Product News and Magazines

by Dick Bryant

Eureka Pirates reviewed in these pages (#76) is now being carried and distributed in the US by Geo Hex - see their advt. on the back cover for POC. Geo Hex will also be marketing other figures from Eureka's product line.

Fury of the Fatherland is a set of scenarios and rules additions for the Battleground skirmish rules based on the operations of Patton's Third Army in the final days of the Third Reich.

Battle Honors has turned out a batch of new 25 mm WWII figures, each type with bags of infantry or infantry heavy weapons. This lot includes Americans in Europe, British, Anzacs, Punjabis, Gurkhas, and Sikhs for the Far East or North Africa. There is also a 25 lb gun with Anzac, Punjabi, or British para crews. Available from Grandiosity, P.O. Box 750992, Dayton, OH 45475-0992, tel: (937) 439-2488, email: warweb@grandio.com, web: www.warweb.com.

Old Glory continues to pour out new figures. Among the more recent are 15 mm Ancients, including eight bags of Hellenistic Greeks, four of Skythians, six of Thracians and 27 Successor State bags, ranging from Maccabeans to Argyspids, passing through Kappadokian cavalry on the way. Other Ancients, these in 25 mm are an Arthurian line for Dark Ages battles, with a variety of Romano-British, Pictish, Saxon, and Irish figures. A bag of Hittite Anatolian Spearmen rounds out the Biblical line.

The Colonial era also has new 25 mm figures, including Boer War British infantry (mounted and afoot), artillery, and cavalry, Staats Artillerie crew, and Maxim, Nordenfeldt, and Gatlings guns. There are British, Sikhs, Gurkhas, and Sepoys for the Indian Mutiny, while their opponents are bolstered by a rebel mob, some irregulars with muskets, and artillery crews. There are also new Egyptians ( infantry, cavalry, camelry, and artillery), Sudanese infantry, some Guidars cavalry, and mountain gunners for the Northwest Frontier, and artillery and cavalry for the Zulu War.

Back in 15 mm, there are more WWII figures and vehicles, led by a LCA, LCV, and LCVP for getting ashore. The Allies have a M4A3 76 mm HVSS packaged with an Easy Eight Sherman, Valentine MkII, Bishop, and an Archer. For the Germans, there is a Panzer Jager I pack including a BefPz IB, a Sig 33 150 mm Pz IB pack including a BefPz IA, Sdkfz 250 in Alte or Neu versions with support weapons, and a StuG IIIG.

Finally, Old Glory is into 25 mm pirates in a big way with four bags plus several special sets including a rowboat with crew and treasure, a buried treasure party, and a 19" long ship with guns (for $110 or thereabouts). The pirates are apparently intended for a limited release of 1000 packs or 3 years of production, whichever comes first. Merrimack Miniatures has joined the pirate craze with its first 25mm Pirate Ship. About 18" long, it is in resin with metal parts and dowel masts, and is priced at $85.00 They also have new 12pdr, 9 pdr, and 6 pdr deck guns in 25mm at $3 or $4. 1524 Lois Dr, Shoreview, MN 55126, tel: (612) 786-1526, email: miniatureships@yahoo.com.

J&D Publications has a new book out in their "SkirmishCampaigns" line: "France 40 - Battles for the Meuse". This includes 10 scenarios and three campaigns set in May 1040, with historical background, maps, a generic OOB, and a rules translation page that allows conversion for use with BAPS, Battleground, Overlord, and several other skirmish rule sets. Sold through Brookhurst Hobbies, 12188 Brookhurst St., Garden Grove, CA 92840 USA, tel: (714)636-3580, email: info@brookhursthobbies.com, web: brookhursthobbies.com. Questions about the book (and series) may be directed to Scott Fisher at fisherts@mindspring.com.

Quality Castings has a new Russian Su-76i SP, German 75 mm Pak 38/97 with pepperpot muzzle, French M1917 C17S 155mm howitzer with limber, US M1918A3 155 mm howitzer, and four versions of the M3 tank (two Lees, two Grants). They have also resculpted the German 5 cm Pal 38, and the spoked wheels for all their wagons and limbers (available by the pair), all in 15 mm. PO Box 11714, Alexandria, VA 22312, tel: (703) 354-0610, email: qc@qualitycast.com, web: www.qualitycast.com.

Reviresco has a new 1/72 Lancia IZ armored car, and their German East African Schutztruppe are now available in 28mm as well as 25mm. c/o John McEwan, 1119 San Francisco Ave. NE, Olympia, WA 98506, tel: (360) 754-9591, email: shamrock@halcyon.com, web: www.halcyon.com/shamrock. True North/Realmwerks is extending their line of less common 15 mm WWII figures with a 1939 Polish TKS tankette with 7.92mm MG or 20mm gun, 7TPjw single turret tank, Polski-Fiat 621 trucks with removable AA mount, wz 34 armored car, Polski-Fiat 508 staff car, Schneider 1897/38 75mm field gun with a variety of crews, limber, and 40mm Bofors AA gun. At the other end of Europe, the early-war troops include a Dutch M36 armored car, Hotchkiss 25 mm AT gun, Carden Lloyd Mk VI tankettes, infantry, and heavy weapons. Realmwerks 1/144 aircraft now have a Grumman Martlett, P47D Thunderbolt, F4F Wildcat, Yak 9, Petlyakov PE2, and Macchi C200. PO Box 579, Merrickville, Ontario, Canada, K0G-1N0, tel: (613) 2698-2557, email: david_jackson@fcmail.com , web: underworld.fortunecity.com/grandprix/623

Osprey titles of recent vintage include Austrian Army 1836-1866 (2) Cavalry, German Army 1939-45 (4) Eastern Front, Scots Armies of English Civil Wars, Spanish Armies of the Napoleonic Wars, (2) 1808-1812, Spanish Army of Napoleonic Wars (3) 1812-1815, and Armies of Medieval Russia 750-1250, in the Men-at-Arms series; German Armoured Cars and Reconnaissance Half Tracks, Amtacs: US Amphibious Assault Vehicles, M47/48 Patton tank (Revised), M3 and M5 Stuart Light Tank, Sturmartillerie and Panzerjager 1939-45, and The Long Range Desert Group 1940-1945 in the New Vanguard series; and Pearl Harbor, Nicopolis, and Bosworth in the Campaign Series. Castaway Arts has issued a new line of 25 mm figures for service in Egypt and Sudan at the time of General Charles Gordon and the Mahdist revolt. There are six Egyptian regular infantry, Sudanese infantry. Bazinger rifleman and gendarme in Zouave uniform, Bashi Bazouk, Arab infantry, a couple of officers, and an Egyptian infantryman in headcloth. P.O. Box 7599, Cairns QLD 4870, Australia, tel: (+61)(07)4041 2079, email castawayarts@ozemail.com.au, web: www.castawayarts.com.au.

Redoubt continues to add to their already extensive 25 mm ACW line with 12 packs of Zouaves and a head pack of Pennsylvania Bucktails. There is also a new Ironclad in resin and metal, about 20" long and 7" in beam, with five turntable guns, 30 crew, a ships boat, and a plethora of bits and pieces, available for a mere $235 from Miniature Service Center, 1525 Bridge St Apt 163, Yuba City, CA 95993, tel: (530) 673-5169. Village Green has a batch of 25 mm ACW stuff too, including a mortar barge, a variety of scenic items, and a foot-long Southern mansion. In the nautical vein, they have three pirate ships in 25 mm, ranging up to a 20"- long two-deck, 24-gun three-masted ship. These also are available from Miniature Service Center.

Dixon has not been left out of the rush to piracy, offering two 25 mm ships of their own, along with a rowing boat, jetties, assorted paraphernalia, and some 33 or so poses plus head variations. Available from Wargames, Box 278 Route 40 East, Triadelphia, WV 26059-0278, tel: (304) 547-0000, email: wargames@hgo.net, web:www.speartorifle.com.

Magazines

Battlefleet. A magazine from England that is a must for any Naval gamer. This issue came out late because of problems with the printer (Oh! How I can sympathize with that). Volume 25, No 1 has articles on Flotilla Actions, Part 2 of a campaign: Breakout from Oran, an article on the ships of the Dutch wars and the Restoration and much more. 13.50 pounds for 4 issues from Jason Gorringe; 42, Simmonds Road, Ludgerhall, Andover, Hants SP11 8RH, England. jason@canis-publ.demon.co.uk

SYW Association Journal Jim Purky writes that Jim Mitchell has taken over as the editor effective with Volume XI Issue No.1 , which was published in December 1999, complete with color cover. Although Jim has retired from editing he will still contribute a regular column.

The Potomac Wargamers Review also went to a color first page for a few issues, but now seems to be back in reliable black and white. In the September issue Mr. Simon, never short on opinions, shares his views on a couple of dozen rules sets, and contrasts them with the commercial success of same. Undeterred by his conclusions, he moves on to a playtest of Picquet (AMR flavor). There is also an account of games played with house rules for SYW in 54 mm, WWII in 20 mm, and modern skirmish in 54 mm. Never dull, and devoid of any articles rehashing some historical battle for the leventeenth time, PW Review focuses on rules first and last. $18?/12 issues fromWalter Simon, 12905 Layhill Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20906.

Frontovik, now in its third year, is the newsletter of the Eastern Front Association, which devotes itself to the military history of the Eastern Front from 1914-1921. A dozen pages long, it is printed on glossy paper with its fair share of photographs and illustrations. The two issues in hand seem to have a reenactor's viewpoint, including an account of an event in Pennsylvania. Other articles of interest include an account of the troops of the Ukrainian Central Rada, a short piece on the Korean anti-Japanese resistance in 1920-1, and some notes on Romanian uniforms. Contributors seem to be international; published in the UK. American subscriptions are $25/4 issues from Tom Downs, 27 Wickham Fancy, Collingsville, CT 06022. The Zouave is now 4-color throughout its 40 pages of ACW wargaming coverage. Issue no.50 has a method for generating scenarios based on a points system and alternate terrain placement, an article on Hermann Haupt's running of the USMRR, a Devil's Den scenario, a battle report on fighting all three days of Gettysburg with no more than 144 figures (40 mm) a side, and figure and terrain reviews. $26/4 issues; c/o Marek/Janci Design, 725 Ranch Rd, Wheaton, IL 60187-3656, email: zouave@owc.net.

Age of Napoleon is a glossy published by Partizan. Focussed primarily on historical articles, there is usually a wargaming piece. In issue 32, this is a suggested modification of General Brigade to account for massed columns. Other articles cover the Brunswick Corps at Quatre Bras, the Marie-Louises of 1814, the history and uniform of the Bavarian 1. Linien Infanterie Leib Regt, the second part of a piece on British officers of the period, editorials, letters, and reviews. First-rate artwork and photographs throughout the 44 pages, it is available in the U.S. for $42/ 6 issues from On Military Matters, 55 Taylor Terrace, Hopewell, NJ 08525.

Other Publications of Interest Received

HMGS Dispatch (Midsouth), Major Bill Harting, 101 Taylor Rd, Estill Springs, TN 37330-3831.

HMGS East Newsletter, Scott Holder (Treasurer), PO Box 36, Bonnots Mill, MO 65016, $10/yr membership.

The Herald (HMGS Great Lakes), HMGS membership Secretary, 2251 Wayne Madison Rd, Trenton, OH 45067, $10/6 issues, membership.

Miniature Wargames, Wargames Inc, B0x 278, Route 40 East, Triadelphia, WV 26059-0278, tel: (304) 547-0000

Spearpoint (NA Soc. Ancient & Medieval Wargamers), Scott Dickson, 590 Woodend Dr. SE, Concord, NC 28025, $24 / 6 issues & membership.

Lone Warrior (solo wargaming), Solo Wargamers Association, 1707 Ridge Rd, Leavenworth, KS 66048, $20/4 issues"

Catalogs Received

GAJO painted wargames units and armies veteran and new. 150 -200 listings. 930 Mellish Dr, Lapeer, MI 48446.

The Toy Soldier Company HO, 54 mm and larger metal and plastic painted and unpainted toy soldiers and accessories. 142 pages, illustrated, $5. 100 Riverside Dr, New York, NY 10024, web: www.toysoldierco.com.

Hobby Bunker mostly toy soldiers, some collector's unpainted 54 mm, 1/72. 22 Pleasant St, Malden, MA 02148.

Caliver Books Ancient & Medieval lists, end-of-year update. Each has hundreds of military history and gaming titles new and used with one-sentence descriptions. 816-818 London Rd, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex SS9 3NH, UK, web: www.caliverbooks.demon.co.uk.

More News

Back to Table of Contents -- Courier #78
To Courier List of Issues
To MagWeb Master Magazine List
© Copyright 2000 by The Courier Publishing Company.
This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web.
Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com