King & Country · Afrika Korps · AK008
Overview
There is a pleasing imbalance to King & Country’s AK008: the rider sits high over the motorcycle while his companion is tucked down in the sidecar, behind a mounted machine gun. The two-man combination has a sandy finish, a spare wheel behind the passenger and luggage that makes the small vehicle look ready for a journey. Green jackets and pale trousers break up the desert colouring, and both men wear goggles on their headgear. The crew look ahead rather than at one another, giving the whole set a strong direction. It is a complete little moving scene, with the weapon and passenger adding a very different character from a solitary dispatch rider.
Historical inspiration
Motorcycle combinations gave German formations a way to move men and light weapons quickly without assigning a truck to every small job. They could carry messages, accompany columns or transport troops who would dismount to fight. Their apparent simplicity is deceptive. BMW’s archive records that the wartime R 75, introduced in 1941, had a driven sidecar wheel, road and off-road gearing, and even reverse: useful features when the ground stopped resembling a road. That machine is a good example of the engineering behind this class of vehicle, although the AK008 reference does not identify a precise motorcycle type. The exposed crew also explain the limitations. Mobility was valuable, but neither the sidecar body nor a helmet offered the protection of an armoured car.
For a display, give the motorcycle somewhere to go. A narrow track leading past a signpost or a stationary truck makes the forward-looking poses feel purposeful; a wall directly in front of the wheel makes them look trapped. Keep a little space beside the sidecar so its low passenger remains visible. On a second-hand example, the gun, handlebars and front fork deserve a close look because they define the outline and are easy to knock during packing. A clear photograph from the passenger’s side is much more informative than a distant view of the motorcycle alone.
Sources: AK008 release reference; BMW Group Classic: the R 75 sidecar combination.
Find this set
Currently available on eBay
Matching AK008 listings, lowest displayed price first. Includes shipping when quoted.
Checking available listings…