Thanks for all the feedback, much appreciated. Just a few answers:
1. Tommys War won't be neglected, its far too close to my heart. The two latest figures will be announced on Wednesday this week and will be at Euro.
2. The diorama is crowded, we did originally have a larger base, but I wanted to recreate the horror on the top of the Kop for those troops. The largest depth of trench was just 16". The soldiers were shoulder to shoulder and had no water all day and were under constant attack. Most of those killed were shot through the right side of the temple by Boer marksmen and after the battle the Boers simply filled in the trench with the bodies inside as a mass grave that remains there to this day.
3. Some great ideas for future releases there, I'd considered Maiwand with Bobby the dog at the feet of the Colonel, but there are certainly plenty of options.
4. The name Deeds that thrill the Empire is an odd choice for Spion Kop and I do explain the rationale in the booklet that's included with the diorama. The name of the series is an ironic slant on how history views defeats and turns them in to victories. If we consider just some of the major conflicts and their battles then we do, as British. turn defeat in to victory., Think of Rorkes Drift and we forget Isanhlwana. Think Dunkirk and we forget the retreat through France. Also, I wanted to reflect on the actions of the British soldier, no matter what we think of his leaders there is no doubt to the courage of the British line solder and his professionalism. I want to leave the political commentary for others and concentrate on what those boys went through.
I hope that perhaps explains a little more about it.
Darren