Hello again. It's the middle of September and I feel almost duty bound to apologise for the late arrival of this month's K&C Dispatches to the blog. It's overdue status notwithstanding I sincerely hope you enjoy what K&C have on offer this month, and it's quite a hefty helping!! As always, further details and images are available on the company website which you can access by clicking on the following link:
K&C Dispatches
All of the figure sets previewed in last month's post are now available to purchase so what follows is a selection of those due for release in October, together with a list of the retirements for this month
On September 6 1941, Hitler boasted, “Today begins the last great battle of this year!” But the Fuhrer had reckoned without the treacherous Russian weather… the mud of Autumn and the approach of “General Winter ” were to become his mortal enemies
For two more months the German armies continued to advance and
win battles despite the almost continuous rain and sleet that flooded
rivers, turned fields into quagmires and once dusty roads into
knee-deep mud
Tracks and wheels churned the ground into axle-deep “glue” that sucked the boots off marching troops and stuck and stalled thousands of trucks and tanks
Then, on the night of 6/7 November 1941, the first frosts
arrived… followed a few days later by early flurries of snow… “General Winter” had struck!
THE SOVIETS FIGHT BACK
Following the highly
successful release, earlier this year, of our first Russian troops and
T34 tanks, K&C has been hard at work on a “second-release” for this coming winter… And here it is..
Two new versions of the infamous T-34 are being released together with a lend-lease jeep and 7 supporting infantry figures
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RA026 “Soviet T34/76 “Crush The Fascists.”
This first “winter” T34/76 bears the slogan “Crush The Fascists”
painted in red on both sides of the turret and comes with a
suitably-clad Russian tank commander in the open turret hatch. (Just
150 being produced) |
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RA039 “Soviet T34/76 “Moscow!”
A second “winterized T34/76 is also
available for those collectors who might like another second model for
their displays or dioramas. This one carries the number “4” and “Moscow!” on both sides of the turret and has NO commander.
Therefore, it’s a little bit cheaper!
(Just 150 being produced)
|
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RA030 "Lend-Lease Russian Jeep”
As soon as Hitler attacked the Soviet Union both Britain (and later America) provided, Free-of-Charge, huge quantities of weapons, trucks and tanks to the Russians
Among the most valued were the Willys and Ford-built Jeeps which arrived by the hundreds and were immediately put into action. Here is one such example complete with Red Army driver |
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| Three of the 7 infantry support figures due for release |
WINTER IS HERE
German soldiers fought through six “winters of war” between
1939 and 1945 on both the Eastern and Western fronts. Here at K&C
we thought it might be a good idea to portray a selection of “Classic Germans”
dressed for battling it out in the worst winter weathers… We made the
figures… You choose the campaign or battle you think it most suitable to display them in!
The pictures below show the entire release and all of the figure sets are prefixed with the 'BB' code for ordering purposes. As such they all form part of the Battle of the Bulge series but, as the company write-up states, they could quite easily be used as part of an Eastern Front diorama
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BBG054 "Sd. Kfz. 222 Armoured Car (Winter camouflage)"
Another great version of a great-looking vehicle. Set includes a commander seen just inside the 222’s turret |
EARLY TIGER ON THE PROWL
Designed to trundle alongside the 'classic' German infantry figures announced last month this field grey Tiger is sure to win the admiration of many a collector. All too often versions of this monster of German engineering are depicted in various camouflage patterns so this early version will make a welcome change and, I'm sure, a sought after addition to many a collection
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WS216 "Tiger 1 (Early Production)”
This particular Tiger, the first of two “Early Production” models, is #”213” belonging to the famous Abteilung 503, the 503 rd. Heavy Panzer Battalion. This grey, battle-weary veteran has already seen some “hard-action” on the Russian Front. Both track guards have been lost and it's missing a front left wheel cover!
Another unique feature is the rear baggage bin behind the turret… “cannibalized”
from a Panzer III. This allows us to place this tank as operational in
Russia between August and November 1942. A shirt-sleeved commander
completes the model |
The company is also releasing a couple a ceremonial sets this month, the first depicting the Coldstream Guards on parade and the second celebrating the wedding of William and Kate. The final picture in the post shows this year's Christmas release, set this year in 1914 and commemorating the famous 'Christmas Truce' which took place at a number of locations in the trenches of Northern France
THIS MONTH'S RETIREMENTS
AL005 “Australian Lighthorse
Charging w/ Bayonet (to the rear)”
CW026 “Union Officer w/
Binos”
CW027 “Union Chasseur Standing
w/ Rifle”
CW028 “Union
Kneeling Firing Rifleman”
CW029 “Union Standing Firing
Rifleman”
CW030 “Union
Kneeling Ready”
CW031 “Union
Standing Ready”
CW032 “Union Kneeling
Loading”
CW033 “Union Standing
Loading”
CW034 “Union Standing
Ramrod”
CW035 “Union
Advancing”
CW036 “Union Sergeant w/
Flag”
CW037 “Union Bugler”
CW038 “Union Mounted Officer”
CW039 “Thirsty Work”
CW054 “The Photographer, Mathew
Brady”
CW055 “General Lee's
Belongings”
CW058 “Maj. Gen. John Buford
Jr.”
CW059 “Union Guidon
Bearer”
CW060 “Union Bugler”
CW061 “Officer Firing
Pistol”
CW062 “Trooper Aiming
Carbine”
CW063 “Prisoner and
Escort”
CW064 “Trooper Kneeling Loading
Carbine”
CW065 “Trooper Kneeling Cocking
Carbine”
CW066 “Trooper Kneeling Firing
Carbine”
CW067 “Trooper Standing Firing
Carbine”
CW068 “Trooper Firing
Pistol”
IF002 “Consul General of the
Chaplains Dept.”
IF003 “Italian Forces, Marching
Officer”
KM012 “Admiral Karl
Donitz”
LAH105 “Heinrich Himmler
Relaxing”
LAH108 “Sun Loungers”
MK036 “Charging Saracen w/Sword
& Shield”
MK038 “Defending Saracen w/Sword
& Axe”
MK051 “Fight to the Death”
MK068 “Fighting Priest w/ Axe”
RTA036 “Mexican Soldier Running
w/ Ladder”
So, that just about concludes another Dispatches for this month and, as I said earlier, what a hefty helping it's been! Until next time, happy hunting!
