Ok, Ok, some old habits die hard, but I think I can make the change given some time! Just give me a few more issues to make the adjustment. Shortly before Christmas, Don Perrin contacted me and expressed an interest in taking over MWAN. Initially, I didn't give it much thought, but after a week or so, the idea appealed to me. We exchanged emails regarding his plans and philosophy for MWAN and arranged for him to drive down from Wisconsin to chat. I finished MWAN #127 that morning and we worked out the details that afternoon. We decided it would be good to let MWANers know ASAP re the changeover so I quickly wrote something up and inserted into the editorial. Sounds easy enough, huh! First of all, let me start by saying I was very impressed with Don. He has a publishing and editing background and is very involved with our hobby. We really hit it off finding we had many things in common. I think you'll get a sense of this through Don's MWAN work. Don's interest in MWAN came at a good time for me. I'd experienced serious burnout with MWAN twice before and had been encountering it again for some time. All of the required MWAN production and record-keeping tasks became "chores" instead of enjoyable or at least semi-enjoyable activities. When I thought of "retiring" from MWAN, I didn't know how to do it. Since subscriptions and ads expire throughout the year, there was no easy way to just put MWAN to rest. Secondly, I don't think I wanted MWAN to end - I felt a "bond" with MWANers established over many years - a bond that I found hard to break. Having MWAN continue under Don allows me to continue to enjoy MWAN and maintain the many relationships I've made without having to do all of the work! For that, I thank you, Don! I'd like to thank all MWANers who over the years supported MWAN via writing articles, subscribing, purchasing copies at hobby shops, advertising, and carrying MWAN in their shops. There is just no way that all of this would have been possible had it not been for your valued and much appreciated assistance! Thank you very much! If I may, I'd like to say just a few more things about my twenty-three years of publishing. The things I am most proud of (in no particular order) are: I never had to reduce the size of an issue because I didn't have enough material; MWANers always supported me with articles. In turn, I believe, I always gave you your monies worth. I was able to accomplish my goal of always viewing MWAN as an "amateur" publication. This allowed me the leeway to treat everyone as a personal friend. No one was ever discontinued because of financial difficulties. What is amazing to me is so many MWANers have expressed the opinion to me that when they received a copy, it felt as though they were receiving a letter from a good friend. This kept me going for many years when I didn't feel like continuing. It also makes everything I/we have done worth while. My goal of creating an atmosphere where everyone felt they could write for MWAN was, in my mind, accomplished. My customers (friends) were always right in any misunderstanding; their word was proof enough. In a day and age when it is "cool" to be cynical and find something wrong with anything, MWAN, to me, was always positive about an activity that so many of us love. We have enough conflict in our everyday lives without having it in our hobby. MWANers were always respectful to each other and very generous. I never mentioned it, but there are a number of MWANers who would send in extra money each year to help pay for those who couldn't afford it. I don't know how many people sent in figures to be passed on to those who were in a financial bind. MWANers always supported me, no matter what. I would be terribly remiss if I did not thank my very understanding wife, Barbara, for allowing me to do what had to be done for twenty-three years to keep publishing MWAN. She deserves more credit in this matter than anyone else does. There have been many times when she joined me in the basement and helped me get MWAN ready for the next mailing. I will never forget how she spent her last paycheck, before deciding to stay home to take care of Annie, to surprise me with a mimeograph machine she bought for $450 - that was a lot of money in the early 80's! We couldn't afford to do it, but she did it for me. Barbara has worried for many years, as I have, as to what she would do financially with MWAN if something were to happen to me. That has been a big factor in my decision to step down. Annie, now 24 and in graduate school, and Katie, 18 and a senior in high school, grew up with "the newsletter" being a common word in the household and, when they were younger, were "address sticker-onners" when it was time to get it to the post office. On the negative side, I do regret the amount of time I spent away from my family because I put such importance upon getting MWAN out on time. I'd like to close out this subject by stating that I have been a most fortunate person for all of these years. I was able to do something that I really loved, people appreciated it and told me so, and I made the best friends I've had in my life while doing it. You just can't ask for more than that, can you! Thank you for allowing me that opportunity! So what is retirement like? Well, I haven't worked in about six weeks and I've heard people say it takes about three months for the fact that you are retired to sink in. For the first three weeks, I jumped around from one thing to another after spending about ten minutes on a task. I've since adjusted and am busy working on a number of hobby projects. I remember thinking years ago, when I was a "painting fool," that I would love to have more free time to paint. I have that time now, but not much of my time has been spent painting. I'm organizing projects, straightening up the basement, doing a little painting of guns and limbers, terraining and basing figures, and, in general, just really enjoying myself. I've become a bit of a "Bartertown Fool" and really enjoy buying, selling, and trading items of interest. I picked up a copy of "Rally 'Round the Flag" (ACW rules) from MWANer Cliff Castle - this was my first set of rules and I can't tell you how much I enjoyed looking at it again after all of these years. Brought back many memories! I've mentioned how I keep a notebook on each project and enter project information on a regular basis. Well, I've gone high tech and am now using my computer to do this. I've become quite adept at making tables on micro-soft and I've created a table for the 15mm SYW project. Each of the countries (Prussia, Austria, England, France, and Russia thus far) has the type (and number of units that I want to raise) of units (i.e., Musketeers, Fusiliers, Grenadiers, etc) listed under the subheading. Then, to the right of that, I list the number of officer, standard bearer, drummer, and enlisted men figures I currently left over after putting together complete units. To the right of that, I have a column for the number of complete units ready for painting. This allows me to maintain a running total of how many complete units I have as well as how many "extra" figures I have for that unit. This lets me know how many more I need to obtain to reach my goals. Isn't that fascinating?! I told you I had some time on my hands! MWANer Joe Alexander recently sent me some 15mm SYW figures (thanks, Joe!) and amongst them were some figures from the past. Some twenty-five years ago Atley Turner started a wargames figure company - FRONTIER MINIATURES - and I got to know him quite well through MWAN. Joe sent me Prussian Fusiliers, Dragoons, and a "Prussian Advance Guard," (consisting of Frei Korps Von Kliest Musketeers in Mirliton, Jagers, and a few guns with crew). It took me a few minutes to recognize these figures and I was surprised how nice they were. I ran a search on YAHOO and found that they are still available through HAUS OF STUFF, 90 Spirit Lake Rd., Winter Haven, FL 33880 (863-4018221) at very reasonable prices ($18.50 for 100 foot/30 horse/12 guns and 48 crew). They offer Prussians (12 packs), Austrians (10), British (4), Russians (4), and French (3). Size-wise, the infantry fit well with ESSEX; the horses, however, are much smaller than ESSEX and won't mix well. My main reason for mentioning this is that I recall very clearly some twenty-five years ago sitting in my basement opening up Atley's box of 15mm SYW samples. Time goes by, doesn't it! It is surprising to me as to how many "older" (twenty years or more) lines of figures are still available. There are very older lines I can think of which are not currently available. I've always marveled at people who pick up such lines after the manufacturer decides to get rid of them. They are, I believe, doing the hobby a large favor by making them available to us. I've never investigated how much this sort of thing might cost (purchasing an existing line of figures), but it can't be cheap, thus, they are accepting, I would think, a considerable financial risk. Usually, these individuals are just ordinary hobbyists like the rest of us. I am sure what compels them to do such a thing is that they just plain "love" the line! With all of the new figure lines coming out, one would assume that we are going to flock to them. If there is one thing I've learned in this hobby, it's that everyone has their own idea of what a quality figure is. There are those of us who will swear by a twenty-five year figure line which is no longer "state of the art." I wouldn't be surprised if each and every one of us does this in our own personal collecting. It never fails: I will start a new project and say I am going to collecting only "X" manufacturer's figures because I like them so much. Within a short time, I am looking in my files for listings of older lines to supplement "X's" figures! I've done this with FREIKORPS 15 figures. I've always loved their cavalry and feel the quality stands up even after twenty years. I've been critical of their foot figures, which I hadn't seen in some years. However, Joe Alexander also sent along some FREIKORPS 15 Musketeer figures and they match up well with my ESSEX. Not as good, in my mind, as their cavalry does, but then I also picked up some of their Russian Corps of Observation Musketeers (which no one makes in 15mm) and they were really good! Great marching pose and very good detail. Returning to my original thought, I think it would be very interesting to hear from an MWANer who has purchased an "older" figure line and made it available again to us. By the way, Phil Kearnan of Outland of Pennsylvania is now carrying FREIKORPS 15. He does not, however, have the full range of figures. His email address is: pjkearnan@penn.com and his business address is 606 Warm Springs Ave., Huntingdon, PA 16652. I have no doubt that my favorite part of a wargaming project is putting the figures together. This entails searching the Internet for appropriate figure lines, finding a source that carries them, and actually obtaining them. There's a lot of excitement in finding what you want and waiting for it to arrive in the mail! Just like Christmas time when we were kids! One of the problems one encounters nowadays with "packaged" figures is that the manufacturer's method of command figure distribution within packs is almost never what your own organization is. In my l5mm SYW project, only one of the two (or three) battalions in a regiment has a standard bearer. The other has an officer and drummer as command figures. This requires that you purchase additional packs of command, many of which you end up being not able to use. Some years ago, I bemoaned this fact and mentioned that we should work out someway amongst'ourselves to "trade" needed figures. That was when someone wrote in and told me that Bartertown was a great avenue to accomplish this. Another really positive feature of the Internet is the number of "groups" available. I am a member of the YAHOO group for two renaissance groups, Shako, Fire N Fury variants (Napoleonic, FPW, and SYW), 20mm figures, Koenig-Krieg, and I am sure I've missed a couple. What's great is that their "files" usually contain a lot of scenarios, rule revisions, campaigns, etc., for the rules set or period. They all offer "links" which are a great way of finding related information. I also had a chance to access theminiaturespage.com for the first time and was very impressed with what they have available. I was surprised to find out that OSPREY has a new (to me, anyway) series - "Essential Histories" - which cover specific periods of history. When I accessed the list, I jotted down the titles I was interested in, just to give you some idea: SYW, Napoleonic Wars (3) the Peninsular War, TYW, FPW, and ECW. They cost $12.99 each. They also have a "Fortress" series ($13.50 each) and the two titles I wrote down are "Lines of Torres Vedras" and "English Civil War Fortifications." I plan on attending the 21ST SEVEN YEARS WAR ASSOCIATION CONVENTION March 19th in South Bend, Indiana. MWANer Rich Black organized the very first SYWA con (1983?) in our area and MWANer Paul Petri has been organizing it for years. This has always been one of the most enjoyable "cons" because of the sense of friendship everyone feels. It has the "feel" of a local convention yet people come from all over the country to attend. This will be an especially enjoyable convention to attend in view of my recent rekindling of interest in the period and the fact that I haven't attended many conventions in years.  Five Forks is a new company run by Bruce Milligan, which will be devoted to doing PC wargames with an historical theme. Their first product will be the second edition of Bob Coggins' and Craig Taylor's Napoleon's Battles (www.napoleonsbattles.com). Andrew Preziosi of Khyber Pass Games and Books reports that the 1st Sikh War Order of Battle Book is now available ($16.00 US/ $18 Canadian). For further information, check their Website at: Khyberpassgames.corn or contact Andrew at: Preziosia@aol.com. We are sure getting more products for the Sikh Wars! Wargames, Box 278, Rte. 40 East, Triadelphia, WV 26059 (www.speartorifle.com) is now carrying the Quick Reaction Force line in 15mm which encompasses ACW fortress guns, WWI, Chinese Civil War, Spanish Civil War, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Modern, and Arab-Israeli Wars. They will soon be releasing a line of WWII Hungarians. Two Tin Soldiers (TwoSoldier@aol.com; www.TwoTinSoldiers.com) has a new line of WWII figures - Legions East - consisting of armies of the Eastern Front, China, and the Pacific Theater. George Johnson of Table Top Towns (930 Mellish Drive, Lapeer, MI 48446; Phone: 810-664-5655) offers painted 15mm buildings for the ACW and Europe (www.magweb.com/TableTopTowns/TTT.htm). Falcon Figures (the US company) are available again via Keith Astrofsky, PO Box 42614, Cambridge, MA 02142. The December 2003 issue of Richard Brooks' the Heliograph has an interesting article by Bob Corcoron entitled "Solo Sudan" in which the Dervish are run by tables. I've always liked the Colonial period because it is possible to conduct wargames with all of the players being on the Imperial side. Check it out! By the way, Rich has done an excellent job for many years on this colonial publication! Have you ever sat down and thought about all of the wargaming periods you've started and/or actually finished? Well, take my advice and don't do it. Too much of a reality check! I've tackled ACW in 15mm, 25rn n, 15mm, and now 20mm. ECW in 25mm, 15mm, 25mm, and now 15mm again. Napoleons in 30mm, 25mm twice and now 20mm. The Sudan in 25mm, 15mm, 25mm, and now back to 15mm. WWII in 20mm and now 25mm. Colonials (other than the Sudan) in 25mm twice. Seven Years War in 25mm, 15mm, 20mm, 6mm, and now back to 15mm. FPW in 15mm twice and now 20mm. FIW, FFL, Spanish Civil War, and Normans, Saxons and Vikings in 25mm, Malburians in 15mm, and Normans, Saxons & Vikings in 25mm. Good Heavens, how many is that?! I'm sure there are a few others that I've since forgotten about. The amazing part of all of this is that we just don't give up! It doesn't matter if we did something ten years ago. We're going to do it again and do it right this time. Not a bad thing for the hobby industry, is it! Makes me wonder how many hands my collections have gone through since I sold them off? Some years ago at the ORIGINS convention in Milwaukee, I saw a game featuring my very first wargames army - 15mm ACW. That was a strange feeling. I guess it also illustrates my premise that for many of us, it is the planning and collecting stages of wargaming that excite us the most. Once we have a project all completed, we immediately move on to another one. I can't really say that I ever missed a wargames army that I sold or traded off. Of my current collections, my 25mm SYW armies are the oldest one I have. It is also one that I've thought of selling off a number of times but always backed out of doing so. I think this is a collection that reminds of the "old days" more than any other period I've had. When I look through it, it brings back good feelings. Well, that's about it for this issue. It's clear to me that this issue's column has been, for me, a trip down my personal wargaming "memory lane." I've enjoyed thinking about it and I hope you enjoyed reading it. I've spent most of the day writing this column and must admit that I feel a sense of sadness - MWAN has been a large part of my life for all of these years. It has allowed me to feel good about myself and I derived a great deal of personal satisfaction from my involvement with it. However, I feel comfortable with my decision because I know it is time to step down. I am greatly looking forward to receiving a copy of MWAN that I didn't prepare in my mailbox! I've always wanted to receive a publication like MWAN. I'd like to thank Don Perrin for taking over and wish him the best of good fortune with MWAN. I like what I have seen of Don. He is a gentleman. Lastly, and most importantly, my sincere thanks to all of you MWANers for twentythree years of support and friendship. I am deeply indebted to you for what you've done for me. Thank you very much, my friends!  Back to MWAN # 128 Table of Contents Back to MWAN List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 2004 Hal Thinglum This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com