I am informed by Mike Wall of Wall Models, 373 High Street, North Manor Park, London ,E.12, that they are shortly starting their own range of 20mm figures, made under licence by Ted Mayhew. The range will include Napoleonic, World War I and World War II figures. Amongst the Napoleonics Mike is hoping to have such things as mounted Standard Bearers and trumpeters, Old Guard Standard Bearers and drummers and the types of figures that are not currently available. Mike Wall is a very energetic and enthusiastic person and people like him do a great deal for the hobby by putting out now ranges and extending current lists. They deserve the support of all wargamers.
If you want to have a neat little riot around the guillotine, then you must buy a selection of the latest figures of the French Revolutionary period turned out by Dick Higgs of Miniature Figurines Limited. When an enthusiast designs figures it in very difficult not to allow that enthusiasm to run away with one in an uncommercial fashion - it is to be hoped that this off-beat range will be purchased if only for their interest value because they are superb figures. Similarly, the new range of figures for Napoleon's Egyptian campaign open up interesting new vistas because this is a facet of the Napoleonic Wars which has been much neglected but holds intriguing possibilities for Napoleonic-cum-Colonial style wargaming. They are excellent figures and both Dick and Neville Dickinson find it impossible to mention the French dromedary trooper without drooling!
One reads constantly of people doing miraculous conversions with Airfix figures and also converting 20 and 30mm metal figures to things far removed from their original status. However it is rare to read of anyone converting or wargaming with figures of 40mm or 54mm in size and this aspect of the hobby provides an interesting small-scale set-up which can be used as a diversion from battlefields packed with the smaller figures. The 40mm and larger plastic figures made under the name of Elaatelix in Germany and obtainable in all Continental toy shops or from Hamleys in Regent Street in this country, are well-known for their brilliance and colourfulness. But they tend to be a little expensive! This is all leading to the fact that it is now possible to buy the large plastic figures made by Airfix for 3d. each at Woolworths and, if one can convert the small Airfix figures then surely one can convert these larger figures into Mediaevals, Ancients or whatever you want? A small foray or skirmish involving 15 or 20 large figures on each side has much to offer and the conversion of these figures is a now and probably easier aspect of our hobby than fiddling around with the little Airfix jobs.
When chasing around castles, manor houses and military displays such as Larkhill and the tattoos, it is interesting to note just how many publications postcards and other items of military interest can be obtained. At the recent Larkhill Day an Salisbury Plain, the members of the Wessex Military Society who turned up in force were delighted to be able to buy military records of the Royal Artillery and the Gurkhas normally available only is regimental circles.
Completely out of place in this section but included because it would be forgotten otherwise, is the Modern Wargames Demonstration that took place in a marquee at Larkhill during Royal Artillery Day. The models were brilliant and the terrain was a crowded but highly realistic affair reminiscent of that made by Bish Iwasko. But surely it represented the ideal way how NOT to demonstrate our hobby because the two participants doggedly carried on with their game, often with their backs to the audience, without a word being said and with only the most cryptic of instructions chalked on the nearby blackboard. I do not know who this group are but their obvious talents in the field of wargaming and model making deserved better than this and I am sure that they would have given the hobby great publicity by being more enterprising and forthcoming in their approach and attitude.
I am told that the self-service stores are selling packets of Instant-Whip or Quick-Whip at 8d, the cardboard cartons of which turn into a very pleasant range of buildings of both modern and Victorian periods. Made up and painted, these little buildings look extremely realistic and fit well into the scale of 20mm figures.
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© Copyright 1970 by Donald Featherstone.
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