DID: WW1 Stormtrooper

As some of you will know, I've recently started a small collection of late First World War German assault troops, or stormtroopers. So far the collection extends to a handful of K&C figures, a handful of TGM figures and a single vehicle by JJD. I may be adding a few Britains figures as well but I haven't made a final decision about that just yet

I was in a well known newsagents shop the other day, leafing through the pages of an equally well known publication read by collectors of toy and model soldiers, when I came across a review of an interesting 1/6th scale action figure by DID, or to give them their full title Dragon in Dreams

It's by no means the only WW1 figure currently being produced in this scale but I was drawn to it because it represents a grenadier from the 6th Sturmbataillon, or Assault Battalion. My favourite 60mm figure, currently assuming pride of place at the front of the assault in my WW1 diorama, just so happens to be the K&C grenadier pictured below. Suffice to say, I am extremely tempted to buy one

DID figures don't come cheap. It will cost me close on £100, factoring in postage and a stand to help prop him up in the display cabinet, but I reckon it'll be worth it. Take a look at the images a little further down and see if you agree with me

I'll be sure to keep you posted. Happy hunting!

Latest Additions: K&C Waffen SS

As promised, here's the next installment in my LA series of posts. All the figure sets featured here are K&C recent retirements so may, or may not, still be available from your local dealer

The first figure, a kneeling NCO giving orders to his comrades, is part of a series of figures dressed in late war pea-dot camo and represents men of the elite SS Panzer Divisions fighting in Normandy in 1944/45

The only other figure I currently have from this series is a stricken trooper, lying on his back and clutching his bloodied mid riff, having been gunned down by the enemy. It occurred to me that both of them would look rather good riding in the back of the Raupenschlepper, [also pictured], provided they both actually fit!

The following two figure sets also depict fallen, or stricken, soldiers. In addition to these new acquisitions I also have an injured soldier being attended to by a medic, or sani, produced by Thomas Gunn Miniatures so I got to thinking, why not put together a smallish diorama featuring a collection of troopers being looked after in a makeshift field hospital

The Raupenschlepper could be commissioned as a makeshift ambulance and/or, subject to availability, I could call upon the services of the medical Kubelwagen and red cross emblazoned Opel Blitz both produced by TGM. Definitely an idea worth working on!

'This way to the field hospital, comrade'

The Raupenschlepper is a fabulous multi-purpose vehicle, both the real world version and the model one produced by K&C. You can use it to tow guns or carry supplies or, why not, a wounded soldier or two. It's pictured here with and without its canvas soft top and with the stowage which comes with the TGM Opel Blitz [field grey version] as well as those supplied with the model

As you can see from the above photo the TGM stowage comes with a couple of red cross boxes, made to measure for a field hospital diorama! It's definitely a goer. All I really need now is a couple more vehicles.....

I'll keep you posted. Happy hunting!

Latest Additions: TGM WW1

It's been quite a while since I posted about any new additions to my own collection. By way of making up for the fact, this will be the first of a series of posts highlighting a number of new figures and vehicles acquired over the past few months

First up, four figures released by Thomas Gunn Miniatures as part of their new First World War series

These two Stormtroopers have been designed to accompany the very first figure released by TG as part of this series, namely the flamethrower figure. They have changed the way they have painted the helmet, making the colours much more subdued. Nevertheless, style and size wise they go quite well together and they also sit alongside my K&C stormtroopers pretty well

I particularly like the early sub-machine gun [Bergmann MP18] and the improvised club carried by these two troopers

Accompanying these intrepid assault troops into battle is the light machine gun team featured in the following photographs

As you can just about see from the photos the base of the machine gunner is somewhat 'bent' meaning that he doesn't lie perfectly flat on the ground. I don't know whether this is a common fault or not but it doesn't detract from the piece all that much and as part of a large diorama it really isn't all that noticeable

The figures are well posed, nicely detailed and pretty well painted. All in all, well worth the money it cost to buy them. I can't wait to see the German tank that TGM have in the pipeline

Happy hunting!

John Gittins Miniatures: New for January

The following email arrived in my inbox the other day from JGM so for those of you who admire John's work please read on and take a look at the new products he's added to his range this month

Dear Customer

 

Please find below a few details of new items for January 2013

S02B small oak (brown)                  RRP £35.00

S04ABush oak (brown)                    RRP £12.50

S09D Birch tree (yellow)                 RRP £12.50

S09E Medium birch tree (yellow)    RRP £25.00

The above are all the same price as the standard green items and the same sizes

 

S25 Pack of 8 sagebrush for the American West    RRP £20.00

 

S25A Leaf Litter RRP £5.50, supplied in a bag with card header enough to cover an area 6 inches x 6 inches to a depth of 1/8th of an inch. This can be used with the Autumn Oaks to give a fallen leaf effect around the tree bases

S26 Maple (Orange)             RRP £16.00   

S26A Maple (Red)               RRP £16.00

S26B Maple (Russet)            RRP £16.00 

The above 3 items are all 8 inches high approx. but have wider canopies than for example S09 and S14

S27 Bag of Ivy RRP £6.50. Use loose as ground cover or glue to walls and buildings, extra individual leaves are included for fine detailing

Take a closer look at all of the above items by visiting www.jgminiatures.com and entering the appropriate codes in the search box

 

Happy hunting!

JJD: Update

This arrived in my inbox just a few days ago and I thought I'd share it with you 

January Releases Update

A quick update on the January releases we are all eagerly anticipating. For a variety of reasons the January releases did not ship as originally planned
 

John has updated us today and the January releases will now be shipping from 28^th of January. We will be shipping all Pre-orders as soon as they arrive, which is anticipated to be the 1^st week in February

Release Delays

Unfortunately, both LEUT-10 Leuthen Churchyard Gateway and PSG-05 Spanish Guerrillas, Two Monks Loading and Firing will not be available until mid-March 2013

Club Set Releases

JJCLUBSET-12 Lieutenant Francis James Buchanan and Light Coehorn Mortar and JJCLUBSET-14 Mortar Wagon are at last both in production. Delivery of these limited edition sets is expected in April 2013

JJCLUBSET-15 Roger’s Servant and JJCLUBSET-16 English Travelling Blacksmith’s Forge are now both in pre-order status until 4^th March 2013 and there are new images of the painted sets available. If you have not already confirmed your pre-order, please let us know if you want to secure these sets

JJD UK TV

We recently posted a video of the December Toy Soldier Show on the JJD UK TV page. If you didn’t get a chance to visit the show then take a look since it gives a good feel for what the new venue is like
  

Happy collecting

James and Adam

JJD UK

The Collectors Showcase: Upcoming Goodies

Amongst the figures being announced for imminent release by TCS are these little beauties pictured below; a new Normandy version of the Hanomag 251, accessorised with four brand new 'jumpers' resplendent in their late war 'pea-dot' camo, and Wittmann's Kursk Tiger! Watch out for them!

Happy hunting!

King and Country: Dispatches

What follows is a summary of those figures being released by K&C in February. Enjoy, and as always further images and details are available on the company website

First up, a few more figures for the company's new range depicting Custer's famous last stand at the Battle of the Little Big Horn

TRW021 “Lieutenant Cooke”

TRW026 “Kneeling Ready”

TRW027 “First Aid”

TRW028 “Standing Loading Carbine”

TRW029 “The Trapped Horseman”

TRW032 “Lying Firing Carbine”

TRW033 “Clearing a Blockage”

Special Note: Fourteen all-action Sioux and Cheyenne warriors (both on foot and mounted) will be available shortly! Look out for ‘em

Next up, another of K&C's wonderful diorama pieces and another re-working of a Normandy facade first produced a number of years ago

SP054  “Café de Normandie”

More than a few years ago we produced an earlier, less detailed (and smaller) version of this. We decided it was time to revise and revisit this little piece of Normandy. The newer, bigger and better “Café de Normandie” can be used in a wide variety of settings and scenes both on its own and/or with other facades and buildings

From Normandy we cross the Mediterranean sea to North Africa and welcome four new sets to reinforce the beleagured DAK forces

AK092 “Sd.Kfz.222 Armoured Car”

AK093 “Sd.Kfz.251 Halftrack”

AK095 “2cm Flak 38 Gun Set”

AK096 “Flak Gun Crew”

Sticking with the African theme for a moment, the next release on the list features something a little different

As regular “Dispatches” readers know once a year K&C release an Italian themed series of figures and vehicles primarily (but not exclusively) aimed at our collectors in Italy. Well, this year is no exception. However, we’ve cast our net a wee bit wider to introduce some soldiers that some collectors may be less well informed about… Mussolini’s native troops

IF028 “Carabinieri Motorcycle Set”

IF030 “Italian Officer of Askaris”

IF031 “Flagbearer Sergeant”

IF032 “Charging #1”

IF033 “Charging #2”

IF034 “Crouching”

IF035 “Kneeling Firing”

IF036 “Sitting Firing”

IF037 “Lying Prone”

IF038 “Scouting For The Enemy”

IF039 “Avanti!”  

IF040 “Standing Firing Rifle”

Special Note: The Italian Army made extensive use of locally-recruited, native troops in Italian East Africa… Almost 200,000 were recruited and comprised mostly infantry, some cavalry and a few light artillery units

From Italian East Africa we journey to The Crimea for the second new release of British Line Infantry figures

CR001 “Officer w/Pistol & Sword”

CR002 “Subaltern w/The Queen’s Colour”

CR012 “The Rescue”

CR013 “The Bugler”

CR014 “The Regimental Standard Bearer”

Finally, here's the list of figure sets 'heading for the hills', amongst their number this rather splendid looking Tiger 1 that I still have to add to my own collection

AK072     Afrika Korps Kubelwagen

LAH080  Reichusfuhrer Heinrich Himmler Saluting

LAH081  Martin Bormann

LAH085  Algemeine Officer Saluting

LAH086  Algemeine SS Standing

MK033    Saracen Defending w/Sword & Shield

MK037    Attacking Saracen w/Sword & Shield

MK039    Saracen Flagbearer

NA056     French Imperial Guard-General Dorsenne

NA057      Guard Officer w/Sword Marching

NA058      Guard Officer w/Flag

NA059      Guard w/Rifle Advancing

NA060      Guard w/Rifle Marching

NA061      Guard Drummer Marching

NA063      Guard w/Rifle Present Arms

NA152      Guard Standing at Attention

NA153      Guard Kneeling Firing

NA154      Guard Standing Firing

NA155      Guard Standing to Repel

NA156      Guard Loading Rifle

NA157      Guard Marching w/Rifle

WS126      Normandy Rommel

WS127      Gen.Oberst Heinz Guderian

WS151     Tiger 1

As ever, happy hunting!