First I must apologise, for the extremely late delivery of last months edition. This was completely beyond my control and can be blamed on to the printer who sat on the "copy" for nearly three weeks and then began to print it on the evening before he went off on holiday. Unfortunately the printing machine broke down and he was unable to get it started although he said he kicked it -- it might seem as though it was the printer that needed kicking! Subsequently, the printed sheets were not received until he returned from holiday, they then had to be collated, stapled and packed for despatch - nearly a fortnight late.
In this month's "Must List" are details of two new boxes of Airfix figures, plus information concerning the ever increasing output of figures by principal manufacturers of metal castings. This abundance of figures for those who can afford to pay for them takes some of the pleasure out of wargaming and I recall with nostalgia the days when one had to make a master model, then a mould and cast his own figures if he wanted anything apart from a very small range of figures that were difficult to obtain. Veteran wargamer John Nicholls writes in this connection "I often wonder if we are going way over to the extreme with the detail on these 25mm figures because it must increase the price and this goes up and up as the weeks pass by.
Recently I bought a box of the new Hinchliffe cuirassiers and you do not realise just how much detail there is on these figures until you begin to paint them -- I was amazed for instance that the mantlesack has a clearly defined cape on the top. It is a pity that everybody seems to go for the Napoleonic periods still I suppose the manufacturers are in business, as are Airfix, and have to make it pay. I do agree with your leading article regarding the production of figures by Airfix, however I suppose all wargamers are lucky that they have covered so many periods, although it is most unfortunate that they do not produce a figure with conversion possibilities for the period in question - i.e., why produce a Scotsman when a line infantryman would have converted to many other items?"
It may be as well to point out here that the price of wargames figures is very much increased by purchase tax which I believe amounts to as much as 25%.
For 115 issues of this magazine, commencing in April 1962 it has borne the title WARGAMER'S NEWSLETTER. This title does not unnecessarily seem to describe the magazine in the manner it deserves, tending to present an image of one or two duplicated sheets with a staple in the top lefthand corner. I am toying with the idea of changing the name of this magazine to WARGAMING - any comments?
Regret owing to the recent hoo-haa over the dollar it is necessary to increase U.S.A. subscription rates to $5.70 -- Plus 30 cents bank handling charge if you pay by dollar cheque or order etc.
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© Copyright 1971 by Donald Featherstone.
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