Nick Stern: I keep meaning to contribute an article, probably like the majority of your subscribers, I haven't found the time. Hopefully before next renewal. This last memorial weekend I put on a game at our local convention. It was a restaging of the Corps of Guides defence of the Kabul Residency in 1879. I used some convention-friendly Alamo rules from MWAN 70. Guides held out against 900+ Afghans (recycled) for 14 turns. Might make a good article. Darn right it will make a good article, but why wait for your next renewal do it soon please, I am out of articles and that means I have to write everything and you know where that leads to. Bob Burke: Thanks for running my ads. I've had a couple of small orders. I really miss Savage and Soldier. I used to get a lot of orders for back issues of S&S. Speaking of S&S, have you had any word about Joseph Boeke and Savage and Soldier? I've emailed Joe but haven't had any response. The last time I talked with Andy he didn't know what was going on either. I wanted to let you know that the TSATF variant that you published in issue #100, from the Landwehr Society of Northern California, was written by me. I am co-founder and current President of the Landwehr Society (which means that I do most of the organizing for the wargames that we play). Anyway, if anyone has any questions about our local option rules they are free to contact me. Lastly, do you know where I can buy a copy of 1901, by Robert Conroy? I've tried ordering it and it's out of print. I didn't buy the hardcover edition because I was waiting for it to come out in paperback, but it never did. I really do not know what to say about S&S, Joe has a subscription to the Heliograph and reads these comments but as you can see he has not bothered to write to email or anything. Bryan Ansell, The Foundry. I've just got hold of Greg Novak's "Yellow Ribbon" Plains War rules-they look very good....Customers have said that they're using the Confederates for Garibaldi's men, 1850's Fillibusters and Boe4rs, I suppose I should mention this in the ad text. For your interest I include my friend Kevin Dallimore's ad sheet. I think he is the world's joint best figure painter (with GW's Mike McVey). Though his prices may seem expensive, as the models take him a couple of hours each, he doesn't earn a fortune. First congratulations on your new baby. Regarding the varied use of your confederates, don't be bashful about your ads the figures are good for a lot of mid to late 19th century warfare. They fill in quite a few holes. As to Special Forces poster ad, WOW, his work is really excellent, I don't think I have heard of any painting service that replaces large molded swords, spears and flags with more appropriate sized ones. Ron Lizorty: As you can see, I'm enclosing some material that might be of use to you for the Heliograph. As for ideas about the newsletter, I would strongly suggest removing it from the internet. I think more HOW-TO articles need to be had from contributors (I'm still looking for a simple, but entertaining, campaign system for the Sudan, 1885 era- that doesn't get bogged down with too many logistics. I believe it was you that had come up with creating a country with terrrain features, populace, etc. in #'s 86, 87, 88, which was very helpful. I'm talking more along the lines of actual Khartoum ers specifics, based on historical facts (to begin with then it's up to the player(s) as to what twists and turns history might take. Sometimes I wonder if water and food rations are given too much attention, as I can't recall at the moment any BRITISH troops running into serious problems during actual campaigns in the Sudan (Baker and the Khartoum siege are the ones that come to mind. I know this might raise a few wargamers'eyebrows, but I look at it as Whitehouse does ammo supply (there was always enough to do the job)-at least in the Sudan-the Zulu War is a different story... I do have my own homemade chance cardsthat has things like a dervish spy among the "friendlies" (tending the camels toting water) poisoning some of the supply, causing the troops to suddenly have to locate a good well... These comments are certainly not meant to be critical of anyone else's rules-every wargamer has his own aims. I'll try to help with my selection of painting colors (although I would think that most have already painted their figures?), instructions on making buildings (my professional experience as a modelmaker for motion pictures comes in handy here) from balsa, bass, and plaster and gesso. If I can think of anything else article-wise, I'll try to pass them along. I would plead with Howard Whitehouse to do some more articles, if possible (more character briefings for the Sudan and Zulu eras) and also Grant Sigsworth. Otherwise, I don't know what else needs to be done. Keep up the reviews and such. Maybe more material on the Boxer Rebellion, Indian Mutiny, Sikh Wars.... Lots of good ideas from Ron as usual. OK HOWARD I know you're moving to Canada very soon so I'll only expect one article from you soon PLEASE. Otherwise how about something on the Boxer Rebellion or Khartoum. Ron also wrote that I'm looking for the old Minot 25mm Zulu War 25mm figures. Their size is akin to Ral Partha and Minifg. I didn't care much for their Zulus, but their British were nice. I'd like to find one of each pose to add to my collection. If anyone can help Ron I would appreciate it, and so will he. Chris Nelson: I trust that you caught "The Rough Riders" on TNT. It was probably one of the best TV movies ever made and it was fairly realistic. The only thing wrong with it was it needed to be longer to cover the rest of the campaign and the immediate post war period. By the way, have you heard anything regarding Jeff Howard (Howard Hues paints)? I ordered some paints from him on 10 May. My check was cashed on 17 June (after I wrote to him on 12 June) and on 9 July I wrote again. I never got any paints nor a reply. I sent in a complaint card to the USPS on 19 July but so far nothing. Jeff made some of the best paints on the market and it will be too bad if that's the end of it. Really would like to know what happens. Modelers Mart's new owners said that his paints are hard to come by and they don't know why. By the way, Nick Nascati has adapted The Sword and The Flame for the period 1920-1941. The adaptation was printed in "The Journal" (Society of Twentieth Century Warfare). Looks like TSATF can now be used as rules for 1754-1941. I was very impressed with "The Rough Riders" and agree with your comments. As to Howard Hues, I spoke with Jeff and he says he is selling out and that the new owners should be doing a bigger ad campaign than he and taking it to the next level. And by now you should have your paint as a friend picked it up att Historicon. Back to The Heliograph #102 Table of Contents Back to The Heliograph List of Issues Back to Master Magazine List © Copyright 1997 by Richard Brooks. 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