I extend Mucho Thanks to Gerry Webb of Castaway Arts for the cover illustration.

I went to visit my father (98 and still going strong) on the way to Historicon, my son Ben and I stopped for the night in Wilmington, Del.; as mentioned before this is a great area for hobby shops and gamers. We shopped at several stores there, the Trains and Hobby in Newark had 1/64 die cast scale cars and trucks by Ikay, most were ‘40s and later but a few were from the ‘20s and ‘30s. We also went to Days of Knights that has a large selection of board games and fantasy figs and stuff. Ben picked up a nice selection of Industrial Gothic (ZN Games) armored Zeppelins, 1/2400 scale?, for Aeroneuf or Space 1889 aerial combat. Pretty nice looking ships, we got enough for two small battleship groups, about six ships each with battleship, destroyers and scouts, and a few troopships. This was the best colonial find there, although they also carried some of Westwind’s Gothic Wars figs, some of which we can use.

In Wilmington we went to Mitchell’s Hobby where I got some 1910s touring cars by Matchbox. A worthwhile, if somewhat expensive, stopover by all accounts for both of us.

Historicon was great, saw loads of old friends, bought more lead (don’t tell my wife please) and played in a colonial game using 800 Fighting Englishmen rules run by the master himself - Larry Brom. Great fun!

Bought one each of nearly every Extraordinary Person from Parroom Station (London War Room) as well as the British Aero Naval Boarding Party that comes with two heads, with or without goggles. Great figures, and I think they will fit in with 25mm figs (at least the naval figs). Recommended

I finally picked up a pack of Pathans with rifles from Old Glory, very nice figs these.

At On Military Matters I picked up a great book that anyone interested in the Sudan or Italian colonial actions will want—Soldati D’Africa Storia Del Colonialismo Italiano E Delle Uniformi Per le Truppe D’Africa Del Regio Esereito, Volume Primo 1885-1896 by Renzo Catellani and Gian Carlo Stella, published by Ermanno Albertelli Editore, Via G.S. Sonnino, 34-43100 Parma Italy PO Box 395, 2002, hardcover, $38.00. However, it’s in Italian so also get a dictionary. But it is well worth the price and dictionary time. The book is broken into a chapter per year, some longer than others, and includes battles, campaigns, photos, maps, OBs, uniform, data, and that’s without using my dictionary. There are 38 pages of biographies of all the major players Italian, Sudanese and Ethiopian. And, the best part is 56 pages of color plates (at least 112 illustrations) including photos of real equipment, drawings weapons, uniforms, leggings, insignia, spurs, boots, and feathers. WOW!!!! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

At RLBPS I finished my German camel unit off with 4 more mounted and six dismounted figs from HLBS also very nice figs. Recommended

While I did not buy anything the Falcon Miniatures booth, it was crowded when I went by and they have colonials in 25mm in production. So if you have old Falcon’s or need 25mm figs they have some (at least FFL) available now and the German’s will soon follow.

I chatted with Gerry Webb from Castaway Arts and Nic Robson from Eureka, a couple of great guys. I was going to put them on the cover along with some photos from Historicon but Gerry bribed me with a new cover not to print his photo (Gerry are you wanted in the US for some crime that you don’t want your photo on my cover? well besides making me spend money on more figs than I need). I must say every time I think I am closing in on finishing my armies Gerry comes up with more stuff I think I need for the Sudan or now the FFL. A Martini-Henry Carbine is now available for your mounted troops. Mounted Bashi’s and Arabs are coming soon as is more FFL stuff. I purchased some of Eureka’s Punjab and Sikh Pioneers/Miners and Sappers very nice figs and come with shovels and picks. Next issue I will review them. Almost every expedition that was undertaken on the Northwest Frontier had a platoon or more of these men so you do need them.

Howard Whitehouse put on one of his four reel specials “The Search for the Crystal Skull” which looked great. I briefly met with Patrick Wilson of The Virtual Armchair General we must do it again Patrick but next time for more than two minutes. Howard also makes and sells terrain pieces that are very nice. His terrain graces my table and it is among the best, if not the best terrain I have seen. I understand that he can make the entire Gettysburg battlefield for 28mm figs overnight, WOW!! But don’t quote me on that! Highly Recommended source of terrain.

There were also several VicSciFi games using Gaslight with some very nice models. Overall I must say that the scenery for all the games at Historicon was much better than previous years, it looked like GMs really put a big effort into their games and scenery.

I have finally gotten a chance to finish up terrain boards for my table. See the Article!

A shameless plug for this newsletter, I need articles please as I have nothing left and no ideas. All my thinking for the rest of the year went into this issue, so I am stuck, please help your fellow readers.

From the files of Don Featherstone - Colonial Actions beginning in August or September: Expedition against the Michini Mohmands, NWF, 1854; Storming the Taku Forts, China, 1860; Occupation of Yokohama, 1864; Third Afghan War, 1880; Hazara Field Force, 1888; Expedition against the Isazai Tribes NWF, 1892; Bombardment of Zanzibar, 1896; Rising of the Mohmands NWF, 1897; Operations against the Ovakzais and Chamkannis Tribes, 1897; and, The Malakand Field Force, 1897.

Surely, this list will give you some ideas for games.

Next Issue Appeal

The October issue contains the colonial figs manufacturers listing, much updated from last year. Sadly I have NO articles so I am humbly asking for your help. Quite a few of you have promised articles over the last several years but I really need them now.

Maybe German Colonial Uniforms next issue?