K&C Visit 2024 Preview items

Andy Neilson visited Brisbane and we held a collectors dinner on 13 July 24. 

Blackhawk Down - Huey Vietnam - The West including Magnificent 7 and buildings - D Day Shermans - RAF planning room - Beatles - Irish Guards mascot - Roman civilians prototypes - Ned Kelly

We set up the below displays and items and Andy also had some images and sketches to show us.

Colour image of Eric Hartmann's plane which will come with the pilot figure (unfortunately I missed this when taking photos).

Andy talked about the items on display and some of the background of making them. He also mentioned a couple of museums he had visited and where he had got inspiration from.

Of particular interest was that the Blackhawk Down and Western dioramas were backdrops which slotted into the ground base. Backdrop width 24" and I think 12" high. These are prototypes for a future flat packed product designed to allow more affordable display options. Andy mentioned cost (ie. handpainting), size and postage costs for buildings was an issue for dealers and collectors. I totally agree on this point as shipping costs are a killer for large diorama items.

During the main collectors dinner Andy had plenty of time to meet people and some came prepared with photos to show him whilst discussing suggested items. Two actually had same subject. After Andy's talk there were questions and plenty of suggestions. Some suggestions were only of interest to Australians and Andy said not likely to be commercial enough as also need some potential sales from rest of the world. During the visit Andy heard many great ideas and I am confident some are definites for the future. However I wont be mentioning what they are. I will say Roman civilians and Blackhawk Down were a result of last years visit so next year will be interesting to see what comes of this visit. It was great to see Andy again and this was actually his 13th visit to Australia. I will say what Andy showed us this time was probably the most impressive of all the trips and you can see he has been busy coming up with new ideas and products.

So on behalf of myself and Brisbane collectors I would like to thank Andy for coming down under. We always enjoy catching up with him and look forward to the next visit to see what he brings with him.

Blackhawk Down display with two Humvee's and 15 Rangers. The sketch below is of future Somali militia. 

One of the soon to be released Huey's with Long Tan figures on one side and US Marines on the other. (Note the rear rotor blade met with a minor accident and is not on as nobody had glue with them).

A display of some previously released K&C facades with the recently released Shermans and US tankers and French civilians.

Western diorama with the new chuck wagon and previously released figures. There were also 5 unpainted phototypes (4 to go with Magnificent 7). One was a cowboy leaning against a post with sign and a suggestion was made that the figure also be done without being attached to a post.

Colour photo of a RAF Battle of Britain planning room with WAAF plotters and large map table (large part of UK and coast of Europe). Behind is a Squadron readiness board. 7 figures in this (5 + 2). I took a photo of this photo.

Colour image of 4 musicians from Liverpool which looked familiar. I recall playing their music when playing on the floor with my Timpo figures in Liverpool as a kid. A complete re-do of a glossy set Andy did in the 90's.

Painted Irish Guards mascot Seamus which is a great likeness of an Irish wolfhound.

5 unpainted Roman civilians including butcher set.

Sketches of upcoming Magnificent Seven figures.

4 locally made Western buildings. Please contact us if interested to buy. 

Ned Kelly sketch by Andy. Idea is will be a boxed set with Police figures.