We need members! Memberships are down, and so is our ability to do things. Any of you are not members, but reading this newsletter -- join now! Besides the newsletter, there is a 10% discount it selected hobby stores for HMGS' members. We put on two all-historical conventions each year. This allows members to showcase their clubs and gain additional club members, or experiment with diffierent rule sets or periods in miniatures, without investing in the rules or figures. Without you there is no reason to exist.
Definite naval bent to our newsletter this month. Chuck Duggie and Jim O'Neil, both experts in sea warfare as well as myself, review rules on naval combat. Chuck begins his regular column on things nautical, and I am hoping that others out there will follow his lead. I need columns on air war, land war and points in between. Also I did make requests that the participants of Something Unusual's recent game day send me a quick sketch of what they put on, and its result.
And I received zilch! This is maddening as it would have been an interesting article to read for those who did not attend. There again is that apathy I spoke about in the last issue. 'Nuff said about that.
HMGS' members have been calling my home while I've been out, and have not left numbers. This is frustrating as I work in the Industry, and much of the time I'm out late. I will get back to you, but unless I have number, I'm in the dark. I do not yet have a complete membership list, and probably will not have one soon. Therefore leaving a name on my answering machine is not enough, I need a Cone number as well. About letters. Yes, we have a letter column. No, I will not publish letters that attack other members. And you can be sure I'll not publish any letters that do not have a name or return address. Letters that attack members or the leadership of the club should be mailed to the HMGS Box. I want letters that will either further the hobby, or correct appalling incorrect information contained in a published article.
Elections
Now about the elections, we need officers. All positions are up for grabs, If you are scared that you don't have the stuff to be an officer, nuts. But we will ask for a commitment. Some return from you will be expected. Existing personal will advise you so the changeover will not be traumatic. There is more on the elections in Steve's Fearless Leader column. Clay Smith, the national coordinator also has a column in this issue. It deals with National HMGS info, I suggest you read it. Clay promises more of these occasionally.
Our fall con is coming up' we are back at the Airport like spring's and I don't like it. We need a permanent place to play. Someone in our membership must know of somewhere that will give us at least 3000 sq. for two days to put on a miniature wargaming convention. If someone would help out that would be great.
David P. Glick, a fellow college grad. from my ole' Ala Mater, wants to form a wargaming club in Lake Forest, Orange County. Dave was pres. of our old wargaming college group, "the Aztecs", and he puts on great campaigns. If you think his name sounds familiar, he wrote several articles on Ancient tactics for The Courier. One even received a rebuttal from the eminent Phil Barker. His group seems interested in Napoleonics, and ancients, but call Dave for more details.
On July 8-9 1996, the 9th Annual Old Fort MacArthur Days will be held on the Museum Grounds in Angel's Gate Park. This is essential for historical garners, as it features reenactors from all wars in California's History: Mexican/ American, ACW, WWI, WWII, and Korea. It also includes equipment from the wars. There also will be a miniature game! Our club will put on the Battle of Gettysburg, the 2nd Day on a terrain board. Center price of the exhibits are the bunkers of Battery Osgood, which mounted 14" naval rifles mounted on disappearing carriages., If you have never seen a naval underground artillery bunker, think of the movie "Guns of Navarone." This is event you shouldn't miss, and the museum is in great shape fight now. "Sgt. Bilko" the movie has just finished being shot there.
Reviews
Although this is not an Entertainment Magazine, it's what I do, so here are some capsule reviews about movies, miniature garners might be interested in (and you thought this newsletter this was just going to be about gaming):
Braveheart:
Mel Gibson This one was a disapointment. The Scots want their Freedom from the bad English, but they are not sure how to go about getting it. And they sure fight a lot among themselves. Enter The Stranger, sorry William Wallace (Mel Gibson), to show them the way. Yep, this long running (2:57) costume drama is an oater. You almost want fast-forward to the 47 min. battle scenes, but you are in a theater so you can't. This is the legend of Wallace, not a historical drama, and "Braveheart" is worse off for it. The English armor is incorrect for the battle of Sterling Bridge, as well as many terms used in the movie's dialogue. As for Falkirk (Callendar Wood) the little that is said about it the better. The redeeming part of the film is Patrick McGoohan's (The Prisoner) portrayal of King Edward. He is so nasty. that if this was the real Edward's character it is no wonder that his nobles eventually forced Edward to resubmit to the Magna Carter.
Rob Roy:
Michael Caton-Jones The second and better of the two Scots' fight for independence films, (what's next. Robert the Bruce & The Bonnie Prince Charlie'?) "RR" has story line taken from Sir Walter Scott's epic of the same name, and tries to catch a feel of he early 18th century average Scotsmen problems.
Roy (Liam Neeson) is properly noble, but his long suffering wife (Jessica Lange in an award winning performance) and Tom Roth as the amoral fop gives this film its pop. Military costumes are correct, (the dragoons can't even sit on a horse properly, they ride like dragoons should), and the dialogue and period "feels" correct. The final obligatory showdown with the villain and hero is handled well, with good rapier vrs claymore fencing scenes. The movie's biggest fault is in the Scots' dress. Knee high boots on Scotsmen'? Come on, now! But it's what the director wanted, so he got it. Highly Recommended.
Crimson Tide:
Tony Scott. "Came Mutiny" set on a Boomer. (A Missile Sub for those not in the know.) Good look at what makes a "nuc" tick and how "Fail safe command" works. Scott has let the technology alone this time, USS Alabama is not the star, unlike the F14s in his "Top Gun." The actors (Gene Hackman, Denzel Washington) do the real work in this movie it's better off for it. Nail biting claustrophobic tension to the end, which is a big let down. No wonder the Navy disavowed this film. Only technical glitch is US uses Mk. 42 torpedoes, not Mk. 52s. Recommended.
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