In a somewhat radical departure from the norm King and Country have announced the development of a new product range made out of plastic. Yes, you heard right. Plastic!
The first complete series of figures is due to be released early in the new year and according to the press releases will be a number of figures for their 'Alamo' range. Meanwhile, there is a taste of what is to come in the form of a 'mixed media' model of an American Sherman, pictured below
KnC 001, a D-Day Sherman, is being advertised as a high quality, pre-painted plastic and metal 1:30 scale model and comes with a half body tank commander and 2 removable wading engine and exhaust stacks
The company are using a hard plastic so reproducing fine detail shouldn't be a problem and we won't have to worry about swords, bayonets, rifles, flag poles and the like bending or figures that can't stand up!
Take a look at what the company is saying for yourself
"INTRODUCING "KnC""
This month we’re officially  announcing our new “KnC”
 brand. At King & Country we’ve been working for over 18 months on
  producing a line of figures and vehicles that will be complementary to
 our  existing main stream production but will provide collectors, old 
and new, with  a less expensive, more affordable line of products that 
we believe can fill a  gap in the 1:30 scale market.
Pre  painted and 
manufactured in high quality, hard plastic resin the new figures  and 
vehicles will provide collectors with a way to purchase "multiples"  and "add-ons" that can extend and supplement existing K&C all-metal  and mixed media collections and displays... not replace them!
We also believe that the  more-affordable price-point will 
encourage younger collectors and even some  plastic enthusiasts to 
venture into our part of the toy soldier/military  miniature 
community...perhaps for the first time.
The first figure line is centered  around our existing "Remember The Alamo" all-metal series and will be  released in early 2014.
Meanwhile.....
KnC001: D-Day Sherman 
  
This is one particular M4  Sherman that King & Country has 
never produced before... the unique "
Wading  Sherman". For D.Day certain 
M4A3  Shermans were
 fitted with tall wading stacks that were fixed on top and on  the rear 
of the tank’s engine compartment. This allowed the vehicles to be 
launched off the beach and wade, under  their own power, onto dry land. 
Once  ashore the stacks would be jettisoned and the M4 could resume its 
task and its  normal profile appearance.
Our new “KnC” M4 comes with 2 x removable stacks... 1  x half-body tank commander... and a 
separate .50 calibre machine gun. Each tank is also carefully packaged in a  specially designed, 
sturdy “window” box that allows collectors to see  exactly what they’re buying when they’re 
buying it. 
 
 | 
 | 
AVAILABLE : Now! 
 
 
 | 
Metal toy soldier collecting purists may well be frothing at the mouth at the very idea of all this but I for one am quite excited at the prospect. I'm certainly prepared to reserve judgement until I've actually seen some of the finished products
Roll on 2014 and happy hunting!