Colors Hello Craig, I hope that you had a couple of nice holidays with your family. I have a small question if you can help. In most resource materials, the color for the Russian Dragoons is a " GREEN BLACK " jacket. In the post cards " THE RUSSIAN ARMY OF 1812 " the color is more of a " DEEP TEAL GREEN " . In your opinion, which of these colors are correct? I know that this is for a wargame unit, but still I like to make mine as correct as I can. Thanks for the help. Sincerely, Len Brewer Editor's Note: As I look through my sources, I see that the cards are slightly off in their coloring. However, I would also say that the Osprey (Russian Army of the Napoleonic Wars 2 Cavalry #189) is also a shade inconsistent. Using the Osprey as a good color reference, The color plate Page B, Dragoon Officer #3 is probably the best representation of Green-Black (or Dark-Green). On page A of the Osprey, it appears that the color is a little too light and on page D - a little too dark. I hope this helps. As I've been receiving e-mails about info in the RCW books, I think I will have them translated in entirety, since I have a translator in my employment now. The demand is overwhelming and I think it will really help with folks' research. I don't intend to translate the Interventionist as the charts and pictures explain pretty much all there is. I see the White and Red Armies first, then the Nationalist. Thanks again for all and I'm glad that you had a good Christmas and New Year (any one you are alive for is a great one!). From: Scott Fisher Hi Craig, I got the books today!! They look really great. I am thinking about ordering some more, do you have the translations done for R15 "Winter War" and/or R30 Red Army Weapons? Thanks, Scott PS- you were right, the Tank Cammo book is the greatest! Below, see what I posted on the Military Modeler mailing list. Editor's Note: I'm working on the next couple of books, namely "Winter War" and Red Army Weapons. I was over-enthusiastic about how much translating I would get done on my Honeymoon. Can you say "None!"? Since we were in Vienna and everything was in German, it really took the wind out of my Russian sales. I also had the opportunity to speak my limited bit of both Japanese and Spanish while there, too. From: Scott Fisher Subject: Russian Publications Tank Cammo Hi All- I recently purchased "R28 Red Army Tank Camouflage 1930-1945" from Craig Martelle at Gauntlet Publications. It is an excellent book from Russia with lots of pictures, a few pages of color plates and mostly Russian text. Most captions have some english (plus Craig provides some translation with each book). The book costs only $10 and is a must for all interested in armor on the Russian front. You can get more information about ordering and the book itself from Craig. He offers several other books from Russia at unbelievable prices. Again, Craig has REALLY gone the extra mile for us gamers (all the way from Moscow, were he is currently stationed!). Thanks, Scott Editor's Note: My thanks to you, Scott! I appreciate the good words. All I want to do is get the information out to those who are looking for it. From: Mike Crane Dear Craig, I really do want those cards and books. I am a Russophile and everything you write about the Russians is of the greatest interest to me. My 15mm Russian Napoleonic War army has several hundred figures and is the largest of all my collections. You made the right choice by using color in the Gauntlet. It looks great!. Your colored pictures of Napoleonic Russians are very helpful and very much appreciated. Also, how can I find out more about Gonad (terrible) the Barbarian? Conan has always been my favorite fantasy figure. It sounds like fun. Will it be an e-mail campaign? How much time will it take to participate? How much will it cost? Thank you for your time and your help. No problem at all, Mike! Look for the Gonad saga info in this issue! From Ivor Janci Dear Craig: I'm not sure if you're back or not (hopefully you're not, and that you're enjoying your time with Wendy and avoiding the flu and bad weather that has hit Europe.) Before I go on, I want to thank you for the items that you sent to us. That budenovka is a 'riot', thank you so much. Hey, thank you for the Gauntlet magazines! They're great! Easy to read, different subject matters. You're doing a great job for the hobby. Those Osprey-type books on the RCW are wonderful. I'm very thankful that you translated the captions, for it's been a great help. It's too bad that you can't be contracted to translate the entire text ;-) I never knew that there were so many variations on the uniform, especially for the Officers' Regiments. Now it makes sense, after seeing the movie THE RED AND THE WHITE, why the Whites had a dark uniform as compared to the Reds. Are you familiar with the Hungarian b/w film? It's available on VHS tape for $24.95 now (was $79.95.) A wonderful concept of showing the see-saw fighting through capture/counter-capture. I wonder if someone in Czechoslovakia had ever done a film on the Czechoslovak Legion. Speaking of films, have you seen the Russian film made in the 1930s titled WE ARE FROM KRONSTADT! If you have do you recommend it? Besides DR. ZHIVAGO, I have KNIGHT WITHOUT ARMOR, THE END OF ST. PETERSBURG, NICHOLAS & ALEXANDRA & a British documentary on the Red Army from it's inception to pre-WW2. From what I remember of REDS, there wasn't much in that film that was military. I also have POTEMKIN. If you have any other recommendations, please let me know. If you like the RCW and large 25mm figures, you'll like the Honourable Lead Boiler Suit Company figures. I have some extra figures which I'll send to you. A friend told me that the recent issue of WARGAMES ILLUSTRATED has an ad from a new company that's selling Eastern European 25mm buildings and accessories. Are there any RCW projects of yours (i.e. translations) on the burner? Please keep me informed as to what new WW1, Russo-Japanese '04-05 and RCW material you come across (prints, text, music, video, etc.) Best regards, Ivor Publisher of the ZOUAVE: The magazine of American Civil War History and Miniature Wargaming MAREK/JANCI DESIGN 725 Ranch Road, Wheaton, IL 60187-3656 USA 630-752-9390 Fax630-653-2531 Editor's Note: I am so remiss! I haven't seen any of the films you talk about, besides Zhivago, which I didn't really like. As for translating the entire RCW series, you'll see in a previous note, that I intend to do just that. It all comes down to supply and demand. The demand is great enough, however, the cost of having them translated (I pay a translator as my time is spent finding, buying, and supplying all the publications) will probably force me to charge for the complete translation and raise prices slightly. I will keep this to my cost so I don't see an increase of more than a couple dollars, especially if I can e-mail the translation, instead of having to repro numerous copies. Also, I'll be on the look out for movies. I can obtain a fair number (I believe), but unless you have a true multi-system VCR and TV, they would be of no use to folks in the U.S. I will check into what it takes to convert them from PAL-G & SECAM to NTSC. RCW projects on the burner include … Ooops, can't over-commit myself. I'm looking for a few more publications and especially any kind of battle info to help in the production of a scenario book. I think that might be the most desired item out of all! From: Chris Scruton Hi Craig: I hope you had a great Christmas in the US and you and your wife are settling in nicely in your Moscow apartment . . . I also hope things aren't getting too tense there after the embassy shooting the other day. I just wanted to drop you a line and let you know that everything arrived safely-- as always Gauntlet was excellent and the Eastern Legions book was up to the publisher's usual high standards. I was *really* delighted with the M-Hobby and Tankomaster back issues . . . thanks so much for picking those up for me -- the article on GPW assault engineers in M-Khobby #4 is one that I've been looking for for a while and, as you promised, *every* issue of Tankomaster was jam-packed with material of interest (and the production values are even better than most western publications!). I'd love to receive any future issues of either publication that you come across in your trips to the Moscow bookshops. I'm just finishing up an extremely brief review of several of the books that I'll include with North American subscribers' issue #34 of the SOTCW Journal -- I hope to write something more in-depth for publication in the Journal itself and to post to the SOTCW website. I'll probably also be doing some selected translations of articles from M-Khobby and Tankomaster for my own use -- any interest in these for you to distribute to others who buy issues? Best Regards, Chris Editor's Note: Thanks for all, Chris! For the other readers, M-Hobby and Tankomaster are specific periodicals published in Russia for the Military Modeling Hobby. From Bryan Stroup. AVALON HILL (NEW GOODIES ANNOUNCED) Several of Hasbro's longer running games (under the Hilton Bradley and Parker Brothers lines) that have crossed over into our industry are making the transition to the Avalon Hill label. They have also announced a series of new releases that in the great tradition of the Adventure Game industry are already late. The following titles are scheduled for re-release under the Avalon Hill label: AVH 04423 Axis & Allies $54.25, AVH 04720 Samurai Swords $54.25, AVH 40742 Lionheart $43.25 These are new releases scheduled under the Avalon Hill Label. AVH 41305 Acquire (01/00) $44.25 A new BIG Plastic Parts Edition in a large box with plastic board, plastic tiles and large plastic markers. All new design of the same Great classic. AVH 41307 Diplomacy 12/99 $54.25 A new Metal parts Edition in a large box with 140 Die Cast Metal miniatures AVH 41311 Stratego Legends 12/99 $29.95 AVH 41391 Stratego Legends Booster Pack (12/00) $6.95 GOSH!! A CBG (that would be collectable board game with Collectable, Tradable, Character Pieces). Different combinations in every box. 60 pieces in the starter box, collect all 204 character pieces and 24 terrain boards by buying the booster packs. (GEE!!!! Has Games Workshop scheduled their new CMG yet? It can't be far behind....) AVH 41313 Axis & Allies Europe (02/00) $54.25 A new take on a great classic with the European Theater of Operations and 369 Historically accurate (sic) plastic bitz to go with it (and a big box too) AVH 41325 Battle Cry 3/00 $54.25 (Richard Borg's new Game!) A VERY different game from Milton Bradley's American Heritage Series "Battle Cry." Don't be fooled. This game has 116 larger plastic pieces and is played on a changeable hex grid and recreate 15 Epic Civil War Battles on the Customizable game board. With the Fourth quarter new releases still in limbo, at least Hasbro is getting some of the Backlist Avalon Hill product made available again. (yea!!!). With some price reductions as well (yea again!!). The following items are back in general availability. AVH0734 Midway $30.00 AVH0737 We the People $40.00 AVH0807 Panzer Blitz $25.00 AVH0811 Richthofens war $25.00 AVH0818 Kingmaker $30.00 AVH0864 Empires in Arms $40.00 AVH0873 Britannia $25.00 AVH0885 Republic of Rome $40.00 AVH0887 Blackbeard $35.00 AVH0889 Stonewall Jackson's Way $25.00 AVH0892 Here Come the Rebels $30.00 AVH0898 Geronimo $39.00 AVH0906 Hannibal Rome vs. Carthage $40.00 AVH6446 Assassin $20.00 AVH6457 Starship Trooper Movie Edition $30.00 AVH6500 Monsters Ravage America $40.00 AVH8192 Colonial Diplomacy $55.00 AVH8922 Stonewall in the Valley $35.00 AVH8923 Stonewalls Last Battle $30.00 - Bryan The following was posted to a few of the ONELIST sites… From: "David Ferris" I had been trying to get my hands on a particular tank book since 1979, but it eluded me at every turn. The title is "Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two", by Peter Chamberlain and Hilary Doyle. It does for German WWII armour vehicles what that other classic, "British and American Tanks of World War II", does for the Yanks and Brits. I'd seen a few copies flit by on eBay and rare book shops, but always for much more than I was willing to pay for it at the time. Joy of joys, it's been released in softcover for only $16 US and is right now available from both barnesandnoble.com and amazon.com. This book is highly recommended to anyone who is interested in wargaming in WWII with the Germans. Lots of great photos, entries on everything (and I do mean *everything*, even the obscure tank destroyers of which only two or three were made and are left out of nearly all the other tank books), production numbers, when and where they were used. It does not get down to the level of detail as in the number of bolts in a Panzer III G roadwheel, but it does give you a lot of information useful to wargamers. F'rinstance, you can figure out which tanks and tank destroyers were in use in North Africa and which weren't. Now, if only there were similar books for the French, Italians, Russians, Japanese, Poles, Swedes, Irvanians, Swiss, Hungarians...DLF Dear Craig: These books are great! and yes, I did want the fourth book in the series (RCW Series - R12,13,14, & 23). Also thank you for taking time to acquire the patches for me. They are so different from the kind our soldiers wear. Are there any companies in Russia making HO Scale vehicles, buildings, or trains? Once again, thank you very much for the Russian Militaria. Best Regards, Eugene Mapes Dear Mark Why did Tony Bath call his game Hyboria, though the map has borrowed was named Hyperboria? Just joking ! Hyboria apparently went through three stages; a background setting for Tony`s wargames, a 5 player postal game, finally a game with approx. 15 players. Consulting a glossary of names used in Conan books, published in Conan the Barbarian, Hyperborea is just one nation on the map. In Greek legend Hyperborea was a 'haappy land in the far north'. The name actually means "beyond the north wind". The map in the Conan books is titled The World of Conan in the Hyborian Age. The continent itself is not called Hyboria or any other name. In the glossary, Hyborian means "the peoples who established the kingdoms of Aquilonia & Nemedia. I can tell you are thinking "That`s so interesting, what`s on TV". Tony`s articles were interesting but I wish he had written one on how he managed / administered the game. Published rules for wargames campaigns such as Phil Barkers` Alexander The Great campaigns, Bruce Quarries1 Napoleon`s Campaigns in Miniature, Charles Grant`s The Wargame, Grant Jr`s Wargasme Campaigns, Ian Heath`s Wargamer`s Guide to the Crusades and finally Tony Bath`s own Setting Up A Wargames Campaign all give basic rules for movement, supply, money. However, the actual physical work of running the campaign is given short shrift. Phil Barker describes the campaign newsletter and Ian Heath communication but that seems to be it. Anyone contemplating a similar publication might like to bear in mind that I would like to see more information on the game systems; which aspects work well, which don`t. For example I`d like to know how many hours or days should elapse before an army is ready to fight again. How long does it take to build a siege engine ? Do I really need to bother with supply rules given that most games cop out by saying that the army must have money to buy food, except Napoleonic French, and speaking of armies which forage, what long term penalties might they incur ? Dear Mark Many thanks . . . A few lines about the shows. Went to Partizan and the "other" Partizan - some good 'dioramas' in the main hall - lots of well painted figures & terrain, but nothing happening - a real shame. Though the games near the B&B (Rugby scrum as usual) were being played with humour & enthusiasm - Peter Pig`s participation game with KINGS & CONQUERERS Ancients was rather good. I saw the beginning with two Persian commanders grinning with anticipated victory when seeing the opposing (and much smaller) Hoplite army facing it ! I returned about an hour later or so to witnes the Persian commanders watching helpless as their army fled! I`m sure I heard one Persian commander say "I think we need a new plan !" All good stuff & fun! Back to The Gauntlet No. 19 Table of Contents Back to The Gauntlet List of Issues Back to Master Magazine List © Copyright 2000 by Craig Martelle Publications 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