From George Dullaghann: I've enclosed a few pages on the Russian Civil war unifomm types. Easy to do with MINIFIGS WWII and OLD GLORY Napoleonic Cossacks as well as ESSEX Napoleonic militia in cap. I'm experimenting perhaps with buclionoukas which are pickelhaubes with red stars. Saw CHAPAYEV, a movie about a brave and charming Commissar who is a genius and directs the battles of the General Chapayev against the White Generals in the Russian Civil War. The "Psychological attack" by white officers is excellent.

The Commissar is obviously written to represent Stalin in his younger days. Little wonder that Eisenstein was never shot and this was Stalin's favorite movie!

My Spanish Civil War is done PETER PIG and MINIFIGS. Right now I'm reading about the war between the Chinese and Japanese from 1937-41 and I'm using Chuck Cook's figures for the Korean War as well as WWI Germans (the Germans trained Chiang's army) and WWII British as the Chinese had a polyglot army. There were millions of casualties in this unknown war. I was also surprised recently to read that the Taiping Rebellion was the second largest war in man's history! So I'm having boxers painted, as substitutes.

I'm turning 45 soon Hal, and thanks to you and Orv Banasik's writings I'm going to try to finish my collections in the next year and after this just have special units and command units painted. Tempes fugit.

Last MWAN was one of the best. THE LONG SHIPS is out in video in February. Haven't seen it in 30 years. I've been filling out some armies recently. Saw HELEN OF TROY and I'm adding to my chariot contingent. My Roman Legion is being built at a 1:10 ratio but I refuse to add many more barbarians. I've added REVO Rags to my SYW regiments and my 30 Year War armies they work good.

Joe Gregory has painted troops for me and a colonial gunboat and they look great. Vince Clyantt of THE LONDON WAR ROOM is making me a 6mm Reichschancellory and Brandenberg Gate which should be ready in a month. THE COMMAND POST, MR. MINIATURE, and ROYAL OAK MINIATURES continue to make my troops and buildings look better than imaginable.

I've developed an interest in the French Wars of Religion and I guess I like all armies which is ridiculous, I suppose. Right now I have Isandlwana on the table. Things look bad for the lads! Just had more cardboard trays made for the troops. This is the only practical way to fight a large battle. Hal, if any MWANer has WWI planes mounted on flying stands, I would like to purchase them.

I think about the Eastern Front a lot; my feeling is that I most enjoy a Corps or Army level battle with simple rules and the players as Generals in a command post trying to hold on against ten to one Russian hordes.

Re my units for my collections, I plan on having all units in multiples of 24. Well-trained troops would be 24 men and irregulars would be 48, 72 or 96. Elephants and chariots would be in groups of three, cavalry would be nine. All would fit in movement trays of green card. Rules will be ultra-simple Featherstone or Glidden type without tedious charts and modifiers.

After much thought, I'm starting to conclude that 25mm troops are good for conventions and other sizes for home use. I'm feeling too lazy to transport troops so from now on, I may just attend and enjoy conventions. Recently read book on Knights of St. John defending Rhodes in 1480 and 1522. Always enjoy battling Janisaries! I read a WWI aviation book. They concluded Hemman Goering was a psychotic based skillfully on the fact he collected little soldiers which means he thought he was immortal. Thus, all MWAN readers are psychotic according to these authors! Watched the movie BATTLE OF AUSTERLITZ from the 60's and LAFAYETTE. Both were good. Hal, whatever happened to the wargamer interviews from years ago in MWAN? They were fascinating.

Purchased some MUSEUM MINIATURES knights - excellent Also praise to LONDON WAR ROOM for Woodland Indian Longhouses for me!

(Editor's Note: Re interviews, I stopped doing them. George, because it was very time consuming. From time to time, I do get the urge to start them again as I enjoyed them as well!)

From Steve Leopard I enjoy your new format! The only problem, as I said before, is it is now too nice a publication to scribble notes in or dog-ear pages! I still do not like publishing rules in MWAN; I have read way too many of them that are incomplete or seem to be "ideas" as opposed to real dyed in the wool rules that are heavily used. I would like to see short rules and believe rules would work better if accompanied with an article about a replay of a game using the rules.

(Editor's Mote: Glad to continue to enjoy MWAN, Steve. Re rules, there is no way I could fill up 192 pages without them although the most important reason for including them in MWAN is, I believe, the fact that it is possible for us to read them and "draw" something out of them no matter what period of history they encompass. I agree with you as to it would be an advantage if authors included an article on the rules).

From Jon Laughlin My favorite MWAN issue is still the scenery issue #33. The article "Massively Useful" by John Lloyd Retzer was interesting. I would like to see more articles like that. How to make the other stuff is as important to me as are articles about how to play with toy soldiers and other information about exotic wars that would be fun to fight.

I know I have submitted several scenery articles over the years and I would like to see what the other subscribers come up with. Another scenery issue would be fun. Lets have new articles for it though.

The Volci Campaign is still going full steam ahead. Two player empires are now battling heads with each other. They should have their first banle with each other next month. The wargaming group I play with has grown from three to five players. Its the new members time to host their own games.

I'm starting to enjoy micro armor; that's what the majority prefers. I find the tactical situation interesting. What is the best way to bring the most firepower to bear on the enemy at the most crucial point. In my own solo wargames I am exploring questions of maneuver. The concept of having widely spaced regiments over a wide area and being able to bring them together at the critical point of battle is being explored. Solo wargaming gives me so many options and I am still battling away!

I would like to say that running the Volci Campaign has been a very rewarding experience for me. What I have found is that some people make inquiries and I never hear from them again; others try it out for a few turns before they too disappear; and then there are those who once started, can't stop. The last group make the campaign what it is. The temporary players do add extra color to the campaign as well as pre-made countries for the new player who wants to get into action, but does not want to go through the work of creating his own country.

Since I am a solo wargamer, I have no trouble taking over an abandoned kingdom to play its current wars to conclusion. I no longer wait for players who don't respond on time. I have a world to run and a responsibility to those who do respond to keep everything moving. The Volci Campaign is being advertised in THE LONE WARRIOR and I am more than happy to include anyone who is interested.

I believe that PBM (Play by Mail) has great possibilities. To umpire such a game takes lot of work, but it is interesting. Unless you have a group of dedicated gamers who are willing to show up to fight the PBM gamers battles for them, the umpire has to be a solo wargamer. A monthly game works out best for me. It gives the players time to decide what they want to do, and me time to play their moves out and send back the results. It took me a whole month to remake the rules and army lists for YEAR TWO. Then with the first year's game experience, I saw many areas that needed improvement.

The Volci Campaign is almost like a second job for me, but it's a job that I love. Now all I need to do is to get paid for it! Now that I have been running this campaign, painting mania has been supplanted with gaming mania. I can't get enough of it.

From Donald C. Kaliebe In regard to your request for l/48th armor kits. The original BANDAI kits are being produced under the name of FUMAN. I have enclosed a listing of what is currently available. Hopefully, they will continue to add to the range. BANDAI produced infantry, artillery, field equipment, etc., with detailed engines, riders, diorama suggestions, etc.

The kit you seem to be looking for could be the eight ton semi (halfback) truck prime mover (SD.KFZ.7), used to tow 88's, carry shells and transport troops. The original kit even featured extra 88 shells to stack inside open compartments and five riders for the seats. Don't see it listed but perhaps in the future.

I know of two sources for the FUMAN kits - the first is SELECT HOBBY SUPPLIES, PO Box 177, East Glastonbury, CT 06025-0177 (860-633-9064). They publish a 158 page catalog with everything at a 15% discount with froquent updates. The other source is THE SQUADRON SHOP, 1115 Crowley Drive, Carrollton, TX 75011-5010 (214-242-8663), who publish a 66 page catalog with monthly sale sheets. Both companies are reliable and provide prompt service. As in your case, the excellent new 25mm figures from 1ST CORPS got me interested once again - how long have I waited for 25mm WWII figures to appear? Hopefully these vehicles will provide some support for all those Tigers.

(Editor's Note: Thanks, Donald for information. BROOKHURST HOBBIES, an MWAN advertiser, also carries the FUMAN kits).

From John Hansen I've moved to NE Idaho because of work and am into a serious game withdrawal. I even started playing with my brother's eight and nine year old sons. Hopefully a subscription to MWAN will make me feel part of the gaming world again. If not, I did notice some Caribou and a grizzly bear that may be interested.

From Rick Scofield Regarding figure stands. I spray paint a metal base with green or brown ahead of time, then use white glue to set figure. Never had one come off (except when a friend dropped a tray).

From David BarnesRecently an old friend of mine, Alastair Jamison came up from England to have a few days with us. We took the opportunity to play a wargame based on the new Charles Grant Scenarios book. It was on my 8' X 6' table and took the form of a delaying rearguard action against a much bigger advancing force.

We set it in the 8th Century. Al had three infantry regiments, a horse regiment and a gun. I had four horse regiments, 6 line infantry regiments, three light infantry regiments, and two guns, but I could only enter on dice throws on even turns and two units at a time. My objective was to exit the table as fast as possible clearing the rearguard away en route. Al had to hold me up as long as possible and also try to withdraw as many units of his rearguard as he could. Al placed his gun on the lower slopes of a hill and did enormous damage as did his single horse regiment. Also, one of his foot regiments defending the forward edge of a village made mince-meat of my infantry attacks. Finally, his cavalry charged at the rear of my grenadier regiment who had time, just, to face about and give a volley at medium range their first volley too.

Red ruin for the brave cavalry, one squadron of which managed to rally later and do some more slowing of my advance. His infantry managed to withdraw pretty well one was a regiment of Stadden British "Grenadiers" and the village garrison, actually old "Garrison,' figures, marched away to the cheers of their supporting regiments.

My cavalry were urging them on, but, not too closely. By the last move, Al had succeeded in his objective.

I'm now trying to solo play some rules "General de Brigade" having done the first five moves with Al before he left. I hope to give my ideas of how they play - but rules are really difficult to give opinions about unless one plays them often. I like "Charge" rules or those used at the WARGAMES HOLIDAY CENTRE in the UK - 18th C - a civilized way to battle.

From Jeff Baumal. The response from my MWAN ad was great! I've met some new people through the mail and over the phone; what a great bunch of guys these MWANers are! Our club will be doing a battle in North Africa, 1941 on the road to Sollom. The battle is about the British trying to seize an Arab vile (garrisoned by Italians) and an old FFL fort with Matildas, Australians, British, Ghurkas and a jock column.

From John Totin Just received MWAN #85 and what particularly pleased me was the article "A Reply to a Considered Response" by Bob Jones. To me, it is an article of encouragement.

I have just finished the bulk of my WWII skirmish rules at 1:1 for 20mm. In fact, I have been writing and rewriting them for the past five years and for the first time, I had a chance to playtest them with a fellow gamer last month. We had a good time and the mechanics and the scenario employed chose "soft" factors that Bob touches upon in the article.

The thing is I did not know what these soft factors were, yet somehow, they were incorporated. Most of what he states I whole heartedly identify with, such as "that rules are a creative fiction, with a viewpoint and focus set by the artist-writer-designer." This has struck a chord in me just as our little playtest struck something intuitive in us. We both enjoyed something, but had no words for. Bob in his article gave us the text.

From Scott Wisher I especially enjoyed the ACW Lectures in MWAN 84!

From Joseph Seliga MWAN #84 was great, starting with the front cover. The picture of the Guernsey Foundry Cossack was stunning. The range of topics and periods covered is impressive as always. The skirmish rules look good. I enjoyed learning about the useful items to be found in arts and craft stores.

The various add-one, modifications and gaming aid articles about existing rules sets were interesting and provide much food for thought. The letters section in this issue was of particular interest to me. Leo Walsh's letter had some great ideas for publicizing the hobby. The travelogue of John Bertolini was entertaining to read. I was glad that you are including commentary on rules sets such as PIQUET and MATRIX games in MWAN. It gives people an opportunity to understand the bases used by rules developers.

I enjoyed reading the American Civil War overview by Major Knapp. The wargame reports give descriptions of how rules sets operate. I can't thank you enough for the information that MWAN provides me with about figures, rules sets, magazines, books and upcoming events. I applaud your efforts to give more information in each issue.

I have some suggestions chat may help. You may be able to pack more letters in a line by using full justification and hyphenation. I believe it will also be more pleasing to the eye and easier. Please compare your editorial pages to those in the letter section.

From Jonsthan Keepers Through the weirdness of bulk mailing, I received MWAN #83 before everyone else in the Oklahoma City metro area rather clan three weeks afler. It happens once a year but I enjoy getting to tell everyone else "MWAN's in!"

I would like to thank John Stafford for his kind words in WARGAME CLUBS OF AMERICA. I would also like to explain my self-appointed title of "Guardian of the Secret Hand Shake". It was an attempt to puncture the pomposity of past and present HMGS national board members who seem to take themselves and the hobby much too seriously. Maybe some day they will get it.

As for the rest of the issue - WOW! Good to see Pat Wilson and Chris Freeve's JOHN COMPANY rules see the light of day as we have been playtesting them locally for the past couple of years. Hope it stirs up some interest in the period.

My other favorite article is Howard Whitehouse's Binky Bagshot tale "In the Shade of the Sausage Tree." Howard gave a reading of it when was our Guest of Honor at Twister Con 3. I don't know if it was Howard's account or not, but as he read the tale, we could almost feel the hear, swat the flies, and smell the cow urine. I look forward to more of Binky's adventures in future issues of MWAN.

Chris Engle article in MWAN #82 on recruiting kids is a model plan. I only wish more of us would follow. That way, our toys won't have to follow us to Valhalla but instead could soldier on with the next generation. Steve Carroll and Scott Hansen's tips on how to run convention games were very useful and should be taken to hear by more gainers.

(Editor's Note: Have to agree with you, Jonathan, about Howard I didn't however, think anyone else was aware of the flies and the cow urine when listening to him.).

From Mark Stevens I've got a Sikh army - mostly MINIFIGS. I guess that I'll have to add a brigade or two of WARGAMES FOUNDRY figures. I'm working on India, 1782 (British vs French) - many of the Sikh Wars irregulars (plus NWF Pathans) are useable for this. I would also like to do the Mutiny - again, the figures from the Sikh Wars can be used.

From Christopher Nelson I have been very busy reading a lot of the official United Kingdom Military Histories of WWII. It is lucky that American libraries have purchased the books as today, most of them are out of print or extremely costly.

I would suggest that anyone interested in the War in the Pacific look at the British conflict. THE WAR AGAINST JAPAN Vol I THE LOSS OF SINGAPORE by Maj Gen S. Woodburn Kirby is fantastic. It covers the attack on Hongkong, and the Malaya- Singapore Campaign with lots of great maps.

I see that William R. Forstchen has had released his new "The Lost Regiment Series (paperback) novel - BATTLE HYMN. He will have the next one out in 1998. It's possible that he is working on the next book in the new 1945 series that he cowrote with Rep. Newt Gergrich.

I am currently reading AUSTRALIA IN THE WAR OF 1939-45 ARMY Vol 2, Greece, Crete and Syria. It is interesting and I find that the Australian histories differ from the official British histories of the same period. For instance, one discovers in the Australian history how poorly equipped the Greek Army was having little motorized transport, artillery and air support. The communication system was so bad that the Australians had to use captured Italian telephones and wire taken in Libya.

I came across an interesting novel - ATTACK NEW YORK by Duncan Harding, Severn House Publishers, Inc., 1994. The cover shows a U boat entering New York Harbor about to fire a V-2 missile. The book was interesting in a way. I must say that I was able to copy some plans from James Lucas' book on German commandos of a mini-U-boat. I then invested another ten cents and had the plans enlarged until it was 1/72nd scale. Then I copied it on a scrap piece of pine and cut out a waterline hull. The conning tower I made out of scrap basswood and the hatches and periscope came from scrap pieces of plastic. I then painted it black and the sub was finished.

From Dr. Richard Heath Greetings from a solo wargamer and longtime miniature soldier hobbyist (50 years). I guess I've seen all kinds of figures, large and small since the mid 1940's. Of course, there has never been the fantastic variety and availability as there is today. my first wargame figures were 54mm Britains and Mignot ala H.G. Well, followed by Scruby and S.A.E. figures from South Africa). Then came Suren's Willie line and Staddens. Both in 30mm, on to "big" 25mm's, HlNCHLIFFE's Foremost line,, Essex and now a huge variety of big 25mm's which are really 30's. I've never enjoyed the hobby more than nowadays. what with so many entertaining magazines and shows like HISTORICON.

Some of my time is devoted to converting and painting 90 and 120mm figures but my real devotion is to Napoleonic armies in large 25mm. I set up a 12' X 8' table a couple of times a year complete with 'detailed scenery' buildings. etc. Then I solo-wargame using modified midwest rules of 25 years ago which I have in a thick looseleaf notebook.

Your "newsletter" just gets better and better. #84 had some very useful information, such as the article about the excellent materials to be found in the large crafts chain stores.

From Daryl Smith I just wanted to my that the MWAN continues to amaze and impress me! I am personally very happy with the new style and the expanded format. But what I like the most is that in this day and age we can all count on you to deliver this wonderful newsletter on a very regular and constant basis.

I continue to find gamers out there who haven't seen MWAN before, and when they see a copy that can't believe the quality. But what really gets them is the fact that it does come out six times a year. Your efforts are much appreciated by this and many other gamers.

From Lyle S. Bickley I would like to commend you on your effort in organizing, writing, and publishing the best magazine in the hobby! I still re-read my old copies of MWAN and use it for research.

My favorite article was the rule set you wrote for the French Foreign Legion. After reading them, I immediately purchased approximately 300 15mm figures. My son and I still play it, whenever we get together. That rule set was simple, fast and extremely fun!

Currently, my figure collection consist of 25mm Napoleonics (approximately 800 British/Allies and French/Allies to fight division size battles in the peninsula) and 25mm ACW (approximately 1200 Confederates and Union figures; 12 regiments per side with an artillery battery per side, also). For Napoleonics, I use Carnage & Glory computer rules (One of my wargarning partners was David Bonk.) and Butternut & Bucktails (written by myself, Chris Hughes, and Steve Raynor) for ACW. Since my move to Ohio, Old Glory is located two (2) hours from my home. [Is America great or what?] I am painting Old Glory's new French Foreign Legion line of 25mm figures. May I say that there are a joy to paint! Also, Old Glory is selling a fort to accompany the figure line, which will be fun to paint.

I will be running games at Historicon '97 using these figures and the rule set by Stephen Lawrence, Sons of the Desert. One last item, since moving to Ohio. I am no longer in an area with easy access to other gamers. In Raleigh, North Carolina, I was a member of Triangle Simulation Society (TSS) which was very active. We would game every Friday night and game all day on a holiday. The friendship and conversation is missed.

From Eric Donaldson Bill Stewart and I have been play-testing a new set of WWII Skirmish rules by Arty Conliffe that are unlike anything else I have ever played. They use no ruler, no cards, only a simple playssheet and are a real blast to play. The seem to capture the crucial fire and movement aspects of small actions very well.

You can play with as few as 3040 figures per side (we use 15mm). They are due for publication in the spring. We had been working on a conversion of Squad Leader for miniatures but gave that project up in a flash once we started testing this set. No doubt we will write an article for you when they are published. For my money Arty has done it again, he may very well turned WWII gaming on its ear!

In addition to my 6mrn Napoleonic project I have jumped back into 15mm as well. Some years ago as I got into 6's I sold my rather large 15rnm collection. With the fantastic Old Glory ranges coming out, I'm hooked again. Bill and I are working on several nations (he's doing Russians, I'm doing French and some Austrians). We are planning to use either SHAKO by Arty Conliffe or Piquet - or maybe both! We have increased the unit size somewhat (to give a more 'epic' look) and should have small forces ready to go in a month or so.

From Richard Borzak The article in issue 85 about Charles Sweet by his son, David, was very interesting and brought back memories to me. His article in the January, 1965, issue of Sports Illustrated got me started in miniature war gaming at age 38. Until I read that article, I thought I was the only person interested in model soldiers. I then found out that figures were manufactured by Jack Scruby, and that there were wargame magazines available.

I actually thought I invented war gaming when I was a teenager in high school during World War. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, I drew a giant map of the Pacific, with Hawaii in the middle, and the U.S. and Japan on opposite sides. The map covered an eight foot dining room table. I built battleships, cruisers and destroyers out of balsa wood and used dice for determining hits on the ships.

Friends and even my father would play very often. When I turned 17 in June of 1944, I was afraid that the war would end so I joined the Merchant Marine and sailed the oceans for two years delivering supplies, fuel, ammunition and troops to all areas where we were needed. (The Navy and Army would not accept me because of eyesight). When I came home and then married, war gaming was left behind while I started a family (except for some model railroading from 1948 to about 1960). The Charles Sweet article started me off again. I am enclosing a copy of that article in case you may not have seen it. I'm sure Sports Illustrated should not mind.

I still buy and paint armies: 6mm American Civil War. 15mm Biblical, ancient and medieval. 25mm medieval and fantasy. all of GHQ and C & C, plus aircraft in many smaller scales, so I am still intrigued with military miniatures. miniature war gaming is still a hobby that lets you relax, makes you think, study, and even levelop some artistic ability. Hal, you have a long way to go in this hobby. I hope you continue to have this desire and drive that results in this, the best hobby magazine available.

From Cory Ring The quality of MWAN in both content and appearance keeps getting better and better. The move to the new binding and color cover photos really adds a lot to the journal. I now proudly place them on my wargaming bookshelf!

I'm glad that you were able to use a few of the photos that I sent you. I'm not much of a photographer myself, but my friend Jason Sannchez is (he took the pictures). Hopefully we'll get together again sometime soon and take a few more shots. Recently our group has been playing a lot of skirmish games. You can build up a new period to game in quickly this way (remember the "Three Musketeers" craze a while back?!) So far we have built up enough figures in skirmish in the Wild West, the ACW, the ECW, the French and Indian War and the French Intervention in Mexico.

On the painting table I've got 15mm Marlburian figures from Editions Brokaw, 25mm Celtic cavalry front Old Glory, and a mix 15mm AWI figures I'm going to paint and mount individually (as hidden movement markers) for a set of AWI house rules I'm working on. I'll let you know how this turns out!

From Michael Huskey You might remember me gushing about the computer WWII tactical game Steel Panthers - well they have a second one out on modem combat from 1950 to 1997 that is even better. Our group loves it and I would never see any need to use microarmor miniatures with this sort of game. It even has lots of campaigns and keeps track of losses plus easy to design campaigns of your own. It is fantastic!

Used Dennis Popek's painting services from an MWAN ad for a small unit of Ottoman cavalry in 15mm. He does a nice job and is very prompt. His prices are very fair. I'm also going to try the ad for the Queens Hussar painting service advertised in MWAN. I am enclosing a rules set that our local group uses for playing Russian Civil War in 20mm. I drew a hex grid on my piece of felt for this so this one is our only set of ruses based on hexes. It has no exact scale for inches to yards or one figure equals so many men. But it works and is fun!

The cohesion rules causes poorer quality units to dissolve when things begin to go wrong. Also leaders are now needed to lead not just sit back to rally routing units like in many games.

From Mike McClellan Just a brief note to renew my subscription and compliment you on the consistent quality of MWAN. I edit the HMGS Gulf South newsletter and I really admire your ability to crank out such volume on time. What I most admire is your ability to get  people to submit articles!

I end up writing our newsletter solo, by and large. A few issues ago you were talking about favorite war movies and I don't remember seeing mention of The Duelists, which technically isn't a war movie, but the story of two French (Napoleonic) Hussar officers (Keith Carradine and Harvey Keitel) who fight a series of duels over several years.

Great movie, great atmosphere and great (accurate) uniforms. Another movie with a great battle scene is Barry Lyndon. The rest of the movie drags a bit, but I just keep my copy cued up to the battle.

Finally, I've enclosed a reply to Dennis Daughetee's article about the misuse of combined arms in Napoleon's Battles; and I've included a copy of our latest newsletter. I'll get your name added to the mailing list.

From Pat Condray I've heard from several folks about the Irun article and a couple have requested a similar run down on my other favorite, the Italian debacle of Guadalajara. I'll be running that one again at JAXCON in a week or so. Maybe Pll give it a shot. Unfortunately it hasn't been won by the Republicans since Wally Simon commanded the Intemationals at HISTORICON 95.

Since I wrote you last I've run IRUN another time-at SOUTHERN FRONT in Raleigh NC on my way down from the "Frozen North" (my wife's term for anything north of Crystal River.) In many respects that was the most interesting game of IRUN ever. All the Nationalists moved by the north road where they were engaged by a succession of local militia, Anarchists, and POUM (Trotskyites-although Orwell insisted that they were never so called in countries with effective libel laws.)

All were badly chewed up, as were the Falange volunteers. The Rosa Luxembourgo Bandera decided to fortify the approach to the International Bridge where they wound up arresting fugitives from one unit after another and putting them to work on the entrenchments (a sad fate for Macho revolutionaries.) The Legion showed up. and the decision was made to move the artillery up on a nearby hill where it could dominate the approaches to IRUN.

However, about the same time a bored Republican commander set off for the same hill "moving to the sound of the guns." He arrived about the same time as the guns, and the Nationalists were forced to fight their way out on their entry road.

There is a very active group in Gainesville which started on THE AGE OF MARLBOROUGH afler playing in my BOYNE game at TROPICON 96 (covered by an article in the last MIDSOUTH DISPATCH.) They joined me at SIEGE OF AUGUSTA and were able to meet Don Featherstone, although one, Don's staunchest fan in the group, was detained by family visitors. These fellows ran several scenarios of Spire (or Speyerbach) from November 1703, most of which the French lost (they won historically) while I ran ALAMANZA and GUADALAJARA. Bryan Stroup set up a web page at http://stroubs.fgp.ufl.edu for the GAINESVILLE GARRISON which includes a page site for rules clarifications and revisions which should serve to meet some of Cory Ring's objections to my twelve page rules.

I found his articles on THE AGE OF MARLBOROUGH and the Great Northern War very interesting. In my second year of retirement I'm finding the truth of what one of my French friends Jean Belaubre wrote me: "You will find that retirement does not make time elastic." One reason I never got around to contacting you about the missing adds was that I've kept busy and distracted.

A third edition of WIAM I is proving very time consuming. Moreover, I've started painting troops to sell or lend to the Gainesville Garrison and others to get them going while they paint up their own forces. In fact, the term GAINESVILLE GARRISON was coined to describe the troops I loaned them to help them get into action sooner after TROPICON last year. Painting as fast as I can, it is hard to keep up.

Don't understand how folks like George Johnson can manage it. All that has kept me from putting my two cents in on some of the very interesting discussions running in MWAN. I was interested to see Major Knapp elaborate his thesis that the minie rifle revolutionized warfare in the War Between the States, but the rifled cannon (which had proven effective in 1859 supporting column charges against Austrian Lorenz rifles) and that artillery and cavalry had been practically driven from the battlefield. I'd heard that from Curt Johnson years ago. If only that were true we would have beaten Sheridan at Cedar Creek! Years ago Larry Brom gave me a copy of a 19th century U.S. military science textbook describing the bumbling of the Prussian and especially Austrian commands in 1866. That combined with Gordon's memoirs giving his somewhat more polite assessment of the lack of determination shown by Europeans in their recent wars would offer a very different perspective.

The professor (Wagner) noted that if the Prussians had beaten Robert E. Lee as badly as they beat Benedek at Koeniggratz the next day they'd have found him dug in on a hill down the road. Gordon didn't come right out and call them wimps, but you could tell that he thought people who considered the battle over when relatively minor casualties had been suffered as at Solferino or Koenigraetz probably weren't very serious about the quarrel.

But enough of that. I can't let myself get distracted . I still have to paint the command stands for a Republican Brigade for some guys who are going to run a CD SCW scenario at JAXCON next week.

From Byron Champlin A very full summer is winding down to a sublime New England Autumn. HISTORICON was terrific! I ran another Koenig Krieg game and again had to turn people away. Several of the players from last year's game re-upped for another go at it - that is always a nice experience. Also, I visited my pal, Mark Stevens in Mississippi and got in some quality gaming with him and friend Mike Lowery. Mark has a beautifully painted colection of 25mm 19th C figures from a spectrum of 19th and 18th century periods mostly eclectic, such as Maximillian in Mexico, The Maharana Wars, Napoleon in Egypt, etc. I love to game with them particularly in his sumptous game room.

From Bill Widrick I don't know what you use to fix your figures to the base, but try WALTHERS GOO. It is available at Railroad (model) shops, is inexpensive, easy to use (just squeeze the tube), a little goes a long way, and it will glue just about anything together, including plastic, wood, glass, metal, etc.

Your SYW project sounds like fun. Like you, I too like the big battalions for Horse & Musket periods. When I had my Napoleonics, I organized them into 48, 60 and 72 figure battalions, depending on nationality. Nothing can beat the appearance, and power of commanding your corps or army when it really looks like the thousands of men it's supposed to represent.

I've been struggling with regards to Napoleonic rules. I can't really see spending $20 or more when I don't know if I'll even use them. I've been of been messing around writing my own, using ideas from MWAN rules sets and research. I would very much like to check out the PLAYABLE NAPOLEONIC WARGAME rules you mentioned in your letter.

Have you ever read THE FORGOTTEN SOLDER by Guy Sajer? I can not recommend this book highly enough. The story itself brings to life the horrors of war and the eastem fron WWII in particular. Very good ideas for scenarios, especially skirmish level action. (Editor's Note: Sajer's book; yes, one of my favorite books. However, I lent it out to an MWANer and don't recall who it was. Could whoever borrowed it please send it back to me? Thanks! Re Wathers GOO, Bill; I used to use it all of the time in my early wargaming years and got away from it. However, I picked some up after you recommended it and have had success with it. Appreciate you mentioning it).

From Pier Paolo Triglia It's been quite a long time since I read your magazine. Years ago, it was hard to find so I borrowed from friends here or from England. Today I found it at two model shops here in Rome which is very useful. I like your approach and the US wargarning approach to the hobby which means playability of rules, humor, fair play, but exactitude in data and infomation about the proposed games or scenarios. That's totally non existent among the Italians "reknown" wargamers who play and organize shows here - another reason for which I like MWAN is because of the choice of unusual periods for rules and scenarios.

Having said that, I add that my favorite games are strictly in 25mm or 20mm with scales close to skirmish level. My periods being above all: Italian War of Independence, Colonial (not only redcoats but above all French, Germans and Belgians in Africa). WWI sideshows and Italian minor campaigns in 20mm and more.

I tried for months to obtain from my shop and British retailers some past issues of MWAN that contain short games rules dealing with periods for which I've got figures but still haven't any rules to play with. I am looking for Banana Wars (Paul Hinson MWAN #29); Spade, Bullet & Bomb (Warren Burrus #55); and Power & Freedom (David North #75). As I really need them, the first because it should be a fascinating and unknown period for me, the third because I've got a lot of figures and books, but no rules.

Would you be interested in an article on any of the subjects I am interested in? I'm also beginning to produce a small range of 25mm Italian Colonials and Ethiplions and 20mm WWI Italian and Austrian figures and 20mm RSI ( 194445) and Italian WWII figures in white metal. As soon as the first ones are done. I'll send you some. (Editor's Nose: Thanks for your letter, Pier; I'm surprised you found MWAN in two shops in Rome! I hope you let me know when you produce these figures as I think a number of MWANers would be interested in obtaining them! Good luck with this venture! Re copies of the rules, I shall send you a copy when I get a chance to make copies of them. I usually don't do this, because of the amount of time it takes to find the issue someone wants; get to the copy store; and make copies of them, but since you are writing from Italy, I'll do so. Why don't you do an article on wargaming in Italy? I think we would find that of interest!)

From Chares R. Lewis In MWAN #74 you mentioned some Chindits from FIGURES, ARMOUR, ARTILLERY in 20mm. Are these large enough to be used as 25mm's or small enough to be used as 15mm's. You also mention THE OLD CONTEMPTIBLES from Brookhurst Hobbies with different heads. Again, are these large enough to be used as 25mm or small enough for 15mm?

The questions are for two reasons. First I want some Australian dressed infantry for use with a couple of Sci-Fi games and need them in 25mm to match the other figures.

Secondly I plan to start putting together 15mm WWII Command Decision units sometime in the next year and would like to do some more obscure units (Indians, Australians etc). Everything I've seen in 15mm has been pretty standard troops.

(Editor's Note. Charles. neither range you mention could be used as 25mm or 15mm. 1 don't know where to send you on this one but I'll bet some MWANer out there has a clue. Please let Charles know if you you have any info on this matter.

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