John Nicholls of Purley "Perhaps I may cross swords with you regarding your leading article in November Newsletter regarding figures and books. As you know I am a bit of a two-sided character because when a manufacturer or a shopxeeper mentions profit my banking background immediately translates this into practical terms. I firmly believe that you must make a profit if you want to create the reserves and research necessary to run any business, to expand, and to provide for the future, The other side of me wants of course the cheapest figure, the largest range all at a moments notice. However, I do feel that constructive criticism and plain truth would do more for some firms and people than all the whitewash that seems to spray about at the present time. There are bad figures, there are incorrectly detailed figures, there is certainly something radically wrong when three manufacturers advertise 25mm figures and not one of their sizes fit together. I cannot see that to say so would be wrong, nor do I think it is in the interest of both hobby and community for us to draw back from saying so just because there are now say 10 manufacturers whereas 15 years ago there were only two. There is a sort of malaise creeping across the community in general -- which I think is due to a loss of control by management of the service given by their product -- and by Unions concerning themselves with politics rather than policies and work. I recently sent an order to one of our figure manufacturers accompanied by a credit note and a cheque. Imagine my surprise to receive a box of figures containing half my order - worked out so that they totalled my cheque plus quite a different credit note total. To my fury came by the following post a copy of the credit note altered down because of an incorrect addition on the firms part. No letter of apology - no attempt to return my original order so that all could be put in order. What made me even more annoyed was that I was charged 40p postage and packing when my original order was over £ 10. I am now awaiting to see if I get a reply to my letter of complaint. When I mention to you constructive criticism -- I mean failings in the quality of the product -- and also goods that do not agree with their advertised wording. It is a matter of personal opinion as to the quality of the writing in a book, if however it is advertised as being about "The Russian Army of the Crimea" -- and all the drawings are of full dress uniforms -- that is where constructive words come into their own. It is a matter of the lightness of ones touch when painting that decides one on the particular type of modelling paint to use -- difficult to put perhaps into words, but one can certainly criticise colours that are labelled incorrectly. I have always felt that one of the great advantages to have a magazine like WARGAMERIS NEWSLETTER, with an "Independent" editor like yourself, to our hobby was that you were unaffected by trade or other influences and would then be able to speak your piece without fear or favour. Incidentally, one of my colleagues has banking with him a very large model shop and he introduced me to the owner. On learning that I was a 25mm painter he said: "I had thought to cancel my stock of 25mm figures because of the inefficiency of the manufacturers but it seemed a pity to turn away the wargamers as they are such a pleasant lot of chaps." What a nice remark about our membership (I would have given him a loan on the spot). Jack Hutchings of Vancouvert BC Canada "Out here on Canada's Pacific Coast, where this country's largest concentration of wargamers is located, all attention is fixed on May 2-3, dates of the second presentation of the Greater Vancouver Wargames Convention (Vancon for short). Right now Table Top Generals in this area are taking part in a big pre-convention tournament to decide the top teams in this area. Winners will meet out-of-town finalists at the Convention. Total of 11 different categories are involved in the tourney, Ancients, Micro Armour, Board Games, Colonial, American Civil War, Napoleonic, Moderns, Modern Naval, Napoleonic Naval, Ancient Naval. Taking part in the tournament are 36 two-man teams. At this writing the Colonial category is completed with Trumpter Club's Ken Jackson and "Hutch" Hutchings emerging the winners. Plans call for the completion of all categories one month in advance of the Convention. This is the second Vancon to be organised, the first being held in 1973 and turned out to be the most successful event of its kind in Canada. More than 200 attended the two-day event and established wargaming as a major hobby in this area. While this turnout is not impressive by British standardsv it must be kept in mind that here in British Columbia distances between centres of population are far greater than in England. Total population is way below that in the United Kingdom. Some participants will travel a thousand miles before they return home. If any British wargamers dolhappen to be in British Columbia next May 2-3 there is a very warm welcome for them to attend Vancon. As a first step write now to Convention Chairman Mr. Jack Hutchings, 4578 Brentlawn Drive, Burnaby 2, B.C., Canada. Vancon awards include trophies for the best wargamer, runner-up and the Best Junior wargamer. Large ribbon rosettes will be awarded to the Convention Champions in each of the 11 categories. In addition to tournament games, there will also be demonstration contests in many different periods. Commercial exhibitis involving the sale of figures and books will also be featured. Diorama contest will also be a highlight. Admission price is one dollar (about 50 pence) with mothers, wives, girl friends and sisters being admitted without charge. Coffee shop will feature hot dogs, tea, coffee and other light refreshments." Back to Table of Contents -- Wargamer's Newsletter # 156 To Wargamer's Newsletter List of Issues To MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1975 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