January, 2025
Sierra Toy Soldier Company

Sierra Toy Soldier Company

Today's Headlines

Missed the November Edition 2024 Newsletter, view it here!

Welcome to the New Year edition of Sierra Toy Soldier News. Currently, I am out of town, so I am writing this from freezing cold Colorado where it is snowing and -6 degrees F. Gotta love California.

Lot has happened since we last chatted, we have a new president, wildfires in Southern California and Christmas zoomed by blink and you could have missed it.

We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and we hope you have a wonderful new year.

Unfortunately, our friends in Southern California experienced terrible wildfires in January, unheard of. The problem was that it has not rained in LA since April 2024. Everything was bone dry and then the dreaded Santa Ana winds kicked in with gusts of 100mph. Nothing was going to stop it from burning. We hope all the ordinary folks will eventually be able to recover and rebuild. I also hope this will be the last wildfire of 2025, unlikely but fingers crossed.

We slowed down over the holidays on accepting consignments, but Cody went straight back at it as soon as January hit. We have added 2 more collections with more to follow.

We have some great announcements from King Á Country and John Jenkins.

For information on John Jenkins Future Releases.

John Jenkins Future Releases.

Check out our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for more pictures.

Instagram:sierratoysoldier

Twitter:sierratoystore

You can keep up to date with us by visiting our Facebook Page.

Sierra Toy Soldier Facebook Page

Hope you enjoy our newsletter and have a wonderful New Year.

22ND Anniversary Sale

22nd Anniversary Sale

Help us celebrate and pick up some real goodies at bargin prices.

Look for new additions later this month.

King & Country Mega Sale

First Legion Big Sale

Collectors Showcase Grand Sale

John Jenkins Grand Sale

Thomas Gunn Grand Sale

We will have lots of items on sale between 20 - 45% off throughout the month, please look at the special pricing being offered. We will be adding daily to our list of items on sale.  So please check back often and you may find a pleasant surprise.

Collectors Corner
Sierra Toy Britain's Exclusive
King Á Country
John Jenkins

Showroom

We are open Monday - Friday 10.00 - 5.00pm. Saturday by appointment.

Just a reminder for those of you living in Northern California, or perhaps just visiting, that our Showroom dedicated to toy soldiers is now open 6 days a week. 1350 Dell Avenue, Ste #5, Campbell, California 95008. (408) 395 3000

www.sierratoysoldier.com

Sierra Toy Soldier Facebook Page

Check out our latest arrivals, new dioramas and events at our store!

Sierra Toy Soldier Facebook Page

Sierra Toy Soldier Virtual Video Call

To set up a Virtual Video Call to see any of our latest releases or displays. Contact us via Email or Phone.

Virtual Video Call Email

Phone 408-395-3000

Scratch & Dent

Do you enjoy repairing or modifying toy soldiers and vehicles. Every now and again we receive figures and vehicles in need of a new home and some special care. If yes, this may be the section just for you.

Scratch & Dent

Collectors Corner

Occasionally we get a rare opportunity to acquire individual items and complete collections for collectors that are thinning out their collection or from other dealers. These pieces are items that we do not normally stock. All are in mint condition or and in their original boxes, unless specified in the description. Please note these may have been on display.

So these are ideal pages to view if you are looking for that missing piece in your collection or just looking to find some very unique pieces that are not normally available.

This month we have added a very large collection of Aeroart, St Petersburg figures and also a very large collection of Plastic figures and Play Sets. We have also added Frontline French and Indian War sets in perfect condition.

Consignment Highlight

This month we feature sets from Thomas Gunn, First Legion, Britain's, Jenkins, King & Country, Frontine, St Petersburg and Plastics.

Collectors Corner

Sierra Toy Soldier Britain's Exclusive

Sierra Toy Soldier Exclusive - In Stock Now!

Zulu Storehouse Attack

King and Country

King and Country January Releases!

HEARTS OF OAK

Or, if you prefer, ‘Heart of Oak’ is the official march of Britain’s Royal Navy, it is also the official march of several Commonwealth navies including the Royal Canadian Navy and the Royal New Zealand Navy.

The ‘oak’ in the song’s title refers to the wood from which British warships were once made in the age of sail.The ‘Heart of Oak’ is the strongest central wood of the tree.

Now, all of that is a little introduction to King & Country’s latest addition to our ‘CEREMONIAL’ Parade Series… the officers and men of Her Britannic Majesty’s ROYAL NAVY.

These seven new figures appear on parade as they would have in the famous ‘VICTORY’ PARADE that took place in London in October 1982 following the defeat of Argentina in the Falklands War earlier that same year.

All officers and men are dressed in full parade order with officers carrying their naval swords while other ranks carry the standard British SLRs (Self Loading Rifles) with fixed bayonets.

 

Ceremonial

Hong Kong Regiment

Ceremonial

Knights of the Round Table

King Arthur & The Knights of the Round Table

Hurricane Summer

By June 1940, Britain was in a perilous situation. France had fallen… the British Army, or at least a large part of it, had escaped, by the skin of its teeth, back from Dunkirk having left behind almost all of its transport, armour and artillery behind. Virtually the whole of Western Europe, from northern Norway down to the southern borders between France and Spain now lay under the Nazi jackboot! Britain’s stood defiantly alone.

Hitler and his generals now looked across the English Channel and began to plan an invasion to which they gave the name… ‘Operation Sealion’. At the same time they recognized that two major obstacles stood in their way – The Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. At the time, Britain possessed the largest and most powerful navy in the world… definitely a hard nut to crack! The British Air Force by comparison was much smaller and had already suffered at the hands of the Luftwaffe in France.

Hitler’s Luftwaffe chief, Reichsmarschal Herman Goering confidently assured the Fuhrer that his all-conquering fighter pilots and bomber crews could and would ‘sweep the Royal Air Force from the skies’ in just a few weeks before turning their full attention towards the British fleet. What Goering and his Luftwaffe failed to understand was that Britain possessed a growing band of fighter pilots from all over its small island and many others from around its far-flung Empire and elsewhere. The British also had two superb modern, mono wing fighter aircraft that became legendary... The swift, sleek ‘Supermarine Spitfire’ and the rugged, hard-working ‘Hawker Hurricane’.

The Hawker Hurricane has long been a favourite of K&C Royal Air Force collectors.

Over the years we have produced no less than 4 different versions of this classic British ‘Warbird’ in mixed-media (polystone, resin and white metal) as well as a number of all-wood, hand-painted special edition Hurricanes for individual collectors. These two latest mixed-media Hawker Hurricanes are both brand-new sculpts with much more detail and painted to represent two different but equally famous aircraft flown by two of the best known RAF ‘aces’ of The Battle of Britain… Squadron Leaders Douglas Bader and Robert Stanford-Tuck

Special Note: Both of these new Hawker Hurricanes include a standing pilot representing the actual flyer of each aircraft. In addition, each model comes in a handsome, full-colour presentation box with just 200 pieces of each aircraft being produced.

Extra Note: A brand-new K&C sculpt of a 1:30 scale Supermarine Spitfire MK. II is also in development for release later in 2025.

Royal Airforce

WALKING THE STREETS OF ANCIENT ROME…

  • - Visiting and exploring the myriad of shops and street traders that abounded in Ancient Rome this middle class housewife seeks out the best bargains alongwith the best value for money.
  • - This successful entrepreneur observes both the ‘buyers’ and the ‘sellers’ at one of the local markets.With his knowledge and experience he can see who is doing well, who needs to improve their products or perhaps their selling price and where some opportunities may arise that might also help his own business.
  • - As Rome grew and prospered so too did the requirement for new buildings to be constructed and / or older buildings to be repaired or dismantled. Here a foreman is instructing one of his manual labourers on exactly which task he needs to undertake.
  • - With Rome constantly expanding growing middle class households wanted to decorate their homes and gardens with all kinds of decorative stone artwork and statues. Here a pair of stone masons diligently go about their daily duties – sizing and cutting the original stone before carving and decorating a particular piece.
  • - A long-awaited little set featuring the man himself complete with the implements of his trade (and a blood-stained apron).Next to the Butcher stands a mighty Oak table on which are placed a collection of his carving knives and several prime cuts of a locally-produced pig ready to be purchased.

Romans

Jenkins

New releases expected February 2025!

Germanic Warrior Woman

Enemies of Rome

Kardake Light Infantry

Achaemenid Persian Empire

Celtibarian Scutarii

Carthaginian

Battle of Gingindhlovu

Battle of Gingindhlovu, 1879

New Kingdom Egyptians

The Sherden were sea pirates and were first engaged as mercenaries by Rameses II who had defeated them in a battle. He defeated them in his second year (1278 BC) when they attempted to raid Egypt's coast.

The pharaoh subsequently incorporated many of these warriors into his personal guard

Ramesses stated in his Kadesh inscriptions that he incorporated some of the Sherden into his own personal guard at the Battle of Kadesh.

Their bronze helmets were horned and surmounted by a bronze disc raised on a small shaft. They wore leather armour which was studded with metal, and was worn over a pleated kilt and secured at the waist by a girdle.

They were armed with a great bronze stabbing sword, and carried a round wooden shield with bronze studs and a bronze rim

New Kingdom Egyptians, Battle of Kadesh 1274BC

Mongols

Mongol Invasions of Japan 1274 AND 1281

Inca

The Colla tribe were noted for their coneshaped black woollen cap, called a “Chukka”, which normally had a crescent badge on the front. The uncu is always depicted as striped , divided into four vertical panels. The characteristic weapon of the Colla tribe was the bolas, which was made up of two to five fist sized stone weights wrapped in rawhide and attached to 18 inch cords. These could bring down a charging horse by entangling its legs, and is recorded as being used against Spanish cavalry during Manco’s rebellion.

These soldiers were fiercely competitive with each other, and were called “huaminca”, meaning veterans. These veterans received formal military training as part of their coming of age on reaching 14 or 15 years of age. They were taught not only how to use various weapons but also how to manufacture them. They would undergo numerous tests of courage and stamina, on successful completion of which they received assorted insignia denoting their status, including having their ears pierced, as well as being given the traditional Inca weapons of sling, mace and shield.

Incan Empire

Battle of Bunker Hill

William Prescott (February 20th, 1726 – October 13th 1795) was a Colonel in the Revolutionary War, who commanded the American forces in the Battle of Bunker Hill. Prescott is known for his order to his soldiers, “Do not fire until you see the whites of their eyes”, so that the rebel troops would shoot at the enemy at shorter ranges, and therefore more accurately and lethally, and also conserve their limited stocks of ammunition. On the 16th of June 1775, General Artemas Ward, the commander in chief, issued an order directing Prescott and over a thousand men to proceed to Bunker Hill and erect a fortification. The detachment started from Cambridge Common at dark, proceeding silently to Bunker Hill. There at about 11 o’clock pm, the troops commenced building the entrenchments as laid out by Captain Richard Gridley.

“The breast work or redoubt was only constructed of such earth as the party had thrown up after the middle of the night and was not more than breast high to a man of medium height. Colonel Prescott being a very tall man, six feet and two or three inches in height, his head and shoulders and a considerable portion of his body must have been exposed during the whole of the engagement. He wore a three-cornered cocked hat and a ban-yan or calico coat. After one of his men was killed by cannon ball, Prescott, perceiving that this had made some of the soldiers sick at heart, mounted tile para-pet and walked leisurely around it, cheering his soldiers by approbation and humor. His clothing was repeatedly spattered with the blood and the brains of the killed and wounded.” Prescott’s men twice drove back the British assaults on the redoubt. When the British made a third attempt, his men were almost out of ammunition. After a final volley, he ordered a retreat from the redoubt. He was one of the last men to leave the defences, parrying bayonet thrusts with his ceremonial sabre.

Major John Pitcairn (28th December 1722 – 17th June 1775) was a Scottish military officer. He enlisted in the Marines at the age of 23, and was stationed in North America during the French and Indian War, serving at the rank of Captain. Arriving in Boston in 1774 as part of a British occupation of the city, he fought in the 1775 battles of Lexington and Concord.

At the Battle of Bunker Hill, Major Pitcairn commanded a reserve force of about 300 Marines. They landed at the south end of the Charlestown peninsula. When the first assaults failed, Pitcairn led his men up the hill toward the American position. Although already being wounded by two gunshots, he led his men through the rebel trenches. When he entered the trenches, he was shot four times, including the final blow, which was a wound to the head, said to have been fired by a former slave named Peter Salem.

He toppled into the arms of his son, Thomas, also a Marine officer, who cried out, "I have lost my father!" Some Marines tried to console the son, while others, overcome with emotion, openly wept. Pitcairn was carried back to Boston, where he died of his wound within hours. He is buried at the Old North Church in Boston. After the battle, several marines said they “had all lost a father”.

American Revolution - Battle of Bunkerhill 1775

Battle of Brandy Station

Battle of Brandy Station

2nd US Cavalry Regiment

2nd US Cavalry Regiment

84th (Coote's) Regiment of Foot

The 84th (Coote's) Regiment of Foot

Lally's (Irish) Regiment

Lally's (Irish) Regiment

Mountain Men

Whiskey, Scalps and Beaver Pelts

Very best regards from Mike & Myszka Hall and the Sierra Toy Soldier team - Alex, Cody and Sean.

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