The other day I had the opportunity of having a preview of what might be considered to be the sort of Heaven or Hell (depending upon whether one could touch or was faced to only view) that wargamers might go to on departing from this earth! It occurred when I was given a conducted tour over the new premises of Miniature Figurines here in Southampton - a memorable experience which consisted of being led through huge rooms, up winding stairs to more large chambers, down narrow stairs to subterranean caverns with low ceilings in which hordes of teenage gnomes bustled assiduously around. At least they bustled when Neville Dickinson approached!
Making fleeting appearances like a supervising angel (or devil) was designer Dick Higgs clad, for some mysterious reason, in all off-white clothing. Then there was newly appointed Works Manager, Ron Miles, wearing a long coat that owed its ankle-length style to print. of Russian troops in the Crimea, proudly exhibiting pieces of pulsating machinery what spewed out a never ending stream of very hot and shining figures. He also showed me another awe-inspiring mechanical monster, the purpose of which is most exciting but not yet for publication! On all sides were racks and trays of model soldiers, guns, tanks, ships, you name it it was there in such profusion as to make the mind boggle. I saw so much and heard of so many new ventures and ideas that I emerged into the bright winter sunlight feeling a trifle bemused - Arthur Johnston, the military bookseller, was with me and he seemed to be in a similar state of mind so that it took a big lunch and a bottle of wine to bring us back to normal.
But I do remember, and I have them in front of me to prove it, being shown some wonderful little 15mm Napoleonic cavalry, infantry, guns and limbers which are the latest offering from Miniature Figurines. Not content with standing the wargaming world on its ear by turning out blocks of 5mm scale regiments, they are now selling exquisitely designed figures half the size of those with which we normally fight and yet without a fraction less detail. The cavalry have to be seen to be believed and at three cavalry for lOp or five infantry for the same price - how can one go wrong? Even if you do not contemplate changing your scale, send for a few of these figures or take some opportunity of seeing them because they are really something and, for about the fiftieth time, I was left to ruminate on the possibility of scrapping my entire collection of wargames armies and starting afresh!
I have not heard much from Hinchliffe Models lately and whenever I speak to designer Peter Gilder on the phone he always seems to be so harassed and overwhelmed with the sheer volume and magnitude of what he is turning out that we talk for ages and yet seem to say nothing! Anyway, I am certain that their new releases described in their advert within this issue are just as exciting as all the other items they put out and I imagine that the 25mm Ancient range will be delighting Bob O'Brien and quite a lot of the Members of the Society of Ancients.
I suppose we can now anticipate (and hope for) a range of figures suitable for the operations of the Pike and Shot Society. This is a most colourful period of military history and one that opens up new vistas for the wargamer who wants something a bit different from Napoleonics and Ancients, as this period has a bit of both in it.
From Model Militaire of 71 Barker Road, Middlesbrough, Teesside, I have received further samples of their very colourful accessories which do so much to add the finishing touches to our armies - this time they are putting out British Infantry 1815 Colours in 25mm scale for the 3rd; the 14th; the 27th; the 40th and the 52nd Foot and the 2nd Guards. The Ancient fan is not forgotten because there are shield designs for Imperial Rome lst century A.D. and some beautifully designed shields for the warri ors of Ancient Greece. When I think how much painting time is saved by spending a few pence on these coloured devices and what an improved effect upon the perhaps amateurish efforts of the majority of us they give then I wish they had been out many years ago!
The latest Bellona MILITARY VEHICLE DATA number 15 and 16 are now available at 25p each and contain very detailed descriptions of British and Canadian "soft" vehicles of World War II, including photographs, plans, etc. The latest Bellona MILITARY VEHICLE PRINTS number 34 and 35 cover, with photographs, drawings and details the Valentine tank and the Soviet issue 76 self-propelled gun variants.
From Bivouac Books Limited I have been sent a copy of their latest offer ENSIGN 1 - King George the Fifth Class Battleships by Alan Raven at £ 1.30P. 10", x 8", in size and packed with photographs, drawings, etc., the ENSIGN series is dedicated to putting before the collector a series of pictorial monographs on classes and types of naval vessels, initially the Royal Navy in World War II. The text is concise and readable, containing much new and occasionally controversial material to match the many fresh and "first time out" photographs. Each monograph averages 48 Pages in semi-stiff art card covers which themselves always feature striking portraits of the subject ships. There are photographs and drawings throughout and a large four-fold spread in colour illustrating camouflage schemes and a fully detailed set of G.A. drawings. The naval wargamer should have a look at these!
Who better than Ron Miles the National Modern Wargames Champion to review the "Armour and Infantry 1925-1950" rules of the Wargames Research Group? Ron writes "Everything that the Wargames Research Group puts out represents a considerable amount of knowledge and research backed by extensive trials before being set before the public. This latest effort is no exception and its professional presentation indicates the ever growing experience that this lively group are acquiring. One may not agree with all of their facts, suggestions and rulings but it is impossible to ignore them and they should be considered and tested with an open mind.
It should be pointed out that these are not the sort of rules to be assimilated at one reading and a certain amount of persistence is required if the user is to get the best out of them. In a subtle manner, the compilers of these rules have overcome those long daunting lists that invariably appear in sets of modern rules. This has been done without any diminishing of the major aspects of table-top battles in both 1/72 and 1/300 scale. I am particularly impressed with the suggested alternative move system which I feel are particularly suitable for solo games."
Back to Naval wargaming - I have been asked to give a little publicity to the range of cheap warship models made by the Naval Wargames Society. At the moment the range covers Napoleonic and Ironclad ships to 1/1200 scale and pre-Dreadnought and World War I ships to 1/3000 scale. All of them are designed to fit in with the rules of the Naval Wargames Society that cover the above periods. For availability of models and prices write to the Secretary, W.E. Mackenzie, 16 Hugo Road, London N19 5EU.
Still on Naval wargaming or should I say still all at sea, I wonder if you have come across the Profile Book 4 Warship Series "HMS Belfast" by John Wingate, published by Profile Publications Limited. It is a slim book that may seem rather expensive at £ 3.50p but it is enormously detailed and profusely illustrated, giving the entire history of the Belfast from her laying down in 1936 to the final setting up of the Belfast Trust in 1972. Mined early in the war, the Belfast was almost entirely rebuilt between 1940 and 1942 and although only a 6-inch gun cruiser, was more powerful after rebuilding than contemporary 8-inch gunships. She took part in the sinking of the Scharnhorst and was the last and probably the best British cruiser. Any Naval wargamer who wants informntion about the wartime cruisers and particularly anyone who wants to model the Belfast, will find this book absolutely essential.
The Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office., Washington D.C. 20402, U.S.A., sell a set of prints THE AMERICAN SOLDIER. These sets are of ten prints each covering 1771-1855; 1861-1963 and 1775-1965. From the same source it is also possible to obtain a large amount of material of interest to wargamers such as monograms on battle sites, military histories, official histories of American involvement in the two World Wars, etc. For readers in North America a list may be obtained free; overseas readers should send an International Reply Coupon and ask for Price List 50 American History.
This issue contains advertisements placed by a number of the best known model soldier manufacturers, many of whom have faithfully supported Wargamer's Newsletter for a very long time. It is only by such financial support that we are able to carry on in an era of rising costs and corresponding difficulties.
This month I am delighted to have two relatively new adverts from Phoenix Model Developments Ltd of Northampton and from Peter Laing. Both of these makers have justifiable claims to prominence -- Phoenix because they are continuing with the range of outstanding 20 and 25mm figures designed by the late Les Higgins while Peter Laing is a pioneer in the new 15mm scale wargames figures and his beautifully designed miniatures have a remarkable definition for such a small scale. So far he is concentrating on the Marlborough period and his latest items for January are listed in his advert. This period of military history has fascinating material for wargaming end, having considerable experience in most periods one likes to name, I remain convinced that this is almost the best of them for table-top purposes. These little 15mm figures were small enough to give more space on the table and yet they are not so small to he reasonably well painted and can actually save time because it is not possible to put so much detail on them as it is or, larger figures. Peter Laing is a small maker struggling, just as all the larger makers did in the beginning, to come through with a range of figures in which he has faith and which puts at the disposal of the wargamer items beyond their wildest dreams a few years ago -- he deserves support.
Phoenix Model Developments Ltd are businesslike and industrious and must be congratulated on their decision to maintain a supply of what is acknowledged by even rival makers to be some of the outstanding wargames figures of the world. Leo Higgins had an almost unique talent and these figures of his form the sort of memorial to him that I think he would appreciate. They cover perhaps the four most interesting wargaming periods -- English Civil War Period (Pike and Shot); the Marlborough period; Napoleonic period (both horse and musket) and British Colonial Campaigns.
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© Copyright 1973 by Donald Featherstone.
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