DISPATCHES
November 2024

‘The Magnificent Seven’ is quite simply one of the greatest ‘Westerns’ ever made, it’s also one of the most important.  Not because it led to three sequels, a TV series and a cinematic remake in 2016 but because it set the standard for other adventurous and influential western films that followed it in the late 1960s and into the 1970s.
These included, among others ‘The Professionals’ and ‘The Wild Bunch’.
These two movies alongwith ‘The Magnificent Seven’ focused on an ensemble cast rather than a typical lone hero or a single lawman going up against a gang of outlaws.
The Magnificent Seven(1960) were not traditional good guys but a mixed group of anti heroes bound together to go up against an adversary who was both cruel and ruthless.
Based on an original Japanese film, ‘The Seven Samurai’, director John Sturges, a well-established ‘Western’ film maker helmed the movie.  Among the great titles Sturges had already made included ‘Bad Day At Black Rock’ (1955) and ‘Gunfight At The Ok Corral’ (1957).
In January 1960, the director began assembling his talented cast led by Yul Brynner, followed by emerging star Steve McQueen and the TV actor, Robert Vaughn who in turn also suggested a young James Coburn.  Sturges himself added Charles Bronson who had appeared in two of his previous movies.
Yet another experienced TV actor, Brad Dexter was added to the cast alongside a popular young German actor, Horst Bucholz playing the youngest gunfighter of ‘The Seven’.
Filming took place in Cuernavaca, Mexico and virtually all of the supporting players were Mexican except for the Bandit Chief ‘Calvera’ played by the celebrated American character actor, Eli Wallach.
On location in Mexico, one large main set of a small farming village, church and main square were built.In nearby Durango another major set was constructed of the town on the Tex / Mex border where ‘The Seven’ were originally hired to help defend the Mexican peasants against the local banditos.
I remember seeing this great movie when it first came out around 1960 or maybe 1961 by the time it reached Scotland.At the age of 12 this film had everything I liked in an action flick… lots of gunfights, plenty of ‘goodies ‘n’ baddies’ a great stirring movie music them by Elmer Bernstein and… NO SLOPPY KISSING or LOVE SCENES!
Since that time I have viewed this magnificent movie many, many times and enjoyed it more and more with each viewing.
This unique Seven-Figure Boxed Set is my (and K&C’s) tribute in 1:30 scale miniature to one of the finest and most enjoyable ‘Westerns’ ever made and a very worthy addition to King & Country’s ‘THE REAL WEST’ series.

 

TRW194 ‘The Magnificent Seven’ Seven individual gunfighters featuring seven iconic actors of the 1960s in all-action poses.

B. ‘CHRISTMAS COMES BUT ONCE A YEAR’

XM024 ‘SANTA & HIS SLEDGE’ As you can see here, hard-working Santa is pulling along one of his many sleds carrying a Mama Teddy Bear and her young offspring together with a big bag full of Christmas ‘goodies’ destined to be placed under quite a few Christmas trees ready to be discovered on the morning of December 25!

C. ‘RETURN TO ARNHEM’

MG084 “This bloody radio is useless!” One of the many failures of the Battle of Arnhem was the poor radio communications between different British units operating in the Arnhem area.This was partly caused by the wide dispersion of different units as well as the wooded environment of the area and the large built-up sections of Arnhem and the nearby village of Oosterbeek. All of these factors played into the confusion of battle and the lack of information reaching command level throughout the battle. Our 2-man team tries in vain to reach one of their forward units already advancing into the town and coming up against fierce German opposition. A three-piece set comprising two sitting and crouching British Paras alongwith a local road sign pointing towards the city of Arnhem.
MG085 “Patrolling Para Bren Gunner” Cradling his .303 Bren, Light Machine Gun this Para moves cautiously forward ready to take action, if his unit comes under direct enemy fire. This Para also uses his large square fabric net to cover his backpack and other vital items.
MG086 “He Ain’t Heavy… He’s My Mate” Soldiers of all stripes and persuasions always attempt to carry a wounded soldier back to safety and out of ‘Harm’s Way’. This British Airborne soldier is no exception.
MG087 “Bombs Away” This 2-man team fires the 60mm mortar, a deadly and accurate weapon in a confined space with well-trained operators.
MG088 “Lying Prone Bren Gun Team” Another great (and useful) addition to our British Airborne forces.  ‘Covering Fire’ is an essential ingredient for every successful attack… or defence. Once more, a skilled Bren Gunner in the most comfortable firing position, lets loose 4-5 round bursts at the enemy. Next to the gunner, is the #2 to the gunner.  He will carry additional ammunition for the Bren and, perhaps, an extra barrel and, of course, his own .303 Rifle, the standard infantry rifle for virtually all British and Empire forces during WW2 and well into the 1950s.
MG090 “Para Lying Prone Firing Rifle” One more Para engaging the enemy.
MG091 “Kneeling Para Sniper” Taking careful aim with his No. 4 Mark 1 (T) rifle designed for snipers using the No. 32 Mark 1 telescopic sight.
MG092 “Para Firing Sten Gun” Strangely enough, over the years, we have never produced a standing Para firing the MarkⅤ Sten Gun until now… This particular variant of the Sten was the ‘Paratrooper Version’ complete with pistol and front grips plus a bayonet lug. More than 350,000 Mark Vs were made before 6 June 1944 and continued in service right into the 1950s.
MG093 “Kneeling Para w/Sten” This kneeling Para cautiously looks to his side with his Mark V Sten at the ready.
MG094 “Lying Prone Para w/PIAT” The PIAT (Projector, Infantry, Anti-Tank) was a relatively short range anti tank launcher that was ‘man-portable’ but still pretty heavy and fired a large round that could penetrate the armour of most German tanks then in service.The practical range of the weapon in the AT role was about 100 metres. Against a house or a 350 metres. Its rate of fire was approx. 5-6 rounds per minute.

AVAILABLE: NOW

Nine years ago in 2015, K&C released a little ‘Arnhem Ambush’ scene with a Citroen / German Staff Car that was shot up by British paratroopers leaving all the occupants well and truly dead!
Since that first release we have had many request from collectors and a few dealers to ‘revisit’ the scene of the crime… and so we have… with a few minor amendments.

 

 

AVAILABLE: NOW

        The Falklands War lasted just 74 days and ended with an Argentine surrender on 14 June 1982, returning the Islands once more to British control.
        During the 10 week conflict the opposing land forces took part in a number of violent confrontations from large, full scale battles to small individual firefights and skirmishes.
        Throughout the land campaign the majority of infantry weapons utilized were broadly similar on both sides.  What made the major difference between the opposing forces was the overall quality of the soldiers involved.
        On the British side, all of their troops were professional regulars with many years of practical battlefield experience and used to fighting in all kinds of conditions and situations.
         By contrast, most of the Argentinean troops were ill-trained conscripts, poorly motivated and badly-led by their officers and NCOs.
        A few regular units of specialized Argentinean troops did fight well in the Falklands and put up a determined and dangerous defence to attacking British forces causing quite a number of dead and wounded.
        Overall, the Argentinean ground forces performed badly with some notable exceptions.

 

AVAILABLE: NOW

From the cold, damp, windswept Falklands to the burning hot sands of the Middle East comes K&C’s latest display item…

 

 

The Gateway itself measures:
HEIGHT: 9 1/2” (24cm)
LENGTH: 9 3/4” (24.5cm)
WIDTH:  3 3/8” (8.5cm)

AVAILABLE: NOW

As stated before, on many occasions, some of our best suggestions have come from collectors and dealers and proved to be very successful.
One such suggestion put forward by a collector in America was to provide an alternative colour variation for a ‘Fallen Knight’ which K&C had produced a while back.
The suggestion came because of our recent release of a large number of Medieval Archers.It was suggested that K&C needs more ‘victims’ of the archers accuracy an so… here one is.
 

AVAILABLE: NOW