My King & Country Acquisitions Blitz (2 Viewers)

[ucla1967]

Well, I have finally done it. After resisting collecting K&C armored fighting vehicles in the past, I finally gave in to the urge and have acquired more than 50 AFVs in the last two and a half months. I knew that if I started down this path, there would be no end to it. However, since Andy has produced the most comprehensive line of AFVs, bar none, it wasn't a difficult decision to start, even if I was rather late in the game. I have posted photos under "Collections" starting with post number 1841 on July 8th if you would like to see what I have acquired.

 

[villagehorse]

Cannot believe how many items you have amassed in such a short period. What should have taken years has only been months for you Mike. Obviously when you put your mind to something, look out. Just amazing. :salute::, Robin.

 

[ucla1967]

Cannot believe how many items you have amassed in such a short period. What should have taken years has only been months for you Mike. Obviously when you put your mind to something, look out. Just amazing. :salute::, Robin.

Thanks Robin. Yes, I am known to be very persistent (I am a Capricorn) and focused. My wife says stubborn and suggests I have OCD. I had just got out of the Army when I first saw her in my French I class in college; I was a lot more interested in her than she was in me, but I pursued her for months until I eventually won her over. We have now been married for 52 years.

Mike

 

[joesgis]

That's a great story Mike! That's the way to make it happen!

ps You sure don't look that old to be married so long! perhaps OCD is the fountain of youth, or more likely toy soldiers! Enjoy the K & C army your are amassing!


Joe

 

[tmanthegreat]

Congratulations, Mike, on your 52 years of marriage, which is no easy feat! Also, I thought I was on a K&C blitz myself when I acquired 8 AFVs, a couple aircraft, a submarine, and a little over 50 figures since the beginning of the year, but over 50 vehicles in a couple months timeframe far outdoes my modest efforts... Very impressive!

 

[ucla1967]

That's a great story Mike! That's the way to make it happen!

ps You sure don't look that old to be married so long! perhaps OCD is the fountain of youth, or more likely toy soldiers! Enjoy the K & C army your are amassing!


Joe

Thanks Joe. You are very kind. Rather than OCD or toy soldiers, I suspect that it has more to do with genes or maybe Italian pasta with lots of garlic.

Mike

 

[ucla1967]

Congratulations, Mike, on your 52 years of marriage, which is no easy feat! Also, I thought I was on a K&C blitz myself when I acquired 8 AFVs, a couple aircraft, a submarine, and a little over 50 figures since the beginning of the year, but over 50 vehicles in a couple months timeframe far outdoes my modest efforts... Very impressive!

Thank you. I have been asked many times to explain how we managed to pull this off for more than half a century, to which I really didn't have a good answer. I recently saw a saying that explains it all: "We are from the generation that didn't throw anything away when it was broken. We fixed it."

That is still an impressive K&C blitz you have been on since the start of the year. I am just older and need to hurry more than you do.

Mike

 

[ucla1967]

As I acquired my new King & Country AFV sets, I would open the boxes (it was better than Christmas) and set them on the dining room table to admire and photograph. When more sets arrived, I would remove the sets on the dining room table and replace them with the new acquisitions. Photo number one is of the first group of acquisitions with five AFV sets. The next three photos are the second group of acquisitions with six additional AFV sets. Behind the second group of K&C sets are 10 John Jenkins AFV sets from World War and the Spanish Civil War.

 

[ucla1967]

The third group of acquisitions has 12 K&C AFV sets including the only World War I tank bringing up the rear plus one John Jenkins AFV. The total acquired is 23 K&C sets through the first three groups.

 

[ucla1967]

This fourth group of acquisitions has 18 additional AFV sets bring my collection to 41 sets. This is getting quite expensive, but worth it.

 

[wwiibuff]

Wow that's awesome Mike! Although I have a very large collection of K&C sets like you've just acquired, it's taken me years and years to do so and not just two and a half months!

 

[CL53-Fan]

Did you pick a favorite yet? I like the German Halftrack with the two man crew.
I only own one K & C and its DD009, so I'm partial to halftracks. Enjoy! Have Fun!
and Congrats!
Tim

 

[ucla1967]

Wow that's awesome Mike! Although I have a very large collection of K&C sets like you've just acquired, it's taken me years and years to do so and not just two and a half months!

Thanks, Duke. I started late and have had to make up for lost time, although it sometimes means I now have to pay twice as much for a set than its original list price.

 

[ucla1967]

Did you pick a favorite yet? I like the German Halftrack with the two man crew.
I only own one K & C and its DD009, so I'm partial to halftracks. Enjoy! Have Fun!
and Congrats!
Tim

I haven't picked a favorite yet; it will probably be difficult to do with so many choices. I am also found of haft tracks , but I don't have DD009. I am also partial to the early war years AFVs, including the German panzer grey versions. Andy has opened up a new world with some, previously unknown to me, AFVs like the SdKfz 250/11 Panzerbuchse 41, PzKpfw 35R(f), 10.5cm leFH-18 39H(f), etc. I am having fun, but my wife, not so much so.

 

[ucla1967]

This is the fifth group of acquisitions with 14 AFVs bring the total to 55 and counting.

 

[Alexander the Great]

Mike,

Congratulations on the 5th group! an interesting fact will be the total cost of the blitz.
If too much of a private question please do not answer but I thought it will be interesting share if comfortable doing so...we promise not to tell the wife

 

[villagehorse]

Amazing array of items Mike. Still trying to come to grips with the speed you have acquired these. Also the main enemy for collectors 'space' has not surfaced yet. Robin.

 

[ucla1967]

Mike,

Congratulations on the 5th group! an interesting fact will be the total cost of the blitz.
If too much of a private question please do not answer but I thought it will be interesting share if comfortable doing so...we promise not to tell the wife

Thanks. I honestly do not know how much this has cost me so far, although I have kept track of every acquisition, I haven't stopped to add them all up. Maybe it would be best to leave that question unanswered. I would guess that the average cost of a tank, self-propelled gun, or half track is about $150. However, I have picked up some great bargains. These are the lowest priced five AFV acquisitions: JN040 Japanese Type 95 Ha-Go Tank $60, FOB037 French Renault R35 Tank $68, WS101 SdKfz 252 Transporter $72, WS108 Panzer I Ausf. F Tank $75, and WS13 (013) SS Hanomag Half Track $87. On the other hand, the five most expensive AFV acquisitions are BBA015 Strickly Limited General Inspection M4A3 Sherman Tank $200, WS176 Hitlerjugen Panther Ausf. A $200, WS317 Marder I Panzerjager $195, BBG021 Jagdpanther IV $182, and IF009 Italian Semovente M40-75/18 SPG.

 

[ucla1967]

Amazing array of items Mike. Still trying to come to grips with the speed you have acquired these. Also the main enemy for collectors 'space' has not surfaced yet. Robin.

Thank you, Robin. I believe I am approaching 100 AFVs and an equal number of figure sets. I was in deep trouble regarding space until very recently when my lovely wife, Jean, said I could have the unused fourth bedroom for toy soldiers. It had bookcases that held my granddaughter's books and the toys overflow from her bedroom. She is 11-years old now and has outgrown most of those things which has freed up the now unused bedroom.

I ordered a new book case and a Pulaski display curio for that room. The book case has arrived, but the curio was damaged in shipment and the replacement will not be shipped until the end of the month. At first, I was just using the existing book case to temporarily display the new additions, but realized that with its' 18 inch deep shelves, it would make an great area for dioramas. I am using the new book case to temporarily display my AFVs until the curio arrives.

 

[ucla1967]

Dioramas continuing.