If you are an air wargamer then you should see the latest list of Putnam Aeronautica1 Books for 1973, containing details of publications devoted to British aircraft in World War I and historical aircraft generally from the pioneer days.
Listening to talks on Borodino last week and then doing research on the major battles of the Horse-and-Musket period have confirmed my feeling that these battles would be fascinating to reconstruct on the table-top but, because of scale and numbers, almost impossible to do with any degree of realism.
That is unless one uses the new 5mm regimental blocks made by Miniature Figurinese which open up exciting new vistas. With them it is possible to reproduce any of the major battles of the Napoleonic period, with forces represented on a battalion basis, at a cost less then that required to buy a few regiments of 25mm figures. Add to that the simplicity of painting plus the little--considered fact that the rules required to fight with these regimental blocks are so basic and readily comprehended, then I wonder how they are not far more popular.
I am thinking of listing all the battalions, squadrons and batteries that took part in one of the Peninsular War battles - a favourite of mine is Fuentes de Onoro which would give the British roughly 54 battalions of infantry, 4 squadrons of cavalry and 8 batteries of guns whilst the French had 83 battalions of infantry, 30 squadrons of cavalry and 7 batteries of artillery. In 5mm scale, all this lot can be purchased for under £ 10.00p! Thus it is possible to re-fight an actual battle under the greatest conditions of reality, at a low cost, with the minimum amount of painting and using satisfying rules so basic as to preclude argument and bad feeling.
Still on 5mm figures - Miniature Figurines are now turning them out in groups of Ancient figures which opens up all sorts of visions of reconstructing some of the immortal conflicts of the Ancient world. Using this scale, Bob O'Brien could have a Hun horde containing almost as many men as in real-life!
There is nothing I like better than a month when there are lots of model soldiers to discuss because they are what makes the hobby tick! From Peter Laing (see advert elsewhere in the Newsletter) I have received samples of his two new ranges - Feudal and American War of Independence. The former have already been reviewed but Peter has now sent me the rest of the range which includes mounted and dismounted Saracens - the horseman carrying a typically Oriental flag is a very nice piece of work. Then there are a collection of Persians, including an Immortal and Mede infantry; an unarmoured Saxon ready to take on perhaps the best figure of the lot which is a superb Norman knight on a rearing horse. Finally there are three Greeks -- a horseman, a hoplilz and an archer. These are very exciting figures and I applaud Peter's intention of enlarging his range to cover as many periods as possible without losing sight of the need for an "in depth" coverage. As opposed to the rather grim rivalry which exists between model soldier firms, Peter Laing's attitude is to be . ed when he says "I am interested to hear that Minifigs are also bringing out lVff~lfigures because I am certain that the more firms in the business the more popular the scale will become."
Another commercial supporter of Wargamerts Newsletter is G.R. Seton of Warrior Metal Miniatures from whom I have received some of their latest figures - Normans, Saxons and Goths in 25mm scale. I particularly liked the Normans whose large kite shield has come out extremely well - the Norman mounted man looks as if he has come straight out of Ivanhoe! The Goths and Saxons are also rather nice and will provide wargamers in the Ancient period with some unusual and highly colourful armies. These figures sell a little more cheaply than most at 6p for foot figures and 14P for cavalry (plus 10% for postage).
If one thing can be said to have kept me in wargaming during the early days of my interest then it was the discovery of the 30mm plastic figures put out by Ronald W. Spencer-Smith of 66 Longmeadow, Frimley, Camberley, Surrey, whose small but very comprehensive range of Napoleonics; American War of Independence; American Civil War and modern figures form the bulk of many wargames armies (often converted to the most unusual types) both in this country and in America. After a long absence from the production field, Ronald has come back in business and is now producing these excellent, easily converted and pleasing figures at what seems, in this day and age, to be a ridiculously cheap price.
And, if you haven't already found out, this range is in the "small" 30mm scale so that the cavalry fits in with the 25mm range being sold by all the "big" makers! This means that the a poleonic cavalry at 24 for £ 1.20 can solve the problem of cavalry squadrons for many of the younger and less prosperous amongst us. Send a S.A.E. for a price list which also includes suggestions for other periods and styles of figure to which this range can be put. To recap, 24 cavalry or 80 infantry in a bag for £ 1.20p; then there are 4 guns (2 Howitzers) of the Seven Year's War period for C1.00p and 30 artillerymen £ 1.60p. You have to order the minimum of two bags per order and parcel posts cost 16p.
Shamus Wade of 61 Brighton Road, Rathgar, Dublin 6, Irland, is a very colourful character who mainly sells Britains figures to collectors all over the world. Although I do not collect this particular type, I get great pleasure out of reading his list because nostalgia is a very tangible emotion and, when I was a boy, I must have been very fortunate because I seem to have possessed almost every figure mentioned on his list! Not all the figures offered for sale are Britains or 54mm however -- a month or two back there was a very large collection of the original SAE 30mm painted figures offered -- it perfectly exemplified the incredible variety and diversity of types put out by this firm, whose figures were the first I collected and who got me interested in the hobby in the beginning.
I note that the Model Shop, 31 St. Annes Road, is advertising new Jacklex 20mm figures - a war elephant with howdah with crew; and a Colonial naval landing party. I have not seen these figures nor heard anything about them but new wargames figures are always worthy of mention. The same firm lists a very comprehensive range of 20mm Carrisan Ancients.
In passing, I should mention that I have greatly improved the appearance of some Roman cavalry by usingthe Roman shield design transfer sheets put out by Model Militaire, who advertise in this magazine. I imagine that the accessories put out by this firm can do a similar job in many other spheres, including those colourful Napoleonic flags!
In this issue the Wargames Research Group are advertising Richard Nelson's book "War Fleets of Antiquity" which, strikes and other catastrophies permitted, should be available now.
Discussing the game "Decline and Fall" in a recent letter Bob O'Brien said "Charles Vasey's recent letter in the Newsletter indicates that he has the idea that the game is just another hexagon based wargame -- it is much more then that. The game extends over 75 years of time with each turn representing 5 years. In each turn there can be "and are" offers of alliance, joint action, threats, and anything you like to think of on the diplomatic front - in some cases the mere threat of force will produce results without going to actual conflict, while the personalities of the players frequently have as much bearing on the results as out and out military action. In essence, each player tries to achieve his object by whichever move he thinks best in the prevailing circumstances. The best comment I have yet heard is "Its a most diabolical game I have yet come across". This to my mind is praise indeed!"
I hear from Lou Zocchi from America that the game STAR TREK is being replaced by a bigger and better game called ALIEN SPACE. Although these games are not to my taste, I know that large numbers of discerning wargamers in this country and America get the greatest enjoyment out of them and, as has been said so often, wargaming is a many flavored thing! The game sells for $4.00 and is sent surface mail unless a dollar airmail postage accompanies the order.
I have mentioned before the newsletter SIGNAL put out by that arch enthusiast John Mansfield. His latest issue lists all sorts of new items and I am sure he will not mind me noting them here. He has recently returned from the two biggest toy fairs in Europe at Brighton and Nurnberg and seems to have seen interesting new items - Airfix - 1:1200 scale World War II warships; a cheap line of plastic/metal scale warships in 1:200 by Viking of Germany; another range of the same scale is all metals ships by Dolphin, another Continental maker, while a Belgium firm has put out a line 1:1200 ship kits made in Italy; Matchbox are putting out cheap 1/72nd scale aircraft kits in two colours of plastic so that they need little painting; a firm in Israel are selling (under the name of Starfix) a new line of aircraft kits while our old German friend Roskopf have some samples of modern armour and RocoPeetzy are issuing 1/86 scale plastic models of a Churchill tank and the Cromwell. Praiser of Germany sell scale 1/90 troops to match the Roskopf and Roco-Peetzy line of tanks besides selling figures for train layouts, etc.
I suppose these should really be under books but as long as they are not missed it does not really matter. Number 2 of the Bellona Military Vehicle Markings booklet "Tactical Signs and National Identification Marks" by Terence Wise is now available at 75p and contains more markings for Great Britain; The Commonwealth; France; Poland; United States of America; Russia and the U.S.S.R.; Germany; Italy and Japan, mostly from 1914 to 1945. A very valuable booklet for the wargamer who likes to be accurate.
The latest Squadron/Signal Publication Aircraft No. Six is the Heinkel He111 in action selling at $3.95. As always with this series, it is packed with fine photographs, usually unpublished before, besides the technical data and specifications. Although I have no interest in aircraft, I always find these books well worth looking through.
Avalon Hill announces another boardgame which seems to be of a different type to those already in production. This one is called "Richthofen's War" and is said to recreate the World War I air war and to include every significant tactical aspect. Players engage in plane versus plane combat on a 22" x 28" map board that is in an exact reproduction of the battlefield area where Richthofen engaged Brown in his final dog-fight. Players can choose from over 65 combat aircraft and refight any one of seven scenarios depicting dog-fighting, photo reconnaissance, trench-strafing, tactical bombing, artillery spotting, balloon busting and other combat missions. For lone wolves, they have even included a solo game. Rules allow for modified aircraft, critical hits, accumulated damage, gun jamming, over-diving, deflection shooting, sustained endurance, force landings, fast reactions, variable anti-aircraft defences, prevailing winds, anti-balloon rockets and much more. Special rules allow players to actually earn ACE STATUS as they play a series of games. Also included with the game is a 32-page Mission Briefing manual containing histories, biographies, aircraft profiles and date, campaign maps, orders of battle, chronologies, special game expansion data and other goodies. This game costs $9.00 plus $1.00 for postage and packing. Please note that it cannot be ordered through Wargamer's Newsletter but there is seemingly or, English source of supply in Michael's Models, 646/8 High Road, North Finchley, London N12 OR11. Mention that you saw their address in Wargamer's Newsletter.
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© Copyright 1973 by Donald Featherstone.
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