1. www.magweb.com July 16 was the first aniversary of magweb.com and over the first year Russ Lockwood has managed to entice thirty military history and gaming magazines and newsletters to join. Free sample articles are available at www.magweb.com and pricing remains at under $5 a month unlimited access ($59.95 per year; other rates are $39.95 for 6 months). And it is well worth it.
2. Guernsey Foundry AND The Foundry figures are available in the US from The Foundry LTD. 1549 Marview Drive, Westlake, OH 44145. See Review. If you are writing them directly they have a new address which means a new production facility and probably better service - The Foundry LTD, Hubert's Lane, Off Doyle Road, St. Peter Port, Gurnsey, GY1 1RG, Channel Islands, Great Britain.
3. Articles of War LTD. 8806 Bronx Avenue, Skokie, IL 60077-1896, (847) 674-7445.
4. Wargames, Box 278 Route 40 East, Tridelphia, WV 26059. Their latest flyer contained a couple of colonial items. If you are interested in the Franco-Prussian War they have samples available for 15mm figures. Guerilla Warfare Rules, Montivert Publications, $13.99. From Ancient Persia to Modern Israel, # G66. Zulu War: A Pictorial History, $14.95, #SP38. From Newbury, Army Lists for 19th Century 1830-1890, $6.99, #N11.
5. Miniature Service Center, 1525 Bridge St., Yuba City CA 95993. They still have their 15 percent discount available on all orders. Nothing specifically new for colonials.
6. Barnes and Nobles, 1-800-the-book. The latest catalog contains lots of good military history books.
7. Miniature Wargames, issue 170. Overall an interesting issue but nothing colonial. The article "ACW Army Selection" by B Slemmings has lots of good ideas for army selection particularly if you are playing solo. Issue 171 if you are really interested in late colonial period naval warfare this issue has an article, with references, just for you. "100 Years of the Jane Naval Wargame" by Richard Brooks, no the smart one in England. Otherwise nothing colonial, although the article by Richard Watts "The Golden Horde Rides Again" could provide some very useful information for those gaming the Russian Colonial scene.
8. Caliver Books and Partizan Press, 816-818 London Road, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex SS9 3NH. Available in the US from On Military Matters, 55 Taylor Terrace, Hopewell NJ 08525, 609-466-2329 A new Battlefields and Age of Empires both highly recommended.
Battlefields our own Bob Giglio has a jazzed up version of his "Raid on Dabulamanzi's Kraal, 1879" that we featured several issues back. The article includes some really nice graphics.
Age of Empires, well, I don't know what to say. I liked the old "Colonial Conquest" but, this is -- how do I say it -- WOW. The magazine contains five articles ("The French Campaign in Dahomey" by C Cairns, "Loigny, 1870 - A Wargaming scenario from the Franco Prussian War" by R Weaver, "Survivors' Tales of Great Events 1: The Battle of Chillianwallah, 1849" by Sgt. J Ford, 61st Foot, "The Last Stand of the Shangani Patrol" by Ian Knight and "Armoured Trains" by Maj. C Field, RM) without a bad one in the lot. There are also lots of reviews of new books, in particular several new Osprey books on the Boer War. The whole issue is packed with great info and better ideas for the game table. "Armoured Trains" has seven illustrations of such and if you are so inclined could scratchbuild or kitbash one for your table. Great job Ian, Highly Recommended.
9. Clash of Empires is a new newsletter edited by Keith Frye, 33 Ridge Road, Bloomingdale, NJ 07403. The first issue contains articles on: a Crimean War skirmish; the FFL in the First Carlist War; Austro-Prussian War scenario, Oswiecim Station, with OB; Franco-Prussian War, Palestro, with OB; and a review of Principles of War. Highly recommended.
10. Historicon report, I had plans to attend but had to hospitalize my wife instead, and no I couldn't go then, I'm not that insensitive. Anyway, taking the info here from the preliminary program I found the following game distribution:
- 9 Colonial
9 Western Gunfight
1 Russo-Turkish
2 Franco-Prussian
12 WWI
32 WWII
9 Sci Fi
7 Modern
4 Mexican War
29 Napoleonic
10 ACW
18 18th C
29 Ancients to 17th c
This list includes no tournement games and some that were not specific as to time period. This seems to be a turn around in the wind, the ACW is falling behind, it used to be almost equal with Napoleonic, the Age/Clash of Empire period 1790-1914 at 25 various games is doing pretty good. But with only 9 British/French colonial games we're not doing that great. Although I would say that colonial gamers are holding their own they always seem to come in at about 9 games per Historicon or Cold Wars.
11. On Military Matters, 55 Taylor Terrace, Hopewell NJ 08525, 609-466-2329. No new catalog.
12. El Dorado, US subs - Paul Walsh, 227 Sunnybrook Rd., Springfield, PA 19064. No new issue yet.
13. 19th Century Miniatures, 346 River St., Coopersville, MI 49404 (616) 837-7045, fax 837-8568. Carries the Conniosseur figure line of 25mm.
14.MWAN issue 88. With incredibly good timing to coincide with TNT's "The Rough Riders" Scott Hansen's article "Wargaming Teddy's War: The 1898 Spanish-American War" is a great article SO WHY DIDN'T YOU WRITE IT FOR US SCOTT??? This is just the type of article we need.
15. VICTORIAN MILITARY SOCIETY, as part of the annual dues for the society you receive Soldiers of the Queen and Soldiers Small Book well worth the $35, if you can afford it. Soldiers of the Queen issue 89. contact Mr. Michael Parker, 11 Fennel Close, Cove, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 9XD Great Britain. While the issue is all worth reading there are two excellent articles: "A Letter from Omdurman" by Michael Barthorp who introduces the letter written by Lt. Robert Lethbridge of the Fifth Fusiliers. This letter contains some very useful information for scenarios besides being interesting on its own. And, "The Conductors of Supplies, 1879-1892, Commissariat and Transport Department, Commissariat and Transport Staff" by Ian Bennett. While the title may put you off some the articles does contain useful information, in particular the section on the Sudan contains OB info and tons of scenario ideas. Very useful.
Soldiers Small Book, #41, contains loads of infomation on study groups and commercial scene. If I have not written about them before, shame on me, but I am reminded here about the magazine Regiment. Each issue contains info on various British Regiments and usually caontain anywhere from 10 to 25 pages per issue on the Victorian period. Contact Nexus House, Boundary Way, Hemel Hempstead, Herts. HP2 7ST Great Britain. Highly recommended.
16. Savage and Soldier, Sorry, still no word. However, if you are missing issues or want the whole collection to date contact Bob Burke, 4726 Appoloosa Court, Antioch, CA 94509. Bob is the official copier for past issues and he has the originals to make the best copies. Highly recommended.
17. Tornado Alert! #27, PO Box 1476, Bethany, OK 73008. I am not sure how I am receiving these issues, maybe because Helio subscriber Richard Houston at Lizard's Grin Miniatures is their president, thanks. #27 has a great article by Scott Saylors "Great War: 1889 The Defense of Egypt" following in the footsteps of previous articles of the same campaign in issues 21 and 23. The article contains charts and tables for ship/squadron location, coal and ammo capacity, ship types and armament it's really great stuff if you are into colonial era naval stuff. The scenarios could also be used to generate landings in British Egypt. This is highly recommended.
18. I don't rate painting services because I do my own painting and have never really looked into it. Bryan Ansell sent me a color poster from Special Forces paininting service in England that knocked my socks off. What Kevin Dallimore considers an average paint job I would consider well above average bordering on outstanding. I wish I could put his color poster in this issue for you to see. If you are not a painter and have others paint your figures, buy figures from the Foundry have them sent to Special Forces for a paint job before you get them mailed to you. Make sure you set it all up ahead of time so Special Forces knows what's happening. I wish American painting services would follow Dallimore's lead and provide color posters of their products before you send them off and get disappointed. I don't think Special Forces will disappoint you.
19. White Dwarf issue 212. There are some bits and pieces useful to historical gamers here. The best article for us is one on constructing flat modular terrain boards, for easy storage, and adding separately based polystyrene hills, buildings and woods. Very useful, even if it is for orks.
20. Chris Nelson sent an article from the latest Practical Wargamer Vol. 11 No. 4, by Ian Knight "Save the Colours!". This is a very nice scenario based on Melvill's attempt to save the colors at Isandlwana. Good game setting and objectives, would make for a great solo game.
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© Copyright 1997 by Richard Brooks.
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