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

[King & Country]

KING & COUNTRY DISPATCHES
July 2022
​

Hi Guys,
Welcome to this month’s ‘DISPATCHES’ , a much more modest selection than usual, but an interesting collection nevertheless and with a couple of surprises.
In this edition we will also preview three of our August releases.
So, without further ado, let’s begin!

1. BEING RELEASED IN JULY...
A. ‘WINTER GIs’
It’s been quite a few years since K&C’s last dedicated ‘Battle of The Bulge’ releases... especially on the American side of the battle. Well, now that’s all changed with the July availability of no less than 12 brand-new sculpts of GIs in action... All wearing the long, U.S. Army issue greatcoat and warm, woolen gloves.
These GIs are armed with a broad selection of weapons and ready to repulse the surprise German attack, which erupted on the morning of 16 December 1944 in the area of Belgium known as... ‘The Ardennes’ .



Take a closer look of our featured releases of ‘Winter GIs’ on Youtube.

BBA091 “.30 Cal. Machine Gun Team”
Another of John M. Browning’s masterpieces, the ‘Model 1919’ was originally developed as a general purpose machine gun for the U.S. Cavalry, for use in its tanks and armoured cars or, in the ‘ground role’ mounted on a tripod.
The U.S. Infantry liked the weapon so much that during WWⅡ they introduced both a rifle-style butt in addition to the more familiar pistol grip.
The heavy barrel was air-cooled using a perforated jacket. The gun’s tripod mount could be adjusted allowing the gunner to utilise both the ‘sitting’ and ‘lying prone’ positions.
Our 2-man team are in the prone position with the gun’s ‘Number 2’ feeding the ammunition belt into the M1919 with his M1 Garand lying next to him.


BBA092 “B.A.R. Gunner”
Although, strictly speaking, the B.A.R. (Browning Automatic Rifle) was not a machine gun it was employed mostly in the light machine gun role within American WW2 Infantry Squads.
Each American infantry squad (usually 8-10 men) would always contain at least one soldier carrying the B.A.R.
Both the M1 ‘Garand’ Rifle and B.A.R. used the same .30 cal. ammunition.
K&C’s new B.A.R. Gunner is taking cover as he observes the enemy.


BBA093 “Lying Prone Rifleman”
This winter-clad GI is taking aim from the prone firing position.


BBA094 “Kneeling Rifleman”
This kneeling infantryman is using one of the most outstanding weapons of WW2... The .30 cal. M1 Rifle was designed by John C. Garand who originally worked for the Springfield Arsenal.
Its design resulted from the U.S. Army’s experience in WW1 when it was recognized that a self-loading rifle brought greater advantage on the battlefield and a major increase in the infantry squad’s firepower.
Although quite heavy (9.5 lbs.) or 4.4kg its 8-round magazine and sturdy reliability made it popular with all the troops who carried it.
After WW2 the rifle also served in the Korean War until its replacement by the M14 in the late 1950s.

 

[King & Country]

BBA095 “Standing Rifleman”
Classic firing pose with the classic rifle.


BBA096 “Throwing Grenade”
A kneeling rifleman holds his M1 ‘Garand’ in his left hand as he prepares to hurl a grenade at the approaching enemy.
Most infantrymen carried at least 2 x grenades with them... either the small, smooth-finish grenade or the standard MKⅡ ‘Pineapple’ version.
The danger area was a nominal 10/11 yards (9metres) circle around the explosion and throwers were well-advised to be behind cover when the device went off!


BBA097 “Command Set”
This 2-man set includes the Squad’s radio man carrying the ‘SCR-538’ backpack radio with a telephone handset.
Because of the extra weight of the radio and its batteries most radio operators carried the lighter M1 Carbine as a personal weapon.
Most ‘Squad Leaders’ were corporals however some sergeants would also take up this role.
Chances are, our Squad Leader is a ‘Sergeant’ as he’s carrying the Thompson submachine gun which was a rare weapon for junior NCOs to carry.


BBA098 “The Bazooka Team”
When the US Army entered WW2 its antitank defense was the 37mm towed gun and the .50 cal M2 Browning heavy machine gun.
US experts adopted and adapted an original Swiss design and created a man-portable antitank weapon that could also be used to knockout pillboxes and other fixed defences.
Nicknamed “The Bazooka” , these new weapons began to go into service in 1943 and proved easy to use and relatively easy to transport across the battlefield.
As the ‘gunner’ aims the bazooka on the target his ‘Number 2’ loads the projectile into the rear of the weapon.
The ‘number two’ also carries his own as well as his buddy’s M1 ‘Garand’.


BBA099 “Tommy-Gunner”
This final ‘Winter GI’ is definitely either a ‘sergeant’ or possibly a junior officer. In addition to his ‘Tommy-Gun’ he also has the holstered Colt M1911A1 as his sidearm.
Both pistol and submachine gun utilize a common .45 calibre round which is both sensible and very useful.

 

[King & Country]

BBA-S01 “Battle of The Bulge” Winter Bonus Set

Purchase ALL 12 of these brand new ‘Battle of The Bulge’ figures and King & Country will provide you with a special, custom-painted KnC ‘Winter Sherman Tank’ with our compliments and a very special combined price.
As only a limited number of these ‘Winter Shermans’ are available place your order soon.

AVAILABLE: Mid July

 

[King & Country]

B. ‘ENTERTAINING THE TROOPS!’
In between wars, battles and campaigns it’s important to keep your troops morale up and, when you can, provide a little entertainment and diversion that reminds them of home and perhaps, what they are fighting for and what they may want to return to...
During the Vietnam War all kinds of entertainers flew out to that war-torn country to put on a show for the hundreds of thousands of GIs stationed throughout South East Asia... Here is just a small but colourful example...

 

[King & Country]

VN147 “The Apocalypse Playmates Set”
In Francis Ford Coppola’s Vietnam epic ‘Apocalypse Now’ there is one particular scene where a trio of ‘Playboy Playmates’ descend by helicopter on a stage in front of thousands of sex-starved GIs and proceed to put on a very provocative show for the benefit of the troops.
If the girls’ intentions were to inflame the passions of the crowd they certainly succeed as the assembled military audience attempt to storm the stage and grab the girls.
As the Military Police are overwhelmed it is only the intervention of some Special Forces guys together with a waiting ‘Huey’ that prevents disaster...
Well, here they are... ‘Cavalry Girl’... ‘Pocahontas’ ... and ‘The Sheriff‘.
All three together in a special 3 figure box.
If, however, you would prefer just one of the girls these are also available...



VN151 “Playmate Pocahontas”
In a very fetching, not-so-traditional Native American costume.



VN152 “Playmate Cavalry Girl”
I’m not sure General Custer would approve of her uniform... but Colonel Kilgore certainly would!


VN153 “Playmate Sheriff”
This young lady could lay down the law anytime and which red-blooded male wouldn’t be happy to spend a night in jail with her!!!


AVAILABLE: Mid July

 

[King & Country]

C. ‘THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES’
From a fictitious movie about the Vietnam War to a real entertainer who actually did so much for the troops over there with his annual ‘Bob Hope Christmas Show’.
From 1964 to 1972, one of the few constants of the conflict and one of the most eagerly anticipated was the yearly visit by one of America’s most popular comedians... Mr. Bob Hope.
Beginning in WW2 this great entertainer logged millions of miles flying around the globe with his hand-picked tame of singers, dancers and musicians to put on shows for the US Military on airfields, aircraft carriers, army camps, hospitals and dozens of other locations wherever GIs were stationed.

A TRIBUTE IN MINIATURE​

As the numbers of US Military in South Vietnam grew each year so too did the length of each ‘Christmas Show’ and the venues expand.
K&C are releasing 2 versions of this great American comedian as he might have appeared during his 1967/’68 tours.

VN148 “USMC Bob”
Here, the comedian is wearing a USMC Field Shirt decorated with no less than 3 x divisional patches of the three US Marine Corps divisions that served in Vietnam.
Bob’s headgear is a red ballcap with USMC proudly on the front.


VN155 “US Army Bob”
This figure wears the standard US Army Field Shirt adorned with oversized full colour patches of the Air Cavalry and the MACV (Military Assistance Command Vietnam) . On his head ‘Bob’ wears a navy blue ballcap with a Green Berets cap badge.
On the back of both field shirts are a list of just some of the typical venues around South Vietnam where the shows were staged.


AVAILABLE: Late July

 

[King & Country]

2. SPECIAL AUGUST PREVIEW
These past few months, April, May and June, Britain has remembered a very special time in our military history... The 40th Anniversary of The Falklands War.
This conflict, just 10 weeks long, was remarkable for many reasons among them the sheer professionalism and superior training of all the British Forces involved and the almost overwhelming support of the British people to evict an illegal occupying army from British territory and liberate its people, the Falkland islanders.
K&C’s first two releases of Falklands War Royal Marines ‘yomping’ across East Falkland have proved to be exceptionally popular and now we are releasing 3 more 2-figure sets to mark the first land victory in the campaign, The Battle of Goose Green.
Over two days, in a fourteen hour struggle, the Second Battalion of The Parachute Regiment (2 Para) fought an enemy force almost three times larger than itself!
Lacking adequate artillery and air support the battalion fought a long, grueling battle across nearly featureless, windswept and uneven open ground to capture the small settlement and free just over a 100 local civilians.
These 3 upcoming sets portray the immediate aftermath of the battle as the ‘Paras’ collect, disarm and search some of the enemy combatants.
Already in development are several additional ‘Falklands Sets’ featuring British paratroopers and marines in action during the campaign... and some of the Argentinean ‘defenders’ of Las Malvinas’.

TF003 “C’mon Pablo Keep Moving!”
One of our Paras, gently but firmly, urges one of the Prisoners to move along.


TF004 “Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina”
This Para hums the famous song as he escorts a dejected Argentinean conscript towards the other Prisoners-of-War.


TF005 “Just Making Sure...”
The third Para makes a thorough search of the prisoner to ensure that he’s not carrying any kind of weapon or loose ammunition about his person.


AVAILABLE: August 2022

 

[King & Country]

BEING RETIRED...

CE017	Swiss Guardsman at Attention
CE018	Swiss Guardsman Standing-at-Ease
CE019	Swiss Guard Corporal Saluting
CE020	Swiss Guard Musician / Trumpeter
CE022	The Pope
CE023	Swiss Guard Drummer
CE024	Swiss Guard Officer
CE025	Swiss Guard Standard Bearer
CE026	Swiss Guard Recruit
CE027	Guardsman w/Two-Handed Sword
DD195	Radio Operator
TRW088	Major Marcus Reno
TRW115	The White Officer
TRW125	Lying Prone Firing
TRW142	Captor & Captured

And that my friends, as I like to say, is that!
Apologies, there is not as much as we, or perhaps you, would like but in these strange and challenging times it’s a minor miracle we managed to get these ones out!

In the meantime... all the very best and happy collecting.

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

 

[wayne556517]

The best thing you ever did was get rid of unnecessary stands look and display much better Andy.

 

[Mark IV]

BBA-S01 “Battle of The Bulge” Winter Bonus Set

Purchase ALL 12 of these brand new ‘Battle of The Bulge’ figures and King & Country will provide you with a special, custom-painted KnC ‘Winter Sherman Tank’ with our compliments and a very special combined price.
As only a limited number of these ‘Winter Shermans’ are available place your order soon.

AVAILABLE: Mid July

View attachment 289441

This is for me just emailed my local dealer to see if this can be done through him

Mark

 

[arnhem44mad]

2. SPECIAL AUGUST PREVIEW
These past few months, April, May and June, Britain has remembered a very special time in our military history... The 40th Anniversary of The Falklands War.
This conflict, just 10 weeks long, was remarkable for many reasons among them the sheer professionalism and superior training of all the British Forces involved and the almost overwhelming support of the British people to evict an illegal occupying army from British territory and liberate its people, the Falkland islanders.
K&C’s first two releases of Falklands War Royal Marines ‘yomping’ across East Falkland have proved to be exceptionally popular and now we are releasing 3 more 2-figure sets to mark the first land victory in the campaign, The Battle of Goose Green.
Over two days, in a fourteen hour struggle, the Second Battalion of The Parachute Regiment (2 Para) fought an enemy force almost three times larger than itself!
Lacking adequate artillery and air support the battalion fought a long, grueling battle across nearly featureless, windswept and uneven open ground to capture the small settlement and free just over a 100 local civilians.
These 3 upcoming sets portray the immediate aftermath of the battle as the ‘Paras’ collect, disarm and search some of the enemy combatants.
Already in development are several additional ‘Falklands Sets’ featuring British paratroopers and marines in action during the campaign... and some of the Argentinean ‘defenders’ of Las Malvinas’.

TF003 “C’mon Pablo Keep Moving!”
One of our Paras, gently but firmly, urges one of the Prisoners to move along.
View attachment 289450

TF004 “Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina”
This Para hums the famous song as he escorts a dejected Argentinean conscript towards the other Prisoners-of-War.
View attachment 289451

TF005 “Just Making Sure...”
The third Para makes a thorough search of the prisoner to ensure that he’s not carrying any kind of weapon or loose ammunition about his person.
View attachment 289452

AVAILABLE: August 2022

You really managed to keep the Bulge releases a secret until today mate, well done!! They're great!

Looking forward to those paras in August!

Scott

 

[Goldman007]

Do you have any more pictures of the Sherman?

 

[kings of Alt Clut]

Another 'weak' month' for K & C collectors, 16 figures, all American themed, some Battle of the Bulge figures reissued, new weapons and no bases. Plus a pre preview of stuff for August.

Let us hope this is caused by covid and not a decline in yet another TS Manufacturer, such as Conte, Figarti, Britains, First Legion and Collectors Showcase

 

[wwiibuff]

Love the new winter GI's Andy. Battle of the Bulge is one of the focal lines of my collection and I will definitely be adding some of these guys when they are available.

 

[Guy]

Nice additions for the BOB .
But buying 12 figures in one go is a bit too much. To the $500 one must add 21% VAT, Import taxe (9%)and custom clearence. The $500 rapidly become $650-700 !!!!!, so no plastic winter Sherman for me. I will buy a KnC001 separately and winterize it myself .
Guy

 

[King & Country]

Another 'weak' month' for K & C collectors, 16 figures, all American themed, some Battle of the Bulge figures reissued, new weapons and no bases. Plus a pre preview of stuff for August.

Let us hope this is caused by covid and not a decline in yet another TS Manufacturer, such as Conte, Figarti, Britains, First Legion and Collectors Showcase

Don’t be such a …clut!

 

[WesternOutlaw]

Hi Andy, thanks for sharing. I was expecting dispatches later this week. Pleasant surprise this 4th of July. I like your added video with a little bit of "Bulge history" (display looks so cool). Been admiring these new figures after seeing them in Collector #58, wondering when they might be released this year.

I have a pretty good collection of winter Germans but no US troops as opposition; always having to picture the Germans against Red Army. Love the long great coats and look forward to purchasing a few.

My German figures are ready: ^&grin

Happy 4th!

 

[King & Country]

Hi Andy, thanks for sharing. I was expecting dispatches later this week. Pleasant surprise this 4th of July. I like your added video with a little bit of "Bulge history" (display looks so cool). Been admiring these new figures after seeing them in Collector #58, wondering when they might be released this year.

I have a pretty good collection of winter Germans but no US troops as opposition; always having to picture the Germans against Red Army. Love the long great coats and look forward to purchasing a few.

My German figures are ready: ^&grin

Happy 4th!

Thankyou Rob…Happy to hear you like ‘em!
All the best,
Andy.

 

[Horus]

Bob and the Girls have been ordered for some shows here lets hope they don't cause any riots !

 

[Mike97]

Fantastic looking Bulge figures, definitely will making some additions.