis.
From 10:00am until 4:00pm this duty is carried out by mounted troopers of either the Life Guards or Blues & Royals squadrons of the HCMR.
At 4:00pm the mounted troopers are replaced by dismounted troopers who remain on post until 8:00pm each day.
Our K&C trooper stands at attention in his full ceremonial uniform, with his sabre gently resting on his right shoulder.



CE077 ‘Standing Life Guards Trumpeter’
Accompanying the dismounted guard is always a Trumpeter… Up until the outbreak of WWII all trumpeters wore the same uniform as their dismounted fellow troopers complete with the heavy metal cuirass. In modern times the cuirass has been removed for Trumpeters who now wear the simple dress red tunic.



AVAILABLE: Late April

 

[King & Country]

C. “RALLY ROUND THE FLAG BOYS!”
Here are five additional figures to add to our American Civil War collection of the 83rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regt.



CW124 “Lying Prone Firing”
This private adopts the most comfortable position to open fire on the enemy.



CW125 “Lying Ready”
Also in a similar position to the previous figure but raising his head to get a clearer picture of the opposing forces.



CW136 “Casualties of War”
Three different soldiers of the 83rd who have fallen to Confederate bullets.



AVAILABLE: Early to Mid April

 

[King & Country]

D. ‘ON THE FIELD OF BATTLE’
A single addition, but a useful one, for our last release of Scots Greys. PLUS no less than 8 of 18 of Napoleon’s ‘Dragons a Pied’ , the ‘Foot Dragoons’.
In early 1805, as Napoleon gathered his forces together at Boulogne for a projected invasion of Britain he decided to dismount several regiments of Dragoons in order to more easily transport them across the English channel. He supposed that these troops would fight on foot after their initial landing until such time as they could capture or requisition sufficient horses to be remounted.
After the French defeat at Trafalgar in October 1805 the invasion, was cancelled however these ‘Foot Dragoons’ did not have their mounts returned. Instead they were dispatched to fight on foot in campaigns across Europe and into Austria and Russia.
They did however retain their tall brass helmets complete with black horsehair plumes and the traditional, green tunics of French Light Cavalry and Infantry as well as their long dragoon muskets.

To suit their new fighting role they wore long, black canvas leggings and the regular French Army infantry backpack.



NA485 “Mounted Foot Dragoons Officer”
Sabre in right hand and reining in his horse with his left this officer leads his men into battle.



NA487 “Foot Dragoon Loading Musket”
This Dragoon reaches back into his cartridge pouch for a fresh round.



NA488 “Foot Dragoon Standing Firing”
Another Dragoon ‘draws a bead’ on the enemy.

 

[King & Country]

NA489 “Foot Dragoon Kneeling Firing”



NA490 “Kneeling Dragoon Helping A Comrade”
In the midst of battle one ‘Foot Dragoon’ reaches over to a fallen friend to see if he is still alive.



NA491 “Foot Dragoon Charging Forward”
Taking the fight to the enemy.



NA492 “Foot Dragoon Biting A Cartridge”
Once a paper cartridge was taken out of the pouch the soldier had to bite the top off before carefully pouring most of the gun powder down inside the barrel and then inserting the steel ball.
A small amount of powder was retained for the firing pan of the musket while the empty paper cartridge was pushed down the barrel with the ramrod in order to keep the ball in place before firing.
During the Napoleonic Wars a properly trained group of regular infantry soldiers was able to load and fire four rounds a minute . Some expert rifle regiments could even load and fire five aimed rounds in a minute.
Foot Dragoons would fall into the former group as regards ‘rate of fire’.



AVAILABLE: Late April

 

[King & Country]

ALSO AVAILABLE:



NA484 “Scots Grey Casualty”
A dead Scots Grey trooper and his horse lie fallen on the field of Waterloo.



AVAILABLE: Early to Mid April

 

[King & Country]

B. ‘HAVE GUNS WILL TRAVEL’
Although many people think of the Vietnam War as the ‘Helicopter War’ most transportation around that war-torn country of men, material, food, fuel and ammunition was by truck… and lots of them.
Almost as soon as American Forces began taking over the major role of combating the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army the enemy began to ambush the U.S. convoys carrying their much needed supplies and reinforcements between the major bases and depots to far flung out posts all over the country.
Although U.S. Army and Marine Corps units provided armoured cars and sometimes even tanks to protect these convoys it was simply not enough to deter enemy attacks.
Fortunately, it was the transportation units themselves that came up with one of the best innovative solutions… Gun Trucks!
Each ‘Gun Truck’ was a standard U.S. Army 2 1/2 ton cargo truck armed with a variety of machine guns and protected by additional sheets of steel and armour plate.
Simultaneously convoys were reduced from, on average, 200 vehicles to just 100 , making them easier to control and protect. To ‘ride shotgun’ on these small 100 vehicle convoys a force of 10 ‘Gun Trucks’ would ensure one ‘protector’ for every group of ten trucks.
Some of these Gun Trucks mounted the WWII era ‘Quadmount .50 calibre’ machine guns.
During the Vietnam War an estimated 300-400 vehicles were converted into ‘Gun Trucks’ and King & Country is proud to present two of them…





VN108-1 “M35A1 Gun Truck (Suzie Q)”
The M35 2 1/2 ton cargo truck was the mainstay of all the U.S. Forces transport throughout the Vietnam War and well into the 1980s.
Our King & Country model has the Quad-mounted .50 cal. Machine guns complete with a gunner manning the turret.
Upfront sits the driver alongside a pintle-mounted M60 machine gun and his personal M16 rifle.
This crew has also painted a rather attractive Vietnamese ‘pin-up’ called “Suzie Q” on the armor shield as well as the legend ‘Have Guns Will Travel’ (a reference to a then popular TV cowboy show back in the ‘States) on the Quad mount.



VN108-2 “M35A1 Gun Truck (The War Wagon)”
The second of our Gun Trucks is the aptly-named “The War Wagon” .
Many of the nicknames painted on these ‘Gun Trucks’ were inspired by rock songs, TV shows and even movies of the 1960s. ‘The War Wagon’ is a case in point… It came from a 1967 ‘Western’ starring John Wayne and Kirk Douglas and was popular with the troops at that time.
As our first vehicle the driver and gunner are included along with their weapons.
Both trucks are welcome add-ons to our very popular ‘Vietnam’ series so grab ‘em while you can!



AVAILABLE: Late April

 

[King & Country]

BEING RETIRED…
As always, some come in… others go out.

BBA081	Winter GI's in Action
JN019	Air Mechanic Crew Chief
JN020	Ground Crew Set #1
JN021	Ground Crew Set #2
LoJ024	The Boot Maker
MK163	The Swordsmith
USMC031	Marine Crawling Into Position
VN103	Female Viet Cong w/M16
VN105	Pretty But Dangerous
VN122	Miss Papillon

And that is April for you … Not too many items but something I hope for most collectors.
On the cheerful note, many thanks once more to everyone who made this visit to the ‘States so enjoyable and memorable.

Very best wishes and happy collecting,

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

 

[villagehorse]

Well in this climate you have excelled yourself Andy. Once again a nice array, those gun trucks are cool. Have a safe trip home Monday. Robin.

 

[tmanthegreat]

Those gun trucks look fantastic! Very, very tempting

 

[Obee]

ALSO AVAILABLE:
NA484 “Scots Grey Casualty”
A dead Scots Grey trooper and his horse lie fallen on the field of Waterloo.

View attachment 286739

AVAILABLE: Early to Mid April

Now this guy and his horse will sue fit in nicely with previous issues from the regiment,

well done !!

John

 

[Obee]

D. ‘ON THE FIELD OF BATTLE’
A single addition, but a useful one, for our last release of Scots Greys. PLUS no less than 8 of 18 of Napoleon’s ‘Dragons a Pied’, the ‘Foot Dragoons’.
View attachment 286731

Nice to also see a new set of different figures coming out, this time Foot Dragoon of the 4th Regiment (I think ???)

Foot dragoons have been previously done, but as the 16th Regiment, and in more of a marching pose, so these 'in action' do look good, especially the injured trooper and his mate checking on him.

I wonder what the rest of the regiment will look like seeing that there are 18 figures in all ?????

John

 

[Guy]

Pitty, no WWII , so nothing for me this month
Guy

 

[Obee]

Pitty, no WWII ,
Guy

That would be a first wouldn't it ????????

JOHn

 

[Barkmann]

New releases look great, the gun truck will be a welcome addition to the Vietnam collector, the Scots Grey look good and the Egyptions are becoming an interesting series to collect. Nothing for me, but that is about me and not K & C, i collect Medieval Warriors and WW2. Will be looking at the remainder sale stuff on the K & C website and continue my search for the gaps in my collection.

 

[Desertkiwi]

New releases look great, the gun truck will be a welcome addition to the Vietnam collector, the Scots Grey look good and the Egyptions are becoming an interesting series to collect. Nothing for me, but that is about me and not K & C, i collect Medieval Warriors and WW2. Will be looking at the remainder sale stuff on the K & C website and continue my search for the gaps in my collection.

As they say life's a box of chocolates......:salute::

 

[Barkmann]

That would be a first wouldn't it ????????

JOHn

I agree, but there should be some sooner rather than later, Andy mentioned some new Battle of the Bulge figures and some vehicles to go with the new D Day British sets released recently. I was hoping, but Hey Ho there is always next month, I would also like to see some new Field of Battle, that 2lb Andy did for the desert would be a must have if repainted for France 1940, also been a while since any aircraft or some Lufwaffe sets, would like to see some Luftwaffe airfield vehicles.

 

[WesternOutlaw]

Beautiful variety of figures, Andy. Loving the new Tomb of the Mummy figures. Can't wait to add these to my collection. On a side note: recently purchased the Water Sellers; terrific figures! Love their poses and faces. Great stuff! Thanks much.

EDIT: safe travels as well. It was great meeting you in CA.

 

[Combat]

The Mummy is great! Always loved those old horror flick. Karloff was the best.