It's been a while since I've run this column. Sorry, I've been out gathering intelligence. Right, maybe that euphemism would make a good Larry Leadhead cartoon. Okay, let's try this - I've been shopping. Mostly I have good things to share, and one cranky thing.

Let's start with the cranky thing first. Perhaps you have ordered from Brookhurst Hobbies, http://brookhursthobbies.com.

I've ordered from them more than a half dozen times over the past six years. It's been a hit and miss proposition. Sometimes they are very prompt and send what I've ordered. At other times Brookhurst is a mystery. In November they advertised a sale on The Miniatures Page. I responded within two hours with a phone call. They assured me they had what I wanted in stock. I received my order within a couple of days (that's good,) but received only a quarter of my order.

That service makes me crazy, and makes me think it is just better to order from manufacturers' websites. I know many people enjoy ordering from Brookhurst, and have had very good service from Larry Huber and his staff. Maybe you are one of those. If so, more power to you. I'm not sure, having been bitten more than once, if it is worth my while.

I am pleased to say that Scotia Grendel has upgraded its website, http://www.scotiagrendel.com. Scotia-Grendel, in the Scottish highlands, carries a lot of fantasy miniatures, but also an extensive line of 1/300 scale micro-armor, and the Collectair line of aircraft miniatures. This range was produced in the U.S. by Simtac, however the miniatures were costly, and Simtac was not a reliable distributor. Simtac has lost the rights to the Collectair planes, and Scotia-Grendel remains the only direct source.

I am really fond of their planes. The miniatures are of consistently high quality, with accurate proportions, sharply scribed panels. They are very fairly priced, and their lines, which continue to expand, include WWI, WWII, and post-WWII aircraft in 1/300 scale. They don't have an online shopping cart, but they accept e-mail orders with payments through PayPal. SG was responsive and quickly had my order to me.

Beacon Publications of Poulsbo made a wonderful range of decals for 1/300 scale aircraft and 15mm vehicles. Unfortunately the demand for the product, as well as the market for an expanded product range was greater than the owner could manage. Last year they closed shop. It was a pity, because they had a great product. Fortunately Dave Winfree at I-94 Enterprises in Illinois, located at http://i94enterprises.com has picked up where they left off. Dave purchased Beacon, and has gone on to expand their offerings. There are now more versions of American and British markings. In addition to Brits and U. S., I-94 offers Italian, French, Japanese, Soviet, Israeli, Arab states, and People's Republic of China markings. There are decals scaled for 1/144 as well as 1/300 scale WWI. He has broadened the offerings for 15mm vehicles. He added invasion stripes and other recognition markings. He is also offering a range of small, but inexpensive carrying boxes for your aircraft. I purchased one, and for the price (less than five dollars) found it served my purposes nicely. I've ordered twice from I-94, and am very satisfied with the service.

The decals are every bit as good as Beacon's, and the price, $3 per item, remains very affordable. Dave communicates very well by e-mail, and is a member of the Air Pirates Yahoo- group. If your name isn't Paul Hannah (who still paints his own markings), and you work in 1/300th, you need to visit this website. Ordering is by e-mail, with payment by PayPal.

Some of the most interesting miniatures are being produced in Australia by Eureka Miniatures, Castaway Arts, and Cannon Fodder Miniatures. I have admired Cannon Fodder's figures for some time. They've developed Colonial Wars ranges, and a very unique line of Alamo figures. They have a range of the Irish Republican Army from the 1916 Easter Rising that is very near and dear to my heart, but I could never talk myself into ordering any of them.

At the beginning of December CFM announced some new additions to their line of American sailors in China during the 1920's. They are a group of U.S. Marines in Montana hats and summer dress. I ordered some of the riflemen and command figures, as well as some of the sailors and IRA gunmen for good measure.

The minis are very well sculpted, standing 28mm from shoe to eyeball. They are, however, not quite as bulky as some 28mm figs on the market, so perhaps their anatomical styling can be considered more "realistic." There is a lot of nice animation. The marines currently available are ordered in packs.

USMC1 consists of six marines armed with rifles and "trench guns."

USMC2 is kind of a weapons pack of three figures including a Lewis gun, BAR, and a Tommy gunner (complete with cigarette sticking out of his face.) The sailor Lewis gun comes as a pair of figures with the Lewis gunner resting the weapon over his buddy's shoulder, one of the nicest, if likely unrealistic poses, I've ever seen. I'm hoping to combine some of the Chinese offered by Pulp Miniatures with these and play the free Yanks up the Yangtze rules offered on the Cannon Fodder website, http://canfodmins.com.

Cannon Fodder has a secure order system. Prices are in Australian dollars, worth about 60% of the value of the U.S. dollar. Thus, figures are about $1.30 each. After some clarifying e-mails, with entrepreneur Greg Blake, my figures were in the mail, and arrived eleven days after I placed my order. Good service, great communication, and a fair price for very nice miniatures.

Finally, I must comment on the plethora of fine miniatures produced by small manufacturers springing up all around the world Alpha Miniatures in New Zealand, ESLO terrain in Germany, Alphacast in Greece, Corvus Belli in Spain and Nemo Miniatures in Italy are some examples of this. Though Foundry and Old Glory can rightfully claim a broad market and wide appeal due the sheer number of their offerings, smaller manufactures such as Xyston, Pulp, Copplestone, Sash and Saber, and Perry Miniatures continue to refine the sculptor's art, and prevent the Big Two from establishing a hegemonic marketplace.