These pleasant little figures are made up from the extensive range of 54mm kits marketed by Helmet Products. Historically accurate, they are remarkably cheap at their price of 50P per kit, (which was their original price when introduced in January 1971) when it is considered that the kits include gilt or burnished steel, metal plating on helmets and cuirasses, with real fabric crests and helmet streamers. Their models are accurate, well-detailed and very strong when assembled. Their latest kits include French Hussars -- the French Hussars during the Napoleonic Wars wore three main types of headgear with a variety of different jackets and breeches in a bewildering number of colour combinations. The Colour Cards with the new helmet kit shows six possible costumes and there are components available to allow all the variations of campaign and parade dress - about 180 in all! Helmet infantry kits have recently been released, each consisting of two figures - one standing and one kneeling - with separate haversacks, packs, etc., and a whole cluster of arms so that the figures can be assembled in many different postures. The British Infantry, in the uniform worn in the Peninsular and at Waterloo, are offered with three heads, two wearing the so-called Belgic shako and one with the taller Light Infantry shako. Belgium and Dutch Infantry of the Waterloo period are available and very little skill is required to convert these foot figures into Austrian or Hungarian Infantry. Denis Knight who introduced these figures in 1971 has done a great job and deserves every support. That American maker of fine and unusual figures, Bugle and Guidon of P.O. Box 248, West Carrollton, Ohio 45449, U.S.A., have some new 54mm figures in kit form at %3.50 each. They include a Colonel of Confederate Cavalry 1862; French Foreign Legionaire 1912; a Saxon Zastrow Cuirassier 1812 and a Saxon Garde du Corps 1812 (those who charged the Grand Redoubt at Borodino). Then there is Lieut. E.S.Godfrey of the 7th U.S.Cavalry at the Little Big Horn in 1876 and a Rifleman of the 4th Gurkha Rifles 1910. All kits come with a full colour postcard of the mounted~,figure, a brief historical sketch and full painting instruction. Bugle and Guidon are embarking upon "The Little Big Horn Series" Custer's last stand in 54mm figures. It is also possible to obtain from them a very fine series of books dealing with the American Frontier Wars - if you are interested in this or the Wild West generally then send for their catalogue, enclosing a couple of International Reply Coupons. On the next page are illustrations of their range of 54mm figures. The Wargames Research Group have sent me their latest set of rules - "ARMOUR AND INFANTRY IN 1950-1975" and a very good job they look! Covering armoured or company level actions of the period, they can be used with 1:76 scale models and figures and also 1:300 scale. It is a period which covers the introduction of anti-tank guided missiles, helicopters, range finders, night fighting equipment, highly efficient anti-tank ammunition. I had these rules surveyed and tested by an alert teenage wargamer with a great interest in this period - he made the following points: "There is a good section on the organisation of modern day armies and the rules utilise every weapon up to but not including tactical nuclear weapons. The rules are extremely well detailed, involving infra-red range finders, a radio network and even destruction of off-table fire support, which I have never seen before. In all I found these very good rules. Their bad points are that I think them to be a little expensive at £ 1.50 per set; they take some getting used to and infantry in buildings are just as vulnerable as those in the open." Glancing through them, I was interested in their suggestion for organising fictitious armies - the organisers themselves have two such armies the Fenians, from Fenris, a country rather similar to Northern Germany who use Western weapons and the Mohicans who, being Red Indians prefer Soviet block equipment, The Fire Water River dispute has provided many interesting hours of contentious entertainment apparently. At £ 1.50 including postage these rules can be obtained from the Wargames Research Group, 75 Ardingly Drive, Goring-by-Sea, Sussex. From Model Figures and Hobbies of Lower Balloo Road, Groomesport, Co. Down, BT19 2LU, I have received some beautiful little ships which will gladden the heart of the Naval wargamer, plus a packet of minute aircraft, presumably to send off from the Aircraft Carriers available in this range. Their new 1:1200 scale Ensign series of metal warship models now includes the escort carrier Avenger which includes two aircraft £ 1.00p; German E-Boats at 0p each and the Black Swan at 20p, an escort vessel to complement Avenger, Accessories in the form of 15-inch twin turret guns at 7p; British 9-inch triple turret 5P and a 5.25 inch twin turret at 5P also now available for the 1:200 scale Warship series. They also sent along one of the Jackboot German Series showing a German infantrymen in a surrendering posture. These figures retail unpainted at 90p each and there is a pretty good range of them. The other day I had a visit from Ron Miles, the cheery Works Manager of Miniature Figurines. Unfortunately I was out at the time but on my return I found a box packed high with samples of their latest figures and Ron was justifiably proud enough to come rushing up with them to me! I think these are about as good as anything that Miniature Figurines have turned out (and I say that rather timidly because I understand that not all of them have been designed by Dick Higgs!). There was a new range of Teutonic Knights and Russians, based on that immortal Russian film "Alexander Nevsky". AX 1-13 are the Teutonic Infantry figures and include swordsmen, spearmen, archers and crossbowmen, knights with maces and hatchets and even a wonderful priest and a knight kneeling in some form of prayer. It might be slight heresy to say, but I could visualise these figures being beautifully painted up as Crusaders for anyone who wanted to recreate (as I have always dreamed) the Battle of Arsouf. Then there comes AXC 1-7 - The Mounted Teutonic Knights - with suitably adorned helmets and carrying fine long lances, swords and maces. AX 14-49 are the Russian Infantry and include men with bows, crossbows, lances, spears, swords, axes, etc. AW50-56 are the Russian Cavalry - really beautifully made and with the true spirit of those menacing squadrons that thundered across the screen in the film "Alexander Nevsky". I imagine, when painted up, they will look absolutely superb! As if that was not enough, Miniature Figurines have also turned out an extensive range of Renaissance figures, no doubt suitably inspired by the stimulating articles by George Gush on this period that are currently running in Airfix Magazine. This is a highly colourful range, running from artillery and landschknechts; a fine group of Polish infantry and cavalry including perhaps the most magnificent figure of all - RPC 3 a Polish winged lancer; then there is the English contingent consisting of a musketeer and an archer wearing a Tudor cap plus two armoured cavalry; a fine French mounted figure carrying a musket (that is the only French figure I have but I imagine there must be others) then RS is the Swiss range which I have not seen but, knowing the colourful uniforms of the famed Swiss mercenary pikemen, I can well imagine how they will paint up and finally a very pleasant collection of Turks - I have seen four infantrymen with swords, spears, muskets and bows plus a collection of cavalry. I should imagine that Dave Millward and his fellows of the Pike and Shot Society will be drooling with delight at this lot. Finally, and these figures are so good as to be extremely noteworthy even if not preceded by the two ranges mentioned above - there are four beautiful English Civil War infantry, one in particular loading a musket is a little work of art. Miniature Figurines are to be congratulated on their industry and, in this connection, I must print a paragraph from a recent letter sent me by Neville Dickinson in which he says, referring to my remark in the March issue of the Newsletter that they turn figures out about as quickly as anyone else - "I would humbly suggest with producing over 50 new masters in February alone and a likelihood of an access of 100 during March, that our increase is as much as all the other manufacturers put together, and not as commented. Over the last few years we have produced at least 50 new figures each month and have done this regularly." Every time I go in the Tradition Shop at 188 Piccadilly (and I go in there a lot lately now that they put out the Newsletter) I am assailed by Alan Caton and his colleagues who regale me with news of the latest additions to the Tradition 25mm wargames range. This month there are British and French (with bearskins) Line Sappers; American Civil War Zouave flag bearer and.drummer; Garibaldi Guard Officer and soldiers kneeling firing and advancing and a nice new Confederate infantryman kneeling firing. Then there are American Civil War dismounted cavalry also kneeling firing position and a Union infantryman in the same position. Shortly to be released are a mounted Highland Infantry Officer of the Napoleonic period. These figures are of such high standard that many collectors are now purchasing them and using them in dioramas - when next you are in the shop have a look at the little World War II trench system diorama and see what can be done. In this issue of the Newsletter is a fine article by Mike Blake of SKIRMISH WARGAMES, Bristol) describing the new range of 45mm Individual wargames-figures put out by that American veteran of model soldier making, Jack Scruby of P.O.Box 1658, Cambrai, Calif. 93428, U.S.A. Based on the wonderful action described in C.S.Forrester's book "Death to the French" Jack has made figures to represent Cpl. Dodd's 95th Rifle Patrol and Sgt. La Duc's patrol of French Legere soldiers. The range consists of La Duc himself in a bearskin hat and three carabinier infantrymen in various action poses, then there are five voltigeur infantrymen also in action poses, and two French Dragoons on foot, one firing and one at the ready. The 95th Rifle Patrol consists of Cpl. Dodd leading and a range of five riflemen in charging positions plus two Spanish guerillas, one final one on guard. Eachoasting costs 95 cents each with postage added but it is best to write to Jack for a quotation before sending your money as postage, fluctuating value of exchange, etc., makes life a bit difficult. I have these figures in front of me as I write and I can well imagine that they will look great when painted up so, as soon as I can cajole, threaten or otherwise persuade my painter, I hope to see them in suitable action in a fine individual wargame skirmish. If what I have written together with Mike Blake's article does not stimulate you, then you must be a cold blooded lot! Incidentally, I probably do not have to tell you that Jack has a vast range of 20-25mm and 1-inch to 30mm scale figures in every conceivable period of military history. Jack is one of the masters in fact possibly the man who has done more to get wargaming on the road, than anyone else in the world and deserves support on both sides of the Atlantic. I notice that his N-gauge (9mm range) has been enlarged to include the Thirty Years War, with some fine pikemen, musketeers and cavalry now available. Book 7, volume I of the War Games Digest ($2.00 post paid) contains a full set of rules for playing Thirty Years wargames whilst there is another book "Cavaliers and Roundheads" by Perren and Gygax which contains rules of English Civil War games with organisation and uniform guides for $3.00 from Jack Scruby. I must also add that you can get quite a reasonable set of rules to fight English Civil War games from Wargamer's Newsletter (or buy them from Tradition Shop) at about 20p per set. Model Figures and Hobbies of Lower Balloo Road, Zzomasport, Co. Down BT19 2LU, have several new additions to their White Ensign Series and Ensign 1:1200 scale ships plus the first of the Red Ensign Series. I have seen a-sample of the latter, a British World War II merchantman with a deck mounted 4-inch gun and i,; looks very nice. This fills in that gaping void in Navel wargaming caused by Naval wargamers having vast hosts of naval escorts and warships but few merchantmen to escort! I have also seen No. M20 in the White Ensign Series which is the German C-in-Cls yacht Nixie, which can also be used as a light tender; then there is an early German S10 "Ell Boat (Schnellboote) which is an earlier type of E-Boat than the M18 - both of these cost 10p. I have also had samples of some of the spares for the Ensign 1:1200 scale ships - the German Dornier 18 Flying Boat and the Heinkel 177 long range bomber; then there is the MS13 the Ardoo plane; the British 5.25 circular twin gun turret and a British 2-pdr pom-pom, widely used on cruisers, battleships, etc. Reverting to the merchantmen mentioned above, the first of the Red Ensign Series, this is RE1 SS Armors, a three island type tramp steamer with a deck mounted 4-inch gun which costs 30P.  Back to Table of Contents -- Wargamer's Newsletter #146 To Wargamer's Newsletter List of Issues To MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1974 by Donald Featherstone. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com