VN159-1 "“The M48A3 ‘Patton’ Main Battle Tank” 'Witch Bitch'"

At the beginning of the 1968 Tet Offensive Communist forces overran the ancient imperial capitol of Hue in South Vietnam. U.S. Marines stationed at Phu Bai airbase south of Hue were ordered to lead the assault to retake the city.

Backed up by M48A3s, crewed by fellow Marines, the ‘Grunts’ fought their way back into the city and street-by-street, house-by-house slowly but steadily gained the upper hand.

During much of the battle foul weather hampered the use of close air support and thus the firepower of the M48A3s 90mm gun was essential.

The sheer bulk of an M48 also allowed the Marines to advance behind the armour of the tank as together they eliminated the enemy.

This particular USMC 48A3, ‘Charlie Four-One’ is nicknamed ‘Witch Bitch’ and comes complete with a full body Marine Tank Commander armed with CAR15 carbine and a “head ‘n’ shoulders” Tank Driver figure.

Each model comes in its own sturdy, full colour, presentation box.

VN159-2 "“The M48A3 ‘Patton’ Main Battle Tank” 'Mad Dogs'"

Our second M48A3 is nicknamed ‘Mad Dogs’ and has the hull tag ‘Charlie Four-Four’. Like the previous model it comes complete with its two crew figures and same high quality, first-class packaging.

WS385 "Watching & Waiting"

These two troopers stand waiting for the signal to advance. Note how one is

carrying a captured PPSh-41 submachine gun while his comrade has the standard

K98 rifle.

WS390 "Riflemen in Action (2 Figs)"

Standing and kneeling with K98s ready.

WS391 ""Over There’ (2 Figs)"

One trooper indicates something in the distance to his comrade.

WS392 "Open Fire! (3 Figs)"

This 3x figure set armed with an assortment of personal weapons open fire on the enemy.

WS393 "MG34 Gun Team (3x figs)"

Under the command of on SS-Rottenfuhrer (SS-Squad leader) this 2man gun

team goes into action.

WS394 "Waffen SS Officer"

Even in the midst of battle this officer moves among his men… calm and determined.

BBG129 "The Scout"

Moving stealthily ahead of his comrades this soldier moves through the winter snow seeking out the enemy frontline.

BBG130 "Winter Tank Crew"

Two dismounted SS Panzer crewmen enjoy a smoke and share a hot cup of captured American coffee…?

HKY001 "The Coolie"

The dictionary defines ‘COOLIE’ as an unskilled native labourer usually found in Asian countries particularly India, China and South East Asia.

In Hong Kong these hard-working individuals were often seen pushing trolleys full of all types of merchandise or using a long wooden pole from which were suspended large rattan baskets full of fruit, vegetables or other items of every description.

HKY002 "The Newspaper Reader"

Hong Kong has always published a large number of Chinese language newspapers and, back in the 1960s, there were even more!

Here one elderly gentleman stands reading his favourite newspaper… A sight rarely seen today as everyone appears to get their news from their mobile phone…

HKY003 "The Spectator"

Everywhere around the globe, Hong Kong included, has people who just seem to… Not do or say anything… just observe.

HKY004 "Morning Relaxation"

Another Hong Kong resident just sitting and reading about yesterday’s events.

HKY006 "The Girl in The Blue & White Dress"

Back in the 1960s Hong Kong many young women still wore the modern, form-fitting version of the traditional Chinese ‘Cheong Saam’. It was both flattering to the wearer and brought a splash of colour onto the city streets.

HKY011 "The Smoker"

Back in those days smoking was not seen as the ‘unhealthy vice’ it is today. Going by photographs of the time a majority of Hong Kong’s adult male population were addicted to the deadly habit.

HKY012 "Everything's For Sale"

Along many streets throughout Hong Kong in those days could be found ‘Street Hawkers’ selling everything to everyone at virtually all hours of the day and night.

Some would be selling brand-new items, others second-hand goods of all shapes, sizes and descriptions and a few that fell off the back of a truck!

To ‘set up shop’ hawkers simply put down a mat, llaid-out their goods and hopefully wait for the customers to arrive.

HKY013 "Another Newspaper Reader"

A second avid devourer of the news. This time he’s much younger, dressed differently and reading a different Chinese newspaper.

JN028 "Advancing Japanese Soldier"

Moving forward clutching his “Arisaka 99” rifle this Japanese infantryman is already tough and battle-hardened after years of fighting in China ...

JN029 "Advancing Firing Rifle"

Another Japanese soldier takes careful aim.

JN045 "The Japanese Light Howitzer & Crew"

Compared to Allied artillerymen the Japanese Army had only a limited number of Light Field pieces. This particular Light Howitzer was ‘crewed’ by just 3x soldiers and could be ‘broken down’ and man-carried in jungle terrain and then hastily reassembled.

NA426 "The Duke of Wellington"

Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1769-1852) was an Anglo-Irish soldier and Tory statesman who was one of the leading military and political figures of the first half of the 19th Century.

His victory over Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 puts him in the first rank of British military heroes. After serving in India he rose to prominence during the Peninsular Campaign of the Napoleonic Wars. Following Bonaparte’s exile to Elba in 1814 he became Britain’s ambassador to France and was granted a ‘Dukedom’.

During the Hundred Days Campaign of 1815 he commanded the Allied Armies which finally defeated the French emperor at Waterloo. Wellington’s battle record is second-to-none... he took part in and often successfully won some 60 military battles during the course of his long military career.

After leaving the army he entered politics and was elected twice as Britain’s Prime Minister.

Our K&C figure portrays him wearing just one of his many ceremonial uniforms from the period 1812-1815.

RAF077 "Squadron Leader ‘Skipper’"

A standing figure of the character played by Robert Shaw... dressed in his No. 2 uniform, ‘Mae West’ life jacket and roll neck sweater.

TRW092 ""Reloading", The Apaches"

Reaching back to extract a fresh cartridge for his “Springfield” rifle.

TRW093 ""Taking Aim", The Apaches"

A lying prone Apache “takes a bead” on one of the enemy.

TRW103 ""He’s Dead!", The Apaches"

Two figure set

TRW131 "Kneeling Plains Indian w/Carbine"

A second version of a very popular figure from our Sioux / Cheyenne warriors fighting Custer at the Little Bighorn in 1876.

TRW156 "Brave Bear"

A Southern Cheyenne dog soldier who has the distinction of being the warrior who actually killed Custer!

USMC018 "Marine Reloading "

A lying ‘Leatherneck’ holds a fresh clip of 8 rounds in his hand as he prepares to reload his M1.

USMC042 "Marine w/ Tommy Gun"

A Marine Corps NCO (non commissioned officer) cautiously advances his trusty ‘Thompson’ at the ready...

VN013 "Covering Firing "

Not wishing to expose himself to the enemy this Marine raises his M16 over his head and opens fire on ‘fully automatic’.

Although frowned upon as a waste of ammo... in a tight situation you did what you had to do to make the enemy keep their heads down and perhaps allow your buddies to advance or even fall back to safety.

VN045 "Kneeling LAW Gunner"

In the close-quarter fighting that took place all over HUE the M72 LAW (Light Anti Tank Weapon) proved invaluable at taking out enemy bunkers, buildings and machine gun ‘nests’... One shot... One kill!

VN098 "The ARVN Military Policeman"

The ‘Quan Canh’ (military police) guarded army headquarters, government buildings and prisoner-of-war camps, escorted convoys and performed other typical military police duties... similar to their Autralian and U.S. counterparts.

He is shown with his steel helmet painted gloss black with red and white stripes and ‘QC’ on the front.

A black armband with the same letters and a white braided whistle-cord round his right shoulder can also be seen.

His pistol belt supports a black holster containing the ‘M1911’ .45 cal. pistol and a pair of handcuffs.

He wears standard US Army, but locally-made OD fatigues and black-shined boots.

QC’s would often accompany U.S. and Australian Military Police to act as interpreters with the local people.

BBG119 "Winter Jagdpanzer IV"

The Jagdpanzer IV otherwise known as the Sd. Kfz.162, was a German tank destroyer based on the highly successful Panzer IV chassis.

Originally intended as a replacement for the Sturmgeschutz III it eventually fought alongside the earlier-produced Stugs and never actually replaced it in the Wehrmacht’s arsenal.

This fighting vehicle began production in December 1943 and continued being produced until the final days of The Third Reich in May 1945. Approx. 2,000 were manufactured.

Our K&C model mounts the 7.5cm Pak 42 main gun and comes with a vehicle commander in the open hatch.

Just over 250 of these Jagdpanzers IV’s were deployed in the German attack in the Ardennes which began on December 16, 1944... and that’s how many we have made!