Good news for fans of the French & Indian Wars period. The OSPREY book titled WOLFE'S ARMY is coming out sooner than originally anticipated. The book is due for release in the early fall of 1989, instead of the original projection of early 1990. The book contains eight pages of full color plates. Little, if any, changes have been made in the text or plates from the original release. No word yet on MONTCALM'S ARMY.
For all of you fans of IN SERVICE MINIATURES who have been moaning about the demise of the Company Packs from ISM, more good news - they are in the works again. No firm date yet, but Chris Croissant's planning on these again. There will be a price increase to the $25-30 range, but the contents of the packs will increase as well. They will, of course, be accurate to standard TOE, but will also include normally attached vehicles where appropriate.
From CROISSANT MINIATURES due in soon, the SU-27 Flanker, KA-28 Hoakum and just maybe (for all those Korean gamers) a F9F-2 Panther Jet. The CROISSANT MINIATURES line is excellent for gaming, as they are cast in one piece and therefore do not suffer damage like some other castings on the market. This line also offers the weaponry pre-cast onto the aircraft where applicable, and has a far wider selection than most any other line now available.
This item may sound a bit strange coming from a dedicated "historical" nut like myself, but there is a new product from TSR Hobbies that will be of interest to many gamers especially for those with an interest in the period of 600-1800's Europe. The item is scaled for use with the large 25mm miniatures.
The item is stock number 9262 (also known as FRB) CITIES OF MYSTERY. Shuck the rules booklet. What is of interest are the myriad sheets of pre-cut, punch out, and assemble buildings and the town maps included. The sheets contain numerous buildings (33 in all), thatch-roofed houses in several sizes, a stable, and several stone structures. The cuts are clean, and the assembly is easy. The finished products are excellent, but they will need some added bracing with balsa for games to add strength and weight. The maps are layouts for a town (two separate two sided maps), which give a total of 12 layouts designed to utilize the buildings in the set. All this for a mere $15.00 retail. (Editor's Note: Kevin Fitzpatrick of GAMES, CRAFTS, HOBBIES & STUFF - see ad on page 13 for address-was kind enough to send this kit to MWAN the other day. After looking it over, I have to fully concur with Stephen on his review; this is good stuff. Rich Black has done very nice things with sheet buildings by reinforcing them with balsa wood and this buildings are durable and effective. Thanks, Kevin - anyone wishing to obtain this set can write to me and I'll send it out if you pay the postage - please include SASEs).
IN SERVICE MINIATURES will be starting a unique program this fall which will allow the production of items with such a limited demand so as not to warrant a full time place in the retail store. The program will be offered two to three times a year on a subscription-only basis (See, Tony, somebody heard your suggestionsl). There will be a listing of four to eight items made available for ordering approximately three months before the production run will occur. The gamer will be able to place an order at his local hobby store for what he needs from this listing. This order will be auto-shipped to his local hobby store at the time it is finished. The total turnaround time should be approximately two to two and a half months. If there is not enough interest shown for an item (the owner says a minimum of around fifty of an item ordered nationwide), the item will not be made. In this way, a number of unique and different items will be made available to you, the gamer by this manufacturer who listens to what the gamer wants.
Additional OSPREY titles coming: re-issue of THE AMERICAN INDIAN WARS 1860-90 - U.S. CAVALRY AND THE PLAINS INDIANS ($9.95); TANK COMBAT CENTRAL FRONT: NATO VS WARSAW PACT - Modern Armored Warfare ($11.95); SOLDIERS OF THE ENGLISH CIVIL WAR (1) INFANTRY ($11.95). Coming in November of '89 at $9.95 each: QUEEN VICTORIA'S ENEMIES (2): NORTHERN AFRICA - Ashanti to Nadhists; THE WAR IN LAOS 1960-75 - All sides involved are represented; THE RED ARMY OF THE GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR 1941-45 - WWII Soviets; and US INFANTRY EQUIPMENTS 1775-1910 - Companion to 1910-present volume.
WARNING! WARNING! To any and all who have thought of using the CITADEL inks, there is a problem to be aware of. There in no acrylic paint known to this painter, in the universe, which will successfully cover this stuff if using a lighter color such as white, tan, buff, etc. The inks will reaquify spoiling the color by tinting it, even allowing more than 72 hours drying time. This will even happen through an overcoat such as TESTORS DULLCOTE or FLOQUIL-POLLY-S Clear Matte Finish. Although the inks offer a number of unique effects, this problem should be a cause for anyone to be very careful when using them.
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© Copyright 1989 Hal Thinglum
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