By Jeff Jones - OSPREY CAMPAIGN SERIES BOOK #10 - FIRST BULL RUN
FIRST BULL RUN 1861 - THE SOUTH'S FIRST VICTORY, by Alan Hankinson. Again OSPREY has offered up another fine book in their Campaign Series. Like the others this one starts with a short introduction on how the ACW started. The reading then concerns the opposing leaders, the armies, Northern and Southern plans that led up to the Battle of Bull Run, the fight at Balckburn's Ford, the fight for Henry Hill and the final retreat and rout. The book wraps up with might-have-beens, the field as it is today, a guide to further reading and of course, a chapter on wargaming the battle at Bull Run. Being an avid or is that rabid ACW wargamer and having visited this hallowed ground, this book was awaited long in advance. Let me just say that there are 96 pages of extra fine reading, the maps are of high quality - some having 3-D and color illustrations of men in uniform. Also included are photos from the time period and some of the leaders and men along with illustrations made during the war of battlefields and men in action. Retails for $14.95.
By Jeff Jones - THE GETTYSBURG MAGAZINE
The GETTYSBURG MAGAZINE, issue #5, July, 1991, is published by Morningside Bookshop, 260 Oak St., Dayton, OH 45410 and if you have any interest in the ACW or Gettysburg in particular, if you have visited the battlefield or hope to, this THE magazine to read and reread. The introduction in this issue, as in some of the past issues, is by Edwin C. Beares, a noted ACW historian whom you may have seen on the PBS series. A very flamboyant fellow! There are always a fine assortment of articles listed under the contents. Here are a few: Kershaw's Brigade at Gettysburg; The effects of Artillery Fire on Infantry at Gettysburg; Pickett's Charge: the Reason Why; The First Minnesota at Gettysburg. The maps that accompany many of the articles are first rate and very useful to those wishing to wargame parts of this battle. Also included are photos from the period and current photos of the field. This issue is 128 pages and there is no advertising whatsoever. The cover and back page are a reprint of Don Troianis' painting of Pickett's Charge entitled "Give them Cold Steel boys.." Each issue is $4.75 newsstand or $7.85 by first class mail. Publishing dates are January and July of each year.
By Steve Dake - NAPOLEONIC NOTES AND QUERIES
This is issue #1 and represents the latest addition to PARTIZAN PRESS' regular periodicals. Like English Civil War and 18th Century Notes and QUERIES magazines, emphasis will be on land and naval battles and campaigns, with occasional items of interest to the re-enactor, like uniform and equipment details. This is a MWAN-sized journal, it's professionally printed so all type is readable and won't hurt your poor old eyes, and each issue will probably be around 40 pages. It's very eye pleasing, with some illustrations, all in black and white. First articles include a detailed look at the Purchase System of the British Army by following the career of a contemporary officer. Then there's very readable, entertaining research offered on Spanish Guerrillas. There's also an encore performance of Invasiones Inglesas! This is a superb work by Volunteer editor Paul Wilkenson on the British presence in South America in 180.6-07, which is well worth a second read. Finally, there's book reviews and what appears to be a regular questions and answers column. Available in the US from ON MILITARY MATTERS, 55 Terrace, Hopewell, NJ 08525 in subscription format.
By Steve Dake - FRENCH ARMY OF THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR 1870-71
Campaign Booklet #12, Rue Sans Joie Press, PO Box 1695, Champaign, IL 61824-1695. Cost is $9.00. If you've ever wanted to get involved in the Franco-Prussian War, you've discovered the hardest thing is research the event, as good, concise, easy to follow information on the subject is hard to come by. This booklet solves the problem. Included in it's 80-plus pages are a history of the war, French army organization and uniform details, and a very complete order of battle for the French army. I've read a lot on the war, and the campaign history printed here paints the clearest pictures of the battles from a grand-tactical perspective I've yet read. A nice touch is the way French units are mentioned in bold print while German units are mentioned in italics. This really helps you follow events in the narrative without getting confused as to what unit is what army, as so happens when reading actions with which you're not totally familiar. The chapter on French Army organization and the other on uniform details breaks the units down from overall command, through the Imperial Guard, the line troops, the colonial regiments, and the Garde National, which were the French militia units. Much of the information you'll ever need is all here in an excellently summarized format. As mentioned, the orders of battle are lengthy and complete. The reader would have to attempt research himself to fully appreciate the amount of work that obviously went into the order, and the booklet as a whole. Prussian fans should not despair as another booklet is planned on German forces. At $9, this booklet is a steal. A vote of appreciation goes to authors Nigel Smith and Greg Novak. Oh, yes - included are some new rules, THEY DIED FOR GLORY. Its a fairly small rules set - only six pages, which usually signifies simple and easy to learn rules. The author, Dave Waxel, was considerate enough to provide quick reference charts for game sequences, fire, movement, melee and morale. It only took about 15 minutes to read and get a good understanding of the rules. The only thing I found apprehensive was the large amount of parts there were to a single turn. This gave the impression the turns might drag, but I haven't played the rules for an accurate assessment.
By Michael Adams - WARGAMES FOUNDRY ANCIENTS 25MM LINE
These new 25mm figures are available from PENDRAGON MINIATURES, 1549 Marview Dr., Westlake, OH 44145 and foot figures are $1.10 while horses are $1.30. The line covers Ancient Romans, Celts, Spanish and Carthaginians. RR3-Roman Centurion: measures 27mm, chainmail, hands, footgear all very well detailed. Please note this figure can be used for other country's Officer figures! RR34 to RR39-Celtic Noble Armored Warriors: All are excellent figures from the chainmail detail to helmets. RR40 to RR46-Celtic Noble Cavalry: The BEST 25mm Celtic cavalry! They all have different helmets. Arm position extra. A must for your Ancient Celtics army! RR47 to RR57: Did not buy any except for RR53; Roman Legionnaire in chainmail; 25mm from foot to helmet brim. He's advancing with pila. Excellent figure! RR58 to RR60-Roman Sappers: I have not bought any yet but I'll bet they'll be good! SPANISH FIGURES RR61 to RR75- The best ancient Spanish on the market! RR75 Heavy Cavalry- Scale armor crested helmet, excellent figure. BALEARIC SLINGERS RR76 to RR78- All are great! CARTHAGINIANS RR79 to RR80-Libyans: Great! RR81-Moroccan Archer: Excellent figure! RR82 to RR85-foot; RR86 to RR87-Cavalry; RR88 to RR91-Pikeman: Great! From foot to helmet brim 22mm, but they are advancing in the crouching position. The best 25mm pikemen on the market today. Four different helmets and Linen cuirass and mail. RR92 to RR93-Numidian Cavalry: These mounted figures are great but the horses are even better, RRH9 being Lhe best one. MORE CELTS RR94-Celtic Cavalry Chieftain: Great. Bird crested helmet. RR97-Celtic woman: carrying bucket; 25mm from foot to eyebrows; this figure can be used for almost any period. RR98 Celtic. Farmer: 27mm foot to eyebrows; can be used to 1400 period. MORE ROMANS: PR99-Velite: advancing with javelin, helmet., shield, great! RR100-Veiit._ Officer: excellent. R101-Slave/Servant: multi-purpose figure carrying l..rge wicker basket! RR102-Roman Man: in toga, 26mm foot to eyebrows. RR102-Roman Lady: 25mm, great figure! EQUIPMENT SETS: RRE1 Orvid Priest (also good for D&D)($4); RRE2-Celtic Ch:ariot($6.50); RRE3-Carthaginian War Elephant($12): excellent figure but this is an Indian elephant with small ears, Africa Bush elephant has large ears! I would also like to report that the owners of the EMPEROR'S TOY SHOP AND PAINTING SERVICE have moved and changed their name: Custom Painted Miniatures, 322 Mall Blvd., Suite 317, Monoreville, PA 15146. Send for their price list; very reasonable prices and excellent painting. One of the painting services that I use.
By Hal Thinglum - 15MM GALLIA DERVISH AND FUZZY WUZZIES
WARRIOR MINIATURES, 14 Tiverton Ave., Glasgow, G32 9NX, Scotland, recently sent me a number of their 15mm Sudan GALLIA figures which they are currently producing. WARRIOR is a company which interests me and has done so for a long time. They produce a number of lines in 25mm including Napoleonics, ACW, Macedonian & Punic Wars, Wars of the Roses, Renaissance, Dark Ages, AWI, Mexican-American War, Colonials, and Jacobites. In 15mm, they produce ACW, 18th C., Renaissance, Napoleonics, ECW, and Medieval.. In 20mm, they offer WWII and Vieti.am and they also have the 25mm Crusade Miniatures figures for Vikings and Medievals and of course, the Gallia Miniatures. I had never before seen Gallia Colonials and have to admit that I was impressed. My intention, with my 15mm Sudan project, was '.utilize Essex, Minifigs, and Stone mountain; however, upon receipt of the Gallia figures, I shall have to get some of them as well. They are perhaps a shade under 15mm but will still mix well with three manufacturers I have listed above. There were four Fuzzy foot, including a standard bearer (you won't find another Fuzzy standard bearer in 15mm!); four Dervish foot, again including a standard bearer; a Dervish foot Emir, four Dervish cavalry figures and four Dervish Camelmen (both horse and Camels with standard bearers), and seven Dervish artillerymen including an artillery commander, two Dervish gunners for Gatling gun, and a Dervish limber rider. These are nicely done figures being 12p each for foot and and horses and 18p for camels. In addition, there is a British army 1896-1902 line of 29 figures; Egyptian-Sudanese army of 13 including three dismounted Egyptian Camel Corps figures; ten Indian army figures; 16 Afghan; 13 Boers, 3 Gurkhas, 50-some Zulu War figures, and a nice equipment range. Nice stuff!
By Hal Thinglum - TCS LARGE ROCK OUTCROPPINGS
While at the EMPEROR'S HEADQUARTERS recently, I picked up TCS-805 Large Rock Outcroppings ($4.00) from TCS DISTRIBUTORS, Suite 155, 545 Newport Ave., Pawtucket, RI 02861. I'm always on the outlook for rocks/hills and these really caught my eye. There are three in a package and they are perfect for 15mm and even better for 10mm/5mm/2mm figures! Each is a different shape and different color and will grace your wargames table! Their catalog lists a number of interesting items including cotton bale works (15mm), Swamp Markers (15-25mm), rough terrain rocks (any scale), rocks or icebergs (1-1200) and much more. Many buildings including "Early American Reproductions" which offer many of their buildings in complete, partial damage, and destroyed with rubble. Interesting stuff, uh!
By Hal Thinglum - FLEX-TERRAIN
I recently sent away $3 to Jim Brokaw, 3611 Quail Ridge Ln., Matthews, NC 28105 and received three samples of his new FLEX-TERRAIN which a number of wargamers were raving about at the recent HISTORICON and I can see why. This stuff has lots of potential! I received three samples; a 15mm mud road with ruts in it; a 15mm river and 15mm riverbank. All were painted and terrain - the river bank having textured grass on the sides and rocks on the river side. They are made out of some sort of highly flexible material and look great! Send your $3 if you are even half way interested; i don't think you'll be disappointed! They come in either 15mm or 25mm sets.
By Hal Thinglum - WARGAMES FOUNDRY 40MM AMERICAN CIVIL WAR
Tell the truth; you've at times thought about building an ACW army in 54mm and when Orv Banasik informed us via MWAN that he had such an army - which he has since sold - you sat and dreamed about seeing all those beautiful 54mm lead figures on your wargames table. Yeh, I know the story - initially you thought - "Ah, I could get a dozen figures for each side and do some neat skirmish gaming!" - then when you actually sat down and looked at some catalogs for 54mm figures, you began to think...."Let's see, maybe if I had each figure represent five men, I could have several companies of 12 to 20 figures along with a gun per side".. and pretty soon you were thinking about painting up several 54mm regiments along with a battery of guns and perhaps a squadron of cavalry! Anyone who hasn't thought of this is probably a boardgamer - or should be! Well, WARGAMES FOUNDRY has released a line of 35 ACW in 40mm (yes, I said "40mm") and I just received the first 14 castings tonight in the mail! I should be completely honest and state that during my lunch hour at work today, I sat down and wrote down all the wargaming periods I currently have, those I was working on, and those which I wanted to do in the future. I then came up with three guidelines for the future: (1) downsize the number of figures within my units; (2) keep each period under 1500 figures; and (3) do not, under any Circumstances, select any new wargaming periods!!!! 40mm ACW was not on my list of periods - I did have good intentions anyway and it's not a bad idea! These are beautiful little toys! They are beautifully cast and detailed; there is virtually no flash on them; and they have to be assembled. It would appear as though they come with separate base and separate right arm. The rifle is cast to the right arm. There are three officers, three sergeants, six standard bearers, two dead infantrymen, and two wounded in the line of 35 castings.
The other infantrymen are in running, firing, loading, advancing, and at ready positions in a variety of coats. I'm going to assemble them this weekend (hopefully!) and mount them On large fender washers. I think I'll get maybe ten figures per side and do some skirmish gaming; that should be neat! Well, geez, it's a shame to have only ten per side - maybe I could build a company for each side at 12 to 20 figures each; um!, I'll bet a game with several companies and a gun Per side would be great fun! Figures are 95 pence each and available from WARGAMES FOUNDRY, 4A Parkyn Rd., Daybrook, Nottingham, NG5 6BG, UK., or here in the states from PENDRAGON MINIATURES, 1549 Marview Drive, Westlake, Ohio, 44145.
By Hal Thinglum - WARGAMES FOUNDRY 25MM ZULU WAR
WARGAMES FOUNDRY (address above; also available from PENDRAGON MINIATURES), is offering some fantastic 25mm Zulu War figures and I purchased a bunch of British infantrymen from PENDRAGON MINIATURES for use in my 25mm Sudan project - I know the British switched over to the khaki very soon after getting involved in Egypt, however, I still like the red coats! There are 18 British infantry castings including four officers (Bromhead included), one sergeant, one dead figure, and two open handed figures in shirt sleeves. Also, they offer a British Lancer officer and trooper. All of the figures are very good being well cast, well detailed, etc. I especially liked Bromhead - he's firing his pistol in his right hand and holds a rifle in his left. Good Stuff! Foot are $1.10 while horses are $1.40. I received one Zulu figure; an unmarried warrior lunging with assegi. Both the weapon and the shield are separate. They also have the Natal native horse mounted and a Natal Native Contingent foot figure with rifle as well as a separate piles of Zulu (5) and British (3) dead and wounded. Highly recommended!
By Hal Thinglum - VILLAGE GREEN RESIN CAST BUILDINGS & SCENICS
This information came in too late to be included in BITS & PIECES and I don't have any samples, but VILLAGE GREEN, 34 Moorgarth Ave., York, Y02 2DP, UK, sent us their latest catalog and there are a multitude of items for wargames so I'll list them here: French Foreign Legion fort in 20/25mm and 25/30mm scale; "war damaged" buildings, redoubts, trading post, 15mm mosque, bridges, Viking/Saxon village, barbarian village, many different types of sandbag emplacements, rubber boats, jungles(!!), mealy bags (for Rorke's Drift), hedgerows, scrubland, a number of 15mm/25mm buildings, Dark Ages buildings/defenses, stockades, tepees, tents, brick walls, hills(!!), Maginot interval fort, paddyfields(1/300), river edges, 10mm houses, and more. I'd suggest you drop them two bucks for a listing!
By Hal Thinglum - MODELER'S MART CONSCRIPT 25MM NAPOLEONICS
MODELER'S MART, 1183 Cedar St., Safety Harbor, FL 34695, reports they are carrying a new line of 25mm Napleonics, CONSCRIPT. The listing contains British line(15 poses) & light(7) infantry, heavy (6) and light(4) cavalry, and French line infantry(14) and heavy(2) and light(2) cavalry. Four foot/infantry command/artillerymen or two cavalry are priced at #3.98 per pack. I received a French line infantryman advancing which appears to be about 27mm from the top of the base to the brim of the shako. This is a cleanly cast figure with quite good detail. It is not, in my opinion, a highly animated line, the poses (from the sample to the illustrations shown on the listing) are a little more formal than OLD GLORY or some of the other more animated Napoleonic lines. Drop them a line for a listing! John Younghaus of MODELERS MART would like to announce that "we have an arrangement with FRONTIER MINIATURES to make the miniatures here (all of them)"..."the new MODELER'S MART catalog will bring this and many other things into better focus." I'm very glad to see MODELER'S MART pick up the FRONTIER line and think we owe them a debt of gratitude for doing so!
By Hal Thinglum - PRAIRIE PRODUCTS 25MM ACW FLAGS
Orv Banasik, 3165 26th Ave., Marion, Iowa 52302, has released two new sets of ACW 25mm flags; #4 consists of 21 total Confederate "stars and bars" flags of different 'varieties and sizes while #5 has flags for Choctaw Brigade, Cherokee Nation, Alabama Variant(2), Missouri Battle Flag and State Guard, Parson's Texas cavalry, and corps flags for Taylor, Hardee, Polk, and Kirby Smith(2). $4.50 a sheet and some highly recommended stuff!
By Hal Thinglum - THE COMMAND POST PAINTING SERVICE
1 don't mind telling you that I feel very uncomfortable "reviewing" painted figures within MWAN as I am the last person in the world who I think is qualified to do so. However, it would appear as though more of us are utilizing painting services so I am sure people are interested. I received three ACW 15mm samples from THE COMMAND POST, 563 Elkins Lake, Huntsville, TX 77340 (409-291-3528) run by MWANer David Reynolds as well as a price list for painting. David offers three painting techniques; "good", "better", and "best" and I am going to try to give you some indication of the prices per scale/painting technique. The figure size, listed below, will be followed by three numbers which will reflect good/better/best prices. 5 to 10mm inf .35/.70/NA; cav .75/1.50/NA; gun .35/.70/NA. 15mm inf .75/1.25/1.50; cav 1.50/2.50/3.00; gun .75/1.25/1.50. 25mm inf 1.25/2.00/2.50; cav 2.25/3.50/4.50; gun 1.25/2.00/2.50. Mounted leaders and flag bearers are extra as is basing and flocking. He paints 54mm figures at the "better" standard for 7.50(foot), 15.00(cavalry), 7.50(gun) and 17.50 (mounted leader). Now the hard part for me. The figures submitted were three 15mm Rebel infantrymen advancing (MINIFIGS). The only way I know how to do this is to compare the painting to my own painting. I would compare the "good" quality painting to my own painting abilities while the "better" and "best" are above my standard wargames painting ability. David also offers painted armies (14,000 painted 15mm figures in stock for Ancients, Napoleonics, Medievals, ACW, ECW & Colonials). The paint jobs look good to me! See for yourself what you think!
By Hal Thinglum - NAPENALTOWAKTSCHE - SKIRMISH RULES FOR MID-18TH CENTURY
W.D.J. FIGURES, 2464 South Spencer Street, Seattle, WA 98108 (206-725-7548) has released NAPENALTOWAKTSCHE (Delaware for "They will be scalping each other"), a set of skirmish level rules for mid-18th century New England, New France, and the Old Northwest. This is an MWAN-sized booklet of 32 pages which can contain (and I think this is a brand new approach) the rules booklet ($5), 8 individual 15mm painted figures (3.50 each, I believe), figures with roster card & ID chit($4.50 each) a set of 13 "trees" ($10), fire stick ($5), scalp markers (to indicate damage on the roster card), 9" square felt ground pieces, dice, and end of turn markers, or $50 for the whole lot! Now I have to be honest here; when I first saw the price for the whole set-up, I wrote back to W.D.J. FIGURES asking for clarification; $50 seemed like a lot of money for a rules set. However, I received two sample 15mm painted figures; one settler and one Indian and these are well-painted figures with lots of painting detail on them which are attractively mounted and based. Geez, I don't know, maybe this is a good idea which will work- a whole system, including figures, with a rules set - only time will tell, I suppose!
Each figure has a roster card (card stock) and the figure is identified with a colored marked on the base of the figure which corresponds to the identification number on the figure's roster card. The end of turn (EOT) markers and figure identification (ID) chits are placed in a container and are drawn out. if an EOT chit is drawn, that turn is ended. If an ID chit is drawn, that; figure is allowed to roll a D6 and add the result to his "competence" rating and this number reflects the number of "action points" the figure may use during that turn. As you would expect, different actions require differing amounts of "action Points" (loading, aiming, moving, etc). Hits via firing are influenced by the figure's "competence" rating and damage to the target is also dependent to some degree upon the numbers obtained via firing. A rather interesting facet is the concept of "reactions" in which figures which are fired at must roll to determine their reaction to the situation; the target's reaction can in turn cause the "firer" to take a "reaction" test. Melees are handled on a figure to figure basis utilizing the figure's "competence" rating which is modified by a die roll and the usual situational variables (flank attack, rear attack, etc). There are advanced rules which suggest using different sized dice to reflect the skill level of the individual figure (i.e., a more skilled figure would use perhaps a 10-sided die). Under the advanced rules, a figure's competence rating can be affected by it's actions (i.e., retreating reduces competency); fatigue is taken into account as well as the effects of terrain; and different types of weapons. As you would expect, the figure scale is 1-1; however, there is no information as to time and ground scale provided. There are, I feel, some interesting ideas within these rules for skirmish games and the rules booklet is certainly worth the $5 it will cost you to get it.
By Hal Thinglum - AMERICAN CIVIL WAR CAMPAIGN FROM EMPEROR'S HEADQUARTERS
Todd Fisher, of THE EMPEROR'S HEADQUARTERS, 5744 West Irving Park Rd., Chicago, IL 60634 (312-777-7307), has been running an ACW campaign for some time at his store and I was surprised to receive a large "tube" in the mail a short time ago. It contained the rules (one sheet) for the campaign but the primary feature consisted of four map sections (in color), each 24" X 36" large which cover the entire scope of the ACW when placed together. The scale is 17 miles to the inch so you can imagine how large these maps are! I was very impressed with them and I am sure the ACW gamer will be as well! The campaign rules, being on one sheet of paper, are very simple and straight forward; just what you want for a campaign! Cost is $30.00; not a bad price to pay for what you get! The following features are shown on the maps; roads, turnpikes, railroads, navigatable rivers, other rivers, coastal zones, sea zones, ocean, hilly terrain, mountainous terrain, state boundaries, forts, cities, and states. I think it's a steal at thirty bucks! Highly recommended!
By Hal Thinglum - SHIP CHARTS FOR AGE OF IRON
MWANer Eric Weihrauch, 1319 Stockett Square, Belcamp, MD 21017, is offering professionally done "ship charts" for the rules set AGE OF IRON. See his article in this issue for a nicely done piece on the subject. Eric relates that his group became tired of filling out ship's charts for each game and developed forms designed to speed up the process. He reports that they have "fleet sets" for every major European fleet and they are working on expansion sets and minor fleets from 1860-1890. Eric was kind enough to include ship charts for two fleets; the Italian Fleet basic set which has charts for 8 ship classes with 13 variations ($2.50) and the Austrian Fleet ($3.75) which covers 24 ship classes with 8 variations. Each fleet set is professionally done and enclosed in a plastic wrapping. He also sells individual ship charts for .20 or 6/$1.00 and you can obtain a listing by sending him an SASE. He adds that many of the ship charts are not included in the AGE OF IRON rules. For your information, Eric has consulted the author of the rules, Leo Walsh, who endorsed the project. If you are into AGE OF IRON, I think you'll find this product of great use!
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