Peter Gilder (he's the one trying to look like Jeb Stuart) and Don Featherstons having the most interesting if bitterly contested battle at Peater's home last year. Having given me the Confederates, Peter then cheerfully admitted that they had never won a battle and that their morale was rock-bottom. Modestly, might I say that it was a little bit higher after this fracas! Old readers of this magazine will recall various reports on the activities of Peter Gilder, and will no doubt have formed their own opinion as to his fantastic enthusiasm, incomparable ability both in modelling and painting figures and turning out terrain of the highest order. But it has been my sad regret that I have not been able to pass on more than mere words about this absoutely top class wargames set-up in Lincolnshire. For that reason I feel that there is no better subject on which to start the new illustrated WN than with a good report of one of the best and most nostalgic battles I have ever fought . It is a photo that enables us to get a pretty good idea of the sort of terrain upon which Peter fights his games, and the troops on their formation trays removed when in action. Peter began with American Civil War troops, starting as does almost everyone these days, with the wonderful little Airfix figures Then, as is right and proper, he felt that he would like to branch out and have more elite troops in metal. So he obtained whatever Marcus Hinton, Russel Gammage and Jack Scruby could offer in the Civil War line; unsatisfied, he then began to convert Napoleonics by the same makers into the most extraordinary collection of offbeat Civil units one could imagine.And they were converted in such a style as to be almost breathtaiing. If you don't believe me, take a look at the 1st Virginia Cavalrxy, converted from some Airfix cowboys! Not only is Peter good at doing all this, and I now hear that he has come up with some fantastic terrain in a sort of reclaimable plastic (to be amply described in a new WN Booklet on Terrain) but he also fights a very effective wargane. I have had my share of fighting the best in this country and I definitely class old bushy whiskers Gilder among the top men! Peter is now going in for the Napoleonic period - still in the 20mm range and still using the ever-increasing items put out by Marcus Hinton and Russell Gammage . he are joining fortes in doing Wellington in the peninsular, using Jac Wellers fascinating book of that name as our campaign guide. Working our way through the book we are going to fight each battle solo - Peter and I each having an army of French and British at our own homes. Each battle will be in two halves - or Corps actions - and then we will coordinate the two results to give a final assessment of victory for one side or the other. On those all-too-rare occasions then we meet over the wargames table, we are going to fight a free-for-all with all our troops! For those who might be inclined to look at this with envy - I might add that Peter only began taking an interest in wargaming 15 months ago. He had the misfortune (?) to break his leg and spent sixteen weeks in plaster, ending up with a set up like this. So, all that is necessary is enthusiasm, ability, a bit of cash and a broken leg! Back to Table of Contents -- Wargamer's Newsletter # 25 To Wargamer's Newsletter List of Issues To MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1964 by Donald Featherstone. This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com