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

[King & Country]

KING & COUNTRY DISPATCHES
May 2022​

Hi Guys,
Welcome to this May Edition of ‘DISPATCHES’ and the first I have been able to actually write in Hong Kong itself for several months.
As many of you know I spent almost 10 weeks in San Antonio, Texas after initially going over to the States for just 3 weeks for the ‘Official Opening’ of KING & COUNTRY TEXAS.

Now while I was still enjoying all the freedom and fresh air of Texas, China and Hong Kong were undergoing massive lockdowns and travel restrictions that have created all kinds of supply, transportation and production problems until today.
What this means is that K&C’s own output, as well as other companies, has been much reduced and takes far, far longer to develop and produce than previously.

So, apologies in advance, this ‘DISPATCHES’ will seem a good deal ‘slimmer’ than normal. Anyway, that being said, let’s take a closer look at what we have managed to release this particular month... Now, read on...

1. BEING RELEASED THIS MONTH

A. “A Little Feminine Company...”
When most people think of a typical wild west town they usually picture a livery stable, a general store or a clutch of various wooden shop fronts and, of course a saloon complete with swinging doors. At the beginning of the great westward migration these were not actually towns, much more like small, rough and ready communities of mostly men and relatively few women.
Back in those Victorian era days, respectable women did not go into saloons and also very much upheld the morals and behavior of the age.
Other women however (and a few, shrewd men) saw the ‘need’ and the ‘opportunities’ for certain establishments to be built and soon once a saloon was opened, the rest of the wild west town would follow.
In the towns that sprang up along the main routes of the huge cattle drives between the end of the American Civil War and the late 1880s all kinds of saloons and ‘houses of ill-repute’ opened up to provide feminine company for those cowboys with a few bucks in their pockets and the urge to spend it.
Among the ‘Soiled Doves of The Old West’ who worked in these establishments were women from many different backgrounds and various ethnic origins. Texas in particular had a wealth of ‘Saloon Senoritas’ with a Hispanic heritage and here we present two such ladies for your perusal...



CD018 ‘Isabella’
With her alluring figure, flashing dark eyes and cascade of tumbling hair Isabella would catch the attention of any red-blooded, ‘cowpoke’ riding into town with a pocket full of cash and a thirsty desire for a long cool beer and the charms of a very pretty woman.



CD019 ‘Rosalita’
This more fulsome-bodied senorita is a little older than her friend, Isabella, but even more capable of handling any cowboy that might step over the line and forget his manners... or his cash!



AVAILABLE: Early May

 

[King & Country]

B. “An Ancient Roman Temptress”
In the annals of Ancient Roman decadence there was no shortage of individuals, both famous and infamous who reveled in the luxury, extravagance and corruption of its orgies and sensual excesses.
One of the best known and most notorious was Valeria Messalina...



RnB042 “Messalina”
This high-born woman was the cousin of two emperors, Nero and Caligula and the great-grandniece of the Emperor Augustus.
A powerful and ambitious woman she become the third wife of the Roman emperor Claudius.
Little is known of her early life prior to her marriage to Claudius in AD38. She would go on to bear two children by the ruler, a daughter Claudia Octavia and a son Britannicus.
When her cousin, Caligula was murdered in AD41 by his Praetorian Guard her husband Claudius was proclaimed the new emperor and Messalina became empress.
After this accession to power, Messalina rapidly gained a reputation as ruthless, predatory and sexually insatiable!
Over the centuries she has been notably featured in many ancient histories as well as more modern novels, films and television series.
Our K&C version of the empress portrays her at the height (or perhaps depth) of her seductive powers during her husband’s reign.



AVAILABLE: Mid May

 

[King & Country]

C. “Rallying ‘Round The Flag!”
This month introduces four more ‘recruits’ to our dramatic American Civil War range of 83rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment soldiers.



CW132 “Crouching Advancing”
This volunteer cautiously edges forward, rifle and bayonet ‘at the ready’.



CW133 “The Walking Wounded”
A corporal assists a wounded comrade to the nearest aid post.



CW138 “Kneeling Infantryman Firing Rifle”



AVAILABLE: Early May

 

[King & Country]

D. ‘LES DRAGONS A PIED’
Three 2-man sets of French Foot Dragoons to reinforce our first release in April of these colourful dismounted fighting figures.



NA495 “Foot Dragoons Reloading Set”
Two individual figures rapidly reloading before opening fire once more on the enemy.



NA496 “Casualties of War”
A pair of dead Foot Dragoons, their muskets on one side plus a fallen dragoon helmet.



NA497 “Kneeling Foot Dragoons Set”
Two Foot Dragoons preparing to go into battle.



AVAILABLE: Mid May

 

[King & Country]

E. “TAKING ON THE HUEYS!”
Requiring a heavy machine gun, similar to the .50 calibre M2 Browning , the Soviets began work on this project as early as 1929 and provided the first working samples by 1931 using a 30-round drum magazine. Actual experience and a number of innovations resulted in a much improved, belt-fed adaption that led to the introduction of the DShK 1938 which saw plenty of action throughout Red Army service in WW2 and for many years and wars afterwards.
One country that utilized thousands of these DShK ‘38s was North Vietnam, especially in the ‘Anti Aircraft’ role. Batteries of these heavy machine guns were situated throughout the North protecting all kinds of strategic targets from the attacks of American fighters and bombers.
In addition, other DShK ‘38s were sent down south to help protect, North Vietnamese Army regulars and local Viet Cong guerrillas against aerial assault by South Vietnamese and U.S. Army helicopter gunships which had, until then, been dominating the battlefield.
Here is the first of K&C’s DShK ’38 machine gun sets...



VN133 “NVA DShK ’38 Anti Aircraft Team”
A kneeling North Vietnamese Army gunner and a crouching gun commander observe enemy helicopters approaching their position.
Soon, the order will be given to open fire.



Special Note: A second DShK set will be released this coming June depicting a young female ‘VIET CONG’ gunner manning her gun in the horizontal ground defence role.

AVAILABLE: Mid May

 

[King & Country]

F. ‘Panzer Grenadiers On Patrol’
Four more 2-man sets of K&C Panzer Grenadiers all wearing the M1944 uniform and carrying an assortment of weaponry as they prepare to take on the enemy.
By the autumn of 1944 the general appearance of most German soldiers had changed dramatically since the early victorious years of the ‘Blitzkriegs’ of 1939-1941.
Practical battlefield experience, raw material shortages and other wartime economies had brought forward the introduction of an all-new, much simpler, less fussy and far less expensive uniform closely modeled on the British Army’s own ‘battledress’.
At the same time other changes included short canvas gaiters together with M44 lace-up ankle boots and modified field equipment.
These eight new Panzer Grenadiers also carry an assortment of weapons including the excellent, battle-proven, K98 rifle, the superb MG42 machine gun, the newer anti tank ‘Panzerfaust’ and the MP44 assault rifle.
On the Grenadiers’ steel helmets are both the standard, late-war camouflage cover and the simple but effective ‘chicken wire’ net.



WH103 ‘The Scouts’
This pair of Panzer Grenadiers would normally be moving in advance of the patrol seeking out the enemy.



WH104 ‘The Squad Leader Set’
The Squad Leader backed up by a ‘Panzerfaust’ carrying rifleman.



WH105 ‘The MG42 Gun Team’
This 2-man set portrays the gunner carrying his MG42 on his shoulder while his ‘number two’ brings up the additional ammunition.



WH106 ‘Extra Escort’
Two supporting Panzer Grenadiers both carrying the classic K98 rifles.


AVAILABLE: Mid May

 

[King & Country]

BEING RETIRED IN MAY...

JN015	Japanese Infantryman
JN033	Kneeling Rifleman w/ Grenade
JN037	Crouching Soldier
JN038	Fight to the Death
USMC034	Stryker
USMC041	USMC 75mm Pack Howitzer & Crew
VN006	Looking Back
VN008	Decoy Marine
VN082	The Battle of Long Tan Set #2

And that, as I usually say, is that for another month. Alas not as many items as we originally planned but a few more than it looked like we were going to have!
Challenging times indeed!

But, we’re still here and we’re still fighting. All the very best and as ever... happy collecting.

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

 

[Guy]

Patrol of Panzer Grenadiers = SOLD
Guy

 

[Lo1863]

I really like the late war Panzer Grenadiers! They will go well with the previously released combat figures of the same style. :salute::

 

[villagehorse]

Under the circumstances, well done in this climate. Robin.

 

[arnhem44mad]

Panzer grenadiers look awesome! Great job Andy!

Scott

 

[Barkmann]

The WW2 Germans look excellent and will get once i have caught up on some off the earlier sets i am missing, they do look great.

 

[Horus]

The DShK is a must, will fit in very nicely !:salute::

Steve

 

[Goldman007]

RnB042 “Messalina” [/B]


View attachment 287765

I was wondering why this figure is classed as a Barbarian. She does not have the 'Barbarian look'!

I am smiling while i type this so take the post in gest.

 

[Alexander the Great]

Great releases....but, we need sandstone bricks for the Egypt series...are you releasing more Andy?

 

[King & Country]

Great releases....but, we need sandstone bricks for the Egypt series...are you releasing more Andy?

Yes we are Alex,
Best wishes,
Andy.

 

[King & Country]

RnB042 “Messalina” [/B]


View attachment 287765

I was wondering why this figure is classed as a Barbarian. She does not have the 'Barbarian look'!

I am smiling while i type this so take the post in gest.

hi there, the’lady’ in question was certainly no ‘Barbarian’ but she got up to some pretty barbarous sexual activities!
The ‘RnB’ code actually stands for ‘Romans and Barbarians, Hope this helps and yes, I take your original post in friendly jest…just as it was written (typed).
Best wishes,
Andy.

 

[Northgate Woods]

Under the circumstances, well done in this climate. Robin.

I have to totally agree with Robin's comments. With all the problems going on in HK and China at the moment, it is a wonder that we see any releases from all Manufacturers.

Great work Andy. Keep up the good fight.

Cheers Howard:salute::

 

[King & Country]

I have to totally agree with Robin's comments. With all the problems going on in HK and China at the moment, it is a wonder that we see any releases from all Manufacturers.

Great work Andy. Keep up the good fight.

Cheers Howard:salute::

Another very big thankyou for the warm welcome to this month’s ‘DISPATCHES’ to all of you Guys all over the globe.
There’s no shortage of ‘challenges’ at this moment and here at K&C we will do our level best to overcome them and move on.
I just finished Andrew Robert’s fantastic book on Winston Churchill and that great man is an inspiration to us all…He had no shortage of setbacks, defeats and some disasters but he also had a great fighting spirit and a great motto…”Keep Buggering On!” So, I’ll let Winston be my inspiration.

All the best lads and thanks once more for your thoughts, ideas and support.
Andy.

 

[waynepoo]

B. “An Ancient Roman Temptress”
In the annals of Ancient Roman decadence there was no shortage of individuals, both famous and infamous who reveled in the luxury, extravagance and corruption of its orgies and sensual excesses.
One of the best known and most notorious was Valeria Messalina...

View attachment 287766

RnB042 “Messalina”
This high-born woman was the cousin of two emperors, Nero and Caligula and the great-grandniece of the Emperor Augustus.
A powerful and ambitious woman she become the third wife of the Roman emperor Claudius.
Little is known of her early life prior to her marriage to Claudius in AD38. She would go on to bear two children by the ruler, a daughter Claudia Octavia and a son Britannicus.
When her cousin, Caligula was murdered in AD41 by his Praetorian Guard her husband Claudius was proclaimed the new emperor and Messalina became empress.
After this accession to power, Messalina rapidly gained a reputation as ruthless, predatory and sexually insatiable!
Over the centuries she has been notably featured in many ancient histories as well as more modern novels, films and television series.
Our K&C version of the empress portrays her at the height (or perhaps depth) of her seductive powers during her husband’s reign.

View attachment 287765

AVAILABLE: Mid May

A must this one.....onya Andy. :salute::