1) Falcon Miniatures, Suite 102, 1 High Street, Medford, Mass., 02155 (617-488-3541) recently sent me an updated listing of their 25mm German South West Africa Field Force, French Foreign Legion, Arabs, Hereros and Boxers and Westerners for the Boxer Rebellion. They have boxed basic forces for all the above based on THE SWORD AND THE FLAME. The German force has infantry (40), Marines/Sailors (10 of each), cavalry (12), Krupp & Crew (4), Maxim (1) & Crew (4), Supply Wagon (1) and Command Group (5) for $55.00; French Foreign Legion has infantry (60), Chesseurs 12, Millitruse (1) & crew (4) and command group (2) for $50.80; the Herero force has riflemen (60), cavalry (36) and command group (1) for $70.00; Arab group has riflemen (4), swordsmen (40), spearmen (20), cavalry (12) camels (12) and sheik (1) for $75.00; Boxers have riflemen (20) imperial, Boxer riflemen (20), swordsmen (20), spearmen (20), Tigermen (40), cavalry (24) and field guns (2) & crew (8) for $90.00; the western force to oppose them has US Marines (20), French (20), Germans (20), British (20), French Chasseurs (2), Maxim (1) & crew (4) and cavalry (12) for $65.00. Seems like companies are going to the boxed sets, however, Falcon still has individual figures available. They also report they have 15mm American Civil War figures available. Greg Novak recently hosted a game for our local group featuring a German-Herero encounter with Falcon figures and they are nicely done. I should add that the Hereros, both foot and mounted, can be used effectively for Natal Native horse for the Zulu War.
2) Jim Torello of Chicago gave me three catalogs of books available from the US Government Printing 0ffice (Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, 20402.) There are a number of inexpensive books available on the Revolutionary War and the American Civil War. Jim purchased a very nice looking book on the Russian modern army for only $6.00. Looks worthwhile.
3) Rich Houston of Lyzard's Grin, PO Box 14522, Oklahoma City, OK., 73113, sent me samples of some new Colonial figures he made, two at my request. I happened to mention to him in a letter that limber figures for the Colonial period were hard to come by and he made a British figure with standard uniform and a most interesting commissary figure with peaked cap. Well done figures! Also included were five casualty figures; two Imperial Infantry and two fuzzy-wuzzies and one Dervish. Again, I liked these figures. I would think skirmish/SWARD AND THE FLAME players would like to have some around. The sitting figures are .35 each and the casualty figures are .25 each. Can’t beat those prices. Richard has great hard-to-get items for the Colonial gamer.
4) Editions Brokaw, C/O Pat Condray, 8234 Kings Arm Drive, Alexandria, VA 22308, announces that they have some additions to their War of Spanish Succession line in 15mm. They are as follows: Cavalry attacking with pistols, Cavalry attacking with swords, Austrian (or Bavarian) cuirassier with sword, French cuirassier attacking with swords. Also, almost due for release are Maison du Roi for Gardes du Corps, Chevaleger de la Garde, and British cavalry fighting with swords. See the flyer included with this issue for the rest of this 15mm line in an interesting period.
5) Frontier Miniatures, 629 Centennial, El Paso, Texas, 79912, sent me samples of a number of new releases. Included were a Macedonian phalangite, slinger, Greek Peltast and Companion Cavalry w/kantos & Sword from the Macedonian 25mm range; German infantry in straw hat and summer dress and Boxer with rifle from the 25mm Boxer range, and, two great 25mm Franco-Prussian War figures. The detail on these figures is top-notch. Thus far, there are 33 25mm figures for this interesting line with prices at $4.99 per 8 foot, $3.99 for 3 cavalry. Prices are different for their other fine lines so check with them. $3.00 will get you a catalog and figure samples.
6) Naval wargamers will want a copy of a book catalog from the Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, MD, 21402. It has 32 pages and is filled with mostly modern naval books although there are some other periods represented.
7) Hinchliffe announces that they are releasing a number of 25mm medieval (Italian, Austrian, English, Venetian) and renaissance figures based on Osprey's Italian, Medieval Armies and Landsknects book. These should be available through Games, Crafts, Hobbies & Stuff (9220 Lackland Rd., Overland, MO 63114) and S-G Simulations, 2071 Range Road, Clearwater, Florida, 33575.
8) Wargames, 1410 Promenade Bank Center, Richardson, TX, 75080, sent a flyer of their products and they have added 15mm Donnington Miniatures ACW, Ancients (Parthians, Marian-Ceasarian Romans, Republican/Camillan Romans, Ancient Spanish & Celtiberians, Thracians, Ancient Italian States, Greeks, Britons, Celts, Normans, Cathaginians, Anglo Saxons, Ligurians, Vikings, Numidians, Early Germans), Renaissance and English Civil War and Thirty Years War figures. Foot figures are 10 per pack and cost $2.49 while cavalry (5) are the same price. The ACW line is very extensive. The picture shown is of Vikings. They are also carrying 15mm Tin Soldier Miniatures which cover Medievals, Aztecs, Dark Ages, and Macedonian Wars & the Hellenistic period. They are now also carry 15mm Dixon Napoleonics and Samurai. They also list a company I have never heard of before, that of 15mm MILITARY MINIATURES from New Zealand. They seem to have a very good selection of Napoleonics and the pictures of the figures look very good. Prices for all of the above lines are same as for the Donnington lines. Speaking of Wargames, while I was Castle Hobbies in Bradley, Illinois recently, I purchased some of the Essex 25mm Napoleonics to compare them size wise with Hinchliffe's Formost range and they are very compatible. The reviews have been very good on the Essex Napoleonics. I have wondered how they would sell in this country at .85 each for a foot figure. Has anyone else bought some?
9) Mike's Models USA, Box 1141, Denville, NJ, 07834, sent me their June, 1985 catalog which is filled with various periods for 15mm gamers. They have army kits available at $54.95 and I know of several gamers in the area who have purchased them. They will also be starting a house newsletter, THE BOMBARD, soon. Write to them for information. There are just too many different periods to list, ancients, Seven Years War, Feudals, Renaissance, English Civil War and a fine Colonial range. I had a call last night from John Casazza of Mike's Models USA and he reported that they will soon be releasing their 15mm ACW line and promised some samples for review, hopefully in time for inclusion in this issue. There will be some other surprises from this company in the near future as well. Infantry come 18 to a pack and cost $4.50 while cavalry (9) are the same price. Individual figures can also be obtained.
10) Gary Christensen of Chicago called me to let me know that Campaign Miniatures of England have taken over Hovels, a firm making wargaming buildings. They will also, according to Gary, producing a 15mm ECW line. Bill Protz of Milwaukee lets us know that Suren, 30mm figure producer, has been sold to Tradition Scandinavia, PO Box 21170, S-100 31 Stockholm, Sweden. They also have the old Stadden 30mm lines and Bill and others in the midwest have been building up 30mm armies for the SYW period for their CHARGE project. If you are interested in 30's, they are still available through Tradition Scandinavia and the old Minifigs 30mm Napoleonic line is available through Wally Simon at 12905 Layhill Road, Silver Springs, MD, 20906. I should add that Wally's prices for this fine line are most reasonable for 30mm.
11) Ral Partha Enterprises, 5938 Carthage Court, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45212, sent me a listing of their historical figures covering Normans, Saxons, Vikings, Frankish Crusaders, Japanese, Macedonians, Romans and Byzantines as well as their great Colonial line for the Zulu War, Northwest Frontier and the Sudan. I have many Ral Partha figures in my armies and it is very difficult to beat their prices/quality.
12) I want to mention DAS modeling clay available now in most hobby/toy stores. It is made in Italy, I believe, and is very good for conversions. Several years ago, I wanted an ACW flag bearer, drummer and officer in 15mm wearing greatcoats and none were currently available. I purchased some DAS and used it to make greatcoats. After it dries, I painted it and they are still in good condition. It is very good stuff and will server lots of purposes for wargamers.
13) Navwar, available through Enola Games, PO Box 1900, Brooklyn, NY 11201, has an extensive and fine line of 15mm Colonial figures covering the Zulu and Sudan Wars.
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© Copyright 1985 Hal Thinglum
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