Discovering Wargames, by John Tunstill, available from AA Johnston Pitney Langport Somerset England, 60 cents post free. This work is a very professionally done item of 64 pages, 6 photos and many charts and diagrams. John Tunstill, of course, is the editor of Miniature Warfare, and as might be expected, shares some of MWs problems, though it is an even better buy, being by far cheaper than The Wargame, vastly cheaper than Charge, or Advanced Wargaming. Don Featherstone had some mighty unkind things to say about DW which is only to be expected, as Tunstills editorial and authorial practice is to pretend that Don has not, does not, and probably never will exist. Tunstill's opinion is evident from his appendix a vague sort of bibliography which states that there is a magazine called Miniature Warfare which is the national magazine for the wargame enthusiast, and that rules may be obtained from the London Wargams Section. It vaguely asserts that there are other wargame magazines put out by clubs and like, however, the prozine is definitely MW. Being an honest lad, contrary to some of the statements Don has made about him, Tunstill has not cited the Royal Patent, and does not advertise wargamers to the Queen since 1900, the authority by which he claims to be, or edit, the national magazine for wargamers, obviously, is his own. I should advise the reader to buy Discovering Wargames, Honest, how worng can you go for 60 cents? One must bear in mind, however, that in spite of Dr. Tunstill's commendable enthusiasm for accuracy in rules, he does not always know whereof he speaks. Don takes him to task for criticizing the deadly power of the long bow, I have to split the difference there. I am inclined to regard John's assertion of medieval warfare "it is not unitil the thirteenth century that the arms race begins…or the medieval armies relied on siege engines or earlier history. He also quotes the "fastest with the mostest" usually attributed to NB Forest, CSA as being from a US General.. Forrest, however, while achieving considerable CSA and KKK rank, never served in the US Army in any capacity. His short history of professional wargaming is rather misleading--especially when he seems to be implying that they have very few adherents today.

Such criticism are rather trifling, however, probably the main objection one could advance against Tunstill's approach to wargaming is the seriouness with which he attempts to produce perfect rules according to an infallable pattern, and the sense one gets that John thinks he (or perhaps he and the London Wargames Section) is God's gift to wargamers. That attitude, of course, is patently false. Clearly that status belongs only to those of us who put out the Armchair General.

The Bayonet, Journal of the Horse and Musket Society Bi Monthly, $4.50 per annum. A very nicely done publication about the same size and shape as TAG, carrying a wealth of excellent illustrations, uniform data, battle reports, and well drawn B&W unifor plate inserts. Some photos, figure reviews, Airfix conversations, etc. Here again, don't believe everything you read (just like in our mag) but the tone is rather less formal and both information and opions are presented with less of a sense of infallibility. Various sets of ruls are also available up through WWI, and plates may be ordered separately.

Airfix Products Ltd. We have received from this firm a new catalogue which includes waterloos Highlanders and Waterloo French Cavalry (cuirassiers). Both of these sets have begun to reach the United States in large numbers. There is also a section of Hadrians Wall to go with the Romans, a section of WWII coastal Fortifications, and a group of pre-constructed 1/72nd scale tanks, 25pd gun with tractor, land vehicles, etc. These are much lesss detailed and expensive than the kits, having no interior detail and no bottoms on the land vehicles. The tanks, unfortunately, are a Centurion and a M-48. Also shown are some very good WWII German infantry of 54mm size, much better than the old paratroopers of the same series who are, in effect, merely a scaled up version of the 1/72nd figures.

The Highlanders, from which line we have received a sample come with mounted officer, standard drummer, bagpiper, soldiers standing and kneeling en guard, stand and kneeling firing, bayoneting downward and two casualties. The figures are among the best 20 mm figurers I've ever seen. Most of the bayonets even cleared the mold. The new series are cast in ivory colored plastic so that it is no longer necessary to glop on enough paint to overcome a dark basic color.

The curiassier set is burdened with 1 trooper holding his horse, and another kneeling by his fallen horse brandishing s saber. Also as best I can tell, about half the horses running have officer's saddlery. The standard bearer has only a pole surmounted by an eacle-I suppose you are to make your own standard of paper and would recommend replacing the plastic pole with one made from a straight pin. Still, of course, even though these troopers have thrown away their scabbards, they are a good buy.

The shortcoming of these inexpensive flexible plastic figures does not lie in quality of engraving. The enemies ever lead figures are as a result of long production runs in which the less expensive raw materials can be used economically. The equipment required to cast lead is far less expensive then that used with platics, so on short production runs lead is cheaper. The new Airfix figures, especially the Highlanders, are very good in design and detail. As usual, however, they are of flexible plastic which will throw off most paint most of the time and all paint some of the time. When you get through painting a 25mm kilt, you will probably want it to stay painted, if not forever at least until your children's time.

Gerhard Tobinnus has announced a continued series of WWII US infantry in firefight, 30mm flats. This might also be the place to correct an earlier error Tobinnus's TA21 and TA22 figures are stage for a hunting scene, not feet soldiers as originally reported.

Professer GW Ressner, Gundlesby bei Kappein Kr. Flensburg, West Germany Dr. Ressner offers a wide range of military, mythological and other flats in scales ranging from 20 mm (including French Spahis and German WWI infantry in 1914 uniform.) to 80 mm. As he was for some time working with Captain Tily, he has catalogue in English, and while I have no price on it, I suspect 50 cents would secure a copy. Included are a number of 1735, 7 years War, American Revolution, and Napoleonic offerings of excellent quality.

Jack Scruby's Military Miniatures Jack recently sent out a Newsletter, September, 1969 which has a number of thought provoking things to say about wargaming, wargame magazines, snobbery in the hobby, advertising model soldiers, and his own view of why 75% of the people in wargaming he has talked to do not subscribe to magazines pertaining to the hobby. He is also threatening (or Promising) to bring out another publication if, as and when, to be sent free to former Minature Page subscribers. My own reaction to this tirade and assault against snobbery and sophistication in the hobby, hyperbole in advertising, fascinating reading, and if you aren't on Jack's mailing list, write him and see if he'll mail you a copy. The new catalogue runs for 80 pages and carries considerable uniform data.