I visited a very interesting game shop in Pittsburgh, PA, called Games Unlimited, 2115 Murray Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA. 15217 (412) 421-8807. This shop is well stocked with a wide variety of traditional games, new and trendy games, cards, chess sets, puzzles, lots of fantasy and historical board wargames, fantasy figures and books, etc. I found a beautiful Staunton chess set I could not live without, and just a few figues that I could rationalize purchasing. After all they are "fantasy" figures, so a rationalization was absolutely necessary

Ghost Miniatures, GV5 Rhine Maidens w/Axe, Old Gloy, mail order from the Emperor's HQ, available at most wargame (fantasy) shops - For all of you who are seeking to wargame Wagnerian opera, the figures have arrived. This package includes figures of six robust maidens, all decked out in suitable Tutonic garb and armor, and best of all, each has a really fine axe! These weapons are not of the "cut the head of the chicken" variety, but appear suitable to cleave your average Noresman or Orc in two. Three of these girls are standing with an axe, two more are raising their clevers in the right hand, and the last is standing with the axe on her hip (Where have you been to this hour Hagar7 Don't give me that old prevailing wind story again!). All of these six figures are sharply molded with crisp details, including braided hair on three figures. The figures measure 28-29 millimeters from the top of the base to the eyes, and are amply proportioned. To use these figures in a more historical vein, I will probably replace the fantasy style axes with broadswords or Viking axes. With that slight modification, these would be the Viking women to drive the men to sea and keep them there, or lead them in a raid on the Saxons or Normans. When Madonna (the Rock and Roll diva) sees these figures, I predict she will film a movie portraying one of these characters.

Have you ever needed a really great Cyclops? I found the figure for the 25mm Redoubt Ulysses to attempt to defeat, on his way back from Troy. This figure is from the AD&D 2nd Edition Miniatures, from Ral Partha, #11488, "Cyclops." This is a massive figure, crouched, preparing to hurl a rock at the Greeks' ship. He is dressed in an "off the shoulder," belted skin garment' with ankle strap sandals, and sports a flowing hair style and a beard. Interesting details on the figure are the wrist straps, and long toe nails. The figure is molded in three pieces, the hips and legs, the upper torso and head, and the right hand holding the rock. The figure I purchased ha5 a small amount of flash along the mold line. When assembled, the figure measures 65-69 millimeters from the top of the base to the eye. The spread arms of this giant measure 79 millimeters from the knuckles of the left to the rock in the right.

Yes, it is another unusual figure I found called the "Yeti."This is a fur covered. lanky figure, ankle deep in a snow drift (?), posed turning to the right. This figures measures approximately 53 millimeters from the eyes to the top of the base. This figure is from Genadier, number 52 -Yeti. I could see this guy as a villain in a Grade "B" (or alphabetically later) flick depicting Napoleon's retreat from Russia, with the ragged ranks terroized by this Yeti! "Non Claude, Ne ire pas sur lui! 11 ne vous camera past, (Or so my French/English dictionary tells me).

AD&D 2nd Edition Miniatures, from Ral Partha number 11-415, is a Genie figure. He is posed standing, glaring malevolently, with his hands on his hips, and towers approximately 65 millimeters from the top of the base to his eyes. Now all we need is a Barbara Eden "I dream of Genie" figure. Really, my daughter wanted this figure. She is still resonating from the "Aladdin" movie. The head is molded separately, and must be glued to the rest of the figure. This figure is available at most "figure carrying shops" for the sum of $6.00. I wonder what that is in alms?

For those of you who are interested in the Samurai games and figures, a new set of rules for this period is available. These rules are authored by Steve Lawrence, and titled Katana. I have not read these rules yet so I can not provide any review of them. I did notice that the rules cover is a drawing of a ferocious Samurai, attacking with his sword. (By some strange coincidence, the cover of this rule book bears a striking resemblance to the Avalon Hill's Rising Sun boxed game cover). The Katana rules are priced $15.00, and should be available at your favorite wargames shop. I also understand Old Glory is producing a line of Samurai f gures, good timing!

Redoubt Enterprises, available from Miniatures Service Center, 1523 Bridge Street, #163, Yuba City, CA 95993 (917-673-5169), The Renaissance Range has been further expanded to include Early Janissary ($1.50 each), Arab Musselman Turkish light infantry ($1.50 each), Arnaut Sarika Turkish light Infantry ($1.50), a heavy Turkish gun ($12.001), a mounted Turkish commander ($9.00), and 10 figure packages of 10 Peyks or Solaks fanatic infantry ($17.50). Redout is also offering Battle Group Figures, 25mm WWII. These figures listed in their recent mailing include 15 different British figures priced at $1.65 each, and come with head variants. Four sets of figures are offered at $4.95 each. These sets are figures either marching or lying down firing a 2" mortar, a bren gun, or a Piat A/T gun. The Redoubt representative Mr. Bob Bowling is scheduled to be attending Cold Wars (March 14-16, Lancaster, PA), War Fair (March 28-30, Atlanta, GA), Little Wars (April 4-6, Chicago, IL), and Nashcon (May 23-25, in Nashville, TN). German and American figures will be following this release of British figures.

Detailing Tips and Techniques, from Model Railroader Magazine, Kalmbach Books, 21027 Crossroads Circle, P.O. Box 1612, Waukesha, WI 53187, 1993, second printing 1994,104 pages. This is a compilation of articles from Model Railroader Magazine on areas of terrain and detailing. For those of us that spend crazy amounts of time and effort on terrain, detailing and buildings, this is a useful book. From dilapidated buildings to cracks in the road, and weed-infested vacant lots to snow-covered trees, etc., this book provides detailing tips and techniques that you can put to use in your setups. The price is $12.95, and it should be available Tom your favorite hobby shop handling model railroading supplies.

Tomahawk- Rules for the French and Indian War, by Duke Seigfried - These are a skirmish level set of rules for this historical period of Europeans versus the Indians and Habitants. I have seen a Republication copy used for play-testing, and they look like a lot of fun, while adding a "flavor" of the period to the game.. I also saw these rules used by the Duke himself at Historicon 1996. I am told they will soon be published, including six game scenarios. Individual figure fire and ability is utilized in when using these rules for small games. Larger games use unit abilities. Initiative is determined by a deck of Tomahawk cards. This method of initiative selection results in some very unexpected and challenging events. The morale levels and abilities of the various troops types in this theater are reflected by rolls of different denomination dice. The player must use his imagination, and his knowledge of the best way to use the varing strengths and weaknesses of his units to win. (Okay, you observant types will notice the illustration is the wrong type of tomahawk I was just checking to see if vou were Davina attention.)

The Zouave, Volume X, No. 4, Winter 199620578 Alliance-Sebring Road, Alliance, OH 44601. This is the current issue of this magazine from editor and figure painter David Reynolds (The Command Post) devoted to wargaming the American Civil War. It contains these articles: Drewry's Bluff, 1864 - A Johnny Reb Scenario, The Not as Famous - Two Biographies, Fields of Honor - A Review, Advance The Colors - Rules Modifications, The Civil War Rifle, Wargames by Mail - a Case Study, and The Picket Line.

Miniature Wargames, November 1996 issue, Number 162. ISSN 0266-3228, edited by Ian Dickie, published by Pireme Publishing Limited, 34 Chatsworth Road, Chairminster, Bournemouth BH8 8SW - This is one of the British wargame magazines I regularly read, obtaining my copy from Prosek's hobby shop each month. The contents are always of interest to me, even if one of the periods I have figures for is not covered. The contents of this issue include the usual Reconnaissance Report, Letters section, the Rune of Loki, Book Rule and Video Review, Computer Column, Figure and Paint Reviews, Napoleonic Diary, and articles titled, There's Something Wrong With Our Bloody Ships, Raising the Clans, The Little War (no, not Little Wars), Drewry's Bluff(see another article no this mentioned in the Zouave above), a Competition Report, The Battle of Helm's Deep (a Tolkein fantasy game), and the Battle of Torbung May 1944. If you have not spent time looking at this publication, you are missing a good resource on the wargaming hobby.

Service Publications, 55 Abingdon Drive, Nepean, ON (Ontario Canada) K2H 7M5, telephone 613-820-7350, fax 613-820-1288, http;//infoweb.magi.com/~service/home/ - This company offers a wide variety of publications from military sources, mostly British and Canadian, published by Service Publications, Museum Restoration Service, and others. These series of publications cover the areas of re-enactment, ammunition, artillery, unit/regimental histories, the Historical Arrns Series (34 of these cover various weapons including dueling pistols, artillery pieces, the blunderbuss, Manhattan Gunsmiths, Dirks, The French Soldier in Colonial America, Tudor Artillery the Enfield, Accouterments of U. S. Infantry, Riflemen, and Dragoons, Allied and Enemy Aircraft: May 1918, etc.), the Collector's Only Series from North Cape Publications (winchester' Carbines, Springfields), IDSA Books (many topics), Collector's Grade Publications, Excalibur Publications, and Miscellaneous publications. Visit their web site for more information, or call for their listing.

American Heritage Battle Maps of the Civil War, text by Richard O'Shea, maps by David Greenapan, 176 pages, published by Smithmark, New York, 1992, ISBN 0-8317-1372-0. This is an interesting book of Civil War historical battle maps, pictorial maps, and aerial photographs of the major battle of the conflict. Now, to make my terrain look like the pictorial maps in this book will be a real challenge.

Modeling Ships in Bottles, by Jack Needham, Copyright 1972, Collier Books 866 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10022, Library of Congress Catalog Number 72-14074, First American Edition 1973, 64 pages - This is a clear complete guide to making small model ships to fit in a bottle. 30 photographs and 23 diagrams show the traditional craft of the mariner. I mention this small book because it is a fascinating volume on the art of making ships in bottles. Someday, I will do this! The techniques described are also used for dioramas in bottles or other containers (..;what to do w ith those few. odd figures left over). One model shown in this book is a diorama in a bottle, of a man making a ship in a bottle. I can appreciate the guy that came up with that idea! I honestly don't remember where I obtained this little book. It was from one of those out of the way book stores I have visited over the years. I would bet this book is long out of print, so I apologize that I can not list a source for you. If you find it you will enjoy it.

Quality Castings, P.O. Box 11714, Alexandria, VA 22312 - Their current (11/96) sheet lists new German (6), Russian ( I ), Japanese (2), and US items. One of the German listings is particularly interesting, it is a Stuka dive bomber for $10.50. The German listings are halfbacks with various armaments, a Sturmgeschutz, the Russian assault gun, Japanese Autocannons, and the US Slugger 11 90mm.

Everlasting Elegance - liquid glass, Clear Floral Arranging Compound, GreenStreet Co., P.O. Box 138S, Woodinville, WA 98072. This is a clear resin, intended for masquerading as water in vases of artificial flowers. It is packaged contained in two bottles in a small box. When the two solutions are combined ("and stirred for at least three minutes"), one has 12 ounces of a clear resin that can be poured to simulate bodies of water, or used to mold objects. The curing time required for this solution is 18 - 24 hours. Large pours get hot. I have used this for mud puddles, bodies of still water, ect. It is sold in craft stores for $14.95 per package.