From Matchbox comes a new 1:72nd scale plastic kit of the PK 79 Chaffee American light tank that saw action in World War II and Korea. It comes complete with decals and diorama display base and is moulded in two colours to provide a realistic look without going to the trouble of painting. Another new item from this range is the PK 27 The Hawker Siddeley Hawk, the new multi-role aircraft also in 1:72nd scale, moulded in two attractive colours to help the younger modeller achieve a finished look without painting. The kit comes with two alternative sets of squadron decals and like all "MATCHBOX" kits, is supplied with a multi-position display stand. Both kits include a multilanguage step-by-step instruction leaflet to facilitate easy assembly, together with full paint plans for those who wish to have a more elaborate model. The latest MINIATURE FIGURINES releases include some new 15mm Ancients and Napoleonics - the former consists of Persian Immortals, light cavalry and spearmen; Scythian Horse Archers; and Sassanid Cataphracts and a Command Strip. In the Napoleonic range come Prussian Uhlan cavalry with a Command Strip and some Russian Generals. There is also a rather nice bombard from the Wars of the Roses range. It is interesting to note that Ray Seaton of WARRIOR has now gone into the 54mm range, beginning with a pair of figures by Julian Benassi (who has previously turned out figures for Hinchliffe). These two new WARRIOR figures consist of a Sumarian and a Nubian Amazon and they sell at £ 1.30p each. The first comes in five parts - the basic figure, an arm attached to a shield, and another arm with a separate spear for assembling on the ornamental base that is provided. To my untutored eye, the figure looks well proportioned and obviously made by a man who knows what he is up to. Personally I prefer figures to be in more active poses than this is standing with legs astride, awaiting action. Expert friends from the South Hants Military Modelling Society to whom I showed these models, seemed a little doubtful about the method of fixing the arms on this figure. The other figure is completely nude, extremely nubile, and will undoubtedly present a most interesting model when completed. It comes in five parts, an ornamental base, the figure, its head, a shield and spear. Again, my experts believe that there might be some difficulties in satisfactory affixing the head. In the same package came three new mounted figures of Napoleon, a Field-Marshal and a Marshal, all very nicely done and highly capable of exercising command when duly painted, and in their place on the field of battle. Ray tells me that within the next few weeks he will be putting out 20 new Persians in his 25mm range. HINCHLIFFE MODELS have brought out some fine new 25mm Napoleonic Peninsular War figures - British Infantry advancing and charging, British Infantry Officers and drummers, British Ensigns with colours, British Riflemen, British Rifles Officers, British Marines advancing and British Marine Officers; French Fusiliers advancing and charging, French Grenadiers advancing, French line infantry Officers, French Eagle Bearers and French drummers; Spanish guerillas marching and running; Portuguese Cacadore firing and Cacadore officers; cavalry include British Dragoons in bicorne, British Dragoon officers and British Light Dragoons and officers. New Ancients include late Roman officers and Palatina Auxiliaries with spear or with bow; Greek officers, Greek standard bearers and Macedonian Phalangites. New GARRISON figures available from Greenwood and Ball include two new lines of figures from the World of Fantasy, Myth and Legend; Barbarian Hero, a White Magician with serpent staff; a Palace Guardsman; a Warrior of Vanaheim and a Mountain Troll wielding a mace. They have also turned out some mounted Seven Years War Personalities - the Duke of Cumberland, Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick, Marshal Contades and the Due de Fitzjames. In John Mansfield's SIGNAL I read a glowing report of a range of 25mm figures from RAL PARTHA ENTERPRISES, 3642 Hyde Park Avenue,.Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.A. 45208. Seemingly, these are "fantasy" figures from an ever increasing range that will soon include gladiators. Prices range from 33 cents per single figure to a maximum of $2.25 with box of 12 foot figures $3.50. John Mansfield recommends them for the fantasy gamer as well as the lover of fine miniatures. The makers of ROS and HEROICS figures and vehicles have combined into one group at 36 Kennington Road, London SEI, from whom a list is available for a S.A.E. ROS are well known for their inexpensive range of 25mm Napoleonics while HEROICS put out a fine 5mm range of beautiful little figures in a number of periods. Both make the very small tanks and vehicles which are upcoming popular - getting together means that they will no longer duplicate each others efforts will be able to considerably expand their lines both to the mutual benefit to themselves and wargamers. At the MODEL ENGINEERS EXHIBITION on the stand of the NEW MODEL ARMY LIMITED, (who advertise regularly in this magazine) Paul Shingler, a very pleasant and talented young model maker, of EAGLE MINIATURES of P.O.Box 14, Barry, South Glamorgan, CF6 6YB, is turning out a range of 54mm figures that includes some unusual models, including a Hun holding a severed head, a Gurkha officer of the 1880 period and, among two or three figures of the French Foreign Legion, thereas a Legionaire serving with one of the company's which served in Madagascar at the turn of the century. This figure is in shirt sleeve order and is characteristically wiping his brow with the back of his hand whilst removing his sun helmet. This last figure comes in four parts - the figure itself, two arms, one bearing a riflo and the other a sun helmet and a very pleasing ornamental base; it is also possible to obtain wooden stands and engraved bronze ndme plates. The whole range were on view, well painted and attractive, selling at a special Exhibition price but I believe their normal price is about £ 1.40p per figure. Naval wargamers will be entranced by the new GHQ MICRONAUTS the Napoleonic warships which grace the stand of NEW HOPE DESIGN at the recent MODEL ENGINEERS EXHIBITION. Available in a wide range, these finely detailed little vessels are quite entrancing. From TABLE-TOP GAMES (11 The Green, Ruddington, Nottingham, NG11 6HJ) I have received their latest game MICRO-NAPOLEONICS, the first in their MICRO-WARFARE Series. Retailing at &$#163 1.00p (U.K. post free, 20p otherwise), the next two games will be MICRO-ANCIENTS and MICRO-COLONIAL. I have not practically tested this game but have closely studied it and note that it consists of a wallet which contains a booklet which seem to resemble normal Napoleonic wargames rules, some melee and morale charts, a pad of casualty and fighting factor recording and a set of cards bearing the names of the formations they represent plus a card of terrain scenic features which can be cut out and distributed over the board as required. Briefly, the idea seems to be that one fights a more or less normal wargame, using the formation cards instead of figures, on a much reduced terrain - it could almost be considered as a link between normal wargaming with miniature figures and board-wargaming. Obviously with formations represented by a piece of coloured card 1" long by 1/2" wide with a name printed on them there is no limit to the number and types of formations available to the wargamer - TABLE-TOP GAMES mention that additional Army Cards will soon be available and will include Prussian, Russian, Austrian, Polish and Spanish armies (selling at 35P each plus lOp postage outside the U.K.) This is a most original and creditable attempt to take advantage of the undoubted merits of miniature wargaming using for example, the 5mm regimental blocks that used to be manufactured by Miniature Figurines, yet reducing the whole business of wargaming down to the most economic levels. Of course, in so doing so, the glamour of brightly coloured figures vanishes with it but you can't have everything and how can go wrong at such a low price? I think that many wargamers will find a great deal of interest in the games, which are particularly suitable for taking on holiday or for using in confined spaces - ideal to while away the hours whilst recovering from 'flu! From my old friend Bob O'Brien of WARGAMES RESEARCH GROUP I have received the 5th Edition of the Ancient Wargames Rules 3000 B.C.-1250 A.D. It would be repetitious to say too much on the manner in which these rules literally revolutionised Ancient wargaming and, by their concept, caused them to become quite the most used rules in the wargaming world. Unfortunately (or fortunately however you view the matter) Ancient wargamers have questioning minds and their findings, researches and generarestlessness have caused these rules to frequently be amended until now a situation has arisen where changes are required that are too extensive to be covered by the usual free amendment sheets issued the publishers. On this occasion they have taken the opportunity to revise the entire set, inserting explanations where necessary and changing the wording of sections where experience has shown that m4 them more understandable. They have also extended the period from 3000 B.C. to 1250 A.D. and have ~ corporated, after testing, many suggestions from players in different parts of the world so that th: edition, in a sense, was written by the players. Players familiar with previous editions will find many differences and, if the universal aspect of these rules is to be maintained then it is encumbent upon all wargamers using them to buy a new set otherwise they will find that their greatest beneficial feature of both players being familiar with the rules will have vanished. Whether or not they have improved their original rules remains to be seen - Peter Gilder winner of the Society of Ancients Wargames Championship told me recently that these new rules had considerably altered many aspects of the game and I rather felt that he said this with a touch of regret! Anyway, one thing is certain they are formulated with thought and have been adequately tested which is more than can be said for the majority of most commercial rules that one encounters! They are available from the WARGAMES RESEARCH GROUP at 75 Ardingly Drive, Goring-by-Sea, Sussex, at £ 1.50P Post free or $5.50 U.S.A. (sent by air mail). Also from WARGAMES RESEARCH GROUP comes the 3rd Edition of THE ARMIES AND ENEMIES OF IMPERIAL ROME 150 B.C. to 600 A.D. by Phil Barker. This excellent booklet has its Roman section amended in light of the latest research and, knowing Phil Barker, again one can say with complete confidence that he has thoroughly gone into the matter and not a word has gone on paper until he has been absolutely certain of his facts. Ninety pages long with 126 illustrations, this book details at considerable length all that one needs to know about the Roman Army over a considerable period plus details of their enemies. The latter is of the greatest value because there is a lot of information around about Rome but one has to search deeply when seeking details of some of their more obscure enemies - and wargamers always like fighting with obscure enemies! I have received an intriguing letter from W.J.Rawkins of 37 St. Philips Road, Norwich, who offers a research service on Napoleonic uniforms, sending detail information sheets by return of post for only 50P including postage. Mr. Rawkins mentions that he hopes to have available by the time you read this magazine a full catalogue of uniforms of the armies of the Napoleonic period. He also mention! flags and standards and says that he recently installed basic photo-copying equipment which should enable sheets of flags and standards with satisfactory illustrations to be shortly available. They also have a limited number of sets of colour slides of uniforms available and a small quantity of coloured plates - a revised list is available on receipt of a S.A.E. This seems a remarkably cheap service and one that could well be of the greatest benefit to the wargaming fraternity. I have received from Chris Harvey of 11 Woodside Way, Aldridge, Walsall, West Midlands, issue number 28, December 1975 of his newsletter OVERKILL, which I do not pretend to fully understand but which would appear to offer for sale various boardgames and also the opportunity to participate in in number of computerised games, presumably played by post. If you like this sort of thing, then there is no doubt that Chris Harvey and his friends are a very lively lot and that their activities could be most stimulating - I suggest you write. Far too extensive to cover in any detail here was the multiplicity of trade stands and the items they offered at the recent MODEL ENGINEERS EXHIBITION in London. This was a very full affair with the majority of the leading manufacturers present and seemingly doing very good business. It is at such places that the wargamer is able to make comparisons of figures and, rather than blindly sticking to one particular make, to build up armies of his chosen period from a number of makers best figures. There were numerous stands selling books and literature of interest and value to the wargamer BIVOUAC as always displaying a very good range of reasonably priced secondhand military books, many of them of quite recent origin. Many of the stands had offers of items at much reduced prices besides displaying painted models which otherwise the wargamer would probably not get an opportunity of seeing so that he would be buying "blind". Of course, there are always lots of old friends to be met on these occasions and I invariably leave with the lasting impression that I would just hate to spend the term of the Exhibition exposed to the stresses and strains of many of my friends gracing the numerous stands! An old wargaming friend Eric Knowles, with his wife Ivy, runs the NEW MODEL ARMY (MINIATURES) LIMITED who advertise regularly in this magazine. I have known Eric as an enthusiastic and active wargamer for many years and he was one of that almost legendary band who formed the opposing British and French sides during the great re-fought WATERLOO Battle (on Peter Gilder's terrain at the Duke of York's Headquarters, Chelsea, on March 20th 1964. Those were days to remember, with nearly 2,000 people packing into the Drill Hall on a wet Saturday afternoon, both British television companies and three from the Continent with lamps, wires and cameras all over the place; a full military band playing on the stage by the side of the wargame (one wargamer packed up in disgust and went home); uniformed Guardsmen at the door and a Beating Retreat ceremony outside (kindly provided by a Guards Major Public Relations officer for the London District. After Eric and I had finished our brief bout of nostalgia we got around to the purpose of his visit - which was to show me a diorama. But, to me this was no ordinary diorama because on the 18 inch square base was a remarkably life-like grouping of the scene in the donga near the Ityotyosi River where the Prince Imperial of France met his death at the hands of a party of Zulus on June 1st 1879, during the Zulu War. Knowing that I had written a book CAPTAIN CAREY'S BLUNDER (published by Leo Cooper and New English Libraries in paperback) on this very subject, Eric most thoughtfully brought the diorama down to Southampton for me to see. It is a superb piece of work by Mike Wilton who has really caught the spirit of the event. The Prince Imperial stands at bay pistol in his left hand and an assegai just pulled from his thigh, in his right hand. The sleeve on his left arm is ragged and bloody, having just been mauled by the assegai of a tall Zulu advancing on his left hand while the others open out to his front. Having extensively studied pictures of the Prince Imperial I can vouch for the fact that the diorama maker has truly represented him by converting a British Infantry officer from the same series. The Zulus, with one exception, are standard positions in the series of Sanderson 54mm figures available from Hinchliffe Models Limited. The scenic effects are excellent, the harsh rocks and baked red ground of the dry donga bed, with short scrubby grass in patches have been most authentically produced. Eric Knowles and THE NEW MODEL ARMY (MINIATURES) LIMITED are to be congratulated on their foresight in commissioning such an excellent model which is shortly to appear in colour on the cover of Military Modelling. After that I must see if I can get an overdraft and buy the diorama. Studying it, it was borne upon me just how satisfying it is to make such a model representing some facet of military life which has strong appeal to the maker. In this case, the maker is an excellent craftsman, indicated by the body-colouring of the Zulus because it is far from easy to competently paint a semi-naked black body as the "lights" while significant and distinctive, are difficult to represent. 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