Best wishes for continued success in the new year, and thanks for the fine series of issues in the Heliograph during 1999. Since you noted that you were now out of material for the next issue, I thought I better get busy and finally throw a few things into the mail that I have been saving up for you.

1. To add to your file on colonial gunboats, I can provide a full side-view drawing of the Tamai stern-wheeler, as originally built. I was able to scan the illustration out of a small book published by the National Maritime Museum in the UK some years ago. (Since the original drawing by Elder Co. of Glasgow was on paper that has yellowed, the photoreproduction in the book came out as if it was on a colored background. Sorry I couldn't get rid of the gray bacground.) The drawing gives a good idea of the proportions of this small river gunboat.

2. You mentioned the fact that Old Glory hasn't provided any review figures for The Heliograph, which is short-sighted on their part. I'll help out by scanning in some of the new releases that I have found. These come 30 to a bag for $24.00, and I've had very speedy service from Grandiosity in Ohio. They've just upgraded their online ordering procedure...very easy to do. You can find their Old Glory listings at http://www.warweb.com//miniatures/glory.html and all the lines are listed.

The first illustration is from the Spanish-American War line and is from set SAW-19 Spanish Infantry in sun helmets with command.

The top row shows all five command figures, two officers, two troops with bugle and one ensign posed to hold a flag. The five varieties of infantry men are shown in the next row...firing-standing and kneeling, loading prone and standing, and moving up with rifle "at the trail". Troops have head variants, and are 26mm to the eye or 28mm overall height.

The next set is SAW-1 US Infantry advancing with command. This is a good active assortment, with 4 variations of advancing infantrymen and six command figures. The command includes two each of officers, troopers with bugle, and standard bearers. As you can see in the scans, the lower line is the command, and all six figures are unique. The "rank and file" advancing figures are in four poses distinguished by leg position and by sleeves worn long or rolled up. Head variations give lots of variety to the unit. The castings have good detail, and had little or no flash.

The next set is SAW-2 US Infantry skirmishing with command. This set also has six command figures, with the standard bearers and buglers being the same positions as in set#1. The two officers included one repeat and one new position, for a total of three between the two sets. The infantrymen are in six different positions: prone loading, kneeling firing, kneeling loading, standing (advancing) firing, standing loading, and walking with rifle at the side ("at trail arms"). Again heads are varied to give a lot of variety to the unit. These are clean casting with good detail.

For the Cuban Independence Movement Old Glory has supplied set SAW-23 which is listed as Cuban Rebel infantry with command. As irregulars, these figures show more variety in dress, with variations on the white shirt and trousers seen on the old photos. The variety of straw hats are a treat, and they really capture the Cuban styles seen in the book illustrations. Each hat has a tiny Cuban flag represented on it, correctly positioned on the turned up hat brim. Again there are six command figures, including two each of officer gesturing with sword in hand, bugler and standard bearer. Cuban infantry is in kneeling firing, standing firing, running and walking advancing positions, and standing reloading. Head positions and hat detail are varied for each position.

For the Spanish colonial forces Old Glory has provided a naval landing party in set SAW-22 Spanish sailors advancing with command. The command is only two figures, consisting of two copies of a naval officer advancing with pistol in hand. All the other figures are sailors in Naval uniform with wide collar, advancing with rifles. There are minor variations in the leg and head positions, with the sailors in basically two positions-advancing with rifle leveled or advancing at "high port" with rifle pointed up. Again, there is a lot of good detail and the sculptor has captured the Spanish Naval cap well. (This cap is smaller than the German or Austrian navy cap, and has no pom-pom like the French). The sailors have wide-bottom pants and wear light equipment on a waist belt, and they could probably serve as generic naval types when you don't want obviously Greman, British or French sailors.Colonial German troops are the new item for 2000, with two firms already advertising them and the Foundry promising to do them as well.

3. For the first of these offerings, please check the RLBPS webpage at www.rlbps.com for your info. These troops as described as 28mm tall. The figures are made by The Honorable Lead Boiler Suit Company and include the Shutztruppen in slouch hats, sun helmets and flat top taps with sun curtain. This is quite a full list, with Askari and mounted troops as well, including MG crews and maxim guns. Troops are packed 5 for $750 via RLBPS. 4. The second set of German Shutztruppen is a double offering from Reviresco, which is John McEwan's company noted for excellent 1/72 scale armored vehicles. He has German Shutztruppen for WWI in both the small 25mm scale or 1/72, and a new size listed as 28mm, or 1/64 scale. In 28mm scale he has both the King's African Rifles and the Shutztruppen. Set GER-1 provides 30 figures for $25 including Askari as well as Germans in sun helmets. Set GER-2 is a nine piece kit of two Askari with a German MG for $4. Opposition is provided by KAR-1 a 30 piece set of British in sun helmets and Askari in flat fez, as well as a British Maxim gun in set KAR-2 for $4. You can find the details at http:/halcyon.com/shamrock/sg/ger28.htm and related pages.

5. Also from RLBPS are some nice African huts produced by Grand Manner in the 25mm scale. The web page provides color illustrations showing the variety of tatched huts with Foundry natives for scale. Huts run $19.50 or 22.50 each and look very nice in the photos.

6. The news from the Foundry is that they have put up their own web page, with lots of photo illustrations from their magazine ads. The web page is also providing a series of very nice extras, including medieval banners in full color for the War of the Roses, the full text of the articles being run in Wargames Illustrated in support of "Darkest Africa" miniatures and games, and an entire set of colonial campign rules called "In the Heart of Africa".

Lastly, I'd like to provide a tip o' the hat to Tim Peterson and his "Gisby" web page that provided unofficial Foundry listings to us for so long. Tim's page still has lots of good ideas for colonial gamers, now that he's not busy listing all the Foundry output. Lately Tim has added some good how-to articles on building colonial and native wargames building, with color illustrations. You can check his articles and tips on Victorian Adventure Gaming at http:/wwwgeocities.com/TimesSquare/Corridor/3588/khall.htm and related pages.