Ron Lizorty

The Heliograph is as thick as 3 issues! If one subscriber complains, he should be taken out and shot! Will drop off the flyers (after making extra copies at the shops. Thanks! I would think you'd get a bang-up rave review in MWAN and such, this issue reminds me of the special Sudan issue that Savage and Soldier did years ago. I've been corresponding with Guernsey Foundry--nicest guys you'd ever want to deal with, aren't they? I'll see if I can dig up any photos, art for your sudan issue, but can't promise anything great.

So glad the book was a help to you--I was happy to help!

Thanks for the compliments and the book, if we were all together I'd ask for three cheers for Ron. His help with the Spanish-American War book and his covers over the past several years has been a great help tp the Heliograph's new look. I don't know that I would shoot anyone over this, 107 just may not be their cup o' tea. Yes, the Foundry guy's are the nicest people to deal with.

Nick Stern

Thank you for resurrecting the Heliograph to its former glory and beyond. I just got back from a three week vacation in England and Scotland. I visited three regiment museums and was lucky enough to meet up with former editor Milton Soong and his wife on my last day in London. We visited the National Army Museum together. Might make an article? Joking aside, I really will try to put something in the post for you before the end of summer.

Thanks for the compliments. I would very much like to see an article about the museums. The few I went to had some great displays of the colonial period with uniforms and photos you don't usually see in books. So YES write on. Oh to get back to England and visit the regimental museums. I don't suppose any of the readership has a need to open an office in England, if so I volunteer.

Chrispher Willett

I am writing in response to a request you made in Issue 107 about the box set of Sword and the Flame. In the last catalog I have of Stone Mountain, Inc. they have listed the set. This information is a couple of years old but I have ordered several items the past year and had no trouble.

STONE MOUNTAIN MINIATURES, INC. P.O. BOX 675, Brighton CO 80601 Catalog #BK628 $29.95.

Thank you very much for the information Chris. I also noticed that the latest issue (94) of MWAN ad for Games Crafts Hobbies and Stuff, 9220 Lackland, Overland, MO 63114 (314-423-2199) also lists The Sword and the Flame.

Kenneth Hafer

I thought I'd take a few moments to tell you about Bayou Wars '98. Our attending membership was 210, a little growth over last year. Knowing the particular interests of the readership of THE HELIOGRAPH, I will only mention the colonial games, although we had between 40 and 45 games. Joey Lacour hosted a large Zulu wars game, This year the British managed to defeat the Zulus by the skin of their teeth. (Last year, the British underestimated the ferocity of the Zulu nation, and were decimated.) jpey uses's Soldier's Companion rules, as do I. The game was well attended, with some players from last year who wanted to assuage Her Majesty's honor. Vince Clyant, of THE LONDON WAR ROOM, ran an unusual game of Spanish soldados de cuera vs American plains Indians of the 1740s. The soldados de cuera are leather-armored lancers armed with lances, muzzle-loading carbines and swords. They are mounted on leather-armored horses, but were not sufficiently trained to fight in close order. They also tended to fight in very small groups, making skirmish gaming a natural. Vince produces the Spanish, both mounted and dismounted in his Spanish Bourbon line, available from him at 41 Beverly Hills Loop, Petal, MS 39465, 601-584-8533. Vince is a charming englishman who will be happy to fill you in on the various failures and victories of the Spanish in North America in the mid-1700s.

In addition, I ran a Boxer Rebellion game in which the Allies had to plow their way through high fields of crops in 104F degree heat, necessitating changes of lead companies in order to avoid casualties due to heatstroke. The highlight of the game from the GM's viewpoint was the Chinese cavalry's defense of the bridge against the British column. The Chinese general commanding the cavalry and regulars was unaware that the tautai had mined it and was able to blow it up at any time. The allies eventually won, as the chinese ran out of troops with modern equipment, though a unit of Richard Houston's bowmen in a cornfield gave the US marines a bad moment until incredibly bad shooting caused the bowmen to flee with only 2 casualties suffered and 1 caused. It was an enjoyable con with every game that I saw well-attended.

On a darker note. I have so far received the first two releases of the Darkest Africa range from Guernsey Foundry. Mark Copplestone has produced a beautiful line of figures. I do have two minor quibbles: the poses are somewhat static and almost identical, and some mold lines are nearly inaccessible, being in deeply recessed areas. Neither of these is of any consequences. The availablity of early askari, generic african tribesmen, and arab slavers opens gaming possibilities that I could only dream of before.

I have an 1889 copy of J.W. Buel's HEROS OF THE DARK CONTINENT, NEW EDITION, There are over 500 engravings and "26 symbolic initial letters" and Mr. Copplestone's figures could have come straight from the romantic and heroic illos.

Sounds like you had a great con, I hope it continues to grow. Several interesting little tidbits to use for my own gaming, thanks. I will have to look up Buel's book in the library sounds interesting. Thanks for your first time letter, very interesting.

John Baxter

I joined Magweb the other day and spent several hours printing off old copies of the your very fine journal. I think I need to get the real thing! Can you tell me how I can subscribe from all the way down here? (Australia)

My interest was initially the campaigns in the Sudan. I have 1898 Mahidist/Anglo-Egyptian armies (comprised of 15mm Essex and Two-Dragons figs - I never want to Paint another Essex figure as long as I live) totalling about 800 figs. Over the last three-four yrs, my interest has centred on India, esp 1890s NWF, IM and the Sikh wars. My current project is the NWF using Foundry figures (about 300 figures in all) which I bought last year when I was in the UK (can you imagine what it was like picking out your own figures at their Nottingham factory - paradise on earth!). Being a VMS member I was especially happy to get to the VMS fair at Chatham.

A couple of other points: 1. I am getting the first deal sent to me for the latest Foundry release, Darkest Africa. Would you like a review for the Heliograph when they arrive?; and 2. Has anyone done a review of Taylor's Companion to the IM? I would be happy to do the same. I think the hobby here is much more heavily influenced by the UK than the US. There appears to be little in the way of US figures sold here and it will be interesting to get some views from the US.

Thanks for your reply. I saw your initial review of the Darkest Africa range in the latest Heliograph on Magweb. The scale of the range (some 250 figs) is somewhat daunting and I think I may contain myself to the Stanley section. Have you seen the 1st Corps Cape Frontier figs in the April Wargames Illustrated?. They look quite good. Why do all these people keep making these figures that I want to buy? I think its some sort of conspiracy!

Firstly, have you seen the new 1st Corps Cape Wars (South Africa 1850s) figures? I have a dozen or so, and will do a review for you, as long as it wasn't covered in the June issue (which I haven't seen yet). They are a mixed bag, but generally good. Second, a good friend of mine is visiting the US soon and is looking to get a Foundry "fix" (the whole Old West range unpainted at home is not enough). Can you tell me what shops sell Foundry in the US on a non-pack basis. I know Pendragon are the wholesaler, but I dont think he is going anywhere near Ohio. Should he call Pendragon direct?

Also I have been studying my sources for Darkest Africa. Do you think a brief wargamers guide to the various explorers would be worthwhile? I have drafted something for Burton/Speke and could do the same for Baker and Stanley (waiting every day for my two volumes of Stanley's In Darkest Africa to arrive from Barnes and Noble). As an aside, I am also expecting to receive a copy of the Sutlej Casualty Roll (1st Sikh War) in the mail from a bookseller in West Australia. Also expecting a list from Richard Houston soon.

I have been in contact with Peter Stanley, who is a historian at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. Peter has written The White Mutiny: British Military Culture in India 1825-1875 for which flyer was included in the last SOTQ. Will get a copy to review. I found some pics of those 18th Bengal Lancers at last. I am slowly accumulating British/Indian Foundry figs for the 1st Afghan War. My intention is to finish the 1890s NWF stuff and then use the same Pathans for the 1840s. The majority of the British/Indian troops (except for the British Inf in Albert Shako) can then be used for the 1st Sikh War (I've already got 3x24 Sikh Infantry batts and some irregular cav). When youre paying the equivalent of US1.50 per figure, I reckon you have got to make as efficient use of them as possible.

Sorry to ramble on, but the enthusiasm of other Heliograph subscribers seems to be contagious. Thanks for your reply. Enclosed is a Wargamers Guide to Burton and Speke. I hope you find it useful. I will work on a review of the new Cape Wars figures, but I'll need to get them scanned for you. They have been released by 1st Corps. The 15 samples I have are generally very good. The Xhosa are reasonable, but the British figures are very, very good. For someone who believes that Foundry make the best 25mm figures by a long way, it means something when I say that the best of these 1st Corps figs are as good. You could easily slip some of them into the Foundry IM range and not pick the difference in quality. The detail and faces are truly excellent. At only 60p each, it would be good to see another quality manufacturer of 25mms emerge to keep Foundry and their price rises honest. Have some more book reviews done, but will keep them for later.

This was actually comprised of four email letters that I have already answered, I wanted you to see what readers are doing in Australia. John's enthusiasm is quite contagious, if you want to email him baxterj@mpx.com.au

Ron Teleucky

Writing to let you know that issue 107 of the Heliograph was the BEST ever.

I do have a question or two for you. What is the last issue of the Courier you have in hand? The last issue I received was #73, on 11/29/97. Same question for BattleField. I received Vol. 1 #. 6 back on 7/24/97. Nothing since then. I have written several letters to On Military Matters, but have not received a reply.

In issue #106, it was stated you would have an update concerning Savage and Soldier. But nothing was mentioned in the last H. Can you up date any of this. I wonder what is happening with the Courier. You are one of the few publications that has remained on a timely publishing schedule, good for you. Is there any chance any of us who paid a subscription fee for S&S will receive either a refund or the first year free if someone else starts publishing it again. I think someone should step forward and accept responsibility for this. Please voice this opinion to Andrew, he did pass on S&S to Joe. And as far as I am concerned, Joe is nothing more than a thief no matter what his problems are. Anyway, thanks for taking the time to write back.

The last issue of the Courier was #73 as far as I know. I have no idea about Battlefield. As to S&S try writing to Andrew Preziosi, but first see his letter in the next column. Bob Giglio suggested that I just take over the type of material that S&S was running, which I'll be glad to with readership help. I suggested then that I change the name to Savage Heliograph, we both got a laugh But seriously, whoever, tries to bring it back will have to immediately live up to an awful lot of promises made by others and give it away free for the first several issues at the least.

Chris Nelson

The people that you want to contact regarding a subscription to Practical Wargamer and Regiment are:

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310-375-6258