Back in 2010-2013 I was talking about the Combat Tank Collection series (of 121 different models), and subsequently Altaya released a second magazine series Blindés de Combat which featured another 62 models, and a much greater variety of non-tank military models in 1/72 scale.
Continue reading “Blindés de Combat Magazine”Tag: Magazine
Combat Tanks Collection NZ Update
The full running order for the de Argostini Combat Tanks Collection in New Zealand (see Combat Tanks Collection 1-7) has now been available for sometime (i.e. since mid-2012) – I thought it might be useful to quickly post it up here along with updated links to the forum (which moved during 2012). The series is expected to conclude in April (or possibly May) 2014 with 110 issues. The full listing of the running order for the issues is below (note it still appears that the model for issue 110, the final issue, has not been confirmed):
Continue reading “Combat Tanks Collection NZ Update”Battlegames to join Miniature Wargames
“The Future is Clear” Henry Hyde announces, Battlegames will join Miniature Wargames in the Atlantic Publishing stable, and will remain an independent separate publication from Miniature Wargames. Henry will remain in the Editorial roll and all existing subscriptions will be honoured – the next issue, first under the new publishers, should be out at or just after Christmas. You can read more here…
Battlegames Magazine Hits The Wall
In some surprising and sad news Henry Hyde, editor of Battlegames Magazine in the UK, has announced that he has had to cease publication.
Continue reading “Battlegames Magazine Hits The Wall”Classic Wargamer’s Journal: Vol. I Issue 4
About four weeks ago the latest edition of the Classic Wargamer’s Journal arrived, promptly and quickly after dispatch as usual. There are articles, feedback, and AARs (After Action Reports) covering the WSS, F&IW, SYW, Franco-Prussian War, Colonial Darkest Africa, and World War II. Daryl Haselton continues his series on wargaming the Indian Mutiny in 45mm, and Peter Verduyn concludes his on a Tony Bath “Hyboria” style imagi-nation campaign. Other contributions cover the Wild West in 54mm, and a get together (care of CWJ) of a couple of OSWs (Old School Wargamers) in London.
Also included is more excellent discussion on the character of commanders, and of Charlie Wesencraft – an often overlooked contemporary of Charles Grant, Donald Featherstone, et al – as well as playing ‘floor wars’ (ala H.G. Wells & Robert Louis-Stevenson) with 42mm figures; and an interview with UK wargaming stalwart John Ray. And the issue concludes of course with the Tales of the Golden Head (a Colonial Skirmish ‘comic book’ style serial) and Conrad Kinch’s take on wargaming. As with Issue 3 there’s a pull out sheet with diagrams and instructions, this time for making a “Cardboard Flatpack Bomber” for those impromptu beer ‘n’ pretzels WW2 air wargames (and Issue 4 includes an AAR report of one such game using them)!
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Table Top Teaser Anyone?
One of my enduring memories of wargaming as a teenager was getting my copy of Military Modelling and looking to see if there was a new “Table Top Teaser” by C. S. Grant (Charles Stewart Grant, the son of the author of “Battle – Practical Wargaming” and the single most inspiring wargaming book ever “The War Game”; Charles Grant); these ‘Teasers’ were a highlight of each issue (when present), and I used to imagine all sorts of ways to play them with the limited troops and resources I had at the time. It was especially trying waiting for the following issue with Part 2 of each Teaser, where the scenario was played out and an After Action Report (AAR) provided! While they only appeared over the five-year period 1978-1982 (there were 17 in total) they seemed to go on forever and always provided inspiration and a catalyst for ideas for future games. I had always planned to drag my old Military Modelling and Battle magazines out and scan these all into PDF or similar electronic format for my personal use, so I could more easily go through them when looking for inspiration or planning a new game.
Classic Wargamer’s Journal: Vol. I Issue 3
Once again it arrived promptly and quickly, and the Classic Wargamer’s Journal is a refreshing read, bringing back a simplicity and fun element of a bygone era. This issue includes a reprint of a Tony Bath Mini-Ancient Campaign & Battle (the forerunner of his famous Hyboria), from the WGD, Book II, Volume 1 dated March 1958. There are several succinct AARs (After Action Reports) of games utilising scenarios from the 3 previous CWJ issues; several discussions of of old-school style gaming and/or imagi-nation projects (The Great Northern War in 40mm Prinz August’s, Indian Mutiny with 45mm Deutsche Homage’s, 1890’s Germany & Russia in the Baltic with 28mm Hinterland’s); and a particularly unusual and relatively extensive (for the CWJ) AAR of a Napoleonic game. Ray Caddy concludes his very interesting 2-part series on the Catalan War of 1713-1714; and there is an especially excellent F&IW (French & Indian War) piece with Scenario & AAR and inspired by Charles Wesencraft’s “Practical Wargaming” (a contemporary of, and under-appreciated author equal to, Grant, Featherstone, Young, Bath, Wise, and co…).
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Charles Grant’s ‘Battle’ Meccano Magazine Series
Charles Grant’s “Battle – Practical Wargaming” is one of the classics of the old school who were the original ‘modern-era’ wargaming generation – but what a lot of people don’t realise is that it was actually first published as a serialised account in Meccano Magazine, in 32 parts over 3 years from Mid-1968 until December 1970, with the more well known book version being printed in late 1970 while the magazine series was still being published. The Magazine series offers a chance to get “Battle” with extras, as it featured several parts that aren’t featured in the book, the latter only cover Parts I-XXVI (the Magazine series culminates in Part XXXII, the finale of a 1/32nd scale Wargame in the backyard)! In fact it was these Meccano articles (in my Father’s magazines) that were how I first discovered Charles Grant’s “Battle” in the mid-1970’s, long before I even knew there was book version! This was one of my very first classic wargaming publications that hooked me on the hobby as an early-teen.
Just recently I discovered that Meccano Magazine has put virtually their entire catalogue (dating back to September 1916) on line and it is possible to download individual pages from every issue…
Continue reading “Charles Grant’s ‘Battle’ Meccano Magazine Series”Classic Wargamer’s Journal: Vol. I Issue 2
It arrived here in the Antipodes just 4 days after posting in the UK, and once again the Classic Wargamer’s Journal is a refreshing read, bringing back memories of those glorious days in the 60’s & 70’s when names like Don Featherstone, Charles Grant, Brig. Peter Young, Terry Wise, Paddy Griffiths, and others inspired the masses of Baby Boomer & Generation X budding wargamers! I find I particularly enjoy CWJ simply for its style and format, which brings back many memories of my wargaming childhood, and also many of the articles which relate or allude to those classic publications by the personages above during that time.
Issue 2 of Volume 1 includes a brief letter from Don Featherstone, still getting along at 93, albeit sans all his wargaming armies that have long since gone to new homes. He’s certainly been an inspirational chap and as I commented on Phil Olley’s Blog, must surely just about be the last of those assorted venerable gentlemen I alluded to above that is still with us…
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Classic Wargamer’s Journal: Vol. I Issue 1
Following on from the Pilot Issue (The Classic Wargamer’s Journal: First Impressions) the first regular issue of CWJ is here – and continues on in the vein of the pilot issue. A poignant point by the editor, Phil Olley, is the modern ‘habit’ of talking about playing ‘rules’ (e.g. we say we are off to play Flames of War, not World War II, or do you want to play FoG instead of Ancients), and this embeds a subconscious mindset of playing ‘rules’ rather than ‘periods’ – perhaps a sign of the commercialisation of the hobby?
This issue’s Game Reports & Scenarios include Battles in the Blast Valley: The action at Spurlash Down; Part 2 of the Fireraisers Scenario & Report (from the pilot issue); and Advanced Guard – A Refight of a Charles S. Grant Table-Top Teaser from “Battle for Wargamers” Magazine (from June & July 1978).
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Classic Wargamer’s Journal: First Impressions
Well I placed my order on 21 July (UK time) and the hard copy edition was here in the antipodes on the 27 July (NZ time) – so that’s about a 5 day turn around – well done Phil and the Royal & NZ Posts! The CWJ Pilot is a stapled, 34 page (+covers) A4 format publication including a centre leaf with 6 glossy full colour photos, and large easy to read type. The tone is light hearted but very much in the tradition of those great wargaming publications of old, such as Charles Grant’s “The War Game” – in fact Phil Olley’s reference to the significance of this publication for him had me feeling very nostalgic – as it has always been ‘the’ Classic Wargaming Book for me (alas War Games Digest that CWJ is styled on is just a bit too early a publication for this not so young lad)!
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Classic Wargamer’s Journal: Pilot Issue out
A new (trial) wargaming magazine by Phil Olley – looking to be much in the vein of ‘Battlegames‘ and the older original Wargaming Publications of the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s… Only £4.50 (UK) or £6.00 (the rest of us; or £3.00 for a PDF) for this initial test issue so I think well worth the money to support Phil and see what he can do.
The Pilot Issue includes: “…4 tabletop scenarios (Spurlash Down and vanguards Collide, by me; Fire Raisers by Stephen Caddy; and a battle report from the very first issue of WGD* back in 1957); plus articles on Tabletop generals’ characterisation by Jeff Hudelson, a guide to painting big units by Stokes Schwartz; an ACW riverboat project by Alasdair Jamison, and Bill Protz gets marooned! Hard Copy and PDF versions are available.” See Phil Olley’s Classic Wargaming Blog for more details.
* War Games Digest.