Airfix Products Ltd.

Samples of the "French Artillery at Waterloo" and "Washington's Army" have been received. Quality of these sets is consistent with the high standards of the several sets produced by Airfix in the last few years. The French Artillery set includes 12 PDR. Gribeauval pieces, obviously intended to be heavy foot artillery. The gun horses are too few for purists, but few wargamers employ adequate horsepower (if any, especially for foot artillery). Aside from action poses of gunners, the set includes several figures marching at the slope under field pack with long sabres worn on the left. French foot artillery wore short sabres, as did the elite infantry companies. Unfortunately, these figures have no cap ornament, but with slight modifications are sure to fill out infantry battalions.

The George Washington set includes marching, standing, prone, kneeling, firing, loading infantry in tricons with a smattering of more rustic headgear. Since the center companies of the 18th Century armies look very similar unpainted to all but the most ardent students of that period, these will prove a boon to the 18th Century wargamers. Among the best designed and engraved are the crawling figures. Many will find this waste since loading a musket or fighting with a bayonet are best done standing. It is only a waste of talent. You can't beat the price even if you subtract the odd positions.

To be released soon: Kit S39-59, American War of Independence British Grenadiers and Kit S41-59, Astronauts (moon landing and exploration), Kit S38-59, British Horse Artillery. Perhaps this will lead to British and French Infantry sets. The latest in the Airfix 1/76 tank kits are the British Chieftain Battle Tank and the German Mk IV F. In the Airfix 1/32 scale there are British Commandos, Russian Infantry, Japanese Infantry, 8th Army, Afrika Corps, German Infantry and American Infantry all World War Two.

Scruby Publishing Co.,

P.O. Box 144, Visalia, California 93277 has announced that the "Wargame Digest" is now ready to be sold. This is not a subscription magazine. Some of the subjects covered are Thirty years war wargame - rules by Captain J. C. Sachs, Ancient Wargames by David Rusk and well known wargamer Charles Sweet. Forty pages of most interesting information. Send your $2.00; its well worth it.

The Gamers Guide,

Box 255, Rockville Center, New York 11571 is yet another Newsletter or something. The flyer we got wasn't very clear as to just what it is that they are offering.

Johannes Trips,

75 Karlsruhe, Marie-Alexandra Strasse 49, West Germany. This firm admits to a relatively limited line of 20 mm and 30 mm flats, confined apparently to Carthageian and Roman infantry in 30 mm and Russian infantry (1812) and charging Russian Dragoons (1812), as well as halted French (1812) in 20 mm. Evidence of rapid expansion is the fact that only one of the five samples provided appears in the catalogue. Two 30 mm figures provided were British soldiers in Waterloo Shako bayoneting slightly upward (against cavalry?) and a French Hussar, dismounted, running with a carbine. The 30 mm figures run .35 DM for soldiers and .70 DM for dismounted officers and standards. The DM now runs about 30c, but may be up again by the time this is printed.

George Van Tuborgen's "Command Post" Series

is carrying an excellent line of American Revolutionary figures which will be a relief to those who get started on Airfix and can't seem to get that super-detailed paint job to stay on flexible plastic. Samples received from this firm include a wide range of good 30 mm designs for all periods (some of the best are ancients, including Assyrians and Romans, which will probably fill more dioramas than wargames) both of original design and of molds purchased from firms once producing Erickson's famous designs.

** Eighteenth Century Wargamers must be vastly increasing. Scruby, Miniature Figurine, Command Post, Les Higgins and Airfix now produce 20-23 mm for that period.

Memorable Things.

Box 166 Riderwood, Maryland 21139. George S. Grant now has a good stock of English and French Dinky toys. Both military and civilian line. He also has military figures both old and new.

Jay Hadley

918 Harry Street, Conshohocken, Pennsylvania 19428. Jay says he is now ready to paint war game armies. Write to Jay for samples.

FRAPPE' Wargamer's Library Volume I

written by Ray Johnson, conceived by Duke Siefried, photos by Bob Shelton. Offered by DER KRIEGSPIELERS, (available at your hobby shop) the chaps who package complete tactical units with one figure to thirty men, this 44 page booklet establishes a game based on one figure to ten. It is therefore not ideal for small collections or, in its detail, for new wargamers. However, with moderately detailed national characteristics and fairly comprehensive rules played by written, simultaneous movement, this looks like one of the most realistic, and perhaps, playable of detailed rules. We understand another booklet with a similar set of rules based on one to thirty representation is available.