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Monday 26 March 2012

Latest Additions

The latest batch of figures from across the pond in Canada arrived safe and sound a few days ago, and here they are

First up is the recently retired machine gun set from K&C's late period WW1 series. This will go very nicely with the Thomas Gunn flamethrower figure I bought recently and I'll be taking receipt of a few more K&C storm troopers very soon







From WW1 to WW2 and the following two figure sets have also recently been retired by K&C. The first consists of a two man flame thrower team and the second shows a trio of troops, led by a nervous looking NCO, gingerly edging their way closer to the action. Well, that's what they look like to me!







The base on this figure is unusually thin. You can probably just about get an idea of that from the photo. The upshot is that it doesn't allow the figure to stand particularly steadily. I don't know whether this is a design fault or something which affects the odd figure only. Nothing serious enough to warrant sending it all the way back to Canada but it is a little disappointing



Last, but by no means least, is the final piece I've been after for my Michael Wittmann diorama which comes in the form of the cute little VW Beetle with its wood-gas powered engine and typical three colour camo scheme, perfect for the Normandy summer!







In the diorama, this vehicle is going to act as the press car carrying the SS photographer and movie cameraman to and from the scene of the famous photoshoot. I'll be picking the finished diorama up next week and can hardly wait to get it home and put it all together. I'll post a whole series of photos up on the blog as soon as I can after that so watch this space

Until next time, happy hunting!

Saturday 24 March 2012

Lovely Landsknechts!

Hello fellow First Legion Collectors 

The next 7 figures in their relatively new Renaissance range are now available for pre-order and depict more German Landsknechts at the Battle of Pavia. The release includes four mounted command figures and 3 additional foot figures to add to any Landsknecht pike blocks you may have created using the 13 figures already released. The new figures will be shipping to dealers and customers at the end of March

REN014 German Landsknecht Mounted Colonel - $159.95
REN015 German Landsknecht Von Frundsberg Standard Bearer - $169.95
REN016 Georg Von Frundsberg - $159.95
REN017 German Landsknecht Holy Roman Empire Standard Bearer - $169.95
REN018 German Landsknecht Arquebusier - $64.95
REN019 German Landsknecht Doppelsöldner - $64.95
REN020 German Landsknecht Arquebusier - $64.95

Georg Von Frundsberg was a German Knight and general fighting in the service of the Holy Roman Empire. He assisted in the formation of the German Landsknechts and quickly rose to command that force. He eventually rose to command all German fighting forces and won his greatest victory at the Battle of Pavia in 1525 where, though outnumbered almost two to one, he defeated the French and captured their king


REN015 German Landsknecht Von Frundsberg Standard Bearer


The Renaissance is a fascinating period of history, spanning several hundred years. Though primarily a cultural movement witnessing a resurgence in art, science, and literature, as well as an age of great exploration, it was also a period marred by military conflict as the great European powers of the time vied for control and dominance


REN014 German Landsknecht Mounted Colonel

REN017 German Landsknecht Holy Roman Empire Standard Bearer


It was an age of military innovation where the use of gun powder and cannons first came to prominence being used alongside the heavy cavalry from previous centuries. As such, it is typically referred to as the "Age of Pike and Shot" as the pike and the arquebus/musket were two of the primary weapons of the period


REN019 German Landsknecht Doppelsöldner

  


The Battle of Pavia in 1525 marked the culmination of the Italian Wars between France and the Spanish Empire which resulted in Spanish dominance of the Italian States for the next 200 years





From the Italian Wars to the conflict in the Soviet Union during the 1940s, here is a sneak peak of some casualty figures for the Battle of Stalingrad range, due for release very soon!






Until next time, happy hunting!

Thank You One and All


 
Hi there. I'd just like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has logged on to the site, read any of the posts and contributed in any way to breaking through the 20, 000 page views mile stone




I sincerely hope you have found something of interest on the blog, and that you continue to do so

Until next time, happy hunting!

Sunday 11 March 2012

King and Country Dispatches

Once again I apologise for being a little slow off the mark this month but here are the latest K&C dispatches together with one or two pictures of forthcoming releases to whet your insatiable appetites. To get the ball rolling, here's a reminder of the figure sets being released in March, most of which were mentioned and illustrated in last month's post

DISPATCHES
MARCH 2012

1.      APPEARING IN MARCH 2012…

A.     “Long Live the French Army of 1914”

Seven all-new red and blue-clad French “Poilus” in action make their appearance this month. Led by an officer with a pistol and sword these soldiers are going to kick the Kaiser all the way back to Berlin!

FW074 “Officer w/ Pistol and Sword”
FW075 “Kneeling firing Rifleman”
FW076 “Poilu Charging”
FW077 “With Rifle & Bayonet”
FW078 “Standing Firing Rifleman”
FW079 “Machine Gun Set”

In addition to our seven Frenchmen we’ve added two more German infantry…

FW109 “Marching Rifleman w/ Hat”
FW110 “Marching Rifleman w/Pickelhaub”

B.     “SOMEWHERE IN NORMANDY”

DD163 “Dingo Armoured Car” (Series 250)
DD164 “Dingo Commander”

C.     “Remember The Alamo!”

Every March sees K&C release a small group of additional figures for our KINGS X “Signature Series” about the heroic defense of the Alamo in March 1836

This year we’re beginning a new Mexican regiment… “The Cazadores”. These elite infantrymen were modeled on the British “rifle” regiments of the Napoleonic Wars and used surplus British weapons and equipment including the famous “Baker Rifle”

RTA061 “Cazadores loading Rifle”
RTA062 “Cazadores standing Firing”
RTA063 “Cazsadores with Ramrod”
RTA064 “Cazadores Officer with Pistol”

RTA065 “Almeron Dickinson”

The husband and father of two of the Alamo’s few survivors. This figure has Dickinson firing his old blunderbuss at the advancing Mexicans

D.    “VIVA ITALIA!”

IF010 “Air Marshal Balbo”
IF011 “Il Duce Saluting”
IF023 “Fiat Mod. 500A “Topolino” (Series 250)
IF024 “Carabinieri holding Carbine”
IF025 “Carabinieri checking Papers”
IF026 “Carabinieri standing at Attention”

E.     “Another Great Fighting Jeep”

DD161 “US Armoured Jeep”
DD162 “US Trailer”

So, what can we look forward to in April? You will find the answer to this question right here so read on and enjoy the prospect of adding a few more goodies to your expanding collection

2.      ARRIVING IN APRIL

A.     “God Save The King!”


One of seven figures being released for the AWI series

Additional reinforcements for the Forces of the Crown fighting the American rebels are about to sail in… All of them 23rd Royal Welch Fusileers

BR083 “Marching Drummer”
BR084 “Marching Fifer”
BR085 “Marching Officer”
BR086 “Marching Fusileer”
BR087 “Marching Fusileer”
BR088 “Marching Fusileer”
BR089 “Charging Fusileer”

B.         “Mounted Auxiliary Cavalry in the time of Jesus”




Following the successful launch of our other Roman Auxiliaries in our “LOJ” series we’re adding two more… on horseback

LoJ018 “Auxiliary on Drinking Horse”
LoJ019 “Auxiliary on Standing Horse”

C.     “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many… to so few.”





These words were dedicated to the handful of pilots and ground crew of Britain’s Royal Air Force after their Battle of Britain victory over Hitler’s Luftwaffe in 1940

The man who wrote and said them was Britain’s finest Prime Minister… Winston S. Churchill. This is our latest tribute in miniature to him and the heroes of the R.A.F.

RAF038 “V for Victory!”

Prime Minister Churchill in a typical wartime pose

D.    “From London to Berlin in one fell swoop! From the good guys to the Baddies!”


The Nazi Eagle Archway together with some of the figures accompanying its release


LAH151 “Nazi Eagle Archway”



This ceremonial arch provides an ideal setting for a large parade or just a small group of figures on guard duty

LAH152 “SA Man Marching w/Rifle”



 

LAH153 “SA Honour Guard w/Rifle”





LAH154 “SS Dog Handler”





LAH164 “Pre 1933 SS Man Marching w/Rifle”





LAH165 “Pre 1933 SS Honour Guard w/Rifle”





Before 1933 and the adoption of the all black uniform the SS were similar in style to the SA… substituting brown kepis and trousers for black ones

E.     “THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING!”



One of six Red Army infantry being released

Well, after what seems an awful long time K&C is returning to the “OST-FRONT”… with this first Red Army release in several years

RA016 “Shouting Red Army Officer”
RA017 “Red Army Soldier Charging”
RA018 “Red Army Soldier firing form the Waist”
RA019 “Red Army Soldier Running”
RA020 “Red Army Soldier Lying Prone”
RA021 “Red Army Soldier Standing Firing”

Uniform note: These new Red Army soldiers are kitted-out in the ubiquitous padded jackets with folded blankets over the shoulder and all carrying the famous Russian SMG

ARMOUR SUPPORT




The Soviet Union manufactured one of the finest and most durable tanks of the Second World War… The T34

Our latest K&C version is the early/mid war T34/76 and we are producing three different options for collectors… with a different figure to accompany each tank…

RA025-1 “Soviet T34/76 (#23)”

This battle-stained T34 has an opening top hatch and a kneeling figure that can be positioned on the rear engine cover of the vehicle 

RA025-2 “Soviet T34/76 (#25)”

Another T34 from the same tank unit as #23. Also with a kneeling figure

RA025-3 “Soviet T34/76 (3A POAHHY!)”

The last of the trio has the Russian slogan painted on the side of the turret which means “For the Fatherland” and again comes complete with a tank commander figure

QUANTITIES: 150 of each T34/76 are being produced

SPECIAL NOTE: K&C will also release two other versions of this T34/76… a captured German vehicle and a snow-camouflaged Russian one… in the following months and 250 of each of these versions is planned

F.      “K&C’S DESERT AIR FORCE”




RAF039 “Curtiss P40 “Tomahawk”
             
This particular “Warbird” is in the personal markings of Squadron Leader Neville Duke of 112 Squadron R.A.F. Duke was the RAF Desert Air Force’s top-scoring pilot in the Mediterranean Theatre of Operations during WW2

The stone and earth-coloured P40 carries the famous “Shark-mouth” decoration which originated with 112 Squadron in 1941

Just 250 of this Desert Air Force P40 will be produced

RAF040 “RAF Medic & Wounded Pilot”

This little two figure-vignette is a great add-on to any display or diorama featuring our Royal Air Force figures, vehicles and aircraft

Last, but by no means least, here are the figures heading off into the sunset. Personally, this is the bit I always pay particular attention to and I've chosen to accompany the listing with pictures of the figures I will be purchasing from it very soon 

3.      “On The Retirement List”

DD135 “British Sherman Firefly”
EA009 “Advance Under Fire”
EA015 “Returning Fire”
FW044 “Attack!”
FW050 “Officer with Pistol & Field Telephone”
FW052 “Machine Gun Set”
FW053 “Kneeling Firing Rifleman”




FW054 “Standing Firing Rifleman”




FW055 “Advancing with Rifle”




FW056 “Standing Sniper”




FW057 “77mm Artillery Set (1917)”




LW006 “Ground Crew with Bomb”
LW007 “Luftwaffe-Helfein”
NA200 “RHA Officer Shouting Orders”
NA201 “RHA Gun Set in Action”
WS093 “Standing Saluting German Officer”
WS094 “Standing German Guard”
WS095 “Marching German Officer”
WS096 “Marching German Soldier”


Hopefully there has been something here of interest for you. Until next time, happy hunting!

Sunday 4 March 2012

Latest Additions: Wittmann Diorama Update

Just the other day I posted a handful of pictures relating to the progress of my Wittmann diorama. Since then, Dave at TM Terrain has managed to finish the job and he emailed me a number of photos of the completed piece. Here they are in all their glory

I'm planning to pick it up from Dave's home and workshop towards the end of the month so by the beginning of April I ought to be in a position to post some of my own photos with all of the purchased vehicles and figure sets in place. The FL figures shown in the photos are there purely to give some indication of scale

In the meantime, I hope you enjoy looking at these as much as I do



Three 'overviews' showing the main road where the two centre piece tanks will be positioned


The side road where the vehicle carrying the photographers will be placed.....

.....complete with a roadside shrine to Our Lady, a common sight in France and other European countries







I can hardly wait to get my hands on these and start placing the vehicles and figures. Happy days, and more photos, to follow