C) “ON THE EUROPEAN FRONT”
From the Pacific and South East Asia during the early part of WW2 we move west to Europe in the months following D.Day...
DD273 “The Sarge”
Hollywood, both the movies and television, have always loved WW2 and when it comes to portraying the American GI there has been no shortage of great actors ready to represent them on the big screen and the little one too...Among those portrayals there is usually the rough, tough and occasionally gruff sergeant who is firm but fair with the men under his command...Think of Sgt. Horvath in “Saving Pvt. Ryan” or Sgt. Rick Saunders in “COMBAT” and you get the idea.
Here is our little tribute to the fictional “non-coms” as well as all the real ones!
“Tommy Gun” resting on the hip and watching out for his men “The Sarge” is ready for combat!
DD274 “The M36 ‘Jackson’ Tank Destroyer”
Developed towards the end of WW2 the M36 “Jackson” was the most powerful U.S. tank destroyer of its time mounting a massive 90mm gun. It replaced the much weaker M10 which only carried a 76mm gun.
Supplies of the M36 finally began to arrive in the European Theatre of Operations in September 1944 where it immediately proved to be more than a match against any of the heavy tanks of the Germans.
It also saw ‘active duty’ in the Korean conflict easily defeating the Russian-supplied armour used by both the North Koreans and the Chinese.
Even after Korea, M36’s turned up in the former Yugoslavia and saw action in the 1990’s!
Our K&C M36 is painted in typical olive drab finish complete with Allied ‘white star’ and would have certainly took part in The Battle of the Bulge in December ’44 and the drive into Germany in the first 5 months of 1945.
Dismounted tank crew figures will be available in a later release.
DD275 “Capt. Dale Dye...Weapons Training”
A many of you war movie buffs know Capt. Dale Dye USMC ret’d has carved out a unique place for himself in the film world. He has worked both behind and in front of the cameras on such outstanding movies and TV series as “Platoon”...”Born on the Fourth of July”...”Band of Brothers”...”The Pacific” and, of course, “Saving Pvt. Ryan” to name but a handful.
He’s also a good friend of myself and K&C and was one of our very special “Guests of Honour” at the last “Texas Toy Soldier Show”.
Capt. Dye’s military contribution to making many of these films and series more accurate and realistic is considerable and widely praised.
Here at K&C we wanted to say “thank you” for Dale’s work in our own small way and here it is...
We based our figure on several photos taken during the production of “Saving Pvt. Ryan” where Capt. Dye was instructing the main actors and some of the principal extras on the correct use and safe handling of real weapons...including in this case the M1 carbine.
Capt. Dye totally immerses himself in all of the productions he gets involved with. In this case, he is dressed as a “Ranger” captain and is wearing the same uniform as the men of Capt. Miller’s squad in the movie.
DD276 “Colonel Robert F. Sink”
This figure also has a connection with Dale Dye...The actual Col. Sink was the Commanding Officer of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division which of course featured the men of “Easy company” from “Band of Brothers”.
Capt. Dye, in addition to training all of the actors and extras for the Television series also played Col. Sink in the series.
Our figure shows the ‘real’ Colonel Robert F. Sink in his jump suit delivering orders to his men prior to the D. Day Operation.
A regular prewar U.S. Army officer he had a long and distinguished military career and rose to the rank of Lieutenant General before retiring in 1961. He died in 1965.
AVAILABLE: Mid to late November.
