Strategy and Tactics

Although I have no wish to initiate a massive transfer of allegiance from TAG, SO is currently offering a real frontal assau1t on all matters pertaining to the 1940-43 Desert War.

Wargamer's Notebook, formerly a Napoleonic corner under the scholarly- pen of Ray Johnson, has been pre-empted for a continuation of 'Afrika Korps in He' and a rather interesting series called campaign Analysis' opens with a thorough explanation of why the Italians didn't conquer the world. Never has defeat had so many fathers!

Some readers have written in to me or called on the telephone and mentioned that the S&T articles do not give the came figures for the same types of units as TAG. Some readers have, in effect, asked me what I intend to do about it. None have suggested any reason why I should do anything about it at all, so substantially I do not intend to. For these who simply can't got enough of the famous 1940-43 Dust Bowl championships, however, I suggest that the price of an S&T subscription is well worth it.

D. Frost 882 Parkdals, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada U.S.- Canadian agent for Douglas Miniatures, has forwarded to us a catalogue and samples of that firm's Crimean War series. The figures are cleanly cast in a quality alloy, well designed and detailed for the most part. They are of 20mm scale.

I have seen some of the artillery pictured in the catalogue, and it is quite good. The infantry figure of a British soldier in the Albert Pattern shake, standing on guard (5 figures for 800) in excellent and comes with painting instructions. The cavalry soldier received, and light dragoon, comes in a stiff pose, saber in hand, but is cast in a malable alloy making possible numerous variations in pose without breakage and with minimal distortion. Perhaps even more remarkable, considering the scarcity of such items among 20mm castings not actually brandishing the weapon, the light dragoon has a slung carbine! The horse, alas, is of indeterminate pit, but clearly a descendant of the celebrated charger Rosinate. I do not wish to comment at great length on the misfortunes of the poor host-to do it would be to add insult to already grevious injuries. Fortunately he too is malleable and some faults may be corrected with proper care (2 troopers and heroes 80g.)

Though the Crimean era is not a top period, Napoleonic wargamers will be able to make good use of Scots Grays, lancers, and British infantry of the series. The catalog, which includes the 54mm offerings of the same company, may be had for 25 cents.

Hinchliffe Models 83 Weisenden Head Read. Meltham, Yorkshire, England

Coming out seen with the following now items: French Napoleonic forge of campaign, British ammunition wagon, spare wheal wagon, and 6" mortar on wheeled carriage, French Napoleonic ambulance, horse and harness set, all in 54mm, as well as a 30mm "galloper gun" circa 1705.

Lee Higgins Miniatures, 52 High Street, Hartingstone. North Hants England:

Word comes that Mr. Higgins has finally achieved production status with a group of superb 20nn castings for the long neglected era of Marlborough and Queen Anne. This new series of over 20 figures includes musketeers, grenadiers, 2 cavalry figures, and 2 infantry officers. Aram Bakshian, who reviewed the group for me, claims that they may be the best figures ever in the 20mm scale. He also mentions that they are true twenty i.e., 3/4 inch figures as opposed to 23mm, 25mm, 1 " or any of the larger variations on the size approximate if inexact scale.

S.E.G.O.M. ARROS S.A. 50 Rue Malesher Paris 8 France

Branching out from their 55mm editions and 3" ships of the line, SEGOM now offers 'Figurinot do Kriegspiel" in what appears to be 1" scale, though it is identified by the manufacturer as 20mm. Figures now available included officer, standard bearer, drummer, and grenadier of the Imperial Guard at attention, Highlander, British line, Austrian musketeer and Grenadier, Prussian and Russian infantry of the line (Russian has plume, may be used for moat 1812 types, British and Prussian 1810-15, Austrian musketeer 1809) More is also a multi-armed combination figure of a French Sumer who may be clipped to provide ramser, gunner with match, gunner at attention, etc. of horse (with plume) of field artillery. He is provided with a good 12pdr. of the Gribeauval pattern cast in green plastic. For the cavalry, and figure which may be finished as officer or trumpeter of elite hussars or Chasseurs a Chavel of the Guard, trooper who may be finished with carbine slung or hold in the right hand.

Theme figures, like the 55mm models, are cast in a tough plastic which carves easily, but holds paint well either directly or with a celulose acetate based plastic paint primer. The design in, except for the lack of action poses, superb. They do not share the Airfix problem of paint shedding, but, &last they will probably cost more than enough to buy good lead figures. Estimated retail, acoording to SEGOM, would be about 26 cents (1.5 Francs) Mr infantry, 78 cents for cavalry. This, combined with a lack of action poses, will probably put them more in the Vignette than wargame category.

Also available is a naval gun crew-all in action positions, suitable for French naval gunners of the Yorktown period.