This issue is pretty skimpy on news from the hobby world.

1. Wargames Illustrated, issue 181

“Dodging the ‘Whistling Dicks’ a small Crimean War Scenario” by David Bickley, mainly for Principles of War and “Naval Battles of the Russo-Japanese War Part 3 The mini Campaign” by David Manley, rules for a short campaign, basics for 5 mission types-full of very useful info for gaming are the only two colonial era articles.

As to ads the one that really caught my eye was Gladiator Games (11 Derwent Avenue, Beds, SG18 8LY UK www.gladiatorgames.co.uk have some 15mm Biblical buildings and fortifications that look very good for use in North Africa.

2. Reports from the Skirmish Line, #55

#56 Several color pictures in this issue that details a campaign in a fictitious North African country with the British in a second attempt, this time a two prong attack towards the capitol. A very interesting write up. I would like Ted to fill us in some on the rules and ideas behind the world? they have created.

Anyone interested in skirmish wargaming can obtain it free by email from ted.herbert@tinyworld.co.uk Any message to Ted must have the full and clear title 'Reports from the Skirmish Line'.

Each issue discusses the games and places the Skirmish Wargames Group games in plus book, magazine and movie reviews, letters and more. I don’t know the rules sets they’re using but it certainly sounds like they have a good time gaming and loads of good fellowship. The articles provide interesting reading and some good ideas that are well worth stealing.

3. Soldiers of the Queen, issue 110

As usual this issue provides some very good reading material. There are two articles of particular interest to gamers, ”The Royal Navy and the East Coast of Africa 1890-1899” by Peter Singlehurst and “The Legion of Frontiersmen” by Geoffrey Pocock.

Singlehurst’s article delineates five actions—-the Witu 1890 expedition, the Witu 1893 and Juba River expeditions, M’wele expedition, one against the Sultan of Zanzibar and some general info on actions on the rivers and lakes. The articles does not provide OB information but plenty of info for making scenarios up using your naval landing parties. Very nice.

The “Legion of Frontiersmen” details the possible beginnings of MI5 and MI6. There are certainly some good ideas here for small-scale skirmish actions. And, further research may provide for some very interesting skirmish ideas for East Africa in WWI.

4. Uniforms and Costume, if you are planning a campaign and have no information on uniforms please let me know and we can have an article in the next issue.

5. Copplestone Castings

More figures have been added to the Back of Beyond line, but I have not seen them yet, even though I have a standing order for the Character packs. I also understand that Mark is getting ready to add Germans to the Return to Darkest Africa line, I can’t wait for that standing order to come in.

6. Military History magazine (December 2002) has two articles of interest ”Manhunt for Pancho Villa” by Wilfred P. Deac is a very good introduction to the cross border problems of 1915-1917. The article also has very good detail, enough for a scenario, for the Villista attack on Columbus, New Mexico. This includes OB, tactics and town set-up. Good reading. “For the Love of a Good Fight” by John Brown is an article about the British and the Maori Wars.

7. Naval History magazine (December 2002) has two articles on Teddy Roosevelt and the Great White Fleet. Quite interesting to read, and includes a centerfold photo (three pages) taken 31 January 1909 of the Fleet (17 ships) at Gibraltar with British (6 ships) and Russian (5) ships also at anchor, very nice photo.

8. Parroom Station, from the London War Room.

These figures are both compatible with Space 1889 and Barsoom story lines, although the Parroom Station Martians are smaller than the RAFM Space 1889 Martians. On the other hand, the Parroom Station human figures are larger than the RAFM figures. Regardless they are all compatible and mixing the two gives much nicer and great gaming scenario range.

The latest release includes two British Aero Naval Brigade officers and 10 sailors. The sailors are wearing googles, a very nice touch, so that you could make up a unit and add a new camel corps unit in the Sudan. While I have not bought these figures I very much like the sculpting and poses, these can be used for any British Naval action of the later 19th century. There are also two Martian Royal Grenadiers, a human officer and then there are the Cephalids. These guys are duplicates of the War of the World Martians. The Cephalids come with walkers (2 different), ray projectors, a mad scientist, plus several others. If you are taking an aether flyer to Mars you will want these figures.