Local New Zealand 3D printing business Potbelly Miniatures along with Triguard Miniatures have launched a Kickstarter campaign to try and fill some specific holes in the 28mm miniatures market; starting with Hellenistic Judeans. They believe this military/nationality is poorly-served by current manufacturers so they are looking at doing a range that covers the period from the conquest of Palestine by Alexander right through to the destruction of the Temple by the Roman Empire.
Continue reading “Kickstarter Hellenistic Judeans”Tag: War Gaming
Wargaming Tomes Collection: Part Three
Continuing on from Wargaming Tomes Collection: Part Two here’s a look at the remaining parts of my classic wargaming books from the 1960’s through to 1990, including some classic book series such as the WRG Armies & Enemies and Tank Battles in Miniature by Don Featherstone & Bruce Quarrie; and some new publications of old material and authors from the classic era by John Curry and his History of Wargaming Project.
Continue reading “Wargaming Tomes Collection: Part Three”An Interview with Charles Wesencraft
A wargamer and author from that classic era of wargaming who perhaps has not always been recognised as much as the more well known ones (i.e. Donald Featherstone, Charles Grant, Tony Bath, Brigadier Peter Young, Terry Wise and then later George Gush, Stuart Asquith, etc) is Charlie Wesencraft. While many will know him and he probably is better known than Joseph Morschauser and David Nash (see my Wargaming Tomes Collection: Part One post) I for one did not see his books early on in my wargaming career (possibly due to being in New Zealand – although other local gamers here have said they saw them in libraries and such in the 1980’s or very late ’70s). I was interested to recently read an interview with Charlie Wesencraft that reinforces my view that he seems to have contributed more than just his 2 books in the early 1970’s to the classic wargaming era.
Continue reading “An Interview with Charles Wesencraft”Wargaming Tomes Collection: Part Two
One of the amazing things about vintage wargaming books, especially from the classic era (for want of a better term) of the 1960’s through until the early 1980’s, is how they still inspire today (at least in my mind) and in many cases the originality of ideas. As time goes by I have continued to collect more and more of these, and to ‘back fill’ my collection that started in the 1970’s and 1980’s, so continuing on from Part One here’s a look at more of my classic wargaming books from the 1960’s through to 1990, including some of the more obscure book series such Knight’s Battles for Wargamers, Concise Campaigns, Bellona Battles for Wargamers and Background Books for Wargamers and Modellers.
Continue reading “Wargaming Tomes Collection: Part Two”Wargaming Tomes Collection: Part One
I recently moved house (well actually about 10 months ago – but it was inter-city to be fair), and I am only finally getting around to properly starting to unpack and sort my wargaming books, figures and terrain, and my somewhat extensive library of history books. Initially, on the book side, I’m focussing on my wargaming related titles and rulesets as these have the most immediate potential use; and as I have a particular fondness for old classic wargaming books (you know the ones by Donald Featherstone and Charles Grant and the others of their generation) I have quite a few of these; and thought I might post a few lists of titles to jog people’s memories and nostalgia…
Continue reading “Wargaming Tomes Collection: Part One”Raid On Villa Winter
“Captain Hendry de Cromault paddled steadily and quietly through the uneasy surf, his sergeant and some of his men behind him doing likewise. To either side more boats of British Commandos were also paddling through the surf. As their boats ran up on the volcanic beach with the crashing breakers covering their approach, the first rays of the sun were providing a faint glow off to the east well beyond the mountains, and even further, as the sun rose over Africa and headed towards the Atlantic Ocean. Quickly drawing their boats ashore, they were startled by the sudden winking of a bright lamp inshore, sending jumbled encrypted Morse code signals; ‘a U-Boat must be about’ Cromault thought to himself, ‘why else would the Villa Winter be activating it’s powerful beacon lamp, hopefully it doesn’t stumble across their transport home, a Royal Navy Destroyer lurking to the north’. Even as he thought about it his raiding force was assembling around him at their rallying points, and beyond expectations the entire force had safely made it ashore. Assembled on one of the remotest parts of the Canary Islands, they set off to accomplish their mission of destroying the secret mid-Atlantic U-Boat base built and run by by Gustav Winter, a reclusive German engineer, disguised beneath his Villa ‘Casa Winter’ on the island…“
Continue reading “Raid On Villa Winter”Nice DBMM Intro Video
Nice introductory video to DBMM (De Bellis Magistrorum Militum) and the key aspects of the rules; note this does not go into mechanics, just the overall concepts. Great for those not previously familiar with the DBx series of rules from WRG. Expect there to be more in this series from WRG…
Miniature Wargaming: The Movie
A new project in the hobby that is underway is Miniature Wargaming The Movie looking to “explore the fascinating world of miniature wargaming; a hobby enjoyed by millions of people across the globe”. This will include “exclusive interviews & stories from industry leaders such as Rick Priestley, Alan & Michael Perry, John Stallard, Paul Sawyer and many more.” Furthermore several key wargaming industry businesses are getting behind this, including Warlord Games, Perry Miniatures, 4Ground, Wargames illustrated, Hawk Games, and more… Continue reading “Miniature Wargaming: The Movie”
Giants Of The Sky Swoop In
They have landed! The Wings of Glory Giants of the Sky Kickstarter Bundle, with 2 each of the Handley-Page O/400 and the Zeppelin Staaken R.VI bombers (from World War I). They are impressive models and very very large, the might be 1/144th scale, but… they are very imposing. Continue reading “Giants Of The Sky Swoop In”
Blücher By Sam Mustafa
Early this year Sam Mustafa will be releasing his latest game system in his “Honour” series, Blücher, which provides the ability to fight grand-tactical type games in the Napoleonic Wars. One units, stand, or counter, represents a Brigade or Regiment (incorporating multiple-battalions) or a massed Artillery concentration. Also included with the rules is Scharnhorst, a pre-game campaign that determines the manoeuvres of the opposing armies and ultimately how their deployment occurs on table. Continue reading “Blücher By Sam Mustafa”
A Theft Most Foul
Many Wargamers may not have had to experience it – but recently in New Zealand a local wargamer had his entire Warhammer collection stolen from his car during a storm (along with his PC, Xbox, etc). Likely the thieves don’t know the value and took it as a peripheral to the Electronics and other gear – but if you are a NZ gamer and see some new Warhammer figures mysteriously appear or be offered for sale check out this blog to see if they look like part of the stolen collection, it has links to photos of the figures: Trouble in the Border Provinces. The original theft occurred about 2 weeks ago in Paraparaumu, near Wellington. Continue reading “A Theft Most Foul”
Don Featherstone Memorial Trophy
Today I received the following communique from Chris Scott: “This is to let you know that the first Don Featherstone Memorial Trophy was played for at an old-school style wargame of Gettysburg at the Wargames Holiday Centre, Basingstoke. It was part of a Donald Featherstone Tribute Weekend sponsored by Miniature Wargames Magazine and involved a hotel stopover and a splendid dinner. The game was competitive of course, but the whole thing was conducted in a very friendly manner with the emphasis upon playing for fun and enjoying the social side of the hobby.” Continue reading “Don Featherstone Memorial Trophy”