From Tom Dye Hi, Hal. Just finished scanning issue 114 and sorely missed the "letters" column. I really enjoy reading about what folks around the country are working on/playing. I always get motivated by pictures of others work and comparing their projects to mine. We have been very busy adding new items to the range. (Well, OK, some were available before, but they are new to GFI in new molds!) We (GFI/USA) have successfully added models designed by US to the N Scale (10-12mm) WWII range: An LCVP (Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel), sandbagged Sherman and a Type 97 Shinhoto Japanese tank. We also have added to our 15mm WWI range and Naps range (we now have ALL of the Nap equipment out and the Bavarians and Duchy of Warsaw). One of the things that have "bugged" me about our Tricorne ranges was the lack of a twin pole limber. I now have "fixed" that. We now offer this limber with either horses, mules or oxen teams. We even include the drover. While visiting Borderwars in Kansas City, I was able to watch a large 15mm WWI battle using "Battles with Brusalov", a soon-tobe-published set of rules that plays like Fire and Fury. These rules have been in play test for about 5 years and it shows! Two fellow Denver area gamers were able to play in the game and I think I sold more WWI figs to them than anyone else! Now THAT's an endorsement for a rules set! While speaking about WWI, I see where Arty has released his Great War Spearhead set. While my copy in "in the mail", I have been hearing some great things about it. Both sets use the company as the base size (using 2 figs per base). This makes the large battles of WWI most affordable since one needs LOTS of companies. After all, when one looks at the number of participants in Western Front battles in WWI, it makes Napoleonic Leipzig look like a small skirmish! I still am active in the unsatiable quest for a set of Marlburian rules that addresses issues that "make" the period for me. Guess I'll just have to give in and write a set for myself. This is a period that I care so much for that finding a new source for research brings me great joy! A VERY thoughtful customer at Borderwars (and fellow WSS nut) was nice enough to provide me with a copy of "Bemalungsangaben fur die Zeit Spanischen Erfolge kries 1701-1714" by Siegbert Wagner. I had been looking for a copy for years! I only knew it as the "Wagner" book. With over 200 drawings, each featuring a regiment's flag, uniform drawings of officers, NCO, musicians and trooper, my desire to add to my Marlburian/WSS armies is overwhelming! Sooo many figures ... sooo little time! I recently discovered a great book "Warfare in the Seventeenth Century" by John Childs; a recent addition to the Cassell's History of Warfare series. While this covers all of the 17th Century, there are good sized chapters on North America and the most elusive happening of the 1680 90's period. (War of the League of Augsburg among others). It covers the 30 Years war, as well. I highly recommend it for anyone that wants an overall view as to what was happening during those times. There is much useful detail to be found in this book. Looking forward to issue 115! Now where did I put that bottle of Pearl Gray paint?... From Jim Garver Good afternoon, I just finished reading your piece on the Sudan and have a question and a possible suggestion for your search for Bashi Bazooks. First the question - what rules set/s do you use for playing the Sudan? I've looked at various sets and none seem to give me what I'm looking for. Right now I'm playing skirmish level with Sword and the Flame. Any suggestions? As to the figures ... this may be a long shot but I saw an ad in the winter, 2001 edition of the SYW Association Journal for Old Glory 15's. They list Turkish Bazi Bazooks for the period 1700-1820. Probably too early but they might be a possibility if nothing better comes along. I don't game any of the Austro-Hungarian/Turkish wars at this time so have no idea if they fit. I've mixed Old Glory and Essex 15's for my Prussian and Austrian SYW armies and while the Old Glory's are a bit large, they do work pretty well. Hope you find what you are looking for and would be interested in rules sets. From Bruce Meyer Received #113 today and read you have had little success finding figures on Ebay. Someone else probably does it more eloquently but I've done okay with the following. In your search box type in a scale and a manufacturer such as 15mm Old Glory or 25mm Foundry. Then make sure you check the box underneath that says "search titles and descriptions." Sellers of figures seem to be spread all over different categories but much more often than not the item description gives the scale and manufacturer and gets turned up in your search. From Enzo DeIanni How do you do? Everything all right after those events in New York? I hope so. I just received your #112 and I thought to let you, just to ask about you and yours. Look forward to read a reassuring note and look more of your wonderful work. PS - I am really working on those notes about Sikh War figures just need some more days as I am writing them while I paint and base the various units, so to exactly describe what I used for what and how I organized the different units... did you hear that Freikorps is going to launch a new series about the war? From Fidellis Models Fidelis Models is now offering twelve new HO 1/87 scale diecast metal kits just released from Imex Model Company: M60A1 Tank M551 Sheridan Lt. Tank King Tiger Tank Leopard Tank PanzerIV Tank Panther Tank Chieftain Tank Centurion Tank T-54 Tank T-10 Joseph Stalin AMX-30 Napoleon Tank Japanese Type 61 These diecast metal kits are assembled, painted, and clecaled. Many of you will recognize these kits as retooled and improved versions of the discontinued Zylmex line. Please visit our website at www.fidelismodels.com for photos and prices. From Roy Downes Does anyone out there know of a company or companies that manufacture 25-28mm figures for the Swedish army of Charles XII? would appreciate names and addresses. thanks much. From Greg Principato I saw your editorial in MWAN on trying to use the flocking material from Woodland Scenics. I use their products all the time to cover my figure bases because it matches my Geohex. When I started to use their products all I did was to place some of the flocking in a container that was about 2 inches larger than the bases that I was flocking. I used a box that my checks came in after it was empty. I put in enough flocking to fill it up half way. Then I would paint the base of the figures with a heavy layer of acrylic paint and then dip the base in the box with the flocking material before the paint dried. I then sprayed the entire figure with Testors Dull Coat. This combination of the paint underneath and the Dull Coat on top really keeps the flocking from brushing off the base. What I am currently doing is I mix the flocking material with some sand that I purchased at a craft store like Hobby Lobby or Michael's. This sand is used in vases or for pictures like some American Indian tribes would use and comes in many colors. I use mainly the dark brown with a little red brown and tan mixed in. With the green flocking material this mixture has a nice appearance. I just mix all of the material in one box as before and kind of stir the figure in this blend and presto! Nice bases. I hope that this will help you. If you would like to see this technique in action, just contact me and we can get together for a demonstration. Keep up the great work on the magazine. On another note, I hope that you and your family did not suffer any personal loss from the terrorist attacks. This was a terrible event. I have some very strong feelings on this subject so I will not get in to it here but my heart and prayers go out to all the victims and their families. Also I hope that you are feeling better. I can not imagine having to lay on your stomach for so long!! From Karl and Bev of The Last Square We've been busy up here with this and that. Our newest news is we just completed an American Red Cross Fund-Raiser yesterday. 5% of sales for the day went to the American Red Cross -- plus we had a raffle for a $50 gift certificate at The Last Square. The total check being sent to the American Red Cross will be $372.71. Karl cooked brats, hamburgers and hot dogs -- I kept the coolers full of pop -- Chad and Mike waited on customers -WWII raged on the back gaming table; Beautiful weather -- it was great. For the next MWAN could we have a mention of The Last Square 6th Annual Invitational. February 8 - 10 -- Radisson Inn Madison, Wisconsin -- just a few spots left in the Ancients game -contact us at info@lastsquare.com or 1-800-750-4401 for more info. The invitational offers two BIG games -they start Friday night and usually end up late Saturday night -though Sunday AM is available for closing moves. Typically, though, they play their hearts out late Saturday -- talk all night -clean up the ball room Sunday AM, enjoy the closing brunch/award ceremony and are on their way home by noon. The two games this year are The Belgic Rebellion -- 57BC -- The Belgae tribes of Gaul potted rebellion against Rome. The united tribes challenge Caesars 12 legions. 25mm game -- 6,000+ miniatures. Modified Chaos Wars. Space for 26 players. Drums Along the Mohawk is set in 1758 with the French and her Indian allies plotting the downfall of England and her Colonists. 25mm skirmish campaign -- space for 24 players -modified Fields of Honor. (This game is full.) From Lorenzo Sartori As for the information you asked, the mag can be purchased with a subscription of 35 $ for 4 issues (included p&p), payment can be made by IMO payable to Sartori Lorenzo, via Cavalli 65, 26013 Crema (Cr) - Italy. Dadi&Piombo (Dice&Lead) is the first Italian historical wargames magazine, a quarterly now in its second year. Though Italy is not new to wargames, in these last 10 years the hobby is growing fast. As for the contents of last issue: 1) "Il mestiere delle armi" (literally "the job of the weapons") is the title of an Italian movie by the director Olmi about the condottiere Giovanni dalle Bande Nere (John of the Black Bands ??) 2) "Wargames&Chips" is the story of the refight of the battle of Magnesia presented in a MacDonald's restaurant in Naples!! 3) "Dalle Alpi alle Piramidi" (from the Alps to Pyramids) is a simple Napoleonic ruleset. It playable also with 1/72 plastic figures, still very popular in Italy probably because several manufacturers produce/d such figures in Italy (Atlantic, Esci, Italeri ... ) while metal figures are not so easy to find. 4) "Per vivere la storia" is a presentation of the European Consortium Historical Reenactments 5) "Sie Kommen" (they are coming) is the report from a megagame on the D-Day (sector SWORD beach) run in May at the "Citto di Faenza" convention. Very well organized and appreciated by the 22 gamers. 6) "La fine dei Lancaster" (the end of Lancaster) is the fifth part of a long article covering all the battle of Wars of the Roses, a period I love. 7) Miles Gloriosus is the presentation of a famous club in Rome. I'm going to present all the clubs in Italy... it will take some time. 8) "Costruirsi il primo esercito" (How to build the very first army) is for newbies on how to purchase the right miniatures, how to read an army list etc. 9) News from the market 10) Quebec 1759 a Warfare in the age of Reason scenario 11) John Stafford reporting from USA 12) Club contacts and a guide on the ruleset mentioned in the issue Hope it helps. From Darryl Smith The members of the Wayne's Legion Historical Gamers have been busy over the pat many months. Members of our group hosted events at Capcon in Columbus, Drums Along the Maumee in Toledo, at War Party in Cincinnati, as well as the HMGS Great Lakes' flagship convention, Advance the Colors, in Springfield. We are looking forward to next year's convention 'campaign". We have already worked up a tentative list of events we will be hosting at Drums Along the Maumee in May. We are going to have our own area set aside (Wayne's World) and will be running events continuously. The Colby Street Irregulars host a great con - a very friendly bunch of gamers (now through this hobby we share my friends) and dedicated to bringing a quality show to light each year. For more information about Drums Along the Maumee, War Party, Advance the Colors, or HMGS Great Lakes in general, please visit www.hmgsgreatlakes.org. Having served Great Lakes for a number of years as president, membership secretary, and convention organizer, I can say that it is really a great group of gamers, who can always use the support of its members. I was going through my old issues of MWAN the other day when I came across Paul Hinson's rules called The Banana Wars. These rules are to create the many small conflicts we fought in the early 20th century in places like Mexico and the Caribbean. I was able to contact Paul and he has been very helpful in providing me with information covering this period of US history. Now if I could only find figures for this period! Cannon Fodder Miniatures make a 25mm YangPat line, great for those Sand Pebbles games! My good friend (and MWANer) Matt Davidson and I have been paring down our miniatures collections, focusing more on the North American Wars. Currently, I have figures for the AWI (25mm Dixon and Old Glory), the Legion of the United States (25mm Old Glory), the War of 1812 (25mm Foundry and Old Glory), the MexicanAmerican War (25mm 1st Corps), ACW (land in 15mm Heritage and naval in 1/600th scale, Thoroughbred), as well as a few "oddball" periods (Gripping Beast Vikings, and some Old Glory German Colonials, both in 25mm). I have recently sold the 15mm FPW Prussians I had started collecting (I was going to do the German-Danish War on land), as well as my library of WWI air books. I also had WWII figures, both in 15mm and 1/285 th scale, that I had gotten rid of previously. Over the last few years I have been finding I have had less time for gaming, and far too many periods to ever get anything accomplished! So, with a refocused effort, I am trying to limit my interests to I can concentrate on actually gaming more. On thing I have accomplished was the creation of the Mexican-American War Egroup. This has been an enjoyable process, and there are over 80 members on the group. MWANers Tony Adams and Peter Panzeri have made this group much more successful than I could ever have done on my own. There are links and many files posted. Also, John McConnel of NOVAK has allowed me to post his rules for the period, Across the Rio Grande, on the egroup. I played in one of John's events a few years ago at Cold Wars, and although I was on the losing side (no, I wasn't playing the Mexicans!), I enjoyed the rules. Anyone out there who has an interest in the Mexican-American War, or the Texas Revolution, should check out the egroup at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mexamwar. Editor's Note: Darryl; thanks for Interesting letter; love to hear what MWANer are doing. Have you noticed that OUTPOST, out of the UK, has released a new 25mm fine of Mexican figures from the 1910-25 period? Sounds InterestIng). From David B. Sweet I regret to say that my father, Charles Sweet, of whose wargaming I wrote about in MWAN #'s 85 and 100, died on June 6", 2001 at the age of 87. In partial response to Kirby Arriola's question in a letter to MWAN (#111), as far as I know, Empires, Eagles & Lions has not been published since two black & white issues, labeled Vol 3, #1 Spring, 1996 and Vol 3., # 2, Summer, 1997. Since I wrote about WWI airplanes and the Fly or Die rules in MWAN #103, a number of new airplane 1/72nd kits appear to have become available in the US from eastern European manufacturers. Following is a partial list for those interested. I have not built these yet, but the additional 1.72nd kits I have seen include: (1) Aviatik (Berg) DI, by TOKO (Ukrainian, apparently the same company as for the Sopwith 11/2 Strutter kit I reviewed in MWAN #103); (2) Fokker EIV (advanced understand some firms do other historical, dating back to Rome and Medieval. They've even got a WWII Stuart tank and modern Bradley AFV to scale, for crying out loud! The price of this stuff is definitely geared towards the middle-aged collector, rather than kids. I've also got ahold of some new figures that are breathtaking! Helion offers some Prussians and Austrians from 1866 in 25mm scale and Harlequin has released 25mm WWII figures that put everything else available in 25mm WWII to shame. Right now they have Russians, US and Germans. All are well detailed with great animation. They've so much character you feel like you should name them. Also, there's a firm called CALPE Miniatures that has the most extensive line of 25mm 1815 Prussians the world has ever seen. I think there are over 300 foot figures(!) alone. Again, character, animation and outstanding detail are the order of the day. All of these are available from MINIATURE SERVICE CENTER in California. Doug, the owner, is a real gentleman and true business man, so dealing with him is a hassle-free pleasure. I recently started an Imperial Roman army of Wargames Foundry vintage. I plan to paint 10 cohorts of 24 figures each with one support unit of archers, slingers; and cava I ry. They're beautiful figures, but man, are they ever tedious to paint. Along with that, I'm redoing my War of the Roses' army, using Foundry and Old Glory figures. So many figures to paint, so little time! From Terry Gore I have made a major investment in a 'professional' web site for SAGA and to promote my new SAGA Publications business. Could you mention this in MWAN for me? We also have a very active rules discussion group, several in fact. The largest one is the one listed below, but we also have one you may be interested in, dealing with later 19th century warfare and a new rules set to go with it. SAGA's new website http://www.saga-publishing.com/ Subscribe to the SAGA Newsletter. For credit card payments, use www.paypal.com Join our rules group at http://qroups.yahoo.com/group/~Gore/AMwar From Kenn Hart Amazing how things just fall into place. Now I am knee, OK, chin deep in wargaming armies and need another one like another die that refuses to throw a 6. So when a friend of mine lent me a book by Garry Jennings, 'Aztec' (ISBN 0708820646)f I thought nothing about it until I got into reading it. Unfortunately it appears to be having the same effect on me that 'Shogun' did which resulted in clans of 15mm Samurai invading my tabletop and a developing interest in the country during that period and their style of warfare. A review on Gladiator Games 15mm Samurai enclosed. Having convinced myself I did not need another army, in an area an period that does not tie in with anything else I have got, I settled down to get back to my mature student studies. Then a friend showed me some photographs of 25mm Aztecs in a glossy and I was not at all impressed. He also pointed out that Essex had brought out a new range in 15mm and perhaps I would be interested. With Vapnartak in York due shortly I thought I would wait until then and just have a look, but the snow put a stop to that in that we were snowed in that particular weekend. However, at Triples in Sheffield the other week I just 'happened' to come across the Essex Aztec range, as I was buying some Egyptian ships and was hooked! Purchased a few command packs and some PBI just to get a skirmish force together - famous last words. I don't have time to do a review but they are very detailed and looked excellent when painted. I did spot another firm, at the show, who were doing other South American nations of that period but failed to get their details, there is always next year. The letter by Matthew Leighs, in Slingshot #212, who referred to Robert Richardson's series on the Aztecs got me delving through my back copies of 'Slingshot', to have another read. I also believe that Osprey have a book on the Aztecs being produced, but do not quote me on that. I have considerable figures to finish painting and basing plus I am putting magnetic bases on all my chariot armies because I am fed up constantly gluing them back onto their stands. A lot of work to do before the Aztecs get attacked with my 2" paint brush but the figures are extremely tempting. You have been warned. Now where is that 'Master of Olympus Zeus' computer game? I'll show those Trojans a thing or two with my Spartans. From Peter Giorler Last year I sent you a copy of a new set of wargame rules for the Napoleonic period with the working title "Depression over the Hebrides." The second edition of the rules , with the final title "Belle Alliance" have now been made available for download free of charge at wwwlexnet.dk. I would very much appreciate if you would consider a mention of the rules in MWAN. From Jonathan Aird I've been doing a bit of reading around various WWII subjects just recently. This hasn't been for any particular reason - I don't have any real intention to do a great deal of WWII gaming in the near future - it's just that a few books caught my eye, and this is the result. It's odd that I find WWII interesting to read about, but have no real desire to game substantial chunks of it - I think that it's probably due to the scale of the thing, there is just so much fine detail available that I'd want to include, but I don't think that it would be possible and still give some feel for the great sweep of events. I compromise by concentrating on a few smallish events. Something Id really like to do is the hunt for the Bismarck. I started thinking about this since it's sixty years since the Bismarck was sunk. The events in the days leading up to the sinking would make a great command and control game, but I think itd be quite hard to setup. What I imagine is a game running over say a whole day, with the players physically separated and having to communicate via an umpire or umpires. On the German side would be the Capital ships including the Bismarck, other naval units and the airforce, whilst on the other hand there would be the British surface fleet divisions, the air force and coastal command. The only trouble is that ideally I'd also want to game the individual airplanes involved the Catalina's shadowing the Bismarck and the torpedo planes which were sent after the Bismarck, but only managed to launch 11 torpedoes at a British ship! A real example of the grand sweep of events and tiny detail problems! If any MWAN reader has run a game like this (not necessarily Bismarck), I'd love to hear how it turned out, and what it was like to run. This was the sort of thing they did on a British TV program a couple of years ago. The program, called Game of War, used military personnel to command the armies of famous battles Naseby, Waterloo and Balaclava (I think). Paddy Griffith and Arthur Harman umpired, and Angela Rippon (an ex-newscaster) giving the continuity, assisted by Iain Dickie (of Miniature Wargames). I don't know if this was shown in the states at all. There were only three programs, I guess it wasn't recommissioned, which I thought was a shame - I can't imagine it was the most expensive program in the world to make! It did take some flak from the wargaming fraternity - which was probably unfair. While any program could be improved (wouldn't it be great if the original Star Trek had had better sets when they beamed down to the planed); it" not as if there's so much wargaming on the telly that we shouldn't have been grateful for what we got. Maybe if it had had a bit more support it'd have had the chance to mature, who knows? Anyway, I'm still waiting for the repeats of Battleground with Edward Woodward - with five man channels, 24 hours a day in the UK you'd think someone would use it to fill up the 3:00 AM slot! A few comments on recent issues. I enjoyed Mike Frang's article on painting 1/72nd figures. I tend to use acrylic paints where possible, and give an undercoat and top coat of varnish to protect the figures. I've never tried throwing them at the wall though! I've heard of using clear drying glue as a top coat before, but have never tried it. I was given some figures that had been treated this way as an undercoat, but not subsequently painted. They had awful clumps of glue around the ankles and underarms, which took me ages to remove. Maybe I should try Mike's technique out on a batch. Also enjoyed the Historicon and Little Wars reports. I always think that American conventions sound like a lot of fun, and seem to be much more oriented to playing games. Even though I played in four games at Salute this year, really only one of these was a "proper: game - the others being a pair of skirmishes and the fourth a speeded up DBA. All enjoyable in their way, but the Wargames Development Colonial game was definitely the best of the four. I think what UK conventions lack is the residential aspect - most are only one day events, and will last maybe eight hours at the longest so there really isn't the time to get into long games if one is still going to see the traders, have something to eat, chat to people and so on. I've done some figure painting - the first for quite awhile. Lately, I've been a bit distracted into building model airplanes in 1/144 th scale. It was only a few gladiators to use with Gladiator Games Gladiator skirmish rules. Id tried these rules out at Salute in April this year, and thought they had played quite well. After a little persuasion, the wargames club at work decided to invest in a set and some miniatures. Since Id "championed" the purchase, it was my job to paint the figures. The rules look quite complicated, but they do play quite smoothly. There's a campaign system in which each player starts a gladiatorial school and allows surviving gladiators to get better at certain skills. Hopefully we'll get a campaign going once we're fully familiar with the rules. Back to MWAN #115 Table of Contents Back to MWAN List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 2002 Hal Thinglum This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com