Dear Reader, It has been about two and a half years since I have contributed a word in the name of the Penny Whistle. I am typing today in order to revive our clubs literary tradition. We have declined in membership to the occasional group of six members and more often less than four. Our club is still very active in the scale of 54mm and we are interested in a lot of different games. My last issues that I posted on MAGWEB were a lot about the 3.75 scale GI Joe type figures. Of course I cannot collect just the normal figure lines like star wars or Joe. I went after the Chap Mei, Lanard, bizarro, sci-fi, off brand budget, Hong Kong, off brand over-scale Soldier Force toys. When the package said, “collect them all” I felt they were specifically talking to me. I am interested in the 3.75 scale figure as a collectible but also as a war gaming accessory. They come already painted and often with a set of tanks and choppers and accessories that are way too cool to pass up. When I see these sets in the dollar shops and Big Lots stores my first reaction is usually a scenario idea wherein I need that plastic fig to fit in to the story! A number of games and activities have occurred since last I wrote a full issue of our club newsletter. Aside from the 3.75 gaming I have been interested in a bunch of web sites that have actually demanded a good deal of writing like the kind we get when we create club newsletters. You are probably aware of the Yahoo groups Websites that pertain to an interest group in all manner of ideas and vices. I am currently a member of the littlewars discussion group that focuses on the 54mm and other large-scale toy soldier collecting and wargaming. I was also a member of the Powerteam 12” scale figure collectors and a number of others. What this entails is the writing of posts that others respond to. This is very rewarding and can cleanse your need to write in a newsletter when you are composing for an audience that does not respond and my never even read your words. That is where I have been these last silent months. Typing away about my interest in war games and toy soldiers into a myriad of special interest discussion boards. So the Penny Whistle languished and nearly died. I speak life back into this keyboard and answer to the dying bugle call. Rally to the cause boys! The lion’s den is once more in action on the Internet as the 55th issue of the Penny Whistle is formed up for battle! Back to Table of Contents Penny Whistle #55 Back to Penny Whistle List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 2004 by Lion's Den Publications. This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com