Perhaps the best kept secret of our hobby is the existence of Usbome Publishing's Cut-Out Models range of children's books. Appearing in book form, each fully coloured cut-out model actually makes an Incredibly detailed and historically accurate HO/OO building or settlement. Being HO/00 they are perfect for 15mm / 20mm, whilst being a better ground scale for 25mm figures. So what exactly do you get? Well in the series so far... Roman Villa: Main house, slave quarters, workshops, store houses, stables, wells and out houses, wails and vegetation building a model 23.5" x 18" Roman Fort: A stone Milecastle from Hadrian's Wall. Egyptian Temple: A massive temple for Biblical epics. Viking Settlement: Around 16 Dark Age buildings. Mostly long houses, but includes bridge, quay, 2 longboats, fences. privvies etc, perfect 'Des. Res.' for rampaging Vikings / Islesmen to sack and pillage. Lost Temple : An impressive Aztec temple for your Conquistadors to loot. Castle : Medieval castle of the Feudal period with curtain walls, five towers, 8' keep with cap houses, stables, moot etc. Cathedral: High Medieval Cathedral complex. Village: Medieval village with defended manor house, church, bridge, 12 buildings, 4 tents, hayrides and a wagon. Suitable for late Norman to late C13th. Town A later medieval town, which could be quite happily used up to C17th maybe later. Inns, shops, dwellings, walls hedges, town cross. In all, 16 buildings and two carts. The buildings assemble easily, and I put the Viking Settlement together during the East Enders Omnibus one Sunday. It's now waiting for me to finish painting a raiding party of Feudal Castings' Highland & Islesmen. Each model comes with cut-out civilians and animals too -- perfect for loafing and pillaging! The Roman villa (illustrated) is suitable for any Mediterranean scenario up to WW2. It could be seen In Northern Europe throughout the Roman and early Dark Age / Fall of Rome era. So what is all this going to cost you? Under a fiver! One of these models will cost you less than a resin model, for up to 16 buildings and countless accessories which can be heaped in a drawer, don't need painting and are easy to transport to a friend's or down the club. At the end of the day highly recommended! Usborne children's books are available from Times Post and most book and toy stores. The Cut-Out Models may not be carried as the range of books is so large, but I've found at least two to three in most. There is an illustrated catalogue and the shop will be happy to order for you. Back to The Gauntlet No. 3 Table of Contents Back to The Gauntlet List of Issues Back to Master Magazine List © Copyright 1995 by Craig Martelle Publications This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com