Today's Headlines

Missed the August 2008 Newsletter, view it here!

To all subscribers welcome to the Bumper September edition of Sierra Toy Soldier News, written on a very nice hot summer day, here in Los Gatos. We decided to call this a bumper edition of our newsletter, as we have just so much to tell you.

The good news is that we have survived the summer holidays and the kids are now back in school and college. We have even survived the annual mayhem of buying binders, books, pencils and calculators all of which mysteriously disappear in June when school breaks up.

We have spent a lot of time on the web site this summer, and we hope you like the changes. Our new slide show on our home page will feature items newly arrived, or just announced, event photos, and more. We have finally added a photo gallery which is now fully operational although we are still working on some adjustments. If you have not visited it, please do so as we have just added photos from the Cleary Museum, Bill opens up his home every year and displays, not only his collection of toy soldiers, but brings the American Civil War to life through his wonderful dioramas, and various artifacts. It has to be the largest collection of Civil War Toy Soldiers in existence. Many of our local collectors had the opportunity to view the displays, and have the details explained to them by Bill. They were all in awe the extent of the collection and the care and work that went into setting up the displays. We would like to thank Bill for going the extra mile and getting some superb photographs to share with our collectors. We hope you all enjoy them. Photogallery.

Please visit our events page, as we have lots of local announcements for residents and visitors to Northern California, including a few surprises. There are also details of events occurring this September in Chicago.

This month we have lots of exciting news from Britain’s, King and Country, Collectors Showcase, Conte,  John Jenkins, Patriot, DID, Soldier Story, Hobby Master and a few more.

Please check our What's New Toy Soldiers page, which covers the new releases from Britain's, Conte and King and Country. Also check out the Being Retired page, for the latest updates on the pieces being retired by Britain's, Conte and King and Country.

Welcome to a very sticky Northern California.

Sierra Toy Soldier Club

The Sierra Nuggets program was officially launched on our 5th year anniversary on July 15th. And has already proven to be a huge success and very popular. We emailed out lots of Nuggets and after a few teething issues it is progressing very well.

What is the nugget program it is a thank you program, where each year your purchases from January to December will qualify you for automatic membership, when you exceed $500 excluding shipping and taxes. There are no fees, no sign up required, and all our customers qualify. When you reach this first milestone we are going to email you a certificate (Nugget) which you can use. Then as you continue to buy more, when additional milestones are met during the year, we will send you additional nuggets.

We will be sending out more Nuggets the middle of the month, and every month there after.

Just Arrived!
New Product Releases

William Britains

For many Toy Soldier Manufactures including Britains, 2008 has been a very challenging year with our production facilities in China. While various natural disasters (blizzards and earthquakes) and man made events (the Olympics) have certainly contributed to the delays they do not tell the whole story. Southern China, the home of many toy soldier manufacturing facilities, is in the midst of a series of profound changes. There are many factors at work but the short answer is that the Chinese government is trying to turn southern China into a high tech manufacturing hub and it just so happens that the fine motor skills needed to paint eyeballs and buttons on toy soldiers are also in demand by high tech companies that need these skills for the assembly of intricate parts. This has resulted in severe labor shortages in the low tech manufacturing sector – many facilities are running at 40-50% of capacity, and it is not easy to bring new workers in, train them and then, critically, retain them and their skills.

A constant for W. Britain over the last twenty-five years has been the introduction of a Limited Edition Band Set for the year. This being Britains twenty-fifth anniversary of the first Limited Edition set released in 1983, they could hardly miss having a band set for 2008. The Pipes and Drums of the 1st Bn. Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders (79th), a 17 piece, limited edition set of only 750 wil be made (more details to follow in our October Newsletter). Whilst we hope this will arrive for Christmas it is not guaranteed.

Expected to arrive this month.

American Revolution

• BR18002 – American Continental Line Standing Firing #1 – 1 Piece Set in Clamshell pack.
• BR18003 – British 80th Foot Standing Firing #1 – 1 Piece Set in Clamshell Pack

American Civil War

• BR31006 – Union Infantry at-the-ready – 1Piece Set in Clamshell Pack
• BR31009 – Confederate Infantry Marching Set #2 – “Crossing the Potomac” – 2 Piece Set – Limited to 500 Sets Worldwide – This quintessential set of two Rebs in bare feet, shoes suspended from the musket of one and trousers in the other hand, sums up the look and feel of Lee’s two great invasions of the North – listen closely and you can almost here “Maryland, My Maryland” playing in the background.
• BR31004 – Confederate Infantry Charging #2 – 1 Piece Set in Clamshell Pack

Christmas

• BR19-3743 - 2008 ‘Tis the Season. This Volunteer Fire Department pumper and scene comes to life with the addition of two fire fighters – hard at work collecting Christmas gifts from the community for their annual Christmas Gift Drive. This station’s Dalmatian is also around to help spread the Christmas Cheer.

Classic Toy Soldiers
Bluecoats

• BR46001 – Private – U.S. Infantry Campaign Dress, 1813-1816 – 1 Piece Set – A nice complement to 43067 – this figure is in the later war campaign dress typical of the U.S. Army. This figure has a backpack, canteen and cartridge box.

Redcoats

• BR44003 – Private – 29th Regiment of Foot, 1768-1770 – 1 Piece Set – The “vein openers” of the infamous Boston Massacre.

Redcoats and Bluecoats – The French and Indian War

• BR47006 – British Officer, 1st Foot Guards, Mounted, 1754-1763 – 2 Piece Set

Limited Edition Collection

• BR48001 – United States Marine Corps 8th and I Drum and Bugle Corps – 1955 – 13 Piece Set – Limited to 1000 Sets Worldwide – Made to accompany the Color Party (17917), these figures are the higher quality Limited Edition style figure with enhanced details in the painting and sculpting.
• BR48003 – The Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards, NCO’s Marching at Advance Arms with Pike, Napoleonic Wars -1815 – 2 Piece Set – Limited to 1,000 Sets Worldwide – a wonderful addition to the growing parade of Coldstream figures to put behind last years band.

Napoleonic – Waterloo

• BR36000 – British Coldstream Guards Light Company Standing Firing #1 – 1 Piece Set in Clamshell pack
• BR36002 – British Coldstream Guards Light Company Standing Firing #1 – 1 Piece Set in Clamshell Pack – another much needed defender of Hougoumont arrives in the nick of time.
• BR36004 – French Light Infantry Sapper – 1 Piece Set in Clamshell Pack

World War I

• BR23001 – 1914 German Infantry Standing Firing #1 – 1 Piece Set in Clamshell Pack – A nice variation of this classic pose with the number “84” stenciled on his helmet, wearing field grey trousers and a full backpack.
• BR23002 – 1914 British Infantry NCO Charging #1 – 1 Piece Set in Clamshell Pack – One of the best charging poses in the entire WWI line up and a British NCO which has been sorely needed to round out the British Infantry.
• BR23003 – 1914 British Infantry Firing Line Set #3 – 2 Piece Set – Limited Edition of 500 Sets – A much needed British officer with pistol makes its debut in this set with a private looking to make a run for it – under orders hopefully!?

Tactical Scenes

• BR51000 – World War I/World War II Sand Bag Sections – 3 Piece Set

New announcement

• BR39000 - French Officer, 4th Regiment of Hussars. For availability later this year, Britain’s have announced the new Connoisseur Napoleonic Collection. Only 200 are being made, the retail cost is $200.00. The figure looks amazing and is designed to compete with the Russian manufactures.

King and Country - Expected to arrive this week!

For WWII Collectors
"Somewhere in Normandy"

• WS109 “Summer Schwimmwagen” - This is a brand-new version of an old, long-retired favorite. “The Schwimmwagen” amphibian. A pair of Waffen SS Panzer Grenadiers on a reconnaissance mission are side tracked when one of them gets an urgent call-of-nature. Even in the midst of battle a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do! A little touch of reality in the world of toy soldiers and military miniatures!!!
• WS121 “Sd.kfz 250/1 Leichter Schutzenpanzerwagen” - How’s that for a mouthful! A long title for a great little half track. This all-new German fighting vehicle is packed full of action, and character. Inspired by an actual German combat photo our “Panzer Lehr” half track is covered in extra equipment and supplies. Inside it are three full figures, driver, gunner and spotter. Looks like they’ve just spotted some enemy.
• WS122 “Advancing on the Enemy” - Perhaps supporting the half track are these three Waffen SS troopers edgily moving forward… They belong to the “Hohenstaufen” Division and work equally well in an “Arnhem” situation.
• WS123 “Machine Gun Team Forward!” - Moving forward to take up a new gun position is this two-man Waffen SS MG42 gun set.
• WS124 “Flame Thrower Set” - Much requested and… much feared… the Flame Thrower team. As the leading trooper prepares to “torch” the opposition his bodyguard covers his back.

Special Note: All of the last three sets work well in Normandy, Arnhem or Fall of Berlin displays or diorama settings.

WWII Collection

Medieval Collectors - The Crusades – Arriving later this month.

• MK054“Sir Walter De La Mer” - This Norman-Irish Knight charges into battle with battle-axe ready to strike.
• MK055 “Robert of Abbotsinch” - A Scottish Knight who fought alongside Richard the Lionheart and was one of his standard-bearers.
• MK056 “Duke Boris of Saxony” - One foot firmly planted on a treasure chest of plundered booty this Knight is living proof that religion was not the only reason to go on a Crusade!
• MK057 “Sir Roger De Tolkinghorn” - A fighting foot Knight of Richard’s entourage.
• MK058 “Duel to the Death” - His horse dead this dismounted Knight fights for his life against a lightly armed, but still deadly, Saracen.
• MK059 “Mounted Saracen Archer” - Fast and skillful Saracen mounted archers created havoc among their more heavily armored (and slower) Crusader opponents.
• MK060 “Kneeling Saracen Archer” - This archer lets loose at the enemy.
• MK061 “Loading Saracen Archer” - This Saracen reaches for another arrow to continue his deadly task.

Medieval Collection.

View King & Country "What's New."

King and Country - New Announcements. - For October Release!

For WWII Collectors
"Battle of the Bulge"

• BBG015 “Winter Schwimmwagen” Not quite as ubiquitous as the Kubelwagen, the Schwimmwagen was still a fairly common sight on German battlefronts on the East and Western Fronts. This new model has the top cover up and has been given a thin coat of whitewash over its original grey exterior. A well-wrapped up driver and a standing Feldgendarme complete the set.
• BBG016 “The KONIGSTIGER or KING TIGER”(with Henschel Turret) This is K&C’s third version of the almost 70 ton monster and the most accurate and detailed yet! Substantially larger than the first two versions the new “big cat” has the alternative “Henschel Turret” as opposed to the earlier “Porsche” one. The superb, faded three-tone camouflaged and battle-worn King comes with 3 crew figures and its own special box. This is sure to be a much sought after piece and a great Christmas present!
• BBG017 “King Tiger Tank Riders” Three kneeling and sitting Panzer Grenadiers in a variety of winter uniform, perfect for the KT or indeed any other suitable period German fighting vehicle.
• BBG018 “Winter Scout” A lone Panzer Grenadier, MP44 held ready advances to the front.
• BBG019 “German Medics Set” A Medic and a helpful “soldaten” carry a wounded comrade to the nearest aid station.
• BBG020 “Waiting and Smoking” A single standing Panzer Grenadier who can be used on top of a tank or standing by the side of the road watching events unfold.

“Additional Air Drop for ARNHEM”

When K &C last released all of the new “Market Garden” figures at the end of 2007 they knew we had to produce a tribute to the Polish Parachute Brigade who bravely fought alongside British 1st. Airborne at Arnhem. Here is a little taste of the first batch.

• MG023 “Major General Sosabowski” Portrayed by Gene Hackman in “A Bridge Too Far”, Sosabowski had grave doubts about the entire operation right from the very beginning. This superb character study shows the General in his paratrooper “Denison” smock, wearing his distinctive blue/gray Polish beret and carrying his Browning automatic pistol.
• MG024 “Bren Gun Team”
• MG025 “Polish Para Sniper” This expert rifleman uses the standard Lee Enfield .303 with a special hunting scope.
• MG026 “Firing Back!” Using a captured German machine pistol this Polish Para is on the attack.
• MG027 “Sitting Polish Para” Taking a momentary respite from the fighting this paratrooper is still watchful and ready, rifle in hand.

Operation Market Garden

Back to the “Streets of Old Berlin ‘38”

• LAH087 “Der Fuhrer’s New Staff Car” When K&C redid the big Mercedes 6 wheel Staff car for “Hitler’s Paris Visit” it was always our intention to release an alternative “Parade” version, and here it is. Similar in composition to our first version, the Fuhrer stands saluting while accompanied by his personal SS driver, an SS adjutant, an SS General and two seated bodyguards, all new sculpts and, of course, a brand new, larger, more detailed Mercedes.
• LAH097 “The Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler Regimental Band” A full 21-piece marching Regimental Band of the premier SS regiment “Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler”. Led by their Drum Major this large set is sure to be the centre-piece of any “BERLIN ‘38” collection. When you buy this complete 21-piece set K&C also adds on the extra-special LAH098 “Schellenbaum Carrier”. ABSOLUTELY FREE! The complete band comes in its own special box.

In addition, for those collectors wanting to build an even bigger musical display or those building up their band piece-by-piece we offer the following musician figures on an individual basis.

• LAH097A “Side Drummer”
• LAH097B “Bass Drummer”
• LAH097C “Cymbalist”
• LAH097D “Bell-Lyrist”
• LAH097E “Bassoon Player”
• LAH097F “Flautist”
• LAH097G “Saxophonist”
• LAH097H “Clarinetist”
• LAH097I “Tuba Player”
• LAH097J “French Horn Player”
• LAH097K “Trombonist”
• LAH097L “Trumpeter”
• LAH097M “Drum Major”
• LAH098 “Schellenbaum Carrier”

Leibstandarte Military Band

View King & Country "What's New."

John Jenkins

The following new releases are scheduled to arrive this month, but they missed the deadline for our last newsletter.

Battle on Snowshoes 1758

The Rangers who went on the winter scout patrols, not only had to worry about the French and Indians. The many extra perils facing a Ranger in the Adirondack Mountains were temperatures that often reached 40 degrees below zero, snow blindness, bleeding feet, hypothermia, and frostbite.
Things got only worse the more they neared the enemy positions, as fireless camps had to be endured. Therefore any opportunity to make a camp and build a small fire and have a warm drink, would have been greatly appreciated.
Many Rangers were recruited from the New Hampshire frontier, and were highly skilled in surviving outdoors in various extremes of wilderness conditions. Bush Tents of Pine boughs were built around a central fireplace, and served the Rangers as shelters on winter scouts and for the experienced Ranger were “but the work of half an hour at the most”.

• SRR-07 - WINTER CAMPERS, 2 Figures and fireplace - Limited Edition 500
• SRR-08 - WINTER BUSH TENT

Battle of Monongahela

Robert Orme (1725? – 1790) joined the Coldstream Guards in 1745, and was promoted to Lieutenant in 1751.
He was aide-de-camp to General Braddock and was wounded at the Battle on the Monongahela.
He was to return to England and resigned from the army in 1756.
His portrait was painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds in 1756, and can now be seen at the National Gallery in London.

• BM-12 Captain Robert Orme - Limited Edition 400

Battle of the Plains of Abraham

At the start of the encounter the French army had seven infantry battalions making up Montcalm’s hastily formed battle line. The outermost two of these regular battalions were two units formed from the “Compangnies Franches”.
This will be the first of many new French sets to be released over the next few months.

• QFM-01 French Marines in Justacorps Firing 1 - Limited Edition 750

John Jenkins Collection.

New Arrivals

Conte

For Ancient Greek and Plastic Collectors
In stock now the new plastic series from Conte based on the Spartans. They are magnificent and a tremendous amount of fun. All figures are fully poseable, and can be articulated to create many formations. Unfortunately the photos do not in any way do them justice. I think this is Conte's finest plastic release.

Conte

Collectors Showcase

Just arrived, the following new releases. It is interesting to watch the progression and improvements being made by this company. I think this is there finest release to date. You can draw a comparison to the early days of King and Country, as their early releases are now in such high demand. Will this happen to Collectors Showcase we wait and see.

• Tigers at Dawn. 5 new Tiger Tanks including Michael Whittman, Arnhem Tiger and a Winter Tiger,only 100 of each were produced in this production run. These are superb. We have already sold out of the Winter Tigers, but expect to get a few more in, and the others are going fast. So if you are interested please do not wait to long, as these may not be around to long.
• Berdan Sharpshooters, for American Civil War Collectors. The best Civil War release they have made so far, excellent sculpting, paint work and poses. Fit in with all the major brands size wise.

Expected to arrive in September.

• Lah Review - 1944. We have already received the buildings from this series and they are superbly made.

Coming up - Napoleonic, the Battle of Waterloo.

The 28th Regiment figures and French Curassier are based on the famous painting by Lady Butler. Shako covers have been removed and the collector can enjoy rich details never before seen. Embossings have been added to the shako plate and even the cord is richly decorated with Belgian knots. We’ve even added delicate decals on both canteens and knapsacks that make no mistake: these are those stalwart men that repelled so many French cavalry charges that day over 190 years ago at the crossroads of Quatre Bras.

Quatre Bras

Collectors Showcase

Corgi

New Arrivals.

This is the first shipment we have had since January, so it has been awhile. Corgi was recently acquired by Hornby, a famous British Model Train Company, so we are looking forward to some great things.

World War One Aircraft

• AA37701 -- RAF Se5a.Lt C.A.Lewis, B658 Nightfighter, Home Defense, No.61 Squadron, England 1918.
• AA37702 -- RAF Se5a, Capt W.A. Billy Bishop, Royal Flying Corps, No60 Squadron, Summer 1917
• AA37801 -- Albatross D.V -Ritt.Manfred Von Richthofen, German Air Force, Jasta 11, June 1917
• AA37901 -- Spad X111-S4489, Capt Charles J Biddle, French Air Service, 13th Aero Squadron, October 1918

Corgi

Hobby Master

Just arrived.
Air Power

• HA1705 - P-39Q Airacobra 1:72
• HA1903 - F-4J Phantom II - Blue Angels 1:72
• HA7007 - F2A-3 Buffalo - Captain William C. Humbert, VMF-221, Battle of Midway, 1942
• HA7301 - Grumman F3F-1 - VF-3, USS Saratoga (CV-3), October, 1940

Ground Power

• HG1005 - M4A3 Sherman 1:48
• HG3404 - M10 Tank Destroyer 1:72
• HG3601 - M24 Chaffee 1:72

Hobby Master