DON’T FORGET, PLEASE, IF THE NUMBER ON YOUR MAILING LABEL IS 133 IT IS TIME TO REENLIST FOR THE HELIOGRAPH FOR ANOTHER YEAR.

Increase

First the bad news, I will have to increase the subscription rate beginning with the February 2003 issue 135. The new annual rate will be $20 for US subscriptions. However, if you wish to renew now it will be at the $12 annual rate. This will be the first time I have raised the subscription rate since taking over and I really have no choice now. Printing and mailing costs have increase greatly since 1995 when I began as editor. I hope I don’t loose too many of you to this increase.

I still need articles for the future, so please start sending me scenarios, the more obscure the better for our period.

In light of my request last issue I received two articles and promises for several others. I have a load of contemporary illustrations for the Dahomey wars, if enough of you wish it I will include them a page or two at a time.

A few people have objected to my price increase. The last issue with a cut in the number of pages broke even, however, the previous three issues cost me between $35 and $55 each, now that’s me not the Heliograph account. Two dollars an issue just does not cover expenses of printing and mailing, regardless of the number of subscriptions, unless I cut the number of pages per issue or the number of issues per year. I really would like some feed-back on this.

I recent was sent some Franco-Prussian war figures by Chris Nelson who no longer wanted them and they will fit perfectly into a new command of Zenda I am setting up with figures from Westwinds Gothic Horror set of Zendaran troopers (they have some very nice troopers in billed cap and helmet as well as officers, alright Zendaran Vampire Hunters). In order to repaint the Prussians (they were in Prussian Jager green/black with a white undercoat), I put them in a small jar, covered them with Bleche White ($2 from the Dollar Store) and let them sit in it overnight.

Next day I took them out of the jar with tweezers, put them under running water (this stuff must be treated with care and safety in mind-read the instructions) and then brushed the figs off as though I was first washing the mold lubricant off. They are now like brand new and shiny ready for an undercoat and a new uniform paint scheme (probably a bright blue or dusty rose).

I have some old Games Workshop boxed sets for sale Space Marines, Tyrannid Attack, Space Hulk, Renegades and three or four others. They have been opened and used, but all the pieces are there, except for may be some figures. If any of you are interested please let me know and I will send you further details.