Terrain Once again I have really enjoyed the latest (January '76) issue of the Newsletter, particular the articles by Ian Scott and Paddy Griffith. Ian Scott's point of view was one I particularly agree with and I was glad he was able to solve some problems which I had found. Some of the tactical boa games are very suitable for his treatment of re-enacting certain situations that crop up in the course of a game. I am trying out the boardgame Kasserine Pass which has plenty of variety of equipment, armies (British, French, U.S. v Germans and Italians), and tactical situations. I would like to try and put forward some suggestions for Micro-Terrain, of which there is a surprisingly large quantity, since a number of readers, including Ian Scott seem to be having difficulties in this direction. I make a basic terrain from a 1:50,000 map by thin books, pieces of hardboard under a blanket then put on rivers and roads with tape or wax crayon. Buildings are available from many sources a though unfortunately not always to the same scale. This problem can be alleviated to some extent putting larger buildings at the front of the board and smaller ones at the back. As Mr.Scott says, some very effective buildings can be made from card. I have also made some from balsawood fairly successfully. Firms which make buildings are as follows: 1. Bellona (sheet MD1) vacuum formed. Sheet also had tank traps, emplacements, etc., as well as buildings. 2. Project 300. Plastic resin. Middle Eastern and Vest European buildings. Available from "Mainly Military". 3. Card buildings from "Soldiers", 36 Kennington Road, London SE1. One card includes a complete Peninsular War farm. 4. Metal buildings from "Cannon Miniatures", 8 Merlewood Avenue, Southport, Merseyside. 5. Metal buildings from G.B.Cattle, 3 Golf Links Road, Cottingham Road, Hull, Yorkshire. Of these the metal buildings are smaller than the others but the two manufacturers produce a larger range than the other makers. Wooded areas can be made from lichen with no attempt to model individual trees or the Cedarwood Accessories, reviewed in the January '76 issue, can be used. Realistic hedges can be made from pi cleaners dyed green. Fences can come from matchsticks and walls can be made from card or can be I from the manufacturers of metal buildings (e.g. Canno:i Miniatures). I hope this review of Micro terrain is of some value. I would like to echo Kevin Theakston's comments on Napoleonic 5mm. Paddy Griffith's earlier article was very interesting, it would be nice to see a detailed one on his rules. Let us also some more of Kevin's ideas - if they are like his letter I cannot see that they would be boring. Possibly the products of Tabletop games will bring new ideas; I have sent for a copy of their game anyway. Congratulations on another good issue. --Andrew Grainger of Hove, Sussex. Solo Wargamers Association Many wargamers are forced through different circumstances to conduct their battles and campaigns solo. Here then is an opportunity for the many solo wargamers (who for so long have taken a back seat) to stand up and be counted and help themselves and others to raise the standards of their games. This Association's formation depends entirely upon "YOU"! Mr. Featherstone has written a book help the soloists, so there must be a large number of you out there. Please send your queries to John Bennett, 9 Oakroyd Close, Potters Bar, Herts. Many thanks and long may Wargamer's Newsletter continue, it is surely one of if not the best magazine for wargamers. Johnny Johnson of Wigan, Lancs. Killer Instinct As a semi-retired wargamer, I am afraid I have lost track of my favourite magazine. I hope Wargamer's Newsletter has not gone the way of The Armchair General. I have enclosed a cheque to me as far as it will. No games for over a year. My teenage sons are heavily involved in boardgames and easily beat me at chess. I have lost the killer instinct. The last games I played were competent but uninspired. I have been painting on the 8th Army and 1683 20mm flats. When I think how much the miniatures have improved since Dave and I used to play the Afrika Korps War! Pat Condray of U.S.A. Puzzling I did not do too badly in your puzzle on page 9 of the January 1976 issue of the Newsletter, nor did I look at the answers beforehand. However, against question 2 I wrote NOBODY. I wonder if you can work out why? Peter Young of Tewkesbury Answer - One can make out a good case for the assertion that Talavera was fought on 27 and 28 July 1809 NOT 27 July 1808. Peter Young Napoleonic Peninsular War With regard to the footnote at the bottom of page 8 in the November issue of your fine magazine, I disagree with the last sentence of the statement: "To fight the Peninsular War in any other way but with the British in line and the French in column is to prostitute military history so as to create a completely false and unreal situation." Too true these were Wellington's renowned tactics and agreed they won Vimeiro, Talavera, Busaco (the classic example) and perhaps Albuera, but what of Salamanca and Vittoria? Were they won by this stance? No! Wellington went on the offensive when he saw his opportunity. Did the 3rd Division at Salamanca advance in line at the gap-in the French battle dispositions? Did the 4th and Light, the 7th and 3rd, the 2nd and Portuguese and the 1st and 5th at Vittoria attack in line? On the French side of things, did Brennier's reserve division form square when attacked by Le Marchant's heavy cavalry? No, they were swept away after forming line. After having got that off my chest, you might have gathered that I am an avid French wargamer of this period and I am planning a Peninsular campaign starting from 1812 onwards to give me a bit of a chance! I wondered if any of your numerous subscibers could help me in trying to find the make-up of the French armies of the North under Caffarelli, South under Soult, Aragon under Suchet, along with King Joseph's small army of the Centre down to battalion, squadron and company level? Although I am only 14 years of age, I am an enthusiastic reader of your excellent magazine, from cover to cover. Many thanks. Nicholas W. Simmonds, Leamington Spa, Warks. Enjoyment I have just renewed by subscription for the fourth year to Wargamer's Newsletter and I wanted to drop you a few lines to tell you how much I really enjoy the magazine. I look forward very much to each issue and once it arrives my wife, has extreme difficulty finding me to do any work until I have read it cover to cover two or three times. My only regret is that living here in the United States I cannot take advantage of the Swop Shop. I have a 4000 man Napoleonic army and I just cringe when I see people want to swop 25mm figures of that period for Civil War or other articles that I do have to swop. Oh well, perhaps in a few more issues you might be able to expand it to include us Colonials. Thomas E. DeVoe of Washington, New Jersey U.S.A. Growing Commercialism I thought I would write to you because I am becoming increasingly concerned about the growing commercialism, not to say greed, within our sport/pastime. When I began wargaming some nine years ago at the Leeds Club, then run so ably by my old mate Alan Sapherson, I saw there was an obvious need for someone who would buy and sell second-hand figures. This sport of ours is subject to such changes, and most of the enthusiasts themselves like to change from period to period and scale to scale. I feel, therefore, that I fulfilled a great need within the hobby, albeit on a small scale, of buying unwanted items which were sold to someone else who was in need. Similar in fact to your "swop-shop", except that my selling was done at conventions. This was highly successful for two or three years, both for my customers, who got good, cheap figures, and my wife and myself who never made much profit but had a lot of fun. I was so successful that I even got a mention in "Wargamer's Newsletter" after the excellent Birmingham Convention of several years ago. Of late I have found it impossible to appear at these gatherings because of the increasing costs. I have been quoted recently over £ 100 to appear for 2 days at a large convention in the North. Quite honestly, I cannot see how any manufacturer, supplier or model shop can afford this sort of price. Several small local events have wanted up to £ 40 for a day when it is unlikely that any stand will take &$#163 200, the very minimum that is required to break even after wages, expenses and travel are taken into consideration. At the same time I have appeared at many antique and collectors fairs where the cost is between £ 4 and £ 6 per day, and well worth every penny. This fee often included television advertising! Now, some people reading this letter, if it is published will say "Here is another moneygrabber"; well, dealing in second-hand soldiers have done two things for me: 1) helped me build up a reasonable collection of figures cheaply; 2) given me a lot of fun. Unfortunately it has never made a profit yet, but usually breaks even. So, Wargamers, if you want cheap figures both from people such as myself and also from the local shops, and you want successful conventions, then think about us small traders. Most of us are wargamers and love our hobby. Just as a last point, if anyone is having a convention over the next few months, drop me a line and I will be glad to attend, if I can afford it. --M.A. Wade, Ilkley, Yorkshire British Battalion 1808-14 I have a difficult problem to put to you, and the Newsletter readers. What was the size of a British battalion in the years 1808-14? Before everybody taught and condescendingly tells me to do some research, I have done, and this is what I have come up with. According to your excellent book Wargames Through The Ages - Vol. III, it is 10 companies at 50 men, making 500, also Lilian and Fred Funken agree with you. But, on consulting " Napoleonic Wargaming" the Airfix guide by Bruce Quarrie I find it says 650 men. Upon turning to April/May Battle magazine 19/5, Terence Wise puts it at 1,200 men. To cap it all "Wellington's Army" in the Then and There series says the figure should be 1,000. "Wargames" by David Nash puts the figure at just over 1,000. Could anyone tell me what it really was, and where their information came from? The real answer to pleasant gaming seems to be take one figure, and not bother reading any more, but it goes against every wargamer's natural instinct. --Graham Evens, Rugby, Warwickshire Can You Help? I am very interested in wargaming and I wish to know more about the club for wargamers ill Southampton. In my school we have just started up a small club and we have a Carthaginian and an African Army. We play to the Wargamer Society's rules, 1000 BC to 1000 A.D. Perhaps before I go any further I must point out to you that I am handicapped, but I am able to walk very well. My hands are shaky, but at school someone moves my armies for me. I hope that my application will not be hindered by my disability. My home is in Totton but I have to come to Tonbridge to be educated. I am at home for four months of the year and so hopefully will join you when I can. My colleague and I are starting to build up a British and French Napoleonic set. If you could suggest a book where we can study the uniforms in detail for painting our figures we would again be most grateful. Please will you excus my bad typing and spelling." This matter is being taken up by the Wessex Military Society whose activities take place not s far from Totton where Raymond lives. Are there any Clubs in the Tonbridge area of Kent who might feel inclined to either go along and demonstrate wargaming or send a single representative to talk to these lads? It is not difficult to realise just how much this would be appreciated. --Raymond Lang, Spastics Society, Thomas Delarue School, Shipbourne Poad, Tonbridge, Kent TN11 9NP Back to Table of Contents -- Wargamer's Newsletter # 168 To Wargamer's Newsletter List of Issues To MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1976 by Donald Featherstone. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com