FREE SALUTE 2024 SHOW GUIDE

APRIL 2024 ISSUE 492

>
04

9 772513 838029
Display until 12/04/24

£5.99

SLAMMERS SIEGE SQUARE BASHING CAPE COMBAT

A solo scenario for hostage An Imagi-Nations scenario for The Wars with the Xhosa in
rescue your favourite rule set South Africa
WELCOME NO QUARTER
IN THIS ISSUE
04 FORWARD OBSERVER
With the latest news items.

07 SEND THREE AND

W
e have another great issue for this month: We have a WWI Trench Raid
using Chain of Command; a piece on the joys of Paper Wargaming from FOURPENCE
Mr Kinch; some 18th century Imagi-Nations fun; and Command Decision Papering over the cracks. Why should one use
goes Ancients! Then there’s a Cape Wars piece featuring the Xhosa and I’ve written a paper products in tabletop wargaming? Mr Kinch
Hammer’s Slammers piece. Finally there’s a pair of Scratch building articles with both tells all!
a Siege Tower and a Star Wars type desert base!
As Robert Plant sings: “The winds of Thor are COVER 13 THE
blowing cold; they’re wearing steel that’s bright
FEATURE JACOBSBRUNNEN
and true, they carry TRENCH RAID
news that must get A First World War Scenario using the popular
through, oh: they Chain of Command rules.
choose the path
where no-one 18 SQUARE BASHING IN
goes...” So: game LOWER RUTENIA
on. And take no Some 18th Century Imagi-Nations fun with a
prisoners! scenario for the rules of your choice

23 QUARTERMASTER
Products to enhance your tabletop.

24 DEFENCE IN DEPTH
With the latest figure and rules reviews.

Get in touch 26 ANCIENT ATTRACTION

It’s Command Decision and Jon Sutherland asks
tabletopgaming.co.uk the question: You and Whose (1500 point) Army?

MiniatureWG 32 PHAKATHI!
John Treadaway MiniatureWargames Hard to pronounce but fun to play.
Editor Chris Swan starts a two parter on the Wars with
miniature_wargames_magazine the Xhosa or Africa’s 100 Years War.

41 SIEGE BREAKER
MINIATURE WARGAMES Scratch build a Siege Tower in 28mm.

EDITORIAL
EDITOR John Treadaway
PUBLISHED BY
PUBLISHER Claire Ingram
44 SIEGE OF AL-MADINAH
[email protected] [email protected] ...and talking of sieges here’s one you can’t use
the tower in: ideas for a solo sci-fi Slammers
Warners Group Publications PLC The Maltings, West Street,
DESIGN Mike Carr encirclement.
Bourne, Lincolnshire PE10 9PH | 01778 391000

COVER: German Trench Raiders. David Hiscocks NEWSTRADE DISTRIBUTION 51 RECCE

Warners Group Publications Plc 01778 391150
Another feast of reading material to fill a
ADVERTISING AND PRODUCTION
COMMERCIAL MANAGER Alex Lyon
wargamer’s heaving shelves.
01778 391129 | [email protected]
57 SCRATCH BUILD
How about something sci-fi for a galaxy far, far
MARKETING The views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the away? From plumbing materials...
MARKETING MANAGER Sophie Thornton publishers. Every care is taken to ensure that the content of this magazine
is accurate, but we assume no responsibility for any effect from errors or
01778 395085 | [email protected]
62 NEXT MONTH
omissions. While every care is taken with unsolicited material submitted for
publication, we cannot be responsible for loss or damage. While every care is
taken when accepting advertisements, we are not responsible for the quality
MARKETING EXECUTIVE Charlotte Bamford and/or the performance of goods and/or services advertised in this magazine. A quick taster of what’s planned for the coming
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) exists to regulate the content of
01778 395081 | [email protected] advertisements. Tel: 020 7429 2222 © Warners Group Publications PLC, 2023 May issue 493.

April 2024 Miniature Wargames 3

 FORWARD OBSERVER
News, previews and community submissions from the wargaming world

CATCH A RISING TSAR

JACK ALEXANDER
Whites, and gas masked troops. They
And put some 28mm Russians in can be equipped with Moisin Nagant
your pocket rifles, officer’s can have pistols and Passing of a legend
Wargames Atlantic has just released a sabres, and grenades are available so We’ve lost a few greats of the hobby in
hard plastic boxed set of WWI Russian the sprues give you a wide range of the last couple of months with Bryan
infantry in 28mm. The five sprues in the lighter weaponry to choose from. So Ansell and Graham Cummings of
box allows you to build up to 35 Russian the great news is that – as we have only Crann Tara Miniatures both passing
infantry equipped for the Great War just finished our two-part Reds, Whites on but Bob Black informs us that Jack
and suitable for the Russian Revolution and Blood Red Snow scenarios (issues Alexander – who we featured just last
and beyond. A huge selection of hat 489 and 490) – you can now play them year in the magazine – has also left us
and helmet types allow you to model a out in 28mm plastic! A box will cost aged 95. Bob takes up the story:
variety of different troop (I counted 42 £25 but buying multiples will get you a Jack started his colonial range in the
different heads on the sprues plus extra reduction. Go to wargamesatlantic.com for 1960s and these stylish figures – with
gas masks...) including officers, Reds, more info. their endearing simplicity and charm –
were appreciated across the world for six
decades. Jack was one of the pioneers of
the hobby, making 20mm to match and
expand Airfix plastics. Happiest playing in
the late 19th/20th century Jack expanded
the range. Although still casting, painting
and playing in his 80s Jack passed the
Jacklex range to Mark Lodge, who carries
the range forward. Popular for 60 plus
years his figures will carry on even as this
veteran of the hobby joins the ranks of the
greats who have left us.

outlined some WWII Pacific scenarios

and – to enhance this – he included
some very nice shots of a game taken
by the Author himself at a show which
were not attributed. As anyone who
reads this magazine knows, I take
great pains to always credit creators of
splendid looking games if I use some
shots so the magazine apologises for
dropping the ball on this one. The

PACIFIC HEIGHTS
game which had been snapped was The
Battle of Keiten organised by Skirmish
Game attribution conundrum! Wargames and took place at Colours
In the last issue we had a Command wargames show in 2007 where it won
Decision article from Jon Sutherland Best Demonstration Game. And very
called Get off the Beach where he splendid it was too!

4 Miniature Wargames April 2024

 DIGITAL CRUCIBLE SHOW & TELL
Reissue of Sci-Fi rules FUTURE WARGAMING EVENTS
In a shameless piece of self promotion you’ll note SALUTE
that – later on in this issue – there’s a scenario for a Saturday 13th April
Hammer’s Slammers game to mark the passing of ExCel, London, E16 1XL
the David Drake, author of the novels on which the salute.co.uk
rules system is based. As it happens – and 13 years
after the last hardback was published (which are now PARTIZAN
very hard to find) – the Digital Crucible rules are now available for the Sunday 19th May
first time, in a cut-down and optimised for 15mm play, softback version from Amazon (£19.99) Cedric Ford Pavilion, Newark Showground
NG242NY
partizan.org.uk
TREK-TASTIC
COMMUNITY CORNER

for easy access and movement for the

BROADSIDE
This month we talk to Ivan Congreve figures on the bridge.”
Saturday 8th June
who’s a bit Star Trek mad! Ivan confessed “For me I love playing on hexes or
Medway Park Sports Hall, Mill Road,
that... “As a child I used to love watching squares and I’d not left a lot of space
Gillingham, Kent, ME7 1HF
Anderson programmes as well as Star Trek to hold a tape measure in the gaming
miltonhundred.com
(what would nowadays be called Star Trek area. To save me the time and ensure
The Original Series or TOS). Over the years hex accuracy I purchased MDF hex’s JOY OF SIX
I have enjoyed making and playing both and fitted them to the floor like tiles. Sunday 14th July
Anderson games and Start Trek games To save any issues with portability for Sheffield Hallam University,
and – although I prefer to play one-on-one game I decided to build a plywood box/ Howard Street, Sheffield, S1 1WB
combat games and I have not been able to carry case for it. This then adds to the joysofsix.co.uk
find a system that does this well for Trek.” environment for the game as I could
“Some of my friends and myself decided use the lid as another area for away
to put on a Star Trek game for Salute a few
years ago in 1/10th scale with a full bridge
missions so it’s also tiled with hexes. For
decoration (and as I had a few dice left THIS MONTH
and corridor section to scale (madness...).
That game went down well but as the
over from purchases over the years and
Salute giveaways) I added them as a
IN HISTORY
years went on and we all get a little older boundary to the away mission area.” CULLODEN
MOOR
it was not so easy to transport to shows or “The walls of the corridor sections
just to play. When Modiphius brought out are built from Foam-core board to faced
their Star Trek Adventures range of figures with 1.5mm styrene where needed. 16 APRIL 1746
(not enough TOS and too many Next Gen Together they made the whole area light The highland army at Culloden
for my tastes) I decided to build another and strong. Lighting in this scale was an mustered only 5,000 men; with
Bridge and corridor section in scale with issue as the model is fairly enclosed and poor cavalry and. a dozen
those 32mm figures.” so it can be a little dark. Consequently mixed cannon. The British
“My first question was ‘what scale are I fitted LED lights throughout the Duke of Cumberland had 9,000
they?’ I won’t go into the scale/base or rooms, corridors and bridge. All this men with decent cavalry plus
foot/eye line stuff, but I am sure The Editor is connected to a 30000mAh portable ten 3-pounder cannon and six
would love you to write in on this subject! Power Bank. This has enough power for mortars. The actual fighting
However, once I had settled on my scale I a Raspberry Pie (3b) computer and 3.5 had lasted less than an hour.
started with building the Bridge. I found inch representation of the bridge main After The British shelling the
a fairly good STL file on Thingiverse and screen (as you do). The screen can be highlanders for half an hour the
with some editing and adjustments in difficult to see for all players so I have highlanders were unleashed
ZBrush and Blender I began added a another 7 inch with a charge across over
printing them build on my screen that can be seen by 300m of open ground but were
3D Printer. I started with the all the gamers showing the repulsed after fierce hand-
bridge walls and consoles, bridge video. This is just to-hand combat, only a few
in easy sections. This was a whistle stop tour of the highlanders fighting their way
twelve sections that I glued bridge etc but I hope you through to make an attack on
together, painted, and get an idea of what you the British second line. They
then stuck to a 610x610 can do with your favourite were flanked by British cavalry
Shuttering Plywood base. TV show and the games turning the Higghland defeat
I also decided to make you have always wanted into a rout. The pursuit extended
If you’d like to submit
unity one of the walls/ to play. We use a Card all the way to Inverness. 3,500
something for Comm
Corner, contact consoles of the bridge Based rule system of our Jacobites killed or wounded
MiniatureWargames@ so it could be opened own construction” against 300 government British.
warnersgroup.co.uk

April 2024 Miniature Wargames 5

 Subscribe and Save!

No commitment, no catch
Just one payment of £56.99
for the whole year*
■ Practical ‘How To’ guides and ■ The latest news, previews and
tips to enhance your gaming informative reviews
experience ■ Everything you need to know
■ Whole rule systems to take away about modelling materials, figures,
and play wargames, shows and more!

To see our latest subscription offers go to:

www.ttgami.ng/MWGSpring2024
or call 01778 391180 and quote MWG/Subs24
*T&Cs apply. Price applies when you subscribe to Miniature Wargames via a Direct Debit 12 Month Subscription between February 1st and April 30th at 11.59pm. See website for details
SEND THREE AND FOURPENCE

SMELLS LIKE
Exploring the possibilities of Paper Wargaming Words and pictures by Conrad Kinch

“I love the smell of paper in the morning, it first of the modern world’s many grubby my own and so I set to with Pritt-stick
smells like victory”. Alan Moore little betrayals and it burns fiercely in my and scissors to make a series of hollow
breast still. paper boxes. These were dolled up
GROWING PAINS The second of those many betrayals, with pencil and crayon and I created a
All in all, life was pretty good when which came hot on the heels of the line of sort-of-lancers. These charged
I was a small boy, but it also had its first, was learning from my Dad after rubber band cannon and fell down in a
frustrations. First amongst these and watching The Charge of the Light very satisfactory fashion when struck.
I recall the moment vividly was the Brigade (the 1936 version with Errol I shudder to think what they actually
realisation around the age of seven that Flynn) that there were no toy soldiers looked like.
being a knight was not actually a valid available suitable for recreating this My paper soldiers were ugly little
career option and that there was unlikely most excellent of films. This was utterly things, but they brought me a great deal
to be much opportunity to fight dragons unacceptable, so far as I was concerned. of joy, and I will no doubt recreate the
and saracens in my future. It was the He suggested that I should make best Charge of the Light Brigade film in

ABOVE: Conrad Kinch’s collection of Paperboys. It

may be time to admit that he has a problem.

BELOW: Greek Hoplites available from Peter’s

Paperboys.

›
April 2024 Miniature Wargames 7
 SEND THREE AND FOURPENCE

Certain enterprising souls have taken

files that they’ve already bought and
used photoshop to strip the colours
out and add their own colours to get
different units, but mostly as soon as
you’ve finished snipping you’re ready
to play.

AVAILABILITY
The vast majority of paper figures are
available digitally and therefore arrive
with the click of a mouse. No worrying
about running out of stock (looking at
you Games Workshop) or waiting for
figures from far flung parts of the globe
to arrive.

TIME
This is to my mind, the big draw of
ABOVE: A medieval ship available from Peter’s paper soldiers. By my admittedly very
Paperboys. These three dimensional models while a rough estimation it takes me about the
little tricky to assemble, look really splendid.
same amount of time to prepare a base

miniature again, but it turns out that I’m

not alone in making toy soldiers out of
paper. It’s just that things have gotten a
bit better since 1987 and the range and
variety available are truly astounding.
So what is the current state of paper
wargaming and what does it have to
offer? This is not an exhaustive list of
what’s available, but a brief overview of
some of the offerings that have caught
my attention.

WHY PAPER WARGAMING?

I suppose the answer to that question is
“why not?” We make toy soldiers out of
plastic, wood, metal and resin, so why
not paper? In fact, paper wargaming has
a number of clear advantages.

COST
Once you’ve bought your book or
your digital file you can make as many
copies as you like. The cost of creating ABOVE: Frederick the Great available as part of the
figures plummets and there are massive Seven Years War collection from Peter’s Paperboys.
economies of scale. My local copyshop
charges 35c per a4 copied or printed Uhu glue and some scrap card to base of paper figures as it does to prepare a
sheet in colour (that’s about 30p to my your lads on. Not nothing, but probably single 1/72 scale figure for paint (that’s
friends in Great Britain) and they also less than the price of a single decent removing from sprue, cleaning, basing
discount for volume. Depending on how paint brush. and priming). I am admittedly quite
many figures you have per sheet, some slow and will get better with practice,
will be more expensive than others, but PAINTING but if you aren’t too particular about
we are talking literal pennies or fractions Almost all paper soldiers come pre trimming all the white space around the
of pennies per figure. Your only other coloured, so once they are assembled, figures you could be much, much faster.
costs are a decent pair of scissors, some they’re done and ready to play with. But the time savings are clear.

8 Miniature Wargames April 2024

 The Godfather
of Paper
Wargaming
Peter Dennis in
an instructional
video on YouTube,
OPPORTUNITY COST showing how to
Because of the advantages of price and AN INTERVIEW WITH assemble paper
time, paper wargaming seems a natural PETER DENNIS soldiers.
fit for the wargames butterfly. All of us Q. Peter, most wargamers will know you as
have those periods that tickle our fancy, a prolific illustrator particularly of military
but which we can’t pursue because subjects with dozens of books for Osprey and Helion, amongst many others. What’s probably less well known
is that you’re also a wargamer. Could you tell us a bit about your wargaming hobby and how (or if) it’s informed
of the time and money investment your illustration work?
required. Given that you can whip up A. For me wargaming, of a primitive kind, came before illustration. Like most wargamers my age the arrival
an army of paper figures in the amount of Airfix figures and the first Don Featherstone books set my fascination for military figures off in a more
purposeful direction. I had always drawn a lot, but mostly inspired by tales of battle. My early illustration career
of time it would take to produce a single was doing whatever came along, but I pounced on anything historical and was gradually able to specialise.
regiment of traditional toy soldiers (and
probably less, if you’re prepared to cut Q. If I remember correctly, the first paper soldiers book came out in 2016. Had you been experimenting with the
idea for long? What prompted you to take the plunge?
a few corners) - the actual opportunity A. My first encounter with paper soldiers was an exhibition of 1870s imagerie d’Epinal cut outs in the muse
cost of starting a new period is very low. de l’armee in Paris in about 1969. I was spending far too much time painting plastic figures when I should have
The added advantage is that – if you been drawing and painting and I saw a chance to combine the two activities. I went home and made some feeble
paper soldiers but I was so dissatisfied with the result I soon abandoned the project. I followed up other people’s
have your rules sorted out – you should ventures into paper soldiering, but nothing lit my fire like the old French figures. It was nearly fifty years later
be in a position to actually get a game that a casually discarded bit of folded scrap paper showed me a way of making ranks of men and within ten
on the table during that most productive minutes the Paperboys – the name given to them later by Andy Callan – were born. I refined them for an article
in a magazine, then further for my own use, but they were working so well that I decided to share them. Osprey
first flush of enthusiasm. weren’t interested, but Duncan Rogers of Helion was and we did the first book. I anticipated, quite wrongly, that
Lastly– even if you aren’t interested there might be an interest in educational areas, so the first series had a fair bit of historical information as well
in wargaming with paper figures per as rules by my friend Andy Callan designed to be a starter set for each period.
se – there is a huge amount of paper Q. What makes paper soldiers different to the more traditional kind? What do you think are their particular advantages?
terrain available that looks very well A. Paper soldiers are a way of coming at the hobby from a different angle. I wanted to represent armies
with traditional wargames figures. They in a more realistic way, with soldiers packed into ranks painted in a way which created an illusion of three
dimensions, but seen from the front, and back, unlike most flats, where you present an army to your opponent
can be assembled quickly and look the which consists of edges. They have evolved over the past few years into new scales and into more flexible
part. Due to the cost and the speed of formats with the input of other artists and creatives, but the basic principle holds good. Over and above all this is
production, they are also very useful for the historical place of paper soldiers in that they are cheap. They always were, since their invention in Strasbourg
in the 1780s and now common home technology makes them even more so.
when you need a lot of terrain quickly.
Q. The Paperboys stable of books and online files has covered a lot of ground from Ancients Romans to War of
WHAT’S AVAILABLE? Spanish Success, Second World War, Trafalgar and HG Wells style toy soldiers and in only a few years. How to do
you account for that variety of material?
The state of play at the moment is A. The wide variety available reflects my own interests. I have resisted the normal principles of a business, to
that there are essentially two ways chase subjects that might sell well. I don’t think anybody really understands the wargame market anyway, and
to get your paper soldiers: either having subjects ‘imposed’ on me would make the long hours at the drawing board seem like work!
digitally or in physical form. With Q. Where do you see the series going in future?
regard to physical paper soldiers, the A. The future ... is the future. I hope to continue developing the range as long as I can with the help of the team of
two suppliers that stand out are; Peter ‘paperistas’ who have assembled themselves from various nations to push the Paperboys forward.
Dennis’s Paperboys and Christopher Q. Andy Callan has written a lot of supporting rules for the Paperboys line. Which do you think is his best?
Walker’s Walkerloo figures. A. Andy Callan’s rules are an important pert of the educational element of the Paperboys books. His genius is
now widely recognised through various publications, and I couldn’t choose a favourite set from our range.
PAPERBOYS Q. All the Paperboys Books include paper terrain for the period, but you have produced a dedicated terrain
Peter Dennis is no stranger to anyone book aimed at 28mm wargamers called European Buildings. Do you find the paper terrain a big seller? Are there
in wargaming or anyone with an any plans for another terrain book?
A. I wanted to provide a complete package including terrain items in the books. My first ventures into paper
interest in military history. A talented modelling were buildings with the Hard Cover range of 6mm scale sheets. Are they big sellers?... I don’t think
and extremely prolific illustrator, his they stand out as such, but I like doing them for myself so I might as well share them.
work has graced the cover of many a
Q. Is there a period that you haven’t covered with Paperboys yet, that you hope to cover at some point, but that
wargames rulebook and numberless you wouldn’t have been able to wargame if you were relying on traditional toy soldiers?
Ospreys. His Paperboys line are A. There are any number of periods I want to do. This year should see the first venture into the Egyptian new
available either as Digital Downloads kingdom, and.. Well. other stuff too.
or in book form from Helion Books and Q. Is your wargaming exclusively paper based now or do you still push lead around occasionally?
are the leader in the field. A. My own wargaming is as much 3D as paper. I’m fortunate to be a friend of the Perry twins and I participate in
The books all follow the same format; the Nottingham gaming world when I’m invited.
a brief introduction to the period, a Q. All the Paperboys books (Roman Britain, Vikings, Normans and Saxons, American Civil War, etc) are available
set of wargames rules (usually written in physical copies from Helion, but are also available as digital downloads. Your own website offers a wide
by hobby veteran Andy Callan) and a variety of material as digitial downloads. Do you think the future of Paperboys lies in creating physical books or
will it shift completely to digital or is the correct approach a mix of the two?
collection of full colour pages with paper A. I’m not going to do any more books unless I get a definite ‘book’ idea. The website allows me a much more
soldiers, terrain and any markers that flexible approach to periods and as it’s my site I have complete freedom to do subjects of my own choice.
are required. The pages themselves are
›
April 2024 Miniature Wargames 9
 SEND THREE AND FOURPENCE

meant to be colour photocopied and then

cut and glued. All in all, a very complete
package for pocket money prices. ABOVE LEFT: Napoleonic Polish Lancers by (much like a young child’s board book)
Christopher Walker, available from Wargames Vault.
The soldiers, or Paperboys as they are and drawn in a well observed (I haven’t
called, are almost all in 28mm scale and ABOVE: A French Cuirassier available as a free file spotted a uniform mistake yet) – but quite
are pictured face on. Drawn with Peter from the Walkerloo website. Their distinctive style – stylised style. The figures themselves
may not appeal to everyone, but I think they are very
Dennis’s characteristic clean line and charming. come in boxes, complete with rubber
eye catching composition, they can be band firing cannon, which gives you some
customised with flags or extras (officers, idea of what sort of games these figures
sutlers, other additional figures, etc) to ◗ English Civil War are aimed at, and the proportions of the
create the impression of ranks of men. ◗ Jacobite ‘45 figures are deliberately child like with big
The digital downloads from the ◗ Roman Invasion AD43 heads and hands, but I thought they were
Paperboys website arrive as a series of ◗ Spanish Armada - Small scale paper rather charming.
files, a number of sheets for printing fleets for the Armada. Also include However, if you look at the website,
and some hand illustrated instructions rules. you’ll see more... ahem... mature
on how to assemble any of the trickier ◗ Wars of the Roses 1455-1487 wargamers basing them them up and
pieces. I really like these as they are very using them in more orthodox wargames.
clear and remind me of the make and Digital Only (there’s more, but check There hasn’t been any activity that I
do sections of the Osborne books I was out peterspaperboys.com for the full list): can see on the website since 2019, but all
obsessed with as a child. ◗ Zulu War the figures remain available for digital
◗ Afghan War download on WargamesVault including
Paperboys Books available: ◗ Seven Years War some very fine figures for the Battle of
◗ European Buildings - 28mm buildings ◗ Rus (Medieval Fantasy set in 13th Borodino. Given their large size and
for wargaming century Russia) character, I think they’d be an excellent
◗ HG Wells Little Wars - 1/32 French ◗ Second World War choice for a small Sharp Practice force.
and British soldiers of the 1890s and ◗ Imperial & Republican Rome
Martian Tripods OTHER DIGITAL SUPPLIERS
◗ The Battle of Trafalgar - Small scale WALKERLOO There are quite a few other suppliers of
paper fleets including every ship that These are an idiosyncratic range of large paper figures and terrain and the best
was at Trafalgar scale (60mm roughly) figures for the Battle place to find them is Wargames Vault.
◗ The Peninsular War - 28mm scale of Waterloo and are available on line This is a website that acts as a shop
Napoleonic armies from: walkerloo.com. Produced by artist, front for small (and some not so small
◗ The War of Spanish Succession painter and decorator and businessman businesses) to sell their wares. Once you
◗ 1066 Saxons, Vikings, Normans Christopher Walker, these are unique open an account, it will allow you to buy
◗ Castle Assault - Scottish/Welsh wars of in that they are available both as digital files which are stored in your library
Edward I. This comes with a complete downloads and in heavy laser cut card and can be downloaded at your leisure.
paper castle, armies for the English, stock. The latter is more expensive, but There is a huge amount of stuff on
Scots and Welsh and a set of siege rules. has the advantage of allowing the figures Wargames Vault, much of it pretty poor,
◗ American Civil War to be punched out and assembled in jig but there is some quality kit there too.
◗ American Revolutionary War time. The figures themselves are durable Here are three who caught my eye.

10 Miniature Wargames April 2024

BILLY BONES WORKSHOP
My favourite of the three, Billy Bones
Workshop (BBW), is run by artist Alec
Wade and offers figures for the English
and American Civil Wars as well as
some more generic terrain.
What really stands out about BBW is
that not only do they offer their English
Civil War set of figures as a Pay What
You Want on Wargames Vault (i.e. they
can be got for free), but the style of the
figures really leans into the medium
of paper soldiering. The English Civil
War set are highly stylised front on ABOVE: Billy Bones Workshop English Civil War sideways at something the thickness of
figures. The stylised appearance mimicking a 17th
depictions of pike & shot troops in century woodcut is very striking.
a sheet of paper. Nonetheless, the range
black and white drawn in the style of is wide including Ancients, Medievals,
17th century woodcuts. The result is a BELOW LEFT: A sheet of Billy Bones musketeers. Napoleonics and others. And unlike
game board that looks like something almost every other producer, Vyacheslav
out of one of those old books and it is ranks which make the most of the ability Batalov’s figures can be printed singly
just delightful. The American Civil War the medium to produce a lot of troops or be ranked up. The advantage of the
set is similar, but uses Mathew Brady’s quickly. There are also terrain packs formers is that the single figures can be
photography as the starting point. with hexed terrain which would seem used for skirmish gaming. Vyacheslav
The terrain and buildings are actually to be aimed at wargamers who want Batalov has taken advantage of this and
to use the Commands & Colours set of produced a number of albums aimed
rules. The artwork is serviceable, but at skirmish gamers, specifically those
given that most of the figures are meant using the Blue Book series of games
to be printed at smaller scales, that’s from Osprey, including Deus Veult and
forgivable and they look very well en Rebels & Patriots.
masse. Figures are available as a digital
download for about a tenner, while
VYACHESLAV BATALOV collected albums (usually featuring
Unlike practically every other creator multiple files) are about twice that: a
here, Vyacheslav Batalov’s figures are considerable saving from buying all the
drawn side on rather than facing front. files individually. The range is extensive
I’m a bit confused by this as during including multiple kinds of Romans,
a game, the players will be looking Lace Wars, Colonials, Cossacks, Pike &
Shot, Vikings, American Civil War
and Samurai. As well as some
rather fearsome looking Lost
World style cavemen.
2d stand ups, rather than a
3d model, but that somehow CONCLUSION
just adds to the period charm. While I have been familiar with
Given that you can try the Peter Dennis’s work for several
ECW set for free, you’d be a years, I was surprised at the
fool not to. number of paper figures being
made. For the budget conscious
JUST PAPER BATTLES or time poor wargamer or the
JPB offer a variety of different butterfly who wants to try that
figure and terrain sets aimed new period without a massive
at the wargamer interested investment in painting and lead,
in recreating big battles. The ABOVE LEFT: Some of Vyacheslav Batalov’s Roman
they offer a lot of advantages. Even
subjects covered include Napoleonics, Figures for Skirmish wargaming. if you never snip a paper figure, the
Samurai and the Crimea in a variety of terrain available is well worth a look,
ABOVE RIGHT: Some of Vyacheslav Batalov’s American
scales from 6mm up to 28mm. There Civil War Figures for Skirmish wargaming. Organised
and I’ve had great success using it with
is also a range of buildings aimed at for use with Osprey Games Rebels & Patriots. my metal and plastic figures. Definitely
the 28mm gamer. These are figures in worth your time. ■

April 2024 Miniature Wargames 11

 • Alumwell Wargames Society •
Presents the 46th

The West Midland Military Show

Sunday 17th March 2024

10:00am to 4:00pm
Aldersley Leisure Village • Aldersley Road
Wolverhampton • WV6 9NW

30+ Trade Stands • 35 Wargame Displays

Participation Games • Modelling Clubs
Re-enactment Societies • Bring & Buy
Free On-site Parking

Adults: £5:00 • Children: Free • Concession: £2:00

Enquiries: David Jarman 07445 553930
[email protected]
www.alumwellwargames.co.uk
THE
JACOBSBRUNNEN
TRENCH RAID
Words by David Hiscocks. Photos by the Author BELOW
A First World War Chain of
Command Scenario
prisoners. However, this first taste of combat also
Furious hand- demonstrated that the American soldier would fight
to-hand combat
erupts as the hard and tenaciously even under adverse conditions.
INTRODUCTION Americans
In the early hours of the 3rd November, 1917, parties defend
themselves.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE STORMTROOPER
of German trench raiders inflicted the first combat Every army in the First World War struggled with the
casualties on the American Expeditionary Force in the problem of how to successfully attack enemy trench
First World War. Using Stormtrooper tactics that would systems. For the German army the solution came in the
come to epitomise the Spring Offensives launched in form of the Stormtrooper. At the start of the First World
Spring 1918, the German force rapidly overwhelmed War the smallest unit of manoeuvre in the German
the American defenders, killing 3 and taking 11 army was the company. The role of junior officers and

›
April 2024 Miniature Wargames 13
 THE JACOBSBRUNNEN TRENCH RAID

of defenders who could be mopped up by follow- LEFT

on waves of infantry. During the German Spring German trench
raiders surprise
Offensives of 1918 these methods would enable the an unwary
defences of the British Fifth Army to be overcome American
in short order, breaking the deadlock of four years sentry.
of trench warfare. However, the casualties suffered
in the ranks of the elite stormtroopers in these
offensives robbed the German army of its best troops,
contributing to its collapse later that year.

US TROOPS ON THE WESTERN FRONT

The USA had declared war on Germany on 6th April
1917, but six months elapsed before the Germans

NCOs was to keep the men under the direct control of

the unit commander, which required that formations
be relatively dense with no opportunity for the use of
individual initiative. Furthermore, companies and even
battalions consisted predominately of riflemen with
very few supporting weapons, making them incapable
of combined arms tactics. It quickly became apparent
that assaults on even rudimentary defences using such
tactics and formations were unlikely to be successful
and would nearly always result in unsustainably heavy
casualties. Recognising that pre-war tactics had become
obsolete amidst the deadlock that set in on the Western
Front by late 1914, the German army set up several
temporary experimental units to develop and test ideas.
By late 1917 the German army had formulated a set of
tried-and-tested combined arms tactics epitomised by a received word that the first American soldiers were
new type of the soldier, the “Stormtrooper”, who could, on the frontline in France. These took the form of
at least at a local tactical level, overcome the toughest several companies from the 1st US Infantry Division,
defences. These methods were a wholesale evolution of who had been deployed on a hill referred to as the
pre-war tactics for at their core they devolved command Kapplerbuckel alongside French formations to receive
and control down to the junior leaders and even to a taste of trench warfare. The Americans consisted
individual soldiers who were expected to make their own of a mixture of green recruits as well as regulars
tactical decisions to keep an attack moving forward. The who had seen combat in the 1916 Border War with
squad became the manoeuvre unit, while companies and Mexico. The commander of the 1st Bavarian Division
platoons absorbed an increasing number of specialist received orders to launch a raid, to be code named
weapons such as light machine guns and mortars. “Jacobsbrunnen”, on the American held sector of
This access to organic supporting weaponry enabled defences, with the objective of taking prisoners for
stormtroopers to practice combined arms methods to intelligence gathering purposes and to assess the
overcome obstacles on their own, rather than having to newcomer’s fighting qualities.
stop an attack to bring in battalion or divisional assets. Drawing on troops trained as stormtroopers
Although by 1918 the entirety of the German army supported by a variety of other assets, the assault
on the Western Front had at least a passing familiarity force spent several days in preparation. During this
with these new tactics, the new method of waging war period they conducted extensive rehearsals and drills,
required the selection of especially fit and motivated including launching dummy attacks on mock-ups of
soldiers for designated assault units. Consequently, units the American trenches. The assault force was divided
trained as stormtroopers became the elite of the German into three, one to assault each of the three main dugout
army, stylised images of stromtroopers being used for strongpoints occupied by the Americans in the section
propaganda purposes in recruiting posters from 1917 of defences to be attacked. Additionally, seventeen
onwards. artillery batteries were to support both the raid itself
Attacks led by stormtroopers would attempt to as well as the diversionary attacks being launched to
rapidly infiltrate enemy positions, using their organic confuse the defenders.
firepower to break through weak points in the enemy Just after midnight on 03rd November the raiders
defences while bypassing particularly resolute pockets quietly crept into No Man’s Land as artillery opened

14 Miniature Wargames April 2024

fire on the Kapplerbuckel and the diversionary attacks before the start of the patrol
began. Just after 03:30am pioneers used a Bangalore phase. At the end of the patrol phase both
Torpedo to blow a hole through the main band of wire players place three jump off points.
in front of the American position and the three raiding All shell craters and trenches count as
parties streamed through to begin the attack. Stunned Heavy Cover and Broken Ground.
by the rapidity of the assault the American defence was
uncoordinated, although individuals and small groups SCENARIO SPECIAL RULES BELOW
fought bitterly to repel the raiders. Schnell, Schnell! American
troops on
The Germans only have a limited time to complete guard.
THE SCENARIO their raid before the Americans respond in
The German player takes on the role of the leader of overwhelming force. From the second turn onwards
one the raiding parties, while the American player will any American squad that has been removed from the
be the defender of one of the strongpoints. The orders battlefield may be deployed again at full strength as
of battle below have been created using the after-action a fresh unit, counting as a support choice for force
report quoted in Bruce Gudmundsson’s Stormtrooper morale purposes.
Tactics combined with official organisational charts.
Players will need a copy of the Chain of Command Night Fighting:
rules to play this scenario, although it can be easily All shooting counts the target as being at Effective
modified for use with games such as Bolt Action. Range.

OBJECTIVES Prisoner Snatch:

The German player wins if they achieve capture at The primary purpose of the raid was to capture
least four prisoners and successfully exit the tabletop prisoners. The Germans can capture prisoners by
with them. They also win if they capture all three defeating any enemy unit in melee:
American jump off points. Any other outcome is an
American victory. ◗ Roll a D6 for any American casualties caused in
the melee. On a 4+ they have been subdued and
DEPLOYMENT surrender. Place the model alongside the German
The American player places four patrol markers within unit that captured it.
24” of their board edge. The German player places ◗ The captured model will remain with the unit that
three or four patrol markers on the marked point captured it unless that unit Breaks or Routs, in
before rolling a D6. The dice result indicates how many which case they make a discrete escape. If the unit
free moves they may make with the patrol markers takes casualties then treat prisoners as leaders when

›
April 2024 Miniature Wargames 15
 THE JACOBSBRUNNEN TRENCH RAID

BELOW determining if they are hit by “friendly” fire, dicing RIFLE GRENADE/ GRENADE SQUADS THREE & FOUR
Stormtroopers to determine who is hit as usual. Once per phase Corporal: Junior Leader with Rifle
race through
the newly blown prisoners can be exchanged between units if they are 1 Rifle Grenade Launcher with 2 crew 1 Rifle Grenade Launcher with 2
breach into within 4” of one another. 2 Riflemen with Grenades crew
2 Riflemen with Grenades
the American ◗ A unit that has captured one or more prisoners can
trenches.
withdraw by moving into contact with a friendly Supports:
jump off point. The German player then removes ◗ Hotchkiss M1914 Medium Machine Gun with 5 crew
the unit from the table without needing to roll on (counts as a tripod-mounted MMG)
the Force Morale table. Players should note that they ◗ 3x Lengths of Barbed Wire (6”x3)
cannot return to the battle once they have left.
PLATOON SPECIAL RULES
TRENCH WARFARE WEAPON RULES Keen:
Grenades: The Americans were eager to show that they were the
Soldiers wielding grenades grant their user a +1D6 equal of their European counterparts. They gain +2 to
bonus in melee (per individual). their Force Morale roll, ignoring the usual modifier for
being Green.
Trench Weapon:
This represents a variety of close-range weapons such Inexperienced Leaders:
as first-generation sub-machine guns, or the more American leadership was described as confused in
medieval-esque club. They give the wielder a +2d6 the face of the unexpected night attack. All American
bonus in melee but have no ranged attributes. leaders reduce their command radius by half.

ORDERS OF BATTLE German Raiding Party

American Half Platoon ◗ Command Dice: 5
◗ Command Dice: 5 ◗ Quality: Elite
◗ Quality: Green
RAIDING PARTY HEADQUARTERS
Leutnant, Senior Leader equipped with Trench Weapon
HALF-PLATOON HEADQUARTERS
Vizefeldwebel, Senior Leader equipped with Rifle
Sergeant, Senior Leader equipped with Rifle
Wire Cutting Team: 3 men equipped with wire cutters
RIFLE SQUAD ONE
ASSAULT GRUPPE ONE
Corporal: Junior Leader with Rifle
Gefreiter: Junior Leader with Trench Weapon
8 Riflemen
6 Bombers with Rifles and Grenades
AUTOMATIC RIFLE SQUAD TWO 2 with Trench Weapons
Corporal: Junior Leader with Rifle
1 Magazine-Fed Light Machine Gun with 1 Magazine-Fed Light Machine Gun
2 crew with 2 crew
2 Riflemen 2 Riflemen

16 Miniature Wargames April 2024

ASSAULT GRUPPE TWO
Gefreiter: Junior Leader with Trench Weapon
6 Bombers with Rifles and Grenades
2 with Trench Weapons
LIGHT MACHINE GRUPPE ONE
Gefreiter: Junior Leader with Rifle
1 Magazine Fed Light Machine Gun with 2 crew
6 Riflemen
LIGHT MACHINE GRUPPE TWO
Gefreiter: Junior Leader with Rifle
1 Magazine Fed Light Machine Gun with 2 crew
6 Riflemen

Supports:
◗ Pre-Game Barrage
◗ Flamethrower with 2 crew
◗ Off-Table Artillery Battery

Infiltrators: ABOVE
After jump off points are placed, the German player A Hotchkiss
may move any one of their jump off points up to 12”, machine
gun opens
although this cannot be used to bring it closer than 15” fire on the
to an enemy jump off point. stormtroopers.

CONCLUSION LEFT
Commander of
The raid was considered to be highly successful, the 7th Bavarian
providing further evidence of the efficacy of the Landwehr
Regiment, Major
stormtrooper. Less than fifteen minutes after breaching Bedall gives
As the German assault party advances into the the barbed wire the raiding parties had captured eleven orders.
enemy trenches they carry with them a field telephone prisoners and withdrew with them from the field.
with which they can call on artillery support. Behind them they left the bodies of two stormtroopers
The highest ranking Senior Leader may call in a and a third who had been captured. Although
barrage during the game so long as they are within the individual American soldier had fought with
6” of a jump off point, using all of their Command determination, command and control had been lacking
Initiatives in a phase to do so. This is treated as a with no coordinated attempt made to repel the assault.
Barrage in the Chain of Command rules (pages 46-47), Highly satisfied with their success over the newcomers,
using the Senior Leader as a Forward Observer. the Germans made the most of the propaganda victory,
To reflect the vulnerability of a field telephone to publishing a photograph of the American POWs
breaks in the wire the Leader must always roll to surrounded by their captors. As well as the eleven
see if the battery is available. Moreover, they cannot prisoners, the Americans also lost their first three
call in a ranging shot or shift the barrage as there is soldiers killed in action of the First World War; Corporal
insufficient time during the raid to correct the battery’s Gresham, Private Thomas F. Enright and Private Merle
fire. However, any deviation in the barrage is reduced D. Hay.
by half, reflecting the attacker’s pre-raid planning and
intra-unit coordination. SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bruce I. Gudmundsson, Stormtroop Tactics: DOWNLOAD
PLATOON SPECIAL RULES Innovation in the German Army, 1914-1918 TRENCHRAID MAP
Handgranaten: (Westport: Greenwood Publishing Group, tabletopgaming.co.uk/
information/downloads
As per the Chain of Command rules, this rule gives 1995).
the Germans a bonus to charging by allowing them to Erwin Rommel, Infantry Attacks (Barnsley:
throw a hail of grenades at their opponents. Frontline Books, 2012). ■
›
April 2024 Miniature Wargames 17
 SQUARE BASHING IN LOWER RUTENIA

SQUARE BASHING
IN LOWER RUTENIA
An 18th Century Imagi-Nations scenario Words and photos by Allan Tidmarsh

INTRODUCTION
While running a solo campaign between my 18th ABOVE work with the units in my collection on my relatively
Century Imagi-Nations armies of Wittenberg and A Wittenberg small table of 7ft x 3ft. It would be necessary to use
square
Begovia set in the fictional territory of Lower Rutenia, I advancing. ‘off the table’ deployment and movement. How best to
was stuck for a scenario idea for the big ‘turning point’ construct the scenario ? Both sides would have to have
battle. I was looking for a historical battle that I could a chance of winning. Rather than adhere strictly to the
turn into an appropriate scenario. I read about the historical battle, I opted to simplify it into three phases
marching divisional squares used in the Russo-Turkish to simulate the key the aspects of the engagement.
wars of 1768-74. This tactic was employed at the battle
of Kagul in 1770, when the Russian army of 40,000 ◗ Phase 1: Ottoman massed cavalry attack on the
defeated a Ottoman army of 150,000 (whose Tatar allies Russian squares.
didn’t take part in the battle). ◗ Phase 2: Ottoman infantry attack the Russian
This was definitely something different and I squares, supported by cavalry.
thought it would make an interesting encounter on the ◗ Phase 3: the Russian forces advance and assault the
tabletop. I would have to carefully craft the scenario to Ottoman camp.

18 Miniature Wargames April 2024

 The two armies I used to fight the campaign battle SCENARIO DEFINITION
scenario comprised 40mm home cast figures, some from Let’s start with an Overview. The game scenario
commercial moulds and the rest of my own design; also comprises three phases:
included are some figures from Irregular Miniatures and
Sash & Saber. The part of the Russians was taken by my ◗ Phase 1: The Begovians make a cavalry attack on the BELOW
Wittenberg army which is loosely based on the Duchy Wittenberg squares. The Begovians
make their
of Saxony in the 1730s and 1740’s. My Begovian army, ◗ Phase 2: The Begovians make a second attack on the first attack,
which is nominally a generic 18th Century Ottoman Wittenberg squares using infantry and cavalry. their cavalry
Turkish army, would be the opposition. As I have a ◗ Phase 3: If the Wittenberg forces survive both approach the
advancing
limited amount of units in the collection, the Wittenberg attacks then they will have the option to advance Wittenberg
army deployed would be units I actually had. In order to and go on to attempt an assault on the Begovian squares which
represent the larger size of the attacking Begovian army, camp. The Wittenberg choice of action will be have halted to
face them.
units would be re-cycled and used again as necessary. determined by the following command decision
For simplicity I would have the Wittenberg troops table. If the total resultant percentage is positive,
advance and hold position to fend off the two attacks then they will attack the camp; if less than zero they
from the Begovians (phase 1 and phase 2). As I was will withdraw.
playing the scenario as part of a campaign, before
phase 3 there would be a command decision point. ITEM RISK VALUE DETERMINATION CONTRIBUTION
This would be a choice point for Wittenberg to advance Tatar Army coming to Percentage Dice (2D10) result Negative value
support Begovians divided my two; maximum 50%
and attack the Begovian camp. Key factors for the
Other Begovian troops 1D10, maximum 10% Negative value
command decision point would be state of both armies nearby
and the threat of the appearance of the Tatars. Wittenberg Casualties Percentage casualties lost Negative Value
So: assemble your forces and break out your across whole army.
favourite 18th century period rules set (Black Powder, Begovian Casualties Percentage of Effective units Positive value
remaining.
Maurice or the like). Can the you hold the ground,
disperse the attacking forces and then go on and
successfully assault the camp? The scenario definition Before the attacks in Phase 1 and Phase 2, the
follows, the units and the description refer to the two Begovian artillery will have some time to bombard the
sides in my campaign of Wittenberg and Begovia. Wittenberg troops at long range.

›
April 2024 Miniature Wargames 19
 SQUARE BASHING IN LOWER RUTENIA

ABOVE ◗ During an attack the Begovians are not allowed to

Begovian
infantry reinforce their troops.
and Cavalry ◗ Begovian units that manage to rally after routing are
advance. spent and will return to the camp; they will defend
ABOVE RIGHT the camp but cannot be used in an attack.
The Hussars For all phases:
clear away ◗ Each routing Begovian unit that reaches their camp
Begovian
Cavalry as will force a morale check on all the troops in the camp.
the Dragoons ◗ Any Begovian unit down to less than 50% is no
force back the longer usable and shall be deemed out of action and
janissaries.
is removed from play.
LEFT ◗ Begovian units can only have one attempt at rallying.
The Begovian
Segbān (or
'Sekban') FORCES
DESCRIPTION infantry close Wittenberg (Blue): A total of 4 cavalry units and 9
The Wittenberg army is advancing to attack the in on the infantry units, as listed in the table below:
squares as
Begovian army, marching in squares supported by the Wittenberg
their cavalry and light troops. As they come into view infantry opens TYPE OF UNIT NUMBER MORALE LOCATION NOTES
fire. The OF UNITS GRADE
of the the Begovians who are forming up in front of
janissaries start Cavalry:
their camp, the squares halt and deploy. They deploy to advance Kurassiers 1 Very Good behind central square on
three large squares supported by cavalry and light towards the Dragoons 1 Good the right side.
Hussars 1 Good behind central square on
troops in the edge of the woods protecting the flanks. centre square. Uhlans 1 Good the left side.
Infantry: supporting left square
The table setup is as in the diagram below with the 1st Brigade Square 3 1 Good, 2 supporting right square
Wittenberg troop deployment positions shown. As 2nd Brigade Square 3 Average
Centre Square 2 1 Good, 2 Best unit at front of
my gaming table is 7ft x 3ft, the table setup shows the Jager Battalion 1 Average square
Artillery: Good Best unit at front of
combat zone for phase 1 and 2 in the red box; below Battalion Guns Average square
Field Guns
that is the phase 3 combat zone. A similar scheme Good half per flank in the
could be employed if you have a 6ft x 4ft table. Good wooded area (S).
1 gun model per brigade
SPECIAL GAME RULES square
2 gun models in the
For phases 1 and 2: centre square (WA)
Begovia (Red): A total of 15 cavalry units and 18
◗ Prior to an attack on the squares, as Begovians troops infantry units, as listed in the table below:
form up in the their assembly zone, they have three
moves for their two artillery batteries to bombard the TYPE OF UNIT NUMBER OF UNITS MORALE GRADE
Wittenberg forces at long range. Cavalry: Very Good
Elite Kapikulu 1 Average
◗ After the artillery bombardment is finished the Sipahi 6 Poor
Begovian troops move into the combat zone and Light Cavalry 6 Poor
Provincial Cavalry 2 Good
commence their attack. Infantry: Average
Janissaries 8 Poor
◗ Once a Begovian attack force is in the combat zone Segban 6
their artillery cannot fire. Provincial Infantry 4

ARTILLERY:
20 Miniature Wargames April 2024
There are 4 field gun models, two each at position BA1 BELOW opponents who turned tail. The first
and BA2 in front of the Ottoman camp. An advance Begovian attack had failed...
party of the
About one third of the cavalry and half of infantry Begovians Tatar
defends the camp, the rest are used in the attacks. allies. Their Phase 2: The Second Attack – Infantry and supporting
movement Cavalry
towards the
DEFENDING THE CAMP USED FOR THE FIRST USED FOR THE battlefield is a Following the first attack the Wittenberg squares held
ATTACK SECOND ATTACK
major threat to their position. Once the retreating Begovian cavalry
Elite Kapikulu 1/2 unit Elite Kapikulu 1/2 unit Sipahi 2 units the Wittenberg
Sipahi 2 units Sipahi 2 units Light Cavalry 2 units were out of the way, the Begovian artillery made
Provincial Cavalry 1 unit Light Cavalry 2 units Janissaries 2 units forces.
another ineffective bombardment of the squares. A
Lt Cavalry 2 units Provincial Cavalry 1 unit Segban 4 units
Janissaries 6 units Provincial Infantry combined force of Begovian infantry and cavalry
Segban 2 units 2 units
Provincial Infantry 2 units formed up and advanced towards the squares.
The Begovian infantry advanced with light cavalry
HOW IT PLAYED support on each flank and two units of sipahi behind the
Phase 1: The First Attack – Cavalry infantry in the centre. As they reached the squares the
The Wittenberg marching squares advanced, seeing Begovian infantry exchanged fire with one of the squares
the Begovian camp and forces to their front they halted on the left. A stiff volley from the square and canister
and deployed. The Begovians started to bombard the from the cannon cut them up and they routed back
deployed squares; the fire was ineffective causing through the supporting unit. In the centre the Begovian
very few casualties. A large force of Begovian cavalry infantry moved up to attack the side of the squares.
formed up and advanced towards the squares. On the flanks the Begovian light cavalry had moved
As the Begovian cavalry advanced, they took around the squares and were met by the Wittenberg light
casualties from musket and cannon fire from the cavalry (Hussars and Uhlans). The Uhlans routed their
squares. They surged forward but none of the attacking opposition and pursued them (off the table). The Hussars
units fancied closing in to attack the squares and started routed their opponents, but didn’t pursue and wheeled
to go round them; except for one unit of elite Begovian round to attack the flank of the Begovian infantry in front
kapikulu heavy cavalry which actually charged home of one of the squares, the infantry buckled and routed.
on the centre square, but were beaten off. The Hussars carried on through the routing Begovian
The Wittenberg light cavalry moved forward infantry and were met by a regiment of Begovian sipahi.
to engage the attackers. On one flank the Hussars The other square was struggling to hold off attacks
struggled to hold their ground, while on the other the by the Begovian infantry, at this point the Wittenberg
Uhlans beat and routed one lot of Begovian cavalry. heavy cavalry regiments were ordered into action. The
While the other half of the Uhlan regiment engaged attack on the front of the right hand square was re-
more cavalry in the centre pushing back some sipahis. buffed. However the attack on it’s side was succeeding
The rest of the Uhlan regiment having re-grouped, and the square was slowly being pushed in, it was
turned and joined in the cavalry melee in the centre, just holding on. Two Begovian janissary regiments
slowly pushing the opposition back. The Hussars finally advanced on the centre square; they received canister
beat their sipahi opponents who routed joining those fire from the centre square battery. The Dragoons
units who had been defeated by the Uhlans, beating charged the lead Begovian janissary regiment, after
a hasty retreat back towards the Begovian camp and riding and cutting through them into they hit the
beyond. On the far side the other half of the Hussar regiment behind which only just held their ground.
regiment eventually managed to get the better of their The Wittenberg Uhlans having re-grouped, returned

›
April 2024 Miniature Wargames 21
 SQUARE BASHING IN LOWER RUTENIA

possible that they could go on to to attack the Begovian

camp. If I had been playing this as a standalone
game then attacking the camp would have made
an interesting end to the game. However this was a
campaign game so a command decision had to be
made. So I used the table defined in the scenario:

ITEM RISK VALUE DETERMINATION CONTRIBUTION

Tatar Army Percentage Dice (2D10) result divided -40.00%
coming to support my two; maximum 50%
Begovians
Other Begovian 1D10, maximum 10% -9.00%
troops nearby
to the battle; just in time to attack the Begovian infantry BELOW Wittenberg Percentage casualties lost across -20.00%
Wittenberg Casualties whole army.
advancing forward to attack one of the squares riding
Uhlans engage Begovian Percentage of Effective units 45.00%
them through. The Begovian infantry attacking the right the attacking Casualties remaining.(15 remaining out of 33).
hand square fell back under threat from the Wittenberg Begovian Total -24.00%
Kurassiers. As the janissaries fought steadily to hold cavalry.
back the Wittenberg dragoons in the centre, the Hussars The negative result meant that Wittenberg chose to
beat the Begovian sipahi which routed. The Begovian withdraw; attacking the camp is too high a risk, with
attack had fallen apart; the Wittenberg squares had the Tatars very likely to intervene. So with the Begovian
survived although they had taken a lot of casualties. army in some disorder, the Wittenberg
The remaining Begovian sipahi cavalry unit covered army had achieved a tactical victory. They had inflicted
the withdrawal of the janissaries. As the Begovians heavy casualties on the enemy and would
withdrew the Wittenberg cavalry re-grouped. The withdraw to safe territory; with the
second Begovian attack had failed. bonus that earlier in the campaign
DOWNLOAD
they had achieved the key objectives THE SCENARIO MAP
Phase 3: Advance and Attack the Camp of destroying the enemy’s supply tabletopgaming.co.uk/
With Wittenberg having beaten off both attacks, it was magazines near their border. ■ information/downloads

22 Miniature Wargames April 2024

QUARTERMASTER LEGION IMPERIALIS &
TITANICUS
◗ deepcutstudio.com
◗ €32.90 - €97.90

The latest Deep Cut Studio mat is Gothic

Wasteland. This new battlemat is aimed
at micro WH40K and all other sci-fi and
postapocalyptic games. Although it’s
pitched at 8mm scale Legion Imperialis FACTORY FINISH
or Adeptus Titanicus outings it would be ◗ brigademodels.co.uk
excellent for any game that takes place ◗ £5 - £8.50
in a ruined city environment: everything
from mechs to Godzilla stomping! We are going to sneak in some vehicles
As usual from Deep Cut, the mat with a Brigade scenery release! But
comes in various sizes and materials: first the buildings: a set of three Modern
22×30 inches, 3×3 feet, 3×6 feet, 44×30 Warehouses.
inches, 44×60 inches, 44×90 inches, 4×4 These 1000th scale industrial factory
feet, 4×6 feet but also includes a new 5x4 style constructions could have been built
feet battlefield size as well. The prices anywhere, anytime in the last fifty years or
listed in the title are examples and range so. They’re the sort of structure that can be
from a 3ft by 3ft in cloth for €32.90 to a seen on any industrial estate worldwide:
44inch by 90inch on neoprene mouse mat two are simple rectangular, pitched-roof
for €97.90 but – obviously – the prices vary designs while the third has the classic
with both sizes and print material. factory sawtooth roof look. Two of them
The design is mostly grey rubble but have office structures attached and all
with lots of detail: there are craters from three resin items are £5 the set.
some (obviously) massive ordnance As an aside – and not building related
plus some ‘under areas’ (sort of broken at all – Brigade also have a pair of new
through lower-levels) and lots of Pacfed Grav vehicles in 1/100th (15mm).
pipeline and wrecked road style images
covered in to-scale dust and debris.
They are just begging for some extra
low, wrecked buildings to add to the
surface for a very effective play area.
Remember, if your system needs hexes
ACCESSORIES & TERRAIN

(thinking Battletech here), you can use

Deep Cut’s Print-O-Mat system to add
these. Highly Recommended.

Both of these newbies have been in the

Brigade 6mm range for years but have
now made the transition to the larger
scale. They are Quoll Cavalry Vehicle; and
the Koala Tank Destroyer and both are
£8.50 in resin (for the arrow head shaped
hull) and metal for the turrets where
appropriate. Both might benefit from
a base that lifts them off the deck, as it
were. Recommended.

April 2024 Miniature Wargames 23

REVIEWS

A HAIL OF WITHERING FIRE

RULE BOOKS

◗ victrixlimited.com
& FIGURES

◗ £36
RUSSIAN FRONT
There’s something that can only be done ◗ offensiveminiatures.com
well in styrene (as opposed to white ◗ £8 - £18
metal) and Victrix’ latest release – an
Early Imperial Roman Bolt-Shooter – is Offensive
a classic example of just this. Miniatures have
For nine quid each (four in a pack for struck out for the
£36) you can equip your Centuries with Russian Front in
a Scorpion (or Manuballista) and chuck the Great Patriotic
heavy darts all day long. Each Scorpion War and we’ve been sent some pre-
has the option of a two position slider release selections from that upcoming
(it may be modelled as loading or ready range.
to shoot) and comes with four crew in Aimed straight at WWII gamers the
various poses: they have eleven head new Russian Range will comprise,
choices plus arms with picks, axes at release, ten pack codes, covering
and buckets so you can use them as a infantry, support weapons, anti-tank
building and entrenching team. weapons and an ATG, etc, plus a set
Every Bolt-Shooter comes with eight offer covering, altogether, about 50
of the defensive ‘sudes’ (or double figures. Individual pack costs will be
ended stakes) to stick into the ground or between £8 to £18 each.
assemble into those enormous caltrop- We only have half a dozen samples
looking defensive things, plus four but they look splendid if you like
barrels and lots of loose bolts to fill them. your figures in metal, all in one piece,
The optional heads (some bare: as I proportionately sculpted and finely
recall the only thing Legionaries were detailed: these are very much not the
allowed to remove when trench digging ‘Boys Own War Stories’ types but
was the helmet) really makes this a very are still in dynamic poses firing their
flexible set and the figures pose very well weapons, throwing grenades and
when assembled. Highly recommended. whatnot. Height wise, they are about
31mm to the top of the putative head.
Offensive will officially be releasing
their new Russian range at Salute 51.
Highly recommended.

24
S.T.A.R
◗ caliverbooks.com SKELLIES lots of foot warriors if you want to go
◗ £16.99 - £42.50 ◗ wargamesatlantic.com all Jason and the Argonauts (but – as I
◗ £30 said earlier – you could do that with the
Caliver Books have produced an add- previously released pure infantry box
on pack for the Tales of Derring Do You realise how old you really are and reserve this one for mounted chaps).
(which we have previously reviewed when something that started up during One combination might be single chariot
and Chris Swan has written scenarios your lifetime in wargaming and was with crew, eight cavalry, and eight foot
for). This one is called S.T.A.R: Rules for then ‘retired’ has been now re-issued. warriors, or ten cavalry and ten foot
Adventures with Space Terrors, Aliens & Warhammer came and went and was warriors; or – possible more impactful
Robots. You can buy the book (70 or so replaced with the Age of Sigmar and – a pair of chariots, six cavalry, and six
pages including the Quick Reference yet now we have (returned from the foot soldiers. Models can be equipped
sheets) for £16.99 or buy a bundle with dead, as it were) the ‘new’ Warhammer with bow, javelin, or sword/kopis and
the base rules included (which you’ll Old World with reissues of the Tomb with options for full command with a
need) for £42.50. Kings army: vaguely Egyptian themed big cow skull (I’m guessing) and a horn.
Authored by Chris plus Mike Blake skeletons in plastic. But that’s not what You get two separate frames with
and Ian Colwell, S.T.A.R expands the I’m talking about here,... one having four horse halves giving a
base rules to cover the world of science For about half the price of a Tomb number of combinations (well four...),
fiction and space opera. It provides extra Kings Army from GW you can buy three eight (human) heads (two helmeted),
skills and generic characters as well as boxes of Wargames Atlantic Skeleton arms, various shields and weapons plus
new settings for players to explore. It’s And Chariots. You could already buy five bodies in various positions allowing
full of photos of inspirational miniatures the excellent WA boxes of pure infantry for riding or standing. The second sprue
from many trope backgrounds: from at £25 a set of 32, but now you can add has bows, horse harness and an ancient
a Galaxy far far away to lantern jawed to that with a supplementary set of Greek style chariot kit with open wheels.
British heroes and their Lancastrian mounted Undead. Bearing in mind the fact that
sidekicks (up the Fleet!). There are This box of styrene fun allows you to Wargames Atlantic do deals for multi-
also illustrations done in Mike Blake’s build several options with an undead box buying, this is a very tempting way
inimitable style which are rather nice. Greek theme: up to ten cavalry, or to get back in to huge Skeleton Armies.
Sections include New Characters and maybe two chariots with crew, and with Highly Recommended.
Traits; Alien Species; Cyborgs, Androids,
Droids, Robots and Mechanoids; Gear and
Technology; Weapons and Planet Vehicles;
Hazardous Environments; Settings,
Characters and Adventures; Narrative
Campaigns; Spaceships; and an example
sci-fi setting: The Kraken Nebula.
It all looks a lot of fun I have to say,
and Chris has written a scenario that I
will be trying to get into the magazine at
some point in the next couple of issues.
Highly Recommended.

April 2024 Miniature Wargames 25

 COMMAND DECISION

ANCIENT ATTRACTI
You and whose (1500 point) Army? Words and pictures by Jon Sutherland

Command Decision goes off-piste again and this month we ABOVE Routinely, you would see Sumerians from 3,000BC
look at the allure (or otherwise) of ancients wargaming. Late Assyrian duke it out on a flat, terrain-free table, with War of the
chariots and
infantry. Roses English from the mid-C15th.

S
ome of my first metal soldiers were Minifigs
and Garrison 25mm ancients. Wargames A GALLOP THROUGH THE RULE SETS
Research Group rules dominated the field; To some extent my perceptions of ancient wargaming
they had army lists too, organised so you could stemmed from WRG and some of the sets that
cherry-pick your 1500 points of mayhem to inflict on emulated aspects of that approach like Tabletop
your opponent’s 1500 points. With a bewildering spread Games’ Shock of Impact. WRG Ancients dominated
of 5,000 years, ancient wargaming was, and has still the period from the late 1960s all the way to late 1980s
now, the broadest brush of all wargame periods. (7 editions) until it was supplanted by WRG’s own
By the time I started playing ancients in the De Bellis Antiquitatis or DBA which began life in
late 1970s it was the foremost competition period, the early 1990s. Although the designer of DBA isn’t
with very serious, po-faced opponents. With rules- updating the set anymore others are and there is a
orientated play it was closer to a game of chess than thriving competition gaming community I will attempt
a social event designed for fun and engagement. to gallop through today’s various alternatives:

26 Miniature Wargames April 2024

 SET APPROX AGE UPS DOWNS COMMENTS
De Bellis Antiquitatis 45 years Cheap entry, only 12 bases of Rules are dry, legalistic and difficult to Simple and quick, not a bad
figures needed penetrate at times introduction set
De Bellis Multitudinis 40 years Easy mechanics, bigger and Rules can be superficial, can be a bit A really popular set, you’ll need
(DBM) more challenging games abstract 150-400 figures
Armati About 20 years Simple mechanics, can be fought Designed for one-on-one gaming, very Designed by Arty Conliffe (Tactica,
in a couple of hours competition orientated Spearhead and Crossfire)
Art de la Guerre 15 years Multi-scale, DBA compatible, Smaller games lack depth, quite dice French in origin, rules are very
nearly 300 armies driven clear and unambiguous
Basic Impetus and Impetus 15-20 years BI is fast play. Simple accessible Favours defensive infantry armies. BI BI is a good introduction for new
mechanics lacks subtlety. players
Mortem et Gloriam Under 5 years Can be played in three game Some players don’t like the quirky Big game based and has 650 army
sizes mechanics lists
Sword and Spear 10 years Simple, subtle and forces players Activation mechanics limits players Ideal for a club night, quick and
to prioritise actions options easy to pick up
To the Strongest! 10 years Very fast play, no measurement, Grid based and uses playing cards Fun and easy to play with a little
combat decisive instead of dice preparation
Fields of Glory 15 years Born out of the computer game Can be slow to play and overly complex FOG 2nd Edition was the most
popular
Hail Caesar 12 years Fun and challenging, similar Command rolls can be frustrating, Enjoyable and easy to learn, now in
mechanics to Black Powder maybe too many dice rolls 2nd Edition
Infamy, Infamy 3 years Nice mechanics, very small scale Design style and approach may not suit Romans v Barbarians skirmish set
orientated everyone
Warhammer Ancient 25 years Intuitive with a slick gaming Buckets of dice may be off-putting Spin-off from Warhammer
Battles system to some
Warmaster Ancients 18 years Quick play, can handle very large A bit gamey and your armies can get Designed for 10-12mm gaming
armies seriously out of control
Swordpoint 7 years Rewards “proper tactics”, games Does need quite a lot of figures Big battle rules with 100 - 250
look great figures each side
Strength & Honour 1 year Fast play, large units in small Grid based, might not appeal to all Designed for 2mm wargaming
scale

Honourable mentions to Helion’s Three Ages of

Rome (2022); Newbury Fast Play (1985); Lost Battles
(2011); Scutarii (2014/2021); Peltast & Pila (1976) and
Hoplite Warfare (1980), there are no doubt dozens of
others I’ve forgotten.

WHAT’S GREAT ABOUT ANCIENTS?

What is not to love about the sheer variation of figures,

ON
army composition and tactics? This isn’t horse and
musket with half a dozen troop types. Ancients range
from camel riding Blemmye (Beja) archers, Sumerian
wild-ass drawn battle wagons and pigs daubed with
tar and ignited to extravagantly armed and armoured
RIGHT Byzantine cavalry, camels dressed up as elephants and
This is a
crude barrels stuffed with explosives and round stones Personally, I’d cut off the ancient period in 476 AD with
typical, larger
scale 15mm, lashed to lumps of wood. the fall of Rome, but I can see the argument in keeping
late ancient Seriously, there are fascinating wars hidden in this it going until Byzantium fell a thousand years later.
wargame on a
ridiculously long period. Unless you are a competition Painting ancients is not all about tunics, shields and
club night.
gamer looking for the killer rule set and the killer spears and lots of flesh. Although so much about the
army, most sensible ancient wargamers will gravitate period (particularly the earlier period) is conjecture
towards a particular sub-period which can give them and based on the flimsiest of evidence, you can
years of table-top fun and games. Biblical period readily identify armies and units even though (with
players can enjoy chariot warfare in a world dominated the exception of the Romans and some others), there
by the Egyptians and Assyrians. wasn’t much as such in the way of “uniforms”.
Classical Greece encompasses hoplite warfare up to
the fall of the successors to Alexander the Great. Then, THIS IS SPARTA!
of course, there is Rome. Oddly, Roman armies are We all know that the Spartans wore red; Xenophon
not the most popular in ancient wargaming (although tells us so in the Constitution of the Lacedaemonians.
everyone seems to manufacture their own range). Spartan warriors were given red cloaks to terrify the
After Rome there is a gradual slide (via Byzantium, enemy along with a brass shield that they were supposed
the rise of Arab states and the Huns) to the Dark Ages. to keep polished. We even know about a mysterious
›
April 2024 Miniature Wargames 27
 COMMAND DECISION

bunch of wild men from the Balkans called the Thracians would challenge the most meticulously trained Roman
who would dash about in tartans and carry ferocious legionary. Increasingly, sets of rules are reflecting this,
rhomphaia (a single blade attached to a pole). but the older sets will let even the most reluctant, poorly
Ancient wargaming has brought to life so many trained and led and appallingly badly armed rabble to
unsung, unexpected and unsuccessful nations, tribes pirouette like ballerinas in togas and sandals.
and short-lived dynasties many of which have risen to Probably the biggest turn-off can be some of the
more fame on the table-top than on the real battlefield. players rather than the rules themselves. With a strong
Who can forget the Seleucid and Ptolemaic Successors? competition gaming focus, ancients can be harsh and
What about the Annamese or Champa of Vietnam and brutal to get into particularly if the regular club players
their concealed pits against the Han Chinese fifteen are into this type of gaming. It’s hard to estimate,
hundred years ago? Or the unexpected stars of the show, but around 15% of ancient wargamers would call
the Hussites (they lasted barely twenty-five years). themselves competition gamers first and foremost. In
some clubs, the percentage is much higher.

GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH

I’ve already given you plenty of reasons to love
ancient wargaming, but we are incredibly lucky to be
wargaming at a time when all of the Ancient Gods
have conspired to make it impossible to ignore. You
can buy, quite literally, the most obscure and wonderful

Skimming through a decent set of ancient army

lists will have you scurrying for Wikipedia entries.
An old friend of mine Martyn was obsessed with the
Heruls. Nope, I hadn’t heard of them either. They were
a Gothic tribe from the Black Sea area. For a fairly
unremarkable lot that were subjects of the Ostrogoths,
Huns, Lombards, Gepids and the Byzantines, they did
a pretty good job at survival. They were last heard of
fighting for Belisarius in Italy, Syria and North Africa. ancient figures as manufacturers scrabble to transform FAR LEFT
They faded into greater obscurity sometime in the mid- the latest “research” into metal, plastic and resin Biblical ancients,
second or third
6th Century AD. soldiers for our delectation. fiddle to the
On that, there are some great modern day books on Greeks and
I WOULDN’T TOUCH IT WITH MY KONTOS nearly every conceivable ancient sub-period not to Romans in
popularity.
If you’re terrain-adverse, then ancient wargaming mention the steady number of historical fiction books
is for you. Historically, it’s a reasonable approach to being published. Look out for books by the wargamer ABOVE LEFT
take. After all, the Battle of Gaugamela (or Arbela) was Harry Sidebottom. Also recommended are Gates of The hurly-burly
of an ancient
fought in 331 BC between Darius III’s Persians and Fire: An Epic Novel of the Battle of Thermopylae (Steven port somewhere
the Macedonians under Alexander the Great. To make Pressfield) and Mary Renauld’s books on Alexander in the
sure his 200 scythed chariot drivers didn’t regurgitate the Great. There are also some truly epic resources for Mediterranean
is a great
their breakfasts racing over bumpy grounds to their wargamers, the multi-volume sets of army lists for backdrop for a
deaths, the Persian king had his men flatten the plain. Fields of Glory, the comprehensive army lists for WRG battle.
Visually, you will be relying on the look of your figures Ancients and DBA and the rapidly growing lists for
ABOVE
and their basing rather than some neat little forests Mortem et Gloriam. When Roman
and buildings dotted about. You can also largely forget legionnaires
anything resembling a road (unless you are deep inside GET INTO IT can do this,
what is not to
the Roman Empire). If you want to get into ancients, there’s no better time love?
Tactically, battlefield manoeuvres are a bit hit and miss. with so many options and quick starts. One of the
Most ancient generals would be happy with their units best places to start is with Warlord’s Caesar’s Gallic RIGHT
This is a rather
being able to halt and stand, fire at the enemy if they Wars - Hail Caesar Starter Set (RRP £80, but you can snazzy island
can, advance at a pretty steady rate and be up for the pick up it for around £60-65). This has everything you fort from a
occasional charge. Fancy inclines, contraction, changes need, two small armies, dice, rules, and quick reference game depicting
Pyrrhus in Sicily.
in spacing between the men and other refinements sheets. Forged in Battle an off-shoot of Westwind have

28 Miniature Wargames April 2024

 ›
April 2024 Miniature Wargames 29
 COMMAND DECISION

Clash of Spears who also have their own starter

armies, Mortal Gods which is a tie-in between
Footsore and Victrix and Warlord’s S.P.Q.R. Studio
Tomahawk has also expanded their successful Saga
rules into the ancient period.

LAST THOUGHT
Although the ancient period is quite literally the most
ancient period to wargame in, it is one of the most
diverse and vibrant. One of the latest developments
is the microscopic 2mm ancient wargame trend
popularised by Strength and Honour (Reisswitz Press,
an imprint from Too Fat Lardies). It really does allow
you to play gargantuan games on a card table with an
army you can keep in your coat pocket!

ABOVE some nice looking quite large starter armies in 15mm

Close packed (£120-150), the rules War & Empire should be out soon.
Roman
legionnaires Essex Miniatures have literally hundreds of ready-
are always a made armies for Fields of Glory and for DBA (some
big draw for of the DBA ones are under £20). The Plastic Soldier
ancient gamers.
Company offers resin Mortem et Gloriam starter
ABOVE RIGHT armies. These are the lovely Xyston range of figures
Strength and now in Ultracast. If you want to dispense with figures
Honour game in
2mm by TooFat altogether then GMT Games Commands & Colors:
Lardies at Ancients is a good starting point for ancient wargames.
Colours 2023. It is a block based game on a hexagon map board with
RIGHT plenty of add-ons and alternatives. There is a thriving
Hold the line! online presence with plenty of new scenarios and LINKS
Spears against ideas. You can pick up the basic set for under £60. Competition Gaming Community: fanaticus.boards.net
an elephant at
Partizan 2023. Forged in Battle: forgedinbattle.com
NOT JUST BIG ARMIES EITHER Essex Miniatures: essexminiatures.co.uk
Whilst you can play ancients using DBA with just The Plastic Soldier Company: theplasticsoldiercompany.
12 bases of figures, just like in many other wargame co.uk
periods there has been moves towards smaller scale Commands & Colors: Ancients: commandsandcolors.
skirmish gaming. Just like DBA they lend themselves net/ancients
to a casual quick game on a club night without the Infamy! Infamy!: toofatlardies.co.uk
risk of a hernia lugging enormous boxes of soldiers Clash of Spears: fightinghedgehog.com
and terrain about. Skirmish specific ancient rule sets Mortal Gods: footsoreminiatures.co.uk/products/mortal-
include Infamy! Infamy! gods-core-box-set ■

30 Miniature Wargames April 2024

 The Wars with the Xhosa or Africa’s 100 Years War: Part 1
Words by Chris Swan. Photos by The Editor RIGHT in South Africa. Now called the Cape Frontier Wars their
Xhosa warriors original name during the 19th and 20th century was
set off on the
raid. the Kaffir Wars (Donald Featherstone was still using
INTRODUCTION the name in his book Victorian Colonial Warfare: Africa
“We inflicted no more bloodshed than was necessary to FAR RIGHT published in 1992) although this term has now been
Three warriors
impress on the minds of these savages a proper degree of advance discarded due to its racial connotations arising from
terror and respect”. cautiously. South Africa’s apartheid era. (The term had originally
been adopted from the word used by Arab traders when
BELOW
They say that history is written by the victors and A Peaceful referring to the Xhosa and originally meant an infidel
that is certainly true of many of the conflicts between Xhosa Village. or unbeliever).Given that these conflicts were a series of
European and United States forces and indigenous nine wars from 1779 to 1879 some writers also refer to
Model photos
peoples during the 19th and early 20th century. They in this issue them as Africa’s 100 Years War.
even got to name the wars although today many are from the Whatever you call them they are an interesting set
of them are being renamed by the very indigenous collections of of conflicts and are more balanced than many of the
Chris Swan,
peoples they fought. For example the conflicts between Ian Colwill and colonial wars refought by wargamers. By the way, the
Europeans and the Maoris of New Zealand previously Steve McGuire. word “Phakathi!” was the Xhosa command to charge the
known collectively as The Maori Wars are now being enemy and means “get inside” i.e. close in and get inside
called The New Zealand Wars or The Land Wars. their shields and the quote at the beginning of this article
Nowhere has this change been more noticeable than was made about the 4th Cape War by the first British
in the multiple conflicts fought during the 19th century Governor of the Cape Colony, Lt-General John Cradock.

32 Miniature Wargames April 2024

 the Xhosa back beyond the Fish River opening the
land up. However, this did not wholly resolve the
tensions between the Xhosa and Europeans, with a
5th war breaking out just 6 years later in 1818. During
this conflict the Xhosa prophet-chief Maqana Nxele
also known as Makana promised “to turn bullets into
water”, something which clearly did not happen and
the defeated Xhosa were pushed further east beyond
the Fish River to the Keiskamma River with the
now empty land in-between the two rivers designated
as a buffer zone for “loyal Africans” to settle and
became known as the “The Ceded Territories”.
Three more wars, the 6th, 7th and 8th soon followed,
fought over a period of less than 20 years from 1834

THE WARS
By the time the British seized the Cape Colony in 1806
the Dutch had been in place for over 150 years with
the Dutch East India Company having first established
a colony there in 1652. Towards the end of the 18th
century the settlers and the Dutch armed forces fought
3 wars with the indigenous Xhosa tribesmen usually
over cattle theft and border disputes.
Britain’s control of the colony was ratified by the
Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1814 by which time it had
already fought its first war with the Xhosa. The 4th
Xhosa war took place between 1811 and 1812 when
Xhosa tribes occupied a previously empty area of land
which the British decided was suitable for settlement.
A mixed force of British regulars and locals drove

›
April 2024 Miniature Wargames 33
 ABOVE to 1853. During the 8th war the Khoi peoples who had and water colours show them in straw hats, woollen
A patrol of Cape previously been staunch allies of the British joined the caps and other head gear with additional adaptations
Mounted Rifles.
Xhosa as a response to their harsh and unfair treatment to their uniforms to suit the harsh environments of
BELOW RIGHT by the colonial authorities. However, each war resulted the interior of the Cape colonies. These adaptations
Two warriors in a defeat for the Xhosa, a weakening of their power included removing the lace from uniforms, turning
snipe at the
enemy. and a reduction in the territories they controlled. the high collars down, adopting the wearing of smock
The final conflict, the 9th War, took place from style jackets and wearing local leather trousers called
1877 to 1879 and was brought about by the British “crackers”. In addition they used locally made belts
Government’s desire to increase its control in southern and cartridge pouches and lightened the amount of
Africa by uniting all the states of the region into a equipment they carried by using knap sacks or rolling
Confederation under the overall rule of the British what they needed into blankets which were then carried
Empire. This meant that all the remaining independent as replacement back packs. Only the Rifles, wearing
Black nations needed to be annexed and a frontier war their traditional green uniforms and black back packs
was seen as an ideal opportunity to achieve this, a move and the cavalry seem to have retained their issue
wholly supported by the British Governor, Sir Henry uniforms and equipment, although the cavalry often
Bartle Frere, who would later go on to provoke a war wore their head gear with a white cover and neck flap.
with the Zulu Nation. By the war’s end the last Xhosa The bulk of the British infantry were armed with
state, Gcalekaland, had become a British territory and muzzle loading smooth bore muskets and bayonets,
the Xhosa had ceased to be an independent people. usually the Brown Bess or its later derivatives and the
cavalry with carbines and sabres, although lancers
REFIGHTING THE CAPE FRONTIER WARS fought during the 8th War. Originally all of the firearms
The 6th, 7th and 8th wars are probably best suited to were flintlocks but from 1840 onwards they were
a refight as during these wars the British and their
local Burghers and African allies were still armed with
muzzle loading shoulder arms as were many of the
Xhosa Warriors they were fighting. This means that
the opponents are more evenly matched than in many
colonial conflicts.
The British forces are best described as Crown forces,
i.e. British regular troops, backed by British colonists
and Boer burghers together with mixed-race and native
settlers who were mainly from the Khoi and M’Fengu
peoples (called the Fingoes by the British) peoples.
The campaigns saw the British regulars adapting to
frontier warfare in both their formations, which over
time became more open and thus able to manoeuvre
through the brush and wooded valleys occupied by
the Xhosa, and in their dress. Contemporary drawings

34 Miniature Wargames April 2024

adapted or designed to use percussion caps. The Rifles
were initially armed with Brunswick rifles from 1850
a few chosen men were armed with the longer ranged
Lancaster Rifle but as the 1850’s progressed all infantry,
including the Rifles, based in the Cape Colony were
gradually rearmed with the new Minie rifle.
The British allies wore their own clothes, hard
wearing and suited to their environment, with many of
the Khoi and M’Fengu wearing a mixture of European
and native attire and were armed with a mixture of
muzzle loading muskets, sporting guns and carbines.
One locally raised unit worth mentioning is the Cape
Mounted Rifles. A mixed-race mounted force led
by white officers and NCOs they were more akin to
mounted infantry than true cavalry but were capable
of charging their enemies if the opportunity presented
itself such as at Waterkloof during the 8th war. Wearing
a green undress cap and jacket, they wore “cracker”

some younger warriors wore an elaborate headdress of

feathers although this died out as the wars progressed.
By the 8th war some warriors had adopted elements of
European dress mixed with their own native costumes.
Until the widespread adoption of firearms in the
1830s their main weapons were a bundle of seven or
eight throwing spears which reportedly they could
throw with great accuracy at targets up to 40 yards
away, together with a wooden club and an oval shield,
although the use of the latter gradually died out when
they realised it offered little protection from firearms.
Firearms had originally been gained as loot but
most were obtained from illegal gun runners and were
usually Brown Bess muskets. Like most indigenous
people who adopted firearms the Xhosa lacked the
resources to maintain them or obtain spare parts
to repair them and hence they were often of poor
quality. Reports state that many warriors tended to fire
their muskets from the hip or without the But set in
their shoulder to avoid the recoil. All of these factors
combined to give Xhosa musketry little accuracy much
beyond 50 yards. Ammunition was also hard to come
by and often improvised from whatever source of
trousers and although armed with a sabre their most TOP metal they could find and melt down to make musket
effective weapon was a double barrelled smooth bore The patrol of balls, for example when the Xhosa overran one mission
Cape Mounted
carbine well suited to warfare in the bush. Rifles seek station they stripped the lead from its roof to make
information ammunition and used paper taken from bibles and
XHOSA from the books to make wadding. As a result most warriors chose
villagers.
The Xhosa (their name is pronounced as Kosa in to retain their traditional weapons for use alongside
English) are a Bantu ethnic people and did not have a ABOVE their muskets and contemporary reports say that solders
centralised state but consisted of a number of tribes, I say chaps feared Xhosa throwing spears more than their musketry.
what’s that over
clans or extended families. They traditionally fought there! As such Xhosa Warbands are best represented by a
naked or wearing a bullock hide cloak worn with the mixture of figures with both traditional weapons and
hair on the inside. The outside of the cloak was usually firearms and not fielded as separately armed groups.
dyed with red ochre which was also mixed with Traditionally they fought as skirmishers, using
animal fat to make a cosmetic which Xhosa warriors their throwing spears to wear down and disrupt their
rubbed into their skin giving it a deep copper glow. enemy’s formation before launching a charge using their
Beads were worn around the head, neck and waist and last spear or their club. Even when using firearms they
›
April 2024 Miniature Wargames 35
 retained these tactics and often adopted what we would ABOVE leading a unit or group, fighting in hand to hand
now call guerrilla tactics, fighting from ambush, hitting British infantry combat or carrying out some other action.)
defend the
slow moving supply columns and fighting in terrain trading post.
which suited them and not their European and mixed UNITS OR GROUPS THAT BREAK
race opponents, such as in the maze of intersecting BOTTOM RIGHT In small unit actions, it is not likely that a unit or group
The Xhosa
ridges and bush filled valleys of the Amatola Mountains. close in on the of warriors would simply disappear. If the result of a
They were also adept at using decoys such as cattle or defenders. break test is break, the unit or group will:
small groups of warriors to lure their enemies into a
trap, encouraging them to open fire and empty their ◗ Turn and flee a full move directly away from the
muskets and then overwhelming them with groups enemy and will end with its back to the enemy. It
of warriors who had been hiding nearby before they will continue fleeing both in its own turn and in the
could reload. However, their abilities should not to be enemy turn until it leaves the table or is rallied.
dismissed as mere skirmishers as they could and would ◗ If the enemy follows up and is able to fight on that
charge when the situation suited them .Indeed they turn, the unit takes casualties but does not fight back.
could bring significant numbers to battle, with over ◗ Xhosa, British Cavalry if mounted, Boers or other
10,000 warriors raiding the Cape Colony during each of native allies of the British will pursue a broken unit
the 4th, 5th and 6th wars. or group unless they obey an order to stop pursuing.
Deduct 1 from the unit’s command rating to see if
THE WARS USING BLACK POWDER the order is obeyed.
The wars can be played out using Black Powder with ◗ The unit or group’s leader or officer can try to rally
very little adaption except to emphasise the nature of the unit or group once after the initial turn on which
small unit actions. it fled.
◗ If successful the unit or group rallies on the spot but
THE COMMAND SYSTEM is classed as disordered for that turn. If it fails to rally
As these are small unit actions the command system on the first turn and continues fleeing, then only the
for Black Powder needs to be adapted. overall leader or commander of the force may try to
Establish an overall leader or commander for the rally the unit or group. They must use a Rally on Me
force in the usual way and allocate a command rating. order but will deduct -1 from their command rating.
This individual is the only person who can issue a Rally
on Me or Follow Me order. My interpretation of Black Powder forces for the
For each unit or group of warriors determine Cape Frontier Wars is set out opposite with some new
a command rating for its leader or officer. These traits and special rules added to reflect the nature
characters can issue normal orders but cannot issue of the tactics used by both sides. Please note that all
a Rally on Me or a Follow Me order. Roll for each movement and shooting distances have been reduced
unit as if it were a brigade with the overall leader or to reflect the close nature of these combats. A version
commander able to take command of a unit or group of these forces using the Rebels and Patriots rules can
or allow a re-roll of a failed command roll if they are be found on the magazine’s web site together with a
within 6” of a unit or group. (They can only use this set of tactical cards which players may use to add extra
ability on 1 unit or group per turn but not if they are flavour to their games.

36 Miniature Wargames April 2024

BRITISH CROWN AND LOCAL FORCES FOR BLACK POWDER
UNIT MOVE ARMED WITH HTH SHOOT MORALE STAMINA TRAITS
Regular Cavalry 12 Sabres – Might carry 6 1 4+ 3 Brave
Lances, Carbines 8 Lancers
Dismounted Cavalry 8 Sabres 5 2 4+ 3 Brave
Carbines 12 Dispersed Targets
Regular Infantry 8 in march Brown Bess Muskets 6 3 4+ 3 First Fire
formation 16 Steady
6 in Firing Line Might be trained to form Open Order
Regular Infantry in 8 in march Brown Bess Muskets 4 2 4+ 2 First Fire
Small units formation 16 Steady
6 in Firing Line Might be trained to form Open Order
British Rifles 8 Baker Rifles 20 6 3 4+ 3 Steady
Open Order
Marksmen
British Rifles in small 8 Baker Rifles 20 4 2 4+ 2 Steady
unit Open Order
Marksmen
Royal Artillery 8 if limbered Artillery 1 3 at 6 4+ 2 Must deploy to shoot
3 if man handled 2 at 18
1 at 36
Cape Mounted Rifles 12 Sabres 5 2 4+ 3 Brave
Double Barrelled Carbines 8
Dismounted Cape 8 Sabres 4 3 4+ 3 Brave
Rifles Double Barrelled Carbines 12 Dispersed Targets when on foot
Mounted Boer 12 Mixed Firearms 4 1 at 12 4+ Variable Mixed Firearms
Commandos 12/8 2 at 8 Untested
Marksmen

Dismounted Boer Mixed Firearms 4 1 at 20 4+ Variable Mixed Firearms

Commandos 8 20/16/12 2 at 16 Dispersed Targets
3 at 12 Untested
Marksmen

Cape Town Levy 8 Mixed Firearms 4 2 at 16 4+ Variable Mixed Firearms

3 at 12 Untested
Levy in small groups 8 Mixed Firearms 2 1 at 16 4+ Variable Mixed Firearms
2 at 12 Untested Small
Fingoes Militia 8 Mixed Firearms 5 2 at 16 4+ Variable As Above but
3 at 12 Untested Small
Fingoes in small 8 Mixed Firearms 3 1 at 16 4+ Variable As Above but
groups 2 at 12 Untested Small

TRAIT EFFECT
Brave Shaken Units rally on 4+ if more than 12 from the enemy
Dispersed Targets Dismounted Cavalry and dismounted irregulars count
as a dispersed target as they do not move in close
formation. This means any one shooting at them is at
-1 to hit.
First Fire The unit adds +1 Shooting dice on first shot of battle
Lancers When charging all enemy Cavalry are -1 to morale
saves and enemy Foot are - 2 to morale saves
Open Order The unit can pass an order to go into Open Order. This
means that it move through Bad going at no penalty: It
is then -1 when shot at to reflect the use of cover and
although they can charge enemy units they are -1 in
Hand to Hand combat
Marksmen The unit may reroll 1 Shooting dice that failed to hit per
turn
Mixed Firearms As these units are formed from individuals who bring
their own weapons with them their weapon ranges
and shooting dice vary at different distances: As some
Boers carried rifles this is factored in when they shoot
when dismounted.
Steady The Unit automatically passes its first break test
Untested The ability of the unit to absorb casualties is unknown
and so the stamina for each unit is randomized: The
first time they have to throw to save casualties inflicted
on them roll 1D6 – score 1 = 1, score 2 or 3 = 2, score 4
or 5 = 3 and score 6 = 4
Untested The ability of the unit to absorb casualties is unknown and
Small so the stamina for each unit is randomized: The first time
they have to throw to save casualties inflicted on them roll

›
1D6 – score 1 or 2 = 1, score 3, 4 or 5 = 2 and score 6 =3

April 2024 Miniature Wargames 37

 XHOSA FOR BLACK POWDER
UNIT MOVE ARMED WITH HTH SHOOT MORALE STAMINA TRAITS
Xhosa Warriors 8 Throwing Spears & Poor 6 1 at 12 4+ Variable Bloodthirsty
Quality Muskets 2 at 8 Surefooted
Stealthy
Untested
Xhosa Warriors in 8 Throwing Spears & Poor 4 1 at 12 4+ Variable Bloodthirsty
Small Groups Quality Muskets Surefooted
Stealthy
Untested Small

TRAIT EFFECT BELOW SPECIAL RULES FOR THE XHOSA:

Bloodthirsty The Xhosa may reroll any misses in the first round The Xhosa try Evading: Xhosa warriors can chose to evade any
of combat to outflank the
defensive line. charge made against them as skirmishers.
Surefooted The Xhosa ignore the effects of Bad going and may
move at full speed through it
Stealthy The Xhosa always make effective use of any cover “Prophet Chief”: before any battle roll 1D6 and on a
available and so, unless charging an enemy unit, score of 6 the Xhosa are being led by a “Prophet Chief”
count as - 1 when shot at
who has convinced them that he has turned “bullets
Untested The ability of each group of Xhosa warriors to
absorb casualties is unknown and so the stamina into water”. As a result they are treated as having the
for each group is randomized: The first time they
have to throw to save casualties inflicted on them Resolute Trait and so may reroll the outcome of any
roll 1D6 – score 1 = 1, score 2 or 3 = 2, score 4 or 5 Break Test caused by Shooting
= 3 and score 6 = 4
Untested The ability of the unit to absorb casualties is
Small unknown and so the stamina for each unit is
randomized: The first time they have to throw to
NEXT TIME...
save casualties inflicted on them roll 1D6 – score 1 Next month I will conclude with a selection of three
or 2 = 1, score 3, 4 or 5 = 2 and score 6 =3 scenarios. Happy gaming! ■

38 Miniature Wargames April 2024

 MATERIALS USED
◗ Craft quality cardboard
◗ Coffee stirrers
◗ A length of dowel or a pencil
or small tube
◗ Sticky back plastic gems for
children’s crafts
◗ Beads
◗ String
◗ Glues (PVA, Bostik or other
contact adhesive)
◗ Paints
◗ Hand drill
◗ Rattle can primer
◗ Acrylic Burnt Umber Grey
and Burnt Sienna

nyone who has watched Kingdom of modelling elements you will need to assemble

A Heaven realises how important to Siege

Warfare a Siege Tower was. We use them in
our Crusader games and will do so again
when we move on to the Northern Crusades,
which is one of our next periods to complete!
for this project are straight forward and cheap.
The final photos in this article show the
tower in action. We chose to decorate the tower
with flags (available free from our Wargaming
at the Outpost GY facebook group) and
shields and decided to attach a group of
TO KIT OR NOT TO KIT besiegers permanently to our tower.
As in real life the commercial versions of this Of course, once you have the patterns it is very
piece of sort of model are quite expensive. easy to mass produce these for larger games and
In this article we intend to show you an easy the whole project only cost a few pounds. We
and relatively cheap way to build one. The hope it has inspired you to have a go.
›
April 2024 Miniature Wargames 41
 HOBBY TIPS

1. GET INTO SHAPE 4. CRISSCROSS GEM

The first step is to cut out After this was done I stuck on the
the basic shape in card. The cross panels and edges.
dimensions of this one are;
side panel height 16cms, I managed to find some
width 10cms at the bottom children’s self-adhesive gems
reducing to 8cms at the top. which I used to simulate the bolt
heads on the tower.
The inside floors are 9cms by
7cms with the top floor which
overhangs 9cms square.

2. ASSEMBLY 5. A TOWER TOP

Dry assemble it to ensure it is Once the individual pieces are
a good fit. solid assemble the tower leaving
off the top of the tower.
After that proceed to cut and
glue the coffee stirrers (you When assembling the top of the
don’t have to make loads of trips tower put the flooring on first
to Costa Coffee etc: mine were then plank the sides.
£5 from eBay).

3. A STICK-UP 6. DRAWBRIDGE
Dry assemble it to ensure it is a
good fit, then proceed to cut and
MECHANISM
Construct the Drawbridge
glue the coffee stirrers. mechanism, you need a straight rod,
(Dowel, a pencil, or a plastic tube),
I attached mine with Bostik and some children’s beads, some string,
when dry I used a sharp pair of and some toothpicks.
scissors to trim the edges to the
shape of the tower. Drill the dowel and push through
two cocktail sticks, as per the
photo mount two end pieces to
either end of the rod, these can
be circular, square or hex shaped.
Use two of the coffee stirrers to
make a support and mount the
rod onto it, gluing the beads in
place to use as a runner for the
string.

42 Miniature Wargames April 2024

7. LOWER THE
DRAWBRIDGE
Measure the gap in the tower
and cut a piece of card to shape
for the drawbridge.

Plank it in coffee stirrers on

both sides and apply more of
the stick back rivets for effect.

Drill two holes at the top for the

string to be threaded through.
We left our drawbridge open
but a string hinge can easily be
made to allow it to rise and fall.

8. WHEELS WITHIN
WHEELS
If you have none laying around
then you can cut some half
wheels from the coffee stirrers.

As we had some MDF ones

from a kit we used those!

Stick them to the bottom of

the tower along with a skirt to
give the idea the wheels are
protected and only half can be
seen.

9. PAINT YOUR WAGON

We always spray wooden items
with black rattle can as we find
it stops the wood absorbing
the paint and prevents any
warping.

Colours we used are Burnt Umber

highlighted with grey and a lighter
dry brush of Burnt Sienna.

A make-up blusher brush is

great for the lighter highlighting
which was finished with a Yellow
and a final wash of Brown Ink to
weather it.

April 2024 Miniature Wargames 43

 SIEGE OF AL-MADINAH

SIEGE OF AL-MA
A Hammer’s Slammers scenario
Words and photos by John Treadaway

BACKGROUND
RIGHT ‘Hammer’s Slammers’ are a sci-fi mercenary company
The Khabyle based round the eponymous novels of David Drake’s
Rebels
supplement ‘Slammerverse’. There’s an extensive background in the
their military books and this is further enhanced by support material
technicals including a board game from a few decades ago by
with converted
civilian vehicles. Mayfair Games, at least one ‘program paragraph’ game
In this kind of book and several sets of wargames rules which, in full
street fighting disclosure, I had a bit of a hand in writing...
it's hard to
know who is a Set several centuries in the future – but based largely
combatant... on Drake’s experience in the Vietnam war with the US
military (the 11th Armoured Cavalry or ‘Black Horse
Regiment’) – the ‘heroes’ of the story (although the
‘heroism’ part is obviously debatable) ride massive
tanks (called ‘blowers’) which operate as very, very

44 Miniature Wargames April 2024

 from buildings or appear suddenly at close range and
loose off shoulder lunched missiles (called ‘buzzbombs’
in the Slammerverse). The penetrators will do well to
bust up underground tunnels and command posts.

PREMISE
I was starting to formulate an idea for a scenario
based on current events but wanted to use a sci-fi
background. The Israeli Army’s Merkava tanks employ
an active protection system to defeat incoming RPG
and other attacks, and this is now being employed by
many other nations world wide. A similar system is
LEFT
currently loaded onto the latest incarnation of the US
An M2 blower Abrams and the Russian T14 Armata seems to have a
tank with an similar set-up (and – if either of them get into combat –
up-armoured
M2A4UA turret.
I expect we’ll find out how effective they actually are..).
This is available Drake’s ideas are probably based on the practice of
in 15mm and employing multiple Claymore mines on the sides of
6mm from
armoured up trucks in Vietnam, and so he built more
Brigade.
sophisticated versions onto his putative vehicles in the
1970s when he started writing the stories. Of course the
fighting in ‘Nam also involved many an underground
complex so I expect that’s where the Bunker Busting
rocket idea came from as well.

ADINAH
low-flying jet-copters (not really as hovercraft as they
are often mistaken for) skimming the ground as they
ABOVE
Khabyle Rebels
form a road
So, I was swishing all of that around in my head
and pondering a scenario the idea of a sci-fi setting
move. These tanks – with their eight, nuclear powered, block on the way to distance it from real world events (just as the
nacelled turbines – are supported by smaller, four man into al-Madinah Slammer’s author himself had done with his Vietnam
‘Combat Cars’ which operate on the same principals using wheeled experiences) when I had some very bad news: David
and half track
as their larger brethren but sport three smaller calibre light vehicles. Drake had sadly passed away in late 2023. I’d met
weapons firing from open rear decks, rather like a Dave a few times when he came over to the UK and I
cross between a ‘Nam period M113 ACAV and a WWII worked on the rules book with him and – despite his
Hannomag 251. age – his death came as quite a shock.
For weaponry the Slammers all field different calibres On that basis, and in the tradition of dealing with
of ‘powergun’: energy weapons fed by disks of plastic real world problems and disguising them with a non-
ammunition that fire laser-straight and fast delivering a historical camouflage, this scenario is for Mr Drake.
massively devastating burst of energy on the first target
they hit. They also have some specialist weapons that SETTING
are going to be utilised in the coming scenario: a radar Dar al-B’heed (taken from one of Drake’s stories called
and computer operated anti-personnel/anti-missile Code-Name Feirefitz) is a desert planet with mining as
strip mine system encircling the vehicles, plus ground its chief product. It has an Arabic based government
penetrating, bunker-busting rockets to name two. who have been fighting a sect within their own people
The AP/AM systems are the sort of thing that is known as the Khabyle rebels. The Slammers have been
particularly good in sieges in cities where folks jump out employed as mercenaries to remove the rebels from
›
April 2024 Miniature Wargames 45
 SIEGE OF AL-MADINAH

their strongholds
which they have
successfully achieved, however
al-Madinah (the capital city) has been taken over
and fortified by the Khabyle and is being held by
them, with underground tunnels having been dug
in defence. al-Madinah is a built up town with many
high rise buildings plus some lower, more ramshackle
structures punctuated by alleyways and slum areas. It
has a perimeter fence – originally erected by the Arab
government – to control trade and movement in and
out of the city itself.
It will be the Slammer’s job to remove them and return
the city (as intact as possible) to the original owners.

A FLY IN THE OINTMENT

Colonel Danny Pritchard – an officer in the Slammers –
had travelled to al-Madinah in a jeep for a meeting with
local Khabyle leaders. However, after Pritchard’s arrival
talks turned ugly and the tables were turned: Pritchard TOP buggies and half tracks along with some extra vehicles
was held and his guards died in the subsequent firefight Slammers I’ve thrown together from diecasts with figures and
infantry patrol
during his capture but the net result is that the Colonel the streets weapons from Ground Zero Games including some
has been held by the terrorist leaders and secreted on foot and ‘technicals’ (large 4x4s with a classic heavy machine
somewhere in the tunnels beneath al-Madinah City. on one-man gun types in the back) and the odd bulldozer.
skimmer bikes.
The Slammers in the scenario are defined as ‘Late
RULES & SCALES ABOVE Slammers’. Drake’s stories involve a developing
The game could be played with any suitable system in Slammers timeline set over multiple decades and – as in the real
infantry take
any scale. There are Slammers vehicles easily obtainable up a roof-top world – the vehicles involved increase in both armour
in both 15mm and 6mm scales (from Brigade Models) vantage point in and lethality. These Slammer ones are from that ‘late
and for rules you might try a favourite SF system, al-Madinah. period’ with nastier guns, more 'snappy' computer
preferably a ‘hard SF’ set. So probably not a more systems and thicker iridium carapaces on the Blower
fantastical-based set like, say, 40k... Grunts might be an tanks, when compared to the earlier incarnations. M60s
option, as would Tomorrows War (by Ambush Alley) rather than M47s, in real world terms, I guess.
but I would, erm... probably use Hammer’s Slammers: Play sheets for these forces can be downloaded for
The Crucible. Currently available still from Caliver Books free from the Slammers website: look for Slammers
with lots of supplements (like play sheets and force Late Armoured Prime and Sincanmo Federation
sheets) on hammers-slammers.com. But then I’m biased... Warriors. There’s also play sheets for weapons and
movement and a special page for the use of the ground
FORCES penetrating rockets and other fun stuff: look for Rules
It will be the Slammers – just a small force – and some is Rules: Specialists.
Arab style opposition. I am using a fairly generic set of
vehicles for the Arabic types: the Sincanmo Federation WEAPONRY
are doing duty in this game for the Khabyle Rebels Leaving aside the fairly conventional weapons and
(models are available from Brigade). The infantry direct line of sight energy weapons that both sides
are wearing Shemaghs and similar and are equipped field, the interesting ‘unconventional’ elements for this
with missiles and support weapons with some low- scenario are:

46 Miniature Wargames April 2024

◗ Anti-buzzbomb/anti-personnel (ADS) over tunnel complexes or underground chambers and BELOW
◗ Ground penetrator rockets (GPR) fire directly downwards into the soil. The Combat Another rebel
adapted vehicle
Engineering Vehicles carry a similar rocket device. might be this
In The Crucible rules, the anti-buzzbomb/anti- huge earth
personnel system is fitted to the larger Slammers GPR EFFECT hauler which
has been armed
vehicles and is called the ADS (Automatic Defence What this means in game terms is: If a Slammers Bower to the teeth
System). If a vehicle hit by a buzzbomb (ie the firer tank or a Combat Engineering Vehicle drives over any with improvised
succeeds with his Quality Roll to hit the target) and structure in a game which has a defensive value the weapons.
that target is fitted with an ADS then – before an GPRs can be deployed. Possible targets might include
attacking Attack Roll is made for the buzzbomb (to a bunker complex or even a bridge crossing a river
determine if the armour has been penetrated) – the or road system. For this scenario they will be aimed
ADS fires automatically. With Slammers ADS systems at destroying the underground tunnel systems in al-
then, on a a 3+, the buzzbomb is destroyed. This is not Madinah City. The effect of this is a single attack made
troop quality dependent (ie a Quality Roll) but is an as if heavy ATGWs were fired downwards onto the
automatic system. structure. Each tank may do this twice (they have only
As an aside from knocking down missiles, if the the two GPRs fitted) and so may attack two separate
ADS fires, then all units (infantry or vehicles) in the bunkers. A quality roll is made for each GPR to see if
fire arc that the buzzbomb was launched from (and they hit and the results resolved in the normal fashion;
within Close Range of the vehicle) are also hit by the this may only be done once in a game (whether it’s
ADS with a Firepower of 3/1: 3 against infantry and a Blower or a CEV) and there is no defence against it
1 against vehicles. Additionally, a vehicle with ADS beyond the DV of the structure itself (typically a DV of
can deliberately fire it against enemy units, either by 8 or 9).
the vehicle carrying them ending up within range of
an enemy TU, in which case they are fired during that SOLO PLAY
vehicle’s fire phase or – if the vehicle with the ADS is This scenario can be played as a two player game but
attacked in a close assault – by infantry. – because of the randomised tunnel complex creation
Late Slammers Blower tanks have an almost unique (see later) – it is ideally suited to solo play.
feature: bunker busting Ground Penetrating Rockets
(GPR). Although they don’t appear on the play sheets FORCES
(as they are rarely used in a game) the M2A4 Blower The Slammers should use wither a single detachment
tanks onwards are equipped with a pair of 12cm of vehicles (say four blower tanks and three combat
Ground Penetrator rockets mounted in the rear hull and cars plus a command car) or – if you are feeling that’s
fired directly downwards through the plenum chamber. too restrictive – add a troop of infantry, say four
Guided by the vehicle’s sensors and AI, the vehicle can infantry teams, either on skimmer bikes or on foot.
be positioned by the ‘Booster’ (it’s inbuilt AI system) The opposition will be dependent on the cards...

›
April 2024 Miniature Wargames 47
 SIEGE OF AL-MADINAH

GAME SET UP
This requires the table being set up as per the map with
a fence and lots of buildings. The table is roughly 5 by
3 feet and each square is around a foot although the
exact size isn’t overly important.

Split the board into 15 squares. Place the scenery

in many – but not all – of the squares. You don’t have FAR LEFT
to mark these as actual squares – you can do it with An M2A4UA
Gun tank and
scenery – but, if it makes it easier to see on the table – an M4FUA
mark the intersections with small stickers (available command tank
from stationery shops). The city has a tunnel complex swing into town.
hidden underneath it for the local terrorist/freedom BELOW RIGHT
fighter group to hide in and launch attacks from. Two Slammers
The tunnel complex may run under the wire out to M9 Combat
cars and a
anywhere on the table (and they are all connected by Command car
narrow tunnels) but the major nodes and structures bring up the
will be represented by five cards distributed at random. rear swing into
al-Madinah to
be confronted
IT’S ON THE CARDS by a Khabyle
Take a deck of regular playing cards. Siphon off the paired Diamonds card and you immediately place road block.
Two Jokers and split up the four suits into separate those forces on the table top. Suggestions for the
piles. This is how you’ll be determining the under city size of forces would be that each card has the face
tunnel complex, the location of the hostage plus any value/number of units on it (so a 7 of Diamonds has
forces set against the Slammers. seven units, for example). This should be made up
with whatever you have available but a good rule of
◗ Spades: Shuffle the 13 Spades and two Jokers and thumb might be one vehicle for every four infantry
lay them face down, one per square, to indicate the so, for example, a 10 of Diamonds might be eight
tunnel complex. The jokers represent the possible infantry and two vehicles. You might want to leave
locations of Colonel Pritchard. The Court Cards and out the court cards from this list – ie: the courts cards
the Ace are bunkers to be destroyed. The first Joker are still played as Hearts on the table top but they are
has Pritchard. The second Joker is the bunker HQ. ‘blanks’ as Diamonds with no forces placed on them
They will be the Slammer’s targets... giving the Slammers a break. That depends how
many Slammers you can field and how tricky you
◗ Hearts: Shuffle these and lay these out face down on want to make it for the Slammers player!
the grid along side of the Spade cards. You will be two
short. Fill these in with two random Club Cards (still ◗ Clubs: These represent locals that you lose victory
face down). points for killing. Just select from the non-court
cards: 1 – 10. They represent units of infantry and
◗ Diamonds: Place those 13 cards next off-table in a vehicles, the same as the Diamonds but they are
‘staging area’ off table next to a selection of infantry non-combative. If you want to add some interest,
and vehicles: each card will have a small force laid Include the Court cards and make them higher
out on it. These Diamonds directly correspond to value targets (that you really don’t want to blow
the Hearts card of the same number. So, when a Heart up...): ambulances and so forth. Models to represent
card is turned over on the table you refer to the these would be handy.

48 Miniature Wargames April 2024

DETECTION Every time the Slammers get to a bunker or tunnel ABOVE
When any Slammers unit enters a square the two cards complex, if they successfully attack as a first strike Technicals are
a good choice
in it are revealed showing what tunnels are present (if with their missiles (using whatever rules you have for for the Khabyle
any) by the spades/jokers and if Colonel Pritchard is bunker busting: in The Crucible it’s the equivalent of Rebels. These
being held in that square. The corresponding Heart launching an ATGW straight downwards) then they two - parked in
downtown
card will be matched to the Diamond card next to the will kill all of the units positioned underground in that al-Madinah -
collection of opposition or – if you hit one of the two bunker on a simple dice roll: 1-3: they get out and can are diecasts
Clubs – some innocent locals. If there are no tunnels then return fire; 4-6: they are destroyed. If Pritchard is in the with added gun
platforms in
that means that there are just buildings and alleyways bunker he has the same chance of escape... the rear with
above ground: what you can see on the map, really, or If the Slammers defer using the rockets to destroy gunners and
perhaps the exits from minor tunnels or fox holes. the bunker until they can be cleared then their weapons from
Ground Zero
opponents will get a chance to attack them first Games.
PRITCHARD by swarming out and surrounding them and so
If the Slammers get to the bunker with Colonel the Slammers force will have to beat them off first.
Pritchard (the hostage), can they extract him without Obviously that’s the only way that the Slammers can
blowing him up first? This needs a process: guarantee not to kill the hostage but: it's risky...

›
April 2024 Miniature Wargames 49
 SIEGE OF AL-MADINAH

VICTORY CONDITIONS
Victory conditions are a little hard to determine as it ABOVE employing. Whatever set you use, remember the
depends on what rules you’ve chosen, what forces you The M9A2 following points:
Combat car
select, the size of those forces and whether you are with it's open
playing solo or against an opponent. back, three After entering a square:
tri-barrel ◗ Is there a tunnel complex in that square? (check the
powerguns and
As some broad guidance: strip of ADS at cards).
◗ Give a time limit in terms of the number of game turns. the waistline ◗ If there is, will the Slammers attack first with their
◗ The Slammers must lose fewer units than they kill. above the limited supply of Rockets?
plenum. Should
◗ Civilian units they kill inadvertently are negatively have gone
worth double: killing civilian unit by mistake is the for the up- If not:
equivalent of losing two Slammers units armoured M9A7 ◗ Are there any opponents? If there are no bunkers
to be sure...
◗ Ambulances are even worse: each one is the in that square, they are hidden in alleyways and
equivalent of four Slammers units: a PR no-no! buildings. They’ll get a first crack at the Slammers if
◗ Blowing up regular tunnels counts for nothing, the later don’t attack first.
but the HQ bunker – and the large bunker that is ◗ If there are no Khabyle fighters, are there civilians?
holding Pritchard – are worth two enemy units to the
Slammers. CONCLUSIONS
This is a set of concepts rather than a fully fleshed out
So: scenario. It’s mostly ideas to generate a system for
◗ Losing more Slammers units than enemy units is a easily determining the sort of tanks fighting in an urban
Major Victory for the Khabyle. Remember civilians environment that is currently all too prevalent. Like
count Double and ambulances count as Four Fold in everything in Slammers stories it doesn’t concentrate
these calculations. on artillery: the Slammers have their own ‘Iron Dome’
◗ The Slammers not succeeding in locating and system to take out incoming rounds but there are rules
extracting Pritchard within the time allocated is a in The Crucible to cover this however it’s not the aim of
Minor Victory for the Khabyle this particular scenario. It also doesn’t cover air attack:
◗ The Slammers Destroying more Khabyle plus the again, this not a component of Slammers stories as – like
HQ bunker is a Minor Victory for the Slammers. nukes – there’s a literary ‘fudge’ to remove all
◗ The Slammers extracting Pritchard and blowing the of that from the narrative.
HQ bunker plus losing fewer units than the Khabyle Remember: it’s sci-fi. Have some fun!
is a Major Victory for the Slammers. DOWNLOAD
DOWNLOADS THE SCENARIO MAP
tabletopgaming.co.uk/
TACTICS Khabyle: hammers-slammers.com/pdf/ information/downloads
Remember, the Court Cards, Ace and two jokers are Sincanmo3w_15mm_sheet.pdf
major bunkers to be destroyed and the first Joker will Slammers: hammers-slammers.com/pdf/
have Colonel Pritchard in so... maybe don’t just rush Hammers_Slammers_Prime1_15mm_sheet.pdf
in with those Rockets! Specialist Rules: hammers-slammers.com/
Carry out combat using whatever rules you are specialists_1.htm ■

50 Miniature Wargames April 2024

B O O K R E V I E W S F O R T H E D I S C E R N I N G WA R G A M E R
The maps provide useful information
on deployments and troop movements
for wargamers wishing to recreate any
of the battles but would have benefited
having from greater contrast between
the grey contour lines and the grey
background to make it easier for readers
to interpret the terrain.
Seventy-five black and white
illustrations are included, the majority
of which are small reproductions of
contemporary photographs of Union
and Confederate officers, are placed in
the wide margins beside the text and
are accompanied by brief biographical
details. Other illustrations consist of
modern photographs of memorials
and sites of interest, and a few
reproductions of period drawings or
paintings.
Appendices cover the specific topics
of the Union and Confederate Cavalry
at Second Manassas; Miscommunication
NEVER SUCH A CAMPAIGN: and Mistrust: Federal High Command at
THE BATTLE OF SECOND Second Manassas; How the Destruction
MANASSAS, AUGUST 28-30, of the Chantilly/Ox Hill Battlefield
1862 Inspired the Modern Battlefield
◗ Dan Welch and Kevin R. Pawlak Preservation Movement; and Driving
◗ Savas Beatie (2024) Tours for the Campaign and the Second
◗ £12.99 Manassas Battlefield to assist readers
◗ 192 pages (softback) visiting the theatre of operations and/
◗ ISBN:9781611216417 or the battlefield. A map and clear
◗ casemateuk.com instructions with GPS references for
each recommended stop are provided
This volume of the Emerging Civil for each tour.
War Series covers the campaign of The Orders of Battle for the Army
Major-General John Pope’s new Union of Northern Virginia, the Army of the
command, the Army of Virginia, that Potomac and Pope’s Army of Virginia
culminated in the Battle of Second occupy eight pages. No unit strengths
Manassas (or Second Bull Run) when are given.
it faced General Robert E. Lee’s The book concludes with a three-page
Confederate Army of Northern Virginia list of Suggested Reading on the Battle,
on ground that had been the scene of the containing titles and publication details,
first pitched battle of the Civil War, just a brief comment on each book and a
thirteen months earlier. photograph of its cover. There is no
Six maps depict the historical index.
manoeuvres and actions of the This is a slim book containing a
campaign: Confederate Offensive, concise, easy to read, account of the
August 20-26,1862; Manassas Junction, campaign and battle which would be
August 26-28; Battle of Kettle Run, valuable for wargamers wishing to
August 27; Battle of Thoroughfare refight Second Manassas or one of the
Gap, August 28; Brawner Farm, other engagements of the campaign. It
August 28; Union Assaults, August 29, would also be a useful companion for
morning; Union Assaults, August 29, anyone visiting the battlefields, as it
afternoon; Porter’s Assault, August 30; provides them with two driving tour
Longstreet’s Assault, August 30; and maps accompanied by detailed notes.
Battle of Chantilly, September 1, 1862. Arthur Harman
›
April 2024 Miniature Wargames 51
 REVIEWS

Louis-Auguste-Victor de Bourmont,
commander of the 14th Infantry Division,
decided to desert to the Prussians with
his staff and information of Napoleon’s
intended movements on 15th June 1815.
A few locations which are no
longer standing, such as the Chateau
de Fichermont, or have changed
dramatically, like the hamlet of Mont-
Saint-Jean, are represented by earlier
photographs or reproductions of
contemporary prints. There is a modern
photograph of one of the suggested
sites of the house where the Duchess of
Richmond’s ball was held and a plan
THE SOVIET AFGHAN WAR THE WATERLOO CAMPAIGN IN of the house from the biography of
1979-89 100 LOCATIONS her daughter, Lady Georgina de Ros.
◗ Gregory Fremont-Barnes ◗ John Grehan The vast majority of the photographs
◗ Osprey (2024) ◗ Frontline Books (2023) of memorials are sufficiently clear for
◗ £11.95 ◗ £25.00, ebook £9.98 readers to see their inscriptions; in some
◗ 144 pages (softback) ◗ 224 pages (hardback) other cases a transcription is provided.
◗ ISBN: 9781472861801 ◗ ISBN:9781526746917 The last two locations are the Lion
◗ ospreypublishing.com ◗ frontline-books.com Mound and Napoleon’s tomb in Les
Invalides; a photograph of Longwood
From Osprey’s Essential Histories This is not another history of the House on Saint Helena also appears in
line this book is a reasonably well campaign, but a collection of the latter section.
illustrated overview of the USSR’s photographs of places and memorials Two pages are devoted to the merits
conflict in Afghanistan which, of relating to the Waterloo Campaign of various Waterloo guidebooks, which
course, preceded the recent Western which ‘best tell the story of Napoleon’s will be very helpful for any readers who
intervention in that country (‘War on last campaign,’ arranged in a broadly have been inspired to visit the campaign
Terror’ etc) and puts some detail into chronological sequence, with text area for themselves. Three pages contain
the legacy of the conflict. accompanying each illustration ‘to place the sources for the endnotes in the text.
This is a new edition which has each location in its historical context.’ The The book concludes with a three-page
been updated and revised for this dustjacket states: ‘From Napoleon’s landing index of persons mentioned in the text,
version (bear in mind that I haven’t … and back to power, is shown here in not always in strict alphabetic order; for
seen the previous edition). Amongst glorious full colour.’ That was the original example, Blucher precedes Blackman,
the new elements are the pictures intention, but John Grehan has informed Bourmont comes before Boreel and
and full colour maps and the five me that the publishers decided colour Bourgeois, and Halkett before Haines.
maps that are included fall into two would be too costly, so – apart from the This book, provided it was
types: three are very general in form dustjacket – all the illustrations are black accompanied by one of the
showing either where Afghanistan and white. He has been told the ebook recommended guidebooks, would
is (ie ‘go USSR and turn south’) or will be in colour. be extremely useful to someone
what the provinces in the country are Each location is identified by its address undertaking a self-guided tour by car or
called. They are ‘political’ rather than and its ‘Map Coordinates’ – actually its motorcycle of the theatre of operations
strategic or topographical. There are latitude and longitude in both traditional and the battlefields of the Hundred
also a couple of mapped examples of and decimal forms – and portrayed by at Days campaign. As John Grehan states
typical Mujahideen, and Soviet attack least one photograph or other illustration, in his introduction, ‘it does not pretend to
styles but they are generalisations, often more than one, and a minimum be in any way a full account of the Waterloo
albeit useful ones from a wargaming of about a page of text. References to campaign,’ but the text contains much
perspective. The photos are a little less endnotes are given in the text. interesting historical information. The
gaming orientated: lots of political Many of the locations will already be photographs of surviving buildings will
ones or press style shots rather than familiar, if only in name, to wargamers also be useful for wargamers wishing
uniforms or AFVs. But then it’s not that from their reading on the campaign, to portray them on their miniature
kind of book! but some will not. I had not realised, for battlefields. Normally I prefer physical/
Useful background reading material at example that one can still visit the very paper books, but in this case I would
a good price. tree – which has since become known recommend the ebook version.
John Treadaway as l’arbre de la Trahison – where General Arthur Harman

52 Miniature Wargames April 2024

 THE PENINSULAR WAR: THE
SPANISH PERSPECTIVE
◗ J.J. Herrero Giminez
◗ Frontline Books (2023)
◗ £28.00
◗ 256 pages (hardback)
◗ ISBN:9781399047852
◗ pen-and-sword.co.uk

British wargamers are often accused

of adopting an unduly Anglocentric
attitude towards the Peninsular War
by focussing, not unnaturally, on the
campaigns of Moore and Wellesley
US NAVY GUN DESTROYERS and largely ignoring the significant
1945-88 contributions made by the Spanish
◗ Mark Stille armies which, despite suffering
◗ Osprey Publishing (2023) numerous defeats at the hands of the
◗ £12.99 French, remained a force in being
◗ 48 pages (softback) that prevented Napoleon’s troops
◗ ISBN:9781472855121 from pacifying the kingdom, and the
◗ ospreypublishing.com irregular warfare conducted by the indicated by filling the box with narrow
guerrilleros. This book claims to present diagonal stripes, and the size of named
This book (subtitled Fletcher class to a Spanish perspective by offering formations is not indicated. Arrows
Forrest Sherman class) is a detailed concise accounts of twenty-five battles show the troop movements and each
review of the destroyers from those ship and sieges, together with some other map is accompanied by a paragraph
classes that were built during the Second material. describing the battle. No scales are
World War to those that were the product The account of each battle is prefaced given, so these maps would really be
of the Cold War. It covers the destroyer by a small – approximately 5 cm of little use for wargamers wishing to
design, the weapons, the sensors and square – outline of Spain, showing its recreate the battlefields on the tabletop.
how the changing nature of maritime provinces but no other detail, upon Other topics include The 2 May
warfare rendered these gun destroyers which the site of battle is marked Uprising; The Asturian Army of 1808;
obsolescent. Every destroyer name is by a black dot. The text begins with the Creation of an Army; The Indomitable
listed together with a chronology and the Orders of Battle of the opposing Guerrillas: the 7th Army; The Military
their fate. armies, offering an overall total, but Prisoners; The Navy at War, and The
This is a well written, detailed book not separate strengths for infantry and Afrancesados and the Spanish Army of King
which discusses the role of these ships cavalry nor the numbers of artillery Joseph.
and their development from those war pieces. These are followed by a Sixteen pages, bound into the first
time classes. It does so in a logical and Background, describing the strategic third of the book, contain black and
clear manner, covering the upgrade situation and the events preceding the white reproductions of portraits,
programmes which kept them in service battle or siege. Finally, there is a short paintings of battles, scenes from Goya’s
for decades after the Second World narrative of the battle or siege itself, Disasters of War, most of which will be
War. It is complemented by abundant usually occupying between one and familiar to readers from other books on
photographs, artwork and 3D diagrams five pages. Endnotes are provided after the period, and some photographs of
of the ship classes. Overall, it is a each battle narrative. monuments and one of Spanish medals.
thorough treatise of the subject but lacks Colour maps are provided for only An eight-page Bibliography and a
the excitement or inspiration of combat eight of the battles – Bailen, Espinosa nine-page index conclude the book.
histories or the contribution of these de los Monteros, Tudela, Ucles, Medellin, Frankly, one can find more helpful
ships to winning a hot war at sea against Almonacid, Ocana and Alba de Tormes battle maps and perfectly satisfactory
a peer opponent. – bound together in the last third of accounts of these battles on the internet.
It is of limited value to wargamers but the book. There is little detail on them Wargamers who wish to recreate the
is thoroughly recommended for those of the terrain; only rivers are shown. campaigns and battles of the Spanish
with an interest in Cold War navies, the Spanish formations are shown in red; armies may find this book a useful
transition to missile destroyers and the French in blue. The traditional way of starting point for their researches, but
modern naval enthusiast. distinguishing cavalry from infantry is no more than that.
Martin S. Pike not used, instead mounted troops are Arthur Harman
›
53 April 2024 Miniature Wargames 53
 REVIEWS

US SEVENTH FLEET, VIETNAM LIGHT TROOPS IN THE SEVEN NAUTILUS TO COLUMBIA

1964-75 YEARS WAR ◗ James C. Goodall
◗ Edward J Marolda ◗ James McIntyre ◗ Osprey Publishing (2023)
◗ Osprey Publishing (2023) ◗ Helion (2023) ◗ £50
◗ £15.99 ◗ £25 ◗ 350 pages (hardback)
◗ 80 pages (softback) ◗ 159 pages (softback) ◗ ISBN:9781472856500
◗ ISBN:9781472856814 ◗ ISBN:9781804513439 ◗ ospreypublishing.com
◗ ospreypublishing.com ◗ helion.co.uk
The title (and its subtitle: 70 Years of
This is a traditional US account of the The Seven Years War saw a great deal of the Us Navy’s Nuclear Submarines)
Vietnam war from the perspective of ‘small warfare’ as well as major battles, says it all. This is a book about the
the fleet which was supporting the with light troops playing a significant USN’s nuclear submarines and covers
fighting with air strikes, intelligence and role in operational as well as tactical all of them with captioned photographs
supply line interdiction. It covers all the settings. This book addresses their of each. There is almost little text
aspects of the Seventh Fleet operating training, tactics and ethos, in two parts – other than a page on the founder of
in the Gulf of Tonkin and the political Europe, and America/Canada. the United States Navy’s nuclear fleet,
aspects of the war which impacted This is an attractive read, with two a forward, an introduction and a few
fleet operations. It notes that bombing central events that illustrate light troops pages on the loss of USS THRESHER
priorities and targeting were set by in action – firstly, the Austrian raid and USS SCORPIO. USS NAUTILUS is
the White House and a small cabinet on a 4,000 waggon Prussian supply given a more detailed treatment with a
with little military input leading to an convoy, and secondly a French-Indian description of its nuclear power plant
inevitable decrease in effectiveness. raid on British supply bases near Fort and its commission. Towards the end,
The book covers the controversy Oswego. In both cases, the results are chapters on the navy’s Area 51, a
surrounding the alleged attack against the were of operational and even strategic top-secret research centre during the
USS MADDOX and the doubts concerning significance. Cold War and, if I recall correctly, some
North Vietnamese involvement but seeks Of the two parts to the book, the mythology, and the future Columbia
to absolve the Johnson administration American setting is much the better, class of submarines which will replace
from the blame of using the incident for with a good mix of tactics and the aging Ohio class from 2031. All this
a major escalation in the war. That said, stratagems to enliven your wargames. makes for a weighty tome!
apart from inspiration for air scenarios, it The European section is quite The book contains some highly
is of limited value for wargamers. repetitive in places, and some of the evocative photographs, of nuclear
Like other books in the series, the text could have been better directed submarines, at sea, alongside, refitting,
book covers fighting power, operations, to describing actions and tactics in conducting trials or entering port.
combat and concludes that the seventh more detail. It has some internal pictures of
fleet achieved (operational) success in However, overall this provides submarines and some firing missiles. To
this controversial war. It is supported guidance at several levels: the status a submariner, enthusiast or modeller,
by atmospheric artwork, photographs conflicts between regulars and it will be fascinating but to your
and diagrams. It is well written and irregulars, the conflicts between allies in average naval wargamer it is of limited
thoroughly recommended for those the same venture, and the sheer impact value. One for the naval historian or
interested in the US Navy’s involvement that bold deep raids could achieve. enthusiast for whom it is thoroughly
in the Vietnam war. Recommended. recommended.
Martin S. Pike Chris Jarvis Martin S. Pike

54 Miniature Wargames April 2024

 REVOLUTIONARY WAR
FORTS: NEW YORK
◗ Michael Garlock
◗ Casemate Publishers (2023)
◗ £34.05
◗ 240 pages (hardback)
◗ ISBN:9781636242606
◗ casematepublishers.co.uk

The American Revolutionary

War is primarily remembered
for battles, such as Saratoga,
Cowpens and Guilford Court
House. Sieges – other than that
BRITISH PACIFIC FLEET of Yorktown, which effectively
1944-45 ended the war – and forts are
◗ Brian Lane Herder not so well remembered. Yet
◗ Osprey Publishing (2023) this handsomely produced
◗ £15.99 book, illustrated in full colour
◗ 80 pages (softback) throughout, features over twenty
◗ ISBN:9781472856777 forts in the New York region, ranging
◗ ospreypublishing.com from purpose built, Vauban-style in alphabetical order. The number of
fortifications such as Fort Ticonderoga, pages varies from a minimum of two
This is the third book in a new series on to simple blockhouses like Fort Klock pages on Forts Defiance, Golgotha
various fleets, their purpose and fighting and wooden stockades. and Herkimer, to a maximum of
power including ships, weapons Author Michael Garlock notes this twelve pages on Forts Ticonderoga
systems and technical aspects, together range of forts and writes: and Washington. The origins and
with how the individual ships operated. “In the array of actions that took place, from construction of each fort, several of
Covering doctrine, intelligence and reconnaissance missions to ambushes, raids which had seen action in the earlier
logistic support, there are diagrams and massacres, sieges and assaults, to booming French and Indian War, the part it
explaining combat air patrol stations naval bombardments, inevitably the common played in the Revolutionary War, and
and fleet formations. It completes with denominator was the fort... the fort was often its fate are described, accompanied by
a narrative on combat, analysis of the nexus of a raid, a battle, or a campaign. reproductions of contemporary plans
the effect of the fleet and what came Many were temporarily thrown together in a and illustrations of the fort, numerous
after. Naturally, it is complemented by matter of days or weeks and deteriorated as portraits of British and American
atmospheric artwork, diagrams and quickly when they were no longer required. officers who served there and, where
photographs. It is a fair treatment of Many made way for development. Others, applicable, modern photographs of
the Royal Navy’s Pacific Fleet and its grander and more enduring, have survived to surviving buildings or reconstructions.
contribution to ending the war against this day and are protected as a reminder of A brief Conclusion referring to the
Japan, especially for an American! that epic conflict…” action at Lexington and the siege of
From a wargaming perspective, this A four-page Timeline from the Yorktown, is followed by a half-page
offers some possibilities but nearly all original building of Fort Amsterdam Bibliography; there is no index.
are for air wargaming as there were in 1625 to the cession of six Northwest This is a book to dip into, rather
no surface actions other than shore Territory forts and two New York than read cover to cover, but it
bombardments working with the USN. forts under British control to the contains much interesting and useful
There is more than enough inspiration United States in 1796, precedes a information for wargamers whose
for air scenario construction including two-page map showing the locations primary interest is the American
kamikaze missions but given the state of the forts. Next is a too brief and Revolutionary War, and may encourage
of training of Japanese air forces at this superficial description of the evolution them to devise alternative scenarios to
stage of the war, it can be one sided. of forts from simple earthworks to the battles they have previously fought.
Overall, this is a good read covering the bastioned fortresses, designed by The narratives of the origins and
the final chapters of the Second World engineers such as Vauban, of the late history of some of the older forts, such
War and the war against Japan and seventeenth century which remained as Niagara, Oswego and Ticonderoga,
is thoroughly recommended for all the preferred style until after the French will also be of interest to wargamers
readers. Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. refighting the French and Indian War.
Martin S. Pike The forts are listed and described Arthur Harman

April 2024 Miniature Wargames 55

 t has been over three years since John but in truth, it took less than one hour before MATERIALS USED

I first asked me if I would be interested in

producing a short series of tutorials showing
how I build and paint wargame terrain and
this must be one of the simplest scratch builds
I have even produced. It all started when I was
I was ready to prime the model. I used a mid-
grey primer which is recommended for plastics
and when dry I sprayed a lighter grey ‘rattle
can’ from above. The final spray colour was
gloss white and this was once again sprayed
◗ Plastic bottle trap – used by
plumbers under sinks
◗ Scrap MDF
◗ DAS Modelling clay
◗ Sieved stones and sand
◗ Various scraps of plastic
given a box of bits which included a spare bottle from above giving a zenithal lighting effect. from my ‘spares box’
trap (used in plumbing and fitted under sinks: I thought that the gloss white was looking a ◗ Static grass, tufts and
ground foam
think ‘U’ bend). It didn’t take long before the little too grey, so ‘sponged on’ some Titanium ◗ A selection of decals
seed of an idea was planted. White acrylic paints concentrating on the (transfers) from my
I used part of the bottle trap and some scrap upper surfaces and the top of the model. The collection
MDF to quickly mock-up this Sci-Fi inspired groundwork was painted in my usual Snakebite
Dehumidifier, very much inspired by various Leather/Barbarian Leather base colour and
film sets from early Star Wars films. The only highlighted with a Snakebite/White drybrushing
issue I encountered was preparing the shiny to show off all of that texture. Later various
white plastic for priming and painting. I used stones were picked out with grey highlighted
some fine sandpaper to ‘key’ the surface and with white before the base was ‘washed’ with
remove the lettering from the top (bottom) of a darker brown wash which helped to show off
the trap. the sculpted texture.
The bottle trap was superglued on to a rough The dehumidifier then had various features
circle of MDF to which I had first chamfered the picked out with acrylic paints before I gloss
edges by cutting with a knife and then sanding varnished the whole model in preparation for
smooth. DAS modelling clay was used to build the decaling. I picked a selection of suitable
up the groundwork before sieved stones and decals from my stash and sealed them with
sand were glued in place with PVA glue and more gloss varnish before adding a very
then sealed with a diluted mix of PVA glue, subtle dirty wash mixed with matt varnish.
water and washing-up liquid. The base was decorated with static grass, tufts
Detailing was kept restrained as I was looking and ground foam and that was it... I don’t
for a simple, quick build, but I could easily think this model took more than two hours
have gone further. I used various scraps from to complete (excluding drying time) and cost
my ‘spares box’ and superglue to secure them. I me nothing. A really easy first time build for
would like to say that I did detailed preparation, anyone contemplating a Sci-Fi gaming board.
›
April 2024 Miniature Wargames 57
 HOBBY TIPS

1. ROUND THE BEND 4. BITS BOX WIDGETS

The project came about after The detailing was kept to an
I was given this bottle trap for absolute minimum – I could
free (used in plumbing and have gone so much further.
fitted under a sink).
The bits were scavenged from
It didn’t take long before I had my ‘bits box’, some scrap sprue
the base cut from some scrap and plastic card.
MDF and the idea to produce
a simple piece of Sci-Fi terrain The ‘widgets’ on the top are
ideal for Stargrave. a pen barrel top, a section of
plastic knitting needle and a
This really was one of the broken toy all glued in place
easiest pieces of wargame with superglue.
terrain I have ever produced.

2. THE TRAP 5. PLASTIC PRIMER

The upside-down bottle trap The whole model was first
was first prepared by sanding spayed with a can of mid-grey
with some fine sandpaper primer (specifically sold for use
to ‘key’ the plastic prior to on plastics), then a lighter grey
painting and remove the sprayed from above and then
raised lettering on the top. gloss white also sprayed from
above to give a zenithal effect.
I superglued the trap to the
MDF base and built up the I thought the gloss white looked
groundwork with some DAS too grey so ‘sponged on’ some
modelling clay. Titanium White acrylic paint, once
again concentrating on the upper
Prior to taking this photo – I have surfaces.
painted on a layer of dilute PVA
glue to seal the DAS and ensure The groundwork was basecoated in
that the join between the trap a Snakebite Leather or Barbarian
and base is secure. Leather colour. It took a couple of
coats to get reasonable coverage.

3. BASE 6. GROUNDWORK
The base was further textures The groundwork was drybrushed
with sieved stones and sand with a Snakebite Leather/White
applied over PVA glue. colour to highlight the texture

I then added a mixture of Various stones were picked out

dilute PVA glue, water and in grey highlighted white before
washing-up liquid which being washed with a flesh/earth
helps to secure the stones and coloured wash which helped to
sand. further define the finish.

It is often advisable to seal the

base in this way a number of
times as it helps to secure the
small bits prior to painting.

58 Miniature Wargames April 2024

7. DETAIL
Detail painting of the
dehumidified was done with a
various acrylic paints and a fine
brush.

The colour scheme and effect

was inspired by buildings in the
early Star Wars films, particularly
the dehumidifiers and surface
structures around Tatoone.

8. DECAL TIME
I scoured my supply of old decals
to add to this model which were
applied over a gloss coat. I then
added some Micro-Sol before
sealing with more gloss varnish.

Scratches and damage were

painted or ‘sponged on’
following techniques used my
military modellers.

Once again I was very muted

in adding these effects as I find
that on a white background
‘less is definitely more’ and I
wasn’t looking for a run-down
finish.

9. GORDON’S ALIVE!
After matt varnishing the whole
model I glued on some static
grass, tufts and ground foam.

In the image at the start of this

article I have shown some 40mm
Flash Gordon minis with the
structure although I have also
tried it out for size with some
Games Workshop Eldar.

The dehumidifier is 120mm tall

and mounted on to a MDF base
140mm round.

This really was a very easy build

and one of the easiest pieces of
terrain I have ever produced.

April 2024 Miniature Wargames 59

 Get the ultimate gaming surprise
with a selection of Tabletop Gaming
Mystery Boxes! Pick a box to suit your
budget and then let us do the rest.

£10 OFF
Your first mystery box purchase
USE PROMO CODE: BOX10

With no two boxes being the same, let

us pick some great games and goodies
for you to expand your gaming collection!

SHOP OUR MYSTERY BOXES AT:

www.ttgami.ng/mysterybox10
 GRAVESEND
MODELS AND
WARGAMES
ALL YOUR WARGAMING,
MODELLING & RAILWAY
NEEDS UNDER ONE ROOF
SHOP OPEN:
MONDAY - SATURDAY
9am til 4.30pm
Sunday 10am til 4pm
Gravesend Models And Wargames
65 High Street, Gravesend, Kent, DA11 0BB
Tel: 01474 328 360
E: [email protected]
Find us on Facebook
www.gravesendmodelcentre.co.uk

Turn your Lead to Gold!

Is the loft threatening to collapse? Are you ever going to paint those
figures? Would you like the cash to start another period or scale?

I buy collections of painted or unpainted figures, any make or scale

including Games Workshop and historical figures. Also Board Games,
RPGs, model kits, books and terrain.

I will buy your entire collection (not just the good bits), pay in cash, and
collect the items from your door. No distance is too far!
Contact free Pick Ups now available
Please call for details
Contact me on 07914 609709, email: [email protected]
or write to Rob Palmier, 23 Clanfield Avenue, Wolverhampton,
West Midlands WV11 2QU

Shakespeare Studios
Professional full time painting service
Established 2003

Full time, friendly,

professional painting
& modelling service,
to the very highest
standard at
affordable prices.
All periods & genres.

07751 648053
[email protected]

COLLECTIONS WANTED! THIS SPACE COULD

Wargame Miniatures & Scenery
of any period & scale.
BE YOURS!
Diecast models & figures, unmade kits. TO ADVERTISE
Military naval & aviation books. CONTACT ALEX ON
Large collections a speciality. 01778 391129 OR
Distance no object. Best prices paid. [email protected]
Prompt professional collection service.
YORK MILITARY BOOKS
Tel: 01423 360828
[email protected]
www.ebay.co.uk/str/yorkmilitarybooks
 IN THE NEXT ISSUE OF

ON SALE APRIL 12TH

PLUS

WARS OF THE ROSES CAPE WARS PUTTING PAINT ON

Adapting Combat HQ WWII rules to Three scenarios for the Wars with Finish your miniature Feldbluse
the Tudor period the Xhosa with flare

BUY YOUR COPY ONLINE AND GET FREE POSTAGE IN THE UK

OR SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE OVER 33% (SEE P.6 FOR MORE)
tabletopgaming.co.uk CONTENTS MAY BE
SUBJECT TO CHANGE
 AVAILABLE IN MARCH 2024!

FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING! JUST SPEND $50/£35!

facebook.com/wargamesatlantic DESIGNED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE POND

VISIT US AT WWW.WARGAMESATLANTIC.COM
 PRESENT

13 April 2024 PRODUCED BY

ExCeL London [ www.salute.co.uk

 SALUTE 51 Q WELCOME

WELCOME TO
SALUTE 51
W
elcome, if you are reading with us. It’s a huge event managed by
this ahead of Salute and a group of enthusiastic hard working
are thinking of coming, or amateurs who give up many hours shy. No matter what age you are you are
have not visited for a few of their own time to make the show a never too old to develop new skills.
years, I urge you to try and make it. The success. Sometimes things go wrong, Be warned, the floor is hard; wear
day is a brilliant celebration of the hobby often through no fault of the organisers appropriate footwear. Lighting generally
and several thousand passionate gamers but we endeavour to fix them straight could be better (I use my phone torch to
will be attending. You will find an open away and learn from what happened. read those difficult to see figure codes in
minded mix of great people, wonderful Our goal is simply for you to have a great the darkest corners of a trade stand ). If
games and awesome traders. day out and ensure everyone has an you are not used to London event prices
Salute draws people from all over the enjoyable experience. take steps to ensure you have enough
world and it’s a fantastic opportunity to My advice, after 20 plus Salutes, is food and water to get you through the
meet up with fellow gamers, share ideas, pace yourself, Salute is not a sprint. Half day.
catch up with old friends and maybe way through the day take a breather, Remember, this show is about you and
even make some new ones. reflect on what you have seen, re look it’s your attendance that makes Salute
If you are reading this at the show, at this programme, cool off by the water a success. Please come and join us, I
thank you so much for attending. We and reflect what games you might have encourage you to fully engage, make
really do appreciate your support, study missed? Very often great games and a day of it and meet fellow enthusiasts
this guide carefully as it will help you clever ideas are to be found in the less who share your passion for this great
navigate your way around the show and obvious tables. Pluck up the courage ask hobby.
ensure you get the most out of your day. questions or join a participation game. You never know you might learn
I want to take this opportunity to thank Later in the day traders are less busy and something or be inspired to try a new
all the attendees, traders and those hard are more able to talk about what exciting period.
working souls who agree to put on a new things are being planned. All the
game at Salute. Without your support
Salute simply would not be possible.
Your fellow gamers want you to know
tables are manned by enthusiastic gamers
who will be only too happy to talk about
their games. This is an opportunity to
Martin Gane
Martin Gane
we really do appreciate your efforts. learn something new and hear from other Club President
Salute is not perfect, so please bear people about their experiences. Don’t be South London Warlords

SALUTE 51 Q OFFICIAL SHOW GUIDE 3

 SALUTE 51 ■ THE MODEL

S
quiddos! Pirate Ladies!”
Those were my exclamations
when I first saw the Salute
51 logo. Two of my favourite
things combined, two of the symbols
for Bad Squiddo Games combined –
brilliant!
Then, when the Warlords contacted
us about producing the figure I was
absolutely gobsmacked, though
several conversations later I had
decided it was real and not some sort
of elaborate scam. 2024 was going to
be the Year of the Squiddo, baby!
I knew immediately that this was
a job for one of our regular sculptors
– Alan Marsh. He’s worked with us
since very early on and is responsible
for a large portion of the Bad Squiddo
Games catalogue. We’ve worked
together often enough now that I can
visualise frighteningly accurately how
his sculpts will look.
Whilst figuring out the pose, Alan
admitted to cobbling together an
unusual outfit featuring his Aussie hat,
a Japanese Bo and a water pistol. To
get the body movement just right, he
practised whipping out the pistol to
aim at a nearby spider. I was assured
that the spider was unharmed and
the gun was not loaded. This alone is
proof of the monk-like self-discipline
required to be a sculptor, I think you’ll
agree.
As bizarre as the scene would
have been, this is an excellent way
MAKING THE
for a sculptor to get a feel for the
anatomy and avoid stances that just
wouldn’t work with a human body.
SALUTE 51 MODEL
Impromptu props don’t need to be Sculpting and casting physically feels
exact, but they can help get the body like a strong, direct link to our past,
in the right place, and shockingly Alan especially as the techniques have
doesn’t have a pirate outfit to hand. changed so minimally over all this
(this isn’t sarcasm, I am shooketh, time. In an age of everything being in
who DOESN’T have a pirate outfit to the cloud, it is cathartically grounding
hand?) to continue these traditions.
While many companies have gone We had never produced miniatures
down the digital sculpting route, we on this scale of production before,
stay largely in the realm of traditional though our casters at CMA CSL do so
sculpting. It fascinates me that even as regularly, so we were in good hands.
we trace back to the start of humanity, Manufacturing this many at once (or
we’ve made little figures of ourselves. cloning, as I like to say) brought fresh

SALUTE 51 ■ OFFICIAL SHOW GUIDE 5

SALUTE 51 ■ THE MODEL

challenges to the figure design. Every part of our figures are

designed technically as well as artistically.
As a team, we’ve produced this figure that is dynamic, visually
interesting, detailed and one piece. While the basics of casting
metal have barely changed, the skillset of those using the tools
is always advancing, and I like to push to pleasantly surprise
people what can be achieved as a single casting. It’s been such a
great opportunity to show who we are at Bad Squiddo, and what
we can do. ■

Annie Norman, Owner of Bad Squiddo Games

6 SALUTE 51 ■ OFFICIAL SHOW GUIDE

 Visit us on Stand
TD21

Scan the QR • Pre-blended products

code to see
the full range • Easy to use scenic materials
• From the makers of Woodland Scenics

Images illustrate models finished with All Game Terrain scenic materials.

Available from and all good model shops.

www.bachmann.co.uk
SALUTE 51 ■ PAINTING THE MODEL

Painting
Stormin'
Annie
Kevin Dallimore describes how Stormin’
Annie, the Salute 51 Model, was brought
to life in two very different ways

S
he is a jaunty 18th century style The Army Painter Speedpaints,
rogue with more than a touch of which give a most
Pirates of the Caribbean about satisfactory effect in much
her and none the worse for that! I less time than normal painting,
have painted her in the two different ways, however they are not everybody’s cup
like I did last year but this year trying the of tea so I have painted a conventional
new second iteration of Speedpaints. version too. The conventional full paint
job took about 14 hours, whereas this time was consumed thinking and cleaning
THE STYLE speedy one took 1½ hours. These are and undercoating, and writing...
The first version is something that might estimates of course, as I tended to fit the The second version follows my well
suit people who do not have lots of time speedy one in around painting the other known method of working from dark to
to commit to painting. Using the new V2 model. That’s just for the paintwork; more light shades from a black undercoat. This
three or more colour painting method
uses successive lighter tones of colour
(shade, middle and light or more) which
are added to the model in layers, working
up from dark to light. This creates a
three-dimensional effect of shadows and
highlights, the layers of colour giving
depth to the model. The paints used are
from The Army Painter – Warpaints.
Both methods are explained in full
detail in my online magazine at http://
nstarmagazine.com/ published by
North Star Military Models, so head there
to know more.

8 SALUTE 51 Q OFFICIAL SHOW GUIDE

 SPEEDY PAINTING
EYES No eye at this stage, but I did dot her eye in at the
end with same colour mix as the normal painting.
FLESH Peachy Flesh
BLOUSE & SKULL & CROSSBONES Blinding Light.
SASH / SKIRT Pastel Yellow. [[[129_1733]]]
BOOTS Warrior Skin.
BOWS, TRIMS & HEAD SCARF Blood Red.
BOTTLE Absolution Green.
LEATHER STRAPS Hardened Leather.
HAIR Fire Giant Orange.
GUNSTOCK & FLAGSTAFF Ruddy Fur.
DECK & SALUTE SIGN Bony Matter.
FLAG, EYE PATCH & HILT Grim Black.
HAT Grim Black.
METALWORK Shining Silver.
GOLD Bright Gold.
GIANT SQUID: SUCKERS Rigor Mortis.
TOP SURFACE Camo Cloak.

THE PREPARATION THE UNDERCOATS

Prep was the same for both. Well cast in I undercoated them in both the same matt
metal with little cleaning up to do, she’s black Humbrol enamel 33. The enamel
a fine one-piece casting so no assembly was thinned by about 10% of white spirit
is required. Trim off any moulding lines, and applied with a large old brush ]. The
flash or extraneous material with a sharp model that was going to be painted in
knife, I used a brand new blade in my Speedpaints then got a second undercoat
scalpel, then finish off with a fine file. As in the form of a zenithal sprayed white
always be very careful with the sharp undercoat, which is very much the key to
knife. the success of the Speedpaints. ■

SALUTE 51 Q OFFICIAL SHOW GUIDE 9

SALUTE 51 Q PAINTING THE MODEL

NORMAL PAINTING
EYES She only has one eye showing so half the
normal work. The white of the eye is Matt White.
The iris is Oak Brown with a tiny bit of Deep Blue
mixed in.
FLESH Fur Brown. Tanned Flesh. Tanned Flesh plus
Matt White. Plus Matt White. Plus more Matt White.
.FIIJIFYNS^FRTZSYTK5ZWJ7JIYTYMJ‫ܪ‬SFQ‫ܫ‬JXM
and painted in the bottom lip.
BLOUSE & SKULL & CROSSBONES White mixed with
Ash Grey. Plus Matt White. Plus more Matt White.
Plus more Matt White. Pure Matt White
SASH / SKIRT Desert Yellow plus Fur Brown. Pure
Desert Yellow. Plus Demonic Yellow. Plus more
Demonic Yellow. Plus Matt White.
BOOTS Chaotic Red. Plus Desert Yellow. Plus more
Desert Yellow. Plus even more Desert Yellow. Plus
Matt White.
BOWS, TRIMS & HEAD SCARF Chaotic Red and
Dragon Red. Plus Dragon Red. Pure Dragon Red.
Pure Red.
plus Lava Orange.
BOTTLE Angel Green. Plus Matt White. Plus more
Matt White. Plus more Matt White. Plus even more
Matt White.
LEATHER STRAPS Leather Brown plus Oak Brown.
Plus Leather Brown. Pure Leather Brown. Plus Matt
White. Plus more Matt White.
HAIR Fur Brown plus Lava Orange. Plus Desert
Yellow. Plus more Desert Yellow. Plus Matt White.
Plus more Matt White.
GIANT SQUID SUCKERS: Crypt Wraith plus Necrotic
Flesh. Plus Necrotic Flesh. Pure Necrotic Flesh. Plus
Matt White. Plus more Matt White. TOP SURFACE:
Elf Green plus Matt Black. Plus Desert Yellow. Plus
Desert Yellow. Plus Matt White. Plus more Matt
White.
GUNSTOCK & FLAGSTAFF Dirtsplatter Plus Desert
Yellow. Plus more Desert Yellow. Plus yet more
Desert Yellow. Plus Matt White.
DECK & SALUTE SIGN Desert Yellow Plus Leather
Brown. Plus Matt White. Plus more Matt White. Plus
J[JSRTWJ2FYY<MNYJFSI‫ܪ‬SFQQ^RTWJ2FYY<MNYJ
FLAG, EYE PATCH & HILT Matt Black and Skeleton
Bone. Plus Skeleton Bone. Plus more Skeleton Bone.
Plus more Skeleton Bone. Plus Matt White.
HAT Matt Black and Chaotic Red. Plus Chaotic Red.
Plus more Chaotic Red. Plus Matt White. Plus Matt
White.
METALWORK Gunmetal. Mid-Brown Wash. Gunmetal
again. Plate Mail. Shining Silver. Mid-Brown Wash.
Weapon Bronze again. Greedy Gold. Bright Gold.
BRUSHES Throughout the painting of these models
I’ve used a Foundry Pure Sable Fine Detail Size 0000
brush for the detail and a The Army Painter - Insane
Detail brush, plus a Foundry Pure Sable Fine Finish
Size 000 for larger areas.
CONCLUSION The same model painted in two
contrastingly different ways, one fast, one slow. I
always look forward to seeing how Salute painting
competition entrants paint the Salute model and what
they do with it for next years painting competition; I
can already see pirate sails on the horizon.
For more detailed guidance on painting techniques,
and many other things, go to my online magazine at
http://nstarmagazine.com/ published by North Star
Military Models.

10 SALUTE 51 Q OFFICIAL SHOW GUIDE

‹ 70/XFDV¿OP/WG
SALUTE 51 ■ WARGAMING

A
n entry from my 1971 diary reads:
‘Played a Waterloo wargame which
took a long time. I was Napoleon,
my brother was Wellington, and my
Napoleonic
wargaming
cousin was Blucher. I was beaten just like the real
thing’. I still remember that first Napoleonic
game. It was played on the living room
carpet with an assortment of Airfix 20mm
plastic figures – mostly unpainted. Even
American civil war figures had to be drafted
in to make up the numbers. We used Donald
by Mike Evans
Featherstone’s rules and had seen the Dino
De Laurentiis film Waterloo with Rod Steiger armies and terrain. In The Grand Manner was using 28mm figures. A significant piece of
as Napoleon and Christopher Plummer as the rule set and this gaming experience filled battlefield real estate.
Wellington. That great movie started my me with the desire to have my own extensive Having chosen 25mm as my scale I was
fascination with Napoleonic Wargaming. Napoleonic collection. unable to buy any of the wonderful new
By 1976 I had moved to London and One of the big changes in the 1980’s was the 28mm figure ranges, but I was tempted by
discovered the Rye Stamp & Hobby Shop in move to 15mm wargaming. Not a direction I 54mm Napoleonic figures. I came across some
Peckham run by Bill Brewer. He sold stamps wanted to take but I saw an opportunity as it metal Britains’ Collector Series at a medal
and Minifigs wargames figures and he told meant 25mm figure collections would be sold fair, and I have collected various 54mm or
me of a wargames club called the South off at Bring & Buys. Bring & Buys were very 1/32nd plastic figures over the years. If you
London Warlords of which he was treasurer. I different back then as you could get some want to start out in Napoleonics I recommend
have been a Warlord ever since. real bargains. I have a large collection, mainly Songs of Drums & Shakos. They give a great
At the Club only a few people played bought in the 1980s and early 1990s. The cost game for small skirmishes and work with any
Napoleonics. We used Bruce Quarrie’s was about 50p per painted figure, double figure scale.
rules which nowadays would be regarded for cavalry, which is equivalent to £2 today. Back in the 1980s, a fellow Warlord Peter
as unplayable. They did however offer a As more and more exquisite 28mm figures Edwards was into Napoleonics in a big
brilliant introduction to the period with lots ranges were produced many remaining way. He had chosen 15mm and he built
of tables of national characteristics. I joined in 25mm gamers were enticed to invest in new up his armies on an industrial scale. His
games with Ian Spence’s French and Italians 28mm armies and so more figures came my huge number of troops allowed us to play
and Brendan Wheatley’s Spanish. I slowly way. I also bought armies from friends. I multi-player games. Peter was always keen
acquired my own forces, mainly British am delighted to own Brendan’s beautifully to provide all the forces, and this made truly
Minifigs from Bill’s shop. painted Spanish (which I had long coveted), epic games a regular occurrence. Everyone
I participated in other periods, and I was Ian’s Italians and Norman Thorpe’s Bavarians who gamed with Peter was indebted to him
introduced to an American called Brian and Austrians, and I am grateful to Phil for his contribution to our hobby.
Stokes. Brian had an innovative set of WW2 Portway for gifting me a unit of British A very special mention must also be
armoured warfare rules called Tank Charts, cavalry. I have rebased them all to my basing given to the late Jim Cutler. Jim had bought
but he too was fascinated by Napoleonics. He style and I add the odd unit when I wish to. an Avalon Hill wargame called ‘Napoleon
had begun writing his own rules and gamed The biggest manufacturer of 25mm at Bay’ and he decided to use it as a basis
in California with 6mm figures. He was Napoleonics was Minifigs, which have since for running a campaign. He wanted to
interested in how his rules would work with been acquired by Caliver. These are the use Peter’s 15mm figures and involve all
our larger figures and so the South London mainstay of my collection. Whenever I field the Club’s Napoleonic gamers. I felt very
Warlords became a playtesting centre for them nowadays, they are called old-school, honoured when Jim asked me privately if I
his excellent Napoleonic rules called House and they are, but they have a huge benefit. was interested in being involved because he
Rules. With figures having the same pose they can wanted me to take the role of Napoleon. I had
I had heard of a new place called the be realistically based very closely together very heavy work commitments at the time
Wargames Holiday Centre in Thornton Le so that they fit on what would be a 15mm but just could not let the opportunity pass,
Dale in Yorkshire run by Peter Gilder. In 1980 base size. In other words, my armies have a so I agreed on two conditions. Firstly, that I
I booked a full week’s holiday there and had 15mm footprint. I can set up a 12’ x 6’ table could choose who I wanted as my Marshalls
a fantastic time gaming in the spectacular at home so using the 15mm ground scale my and secondly, to avoid any paperwork I
war room with that legendary collection of table is equivalent to about 18’ x 9’ if I was wanted to meet Jim once a week in a pub of

12 SALUTE 51 ■ OFFICIAL SHOW GUIDE

his choice in Crystal Palace to discuss the
campaign and give my orders. Jim agreed
and the next 18 months were some of the best
Napoleonic wargaming you could imagine.
Campaigns are difficult to run but Jim
did this brilliantly. His home-grown rules
were simple enough to get a result on a
Club night and everyone was enthusiastic
throughout the campaign. Marshall Marmont
(Ian Spence), and Marshall Mortier (Mike
McNally) did me proud and no-one could
stand in the way of my cavalry commander
Marshall Victor (the late Colin Dickens). The
campaign was the 1813/14 winter campaign
when Napoleon was defending France
against the combined armies of Austria,
Russia, and Prussia. Jim wrote up an account
of the campaign in the Club magazine. We
did do very well. We won many a glorious
victory and some clever ones, but in the end
the weight of numbers was too much, and the
outcome was historical. It would have been
off to Elba for me.
Around that time Dave Brown’s General and considering the setting up and clearing time gamers, but we also want that true
De Brigade came on the scene. No more away, there are only 3 hours of gaming at Napoleonic feel, and rules that give real
moving armies at the whim of the gamer but most. Unfortunately, this was about the command challenges. Last year we were
a proper command and control system. We time when you were just beginning to get excited when Valour & Fortitude appeared,
used these rules for years and I participated a result rather than achieving it, which was as Jervis Johnson and the Perry twins seem
in a couple of the weekend battles that Dave always frustrating. Dave Brown was aware to have the same objective. We have been
organised and met great people and had more of this and created the faster playing General using V&F for over a year and really like how
truly memorable gaming experiences. D’Armee. Games flow more smoothly, and they play. Version 1 was brutal, with entire
Paul Spence then joined the Warlords. He we have had some very good gaming with brigades being lifted off after failed Fortitude
was and remains a fan of General de Brigade. them. General D’Armee 2 will be out soon. tests but that allowed for huge games. We
He was building his huge collection of 28mm Black Powder was an interesting set of played Eylau, Friedland and Borodino with
Napoleonics and like Peter Edwards before rules as it was designed for big social games around 20 brigades a side and every time
him Paul generously provided his armies that could get a result in a Club evening. we had historical results and could better
for Monday night Club games. Paul always Some of us thought that this may be what understand the challenges facing the real-life
like to do things big and would often say we had been looking for. We did have great commanders. Finally, my collection was being
“You can never have enough Voltigeurs” or fun but there are flaws in the basic rules. fully utilised. V&F version 2 is even better
whatever unit he had newly acquired. This Everyone has their own house rules to make and is suitable for small games as well as
acquisition policy enabled us once again to the core game work which means new large. As I write this, I am eagerly anticipating
have huge multiplayer games. Paul doesn’t gamers cannot buy a working set of rules. next weekend’s game when Alan, Warren,
do plastic figures and the trestle tables We had hoped that this would have been Tony, Bryn, Michael, Jim, and Ted will be
groaned under the weight of his lead. We had corrected in Black Powder 2, but the flaws coming round for another big battle.
great fun and as Paul would often say with remain. So, my Napoleonic wargaming is better
a big smile on his face as he surveyed those I now must mention my good friend Alan now than it has ever been. It has been such a
games – “Splendid!” Patrick. He and I have been searching for wonderful journey and long may it continue.
However, there is a flaw with General some time for the perfect set of rules. We If you would like to say hello and share your
De Brigade, certainly for big Club games, want big multiplayer games that get a result journey in Napoleonic wargaming then come
and that is the time it takes to reach a in the allocated time. We want the rules to along to Salute. I will be at the big Valour &
conclusion. Our Club nights start at 7pm be easy to learn and unintimidating for first Fortitude game. ■

SALUTE 51 ■ OFFICIAL SHOW GUIDE 13

 FROM VETERAN GAMES DESIGNER JAMES HEWITT (NECROMUNDA, HELLBOY - THE BOARD GAME) COMES
FALLOUT: FACTIONS, A BRAND-NEW MINIATURE SKIRMISH GAME WHERE RAIDERS BATTLE IT OUT FOR
CONTROL OF NUKA-WORLD. BUILD YOUR CREW, SELECT YOUR PLOYS, AND WATCH YOUR TEAM GROW INTO A
FEARSOME FIGHTING FORCE ACROSS MULTIPLE FAST AND FURIOUS PVP MATCHES.

THE FALLOUT: FACTIONS NUKA-WORLD TWO PLAYER STARTER SET CONTAINS EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO START
PLAYING STRAIGHT OUT OF THE BOX, INCLUDING MINIATURES, TOKENS, PUNCH-OUT TERRAIN, AND MORE!

THE ONLY QUESTION IS: WILL YOUR CREW BE CLIMBING TO THE TOP OF THE CORPSE PILE,
OR WILL THEY BE THE ONES CLIMBED OVER?

See us at Booth TL14 or Demo

Table GM18!
© 2023 Bethesda Softworks LLC. FALLOUT and related logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of ZeniMax Media Inc. or its affiliates in the U.S. and/or other countries. All Rights Reserved. The Modiphius Entertainment logo is a registered trademark of Modiphius
Entertainment Ltd. All rights reserved to their respective owners. Actual components may vary from those shown.
www.conquest-games.co.uk
 SALUTE 51 Q PAINTING COMPETITION

SALUTE 50
PAINTING COMPETITION
The Salute 50 Painting Competition was yet another showcase of the incredible modelling and painting
talent within our hobby. South London Warlords would like to thank everybody who provided one of the
many entries that filled the display cabinets on the day.
Fantasy
Creature
Fantasy Creature
or Vehicle
1st. Lisa Mason Up to 3 figures
or models*,
can be any size.

Fantasy
Single Figure

BINESHSOTW
Up to and including 54mm.

Fantasy Unit
3 to 40 figures, up to
and including 54mm.

Fantasy Unit
2nd. Hedley Coppock

Miscellaneous
Any figure or unit not
covered by categories
1 to 10 including
dioramas and duels.

Fantasy Single Figure Miscellaneous

1st. Adam Skinner 1st. Mark Lifton

18 SALUTE 51 Q OFFICIAL SHOW GUIDE

 SALUTE 50
PAINTING COMPETITION
The prizes awarded to the winners and runners-
up in each category were generously provided
by this year’s painting competition sponsors:
Q Twilight Miniatures Q Wayland Games Historical
Q Great Escape Games Q Great Art Single Figure
Q ABC Brushes Q Spellcrow Infantry or cavalry, up to
Q Cerberus Studios and including 54mm.
Q Offensive Miniatures Q Geek Villain
Q Plastic Soldier Company
Q Wargames Illustrated
Q Trans Atlantis Games Q KR Cases
Q Mantic Q Green Stuff World
Q North Star Q Osprey Q Micro Art Studio
Q Magister Militum Q Hobby Hive
Q Anvil Industry Q Bad Squiddo Games
Q Sarissa Precision

Historical Single figure

1st. Mark Lifton

Historical Unit
Infantry or cavalry,
3 to 40 figures,
up to and including 54mm.

Historical Unit
1st. Darren Linnington

Historical
Unit - Other
Historical wargames
unit, infantry or cavalry,
up to and including 54mm.

Historical Unit (Other)

1st. Sébastien Clément *Artillery, elephants, boats etc.

SALUTE 51 Q OFFICIAL SHOW GUIDE 19

 SALUTE 51 Q PAINTING COMPETITION

Large Scale
Single figures or units over
54mm up to and including
Junior 90mm, busts up to 165mm.
Any figure or unit
covered by the other
categories and entered
by a person up to and
including 16 years old.

Junior
2nd. Christoph Zwart

Salute
2021
Figure

Large Scale
1st. Janna de Coninck

Salute 2021 Figure

1st. Stefan Johnson

20 SALUTE 51 Q OFFICIAL SHOW GUIDE

 Science Fiction
Single Figure
Up to and including 54mm.
Science Fiction
Creature or Vehicle
Up to 3 figures or models*,
can be any size.

Sci-fi Single Figure

1st. David Roberts

Science
Fiction Unit
3 to 40 figures, Sci-fi Creature
1st. Stephen Smith
up to and including 54mm.

Sci-fi Unit
1st. Stephen Smith

*Artillery, elephants, boats etc.

SALUTE 51 Q OFFICIAL SHOW GUIDE 21

SALUTE 51 Q TRADERS
NAME WEBSITE STAND NAME WEBSITE STAND
ABCbrushes www.abcbrushes.com TA15 KR Cases www.krcases.com TB07
Albion Alloys www.albionhobbies.com TM19 Kurpa Miniatures https://www.myminifactory.com/ TE10
All Rolled Up www.allrolledup.co.uk/ TH12 Last Man Last Bullet www.lastmanlastbullet.co.uk TA19
Anschluss Publishing https://anschlusswargames.com/ TE02 Last Valley, The https://www.facebook.com/profi TM01
Anvil Industry www.anvilindustry.co.uk/ TH10 Leisure Games www.leisuregames.com TM03
Archon Studio https://archon-studio.com/ TD10 Loke Battle Mats www.lokebattlemats.com TC04
Asmodee UK http://www.asmodee.co.uk/ TF07 Mad Gaming Terrain www.4tk.co.uk TK06
Atlantis Miniatures www.bluegiantstudios.co.uk TD19 Mammoth miniatures www.mammothminiatures.com/ TC14
Baccus 6mm www.baccus6mm.com TB09 Mantic Games www.manticgames.com TB10
Bachmann Europe https://www.bachmann.co.uk/ TD21 Marquee Models www.mmodels.co.uk TM02
Bad Squiddo Games www.badsquiddogames.com TD08 Master Crafted Miniatures www.mastercrafted.co.uk TB06
Barrel of Dice https://barrelofdice.com/ TM21
Masterstroke Games https://masterstrokegames.com/ TK03
Battle Foam https://uk.battlefoam.com TE01
Micro Art Studio www.shop.microartstudio.com TC16
Battlefield Accessories www.battlefieldaccessories.com.au TK17
Models for Heroes www.modelsforheroes.org.uk TA02
Battlezone Miniatures www.battlezone-miniatures.co.uk TF03
Modiphius Entertainment www.modiphius.net TL14
BelloLudi www.belloludi.nl TK15
Modular Worlds www.modularworlds.co.uk TF04
Beowulf Miniatures Printing https://www.beowulfminiatures.com/ TD17
Monkstone Miniatures www.monkstoneminiatures.com TL07
Bicorne Miniatures www.bicorne.net TA14
Mould Plas TL13
Black Scorpion miniatures https://www.blackscorpionminia TJ11
Myminifactory.com https://www.myminifactory.com/ TF05
Blotz www.blotz.co.uk TH08
Neill’s Materials/AmeraLabs https://www.neillsmaterials.co.uk/ TH02
Brigade Models www.brigademodels.co.uk TE14
Oakbound Studio www.Oakbound.co.uk TM05
Brushes4models/Artmaster [email protected] TE12
Caliver Books www.caliverbooks.com TD02 Oathsworn https://oathsworn.net/ TJ09
Carlo’s Miniatures www.carlosminiatures.com TL01 Offensive Miniatures www.offensiveminiatures.com TH04
Cerberus Studios www.cerberus-studios.com TC13 Orcs Head, The https://www.facebook.com/orcsiorcs/ TM10
Colin Mathieson Comics https://momentofadventure.blog TE05 Osprey Games www.ospreygames.co.uk TJ13
Colour Forge, The https://thecolourforge.com/ TL05 Pandyman Entertainment www.pandyman.co.uk TL15
Crooked Dice Game Design Studio https://crooked-dice.co.uk TJ03 Patriot Games https://custompatriot.uk/ TH12
Cultural Experience, The https://www.theculturalexperience.com/ TM11 Paul Meekins Books www.paulmeekins.co.uk TD23
David Lanchester Military Books http://www.davidlanchestermilitarybooks.co.uk/ TA22 Pendraken www.pendraken.co.uk TH11
Debris of War www.debrisofwar.com TJ12 Perry Miniatures https://www.perry-miniatures.com/ TE06
Deep-Cut Studio www.deepcutstudio.com TF01 Perry Miniatures (Metals) [email protected] TA13
Diehard Miniatures https://diehardminiatures.com/ TL12 Planet Smasher Games https://planetsmashergames.com TD03
Drowned Earth, The https://www.thedrownedearth.com/ TK07 PLAYMATS.eu https://playmats.eu TE13
Element Games https://elementgames.co.uk/ TB04 Realms of Tiberium https://www.realmsoftiberium.com/ TE03
Elite Wargames & Models / Sgts Mess https://elitewargamesandmodels.com/ TJ07 Renedra www.renedra.co.uk TE04
Ellis Accessories http://www.modellerschoice.square.site TD16 Rogue Hobbies Https://roguehobbies.com TL04
Empress Miniatures https://www.empressminiatures TM15 ROK Minis Www.ROKminis.com TD15
Encounter Terrain www.instagram.com/encounterterrain TE09 Rubicon Models UK www.rubiconmodels.co.uk TA18
Entoyment Wargaming and Hobby Centre https://entoyment.co.uk/produc TF12 Sarissa Precision https://sarissa-precision.com/ TK18
Essex Miniatures www.essexminiatures.co.uk TF11 Sheppey Models https://sheppeymodels.co.uk TH09
Eureka Miniatures UK www.eurekaminuk.com TK16 SMS Paints/Frome Model Centre www.fromemodelcentre.com TB01
Exit 23 Games https://exit23.games TA01
Tangent Miniatures www.tangentminiatures.com TF02
Farplace Trading www.farplacethegame.com TA04
Taro Modelmaker www.taromodelmaker.com TH05
Fenris Games www.fenrisgames.com TD06
Titan Wargames www.titanwargames.com TB02
Flag Dude / Red Eagle Miniatures http://www.redeagleminiatures.co.uk/flagdude.html TE08
Too Fat Lardies/Reisswitz Press www.toofatlardies.co.uk TM16
Footsore Miniatures and Games www.footsoreminiatures.co.uk TL06
Trans Atlantis Games/Duncan Rhodes Painting Academy www.transatlantisgames.com TB11
Forgemaster Miniatures https://forgemasterminiatures.com/ TF06
Tritex Games www.tritex-games.co.uk TE11
Freja’s Field www.frejasfield.co.uk TH03
TTcombat https://ttcombat.com/ TK12
GamersGrass https://gamersgrass.com/ TK09
Twilight Miniatures www.worldoftwilight.com TK04
GCT Studios https://gctstudios.com/ TB05
Uncertain Scenery www.uncertainscenery.com TC02
GloForce www.gloforce.com/ TM12
Vault, The https://thegamingvault.net/ TC06
Goblin King Games www.moonstonethegame.com TA16
Great Escape Games greatescapegames.co.uk TJ05 Void Scar Miniatures www.voidscarminiatures.com TC05
Green Stuff World https://www.greenstuffworld.com/ TM14 Warbases www.warbases.co.uk TE07
Gringo 40s www.gringo40s.com TJ08 Wargames Foundry www.wargamesfoundry.com TH06
Grumpy Gorilla Publications (DMB Games) https://grumpy-gorilla.co.uk/ TK14 Wargames Illustrated www.wargamesillustrated.net TL03
Harps Corporation www.harpscorp.com TM20 Warlord Games https://store.warlordgames.com/ TB08
Helion & Company Publishing www.helion.co.uk TC07 WarMag https://www.themagnetshop.co.uk/ TH07
Heroics & Ros Ltd www.heroicsandros.co.uk/ TA08 Warp Miniatures www.warpminiatures.com TD04
Instant Armies [email protected] TA06 Wayland Games www.waylandgames.co.uk TF08
Institute of Cancer Research TC18 Westwind Productions/Forged in Battle www.forgedinbattle.com TM06
Iron Gate Scenery https://tinyurl.com/fu3hmbjd TM17 Word Forge Games https://wordforgegames.com/ TA17
Kieron Howells www.facebook.com/pumpcron TA11 Zinge Industries www.zinge.co.uk TA21

SALUTE 51 ■ OFFICIAL SHOW GUIDE 23

SALUTE 51 Q FLOOR PLAN
SEATING DISABLED SEATING
TOILETS

TA01
A B C D E F
TB01 GD01 TF01
TA02 TD02
GC01
GA03 TB02
TA04 TC02 TD03
TE01 TE02 TA15 ST
GD02
GA04 TB04 TD04
TA06 TC04 TA15
GC05 TE03 TE04
TC05 GD03
TA08 GA07 TD06 TE05 TA15
TC06
TB05
TA11 GD05 TE06
TE07 TA15
TC07 GC08 TD08
GA12 TB06
TE08 TA15
GD07 GG01
TA13

GA15 GC09
GD09
TB07 TD10 TF07

PAI
ENTRANCE W01 COMP

GD11
TA14 GA16 TD12
GD13
TA15 GC10
GA17 TB08
TD15 TE09 GG02
GD14 GF08
TA15 TD16 TE10 TF08
GA19 GC12
TC13 GD16 TD17 GG04
TA17 TB09 TE11 GF09
GA20 GC13
TC14
TD19
TA18 GD18
GA21 TC16 TE12 GF10
TB10 GC14
TA19 TC18 TD21 TE13 TF11 G
GD22 TE14
GA23
TA21 GC16 GF11
TB11 TF12
TD23
GA24
TA22
A B C D E F G

TOILETS
SEATING

24 SALUTE 51 Q OFFICIAL SHOW GUIDE

 DISABLED SEATING DISABLED
TOILETS TOILETS

TM01
H J K L M
GM03
GH01 GK01 TM02
GJ01 GK02
TAGE TK03 TL01
GL01 GM04
TH02 TJ03 TM03
GJ02 TL03
GK03 TK04
TH03 GM07 TM05
TL04
GJ04 GL04
TJ05
TH04 TK06 TL05 TM06
GM08
GL06
GJ05 GK04 TL06
TM10
TH05 TJ07 TK07
PIRATE TL07 TM11
COVE GJ07 GL08
GK08 TM12

TK09
TH06 GJ08 GL09
GK09

INTING SEATING AREA AND

PETITION W02 REFRESHMENTS

TH07 GJ09
GL10
GK11
TH08 TJ08 GJ10
GH08 TK12 GM12 TM13
GG03 TH09 GL11
TJ09 GJ11
GK13
TM14
GH10 GM13
GG05 GJ12 TL12
TH10 TJ11 TK14
TL13 GL13 TM15
GK14
TJ12 TK15
GH12 GM16
TL14 TM17
TH11 GJ13 GK15 TK16
TJ13 GL15
GG06 TK17 TL15 GM17 TM18
GH13 GK17
GL16 GM18
TH12 TK18
GJ14
TM19
G H J K L M GM19

EXIT TOILETS
SEATING

This Salute 2024 plan is purely indicative and is constructed as an aid to the public ONLY. It is NOT a
definitive guide to placement or size of tables or Trade Stands. Within those constraints, however, it
was accurate at time of going to press. For more information on all games, exhibits and trade stands at
Salute 2024 please visit the website www.salute.co.uk or come to the Information Stand on the day.

SALUTE 51 Q OFFICIAL SHOW GUIDE 25

SALUTE 51 Q GAMES
No. Name Name of Game Participation Description of Game

GA03 Exit 23 Games Relicblade Yes Gather great heroes or powerful monsters for your cause. Delve into the vast ruins of the ancient world to claim your
destiny! Solo, Co-op and Verses games are available.

GA04 Farplace Trading Farplace The Game Yes Farplace The Game is a charity produced game based on animal rescue. It is a set collection, asymmetric race game
KTWFLJ )TL)F^XFXMTWYHFWILFRJTKFWTZSIRNSZYJXQJSLYMKTWFLJ\MJWJYMJTGOJHYN[JNXYT‫ܪ‬QQF
week full of dogs

GA07 GCT Studios Bushido Demo Yes Learn to Play Bushido

GA12 Continental Wars Society Baden Uprising 1849 Yes 1849-The Baden army has joined the revolution! Now Baden regulars and volunteers from all over Germany have to
defend their new freedoms from a Federal German army.

GA15 Corvus Belli .S‫ܪ‬SNY^YMJ,FRJ Yes )JRTLFRJXTK.S‫ܪ‬SNY^YMJ\FWLFRJ\NYMRJYFQRNSNFYZWJXXNRZQFYNSLXUJHNFQTUJWFYNTSXFSIXPNWRNXMJXNSFMNLM

YJHMSTQTL^XHN‫ܪ‬ZSN[JWXJ TK<FWHWT\YMJSJ\KFSYFX^\FWLFRJYMFY\NQQGJWJQJFXJINSXZRRJW

GA16 Skirmish Wargames Boxer Uprising - An Unexpected Encounter - A Boxer Uprising game in 54mm - An advanced force from the Eight Allied Powers has bumped into part of the
Chinese rear-guard who have decide to a make stand.

GA17 Goblin King Games Moonstone Fantasy Skirmish Yes Moonstone is the multi-award winning, fantasy miniatures skirmish game from Goblin King Games. It sees you
leading fairytale inspired characters in search of precious Moonstones utilising unique card mechanics.

GA19 Word Forge Games SAS Rogue Regiment Yes Our new game, SAS Rogue Regiment will launch at SALUTE. This is a game of STEALTH. Can the players complete
their mission before the Nazis work out what’s going on?

GA20 Rubicon Models UK Oscar Mike Vietnam Yes Platoon Level Vietnam War miniatures game with plenty of tactical choice and player engagement.

GA21 Mantic Games Kings of War Yes

GA23 Ashford Gaming Club I can’t believe it’s not epic & Space Weirdos Yes &IFUYTWXYNYFSNHZX\NYMRTIN‫ܪ‬JIWZQJXKTW9^WFSNIJXFSI8UFHJ\JNWITXUNYYNSL_TRGNJX[X)FQJPX[X]JSTRTWUMX
JYH&QQTZWRTIN‫ܪ‬JIWZQJX\NQQGJF[FNQFGQJKWTRTZW[TQZSYJJWXFYYMJYFGQJX

GA24 Kitt Miniatures Aeonian Void Yes &JTSNFS;TNINXFYFGQJYTUXYFWXMNU\FWLFRJ\MJWJUQF^JWXHTSYWTQ‫ܫ‬JJYXTKWJXNS\FWXMNUXFHWTXXFXJHYNTSTK

space to complete set objectives and defeat your opponents vessels.

GC01 SMS Paints/Frome Model Centre SMS Demo Team - SMS paint demos.

GC05 To the Strongest! The Relief of Norchester Yes The citizens of the besieged Royalist stronghold of Norchester are starving; can a relief force rupture the
Parliamentarian siege lines and bring them succour? A For King and Parliament game.

GC08 Helion & Company Publishing Renatio et Glorium - CCC Games will be demonstrating the new edition of Renatio et Glorium published in association with Helion &
Company Publishing.

GC09 GM Boardgames Gods of War: Togo Yes Gods of War: Togo is a naval wargame that puts you in command of mighty battleships, nimble cruisers and fast
destroyers from the turn of the 20th century.

GC10 Real Time Wargames The Glittering River’ Russian Civil War River Actions Yes 1/600 in the Russian Civil War on river, on land and in the air using hexes and playing cards. Ships from PT
Dockyards of America

GC12 Ioan Davies-John Packing Heat Yes &8PNWRNXM,FRJGFXJITS8MFWU5WFHYNHJ\MJWJXVZFIX‫ܪ‬LMYXVZFIXNSGWZYFQYMHJSYZW^GWF\QX

GC13 Sally 4th Gamers Wars of Ozz Yes Wars of Ozz is a black-powder mass fantasy battle game set in the fantasy world of L.Franks Baums Wizard of Ozz.

GC14 Fyndoria Games The Last Drifters Yes Get ready for the ultimate adrenaline rush at the Last Drifters Destruction Derby!
Buckle up in the driver’s seat as you take control of your vehicle in the arena.

GC16 Trans Atlantis Games/Duncan Rhodes Two Thin Coats Paint and Take Yes Free Paint and Take! Try out the Two Thin Coats Paints from Duncan Rhodes as well as getting expert tips and tricks
Painting Academy from our crew of talented painters.

GD01 Hailsham Wargames Club (Evading) The Devil’s Paintbrush Yes World War One trench raiding in the British Sector during the latter phase of the Somme offensive, using the recently
published Scouts Out rules.

GD02 Planet Smasher Games Gaslands & Hobgoblin Yes Gaslands: Ram, skid and race your way through the wreckage of a burnt-out Earth in Gaslands, the tabletop game
of post-apocalyptic vehicular mayhem & Hobgoblin: Brutal old school fantasy battles, Hobgoblin is a miniatures
agnostic game of sweeping battlelines and death in glorious battle.

GD03 Warp Miniatures ArcWorlde: The Narrative Fantasy Battle Game Yes Battle between heroes, warbands and monsters in a game that is quick, fun and easy to learn. Play out exciting
story-driven scenarios on the tabletop with characterful hand-cast miniatures!

GD05 Crawley Wargames Club Ramming Speed! Yes A reimaging of the classic 1971 game: Trireme using 1/300 models from Thalassa so prepare

GD07 Bad Squiddo Games Colouring In Yes Take a break from the mayhem with a nice sit down and colour in some cool pictures. All ages and abilities,
everyone welcome.

GD09 Retired Wargamers Reloaded Hold until Relieved - The game is set in Normandy daytime on the 6th June 1944. Glider troops have landed in their drop zones and the
Germans are now looking to counter attack.

GD11 Scimitar Games Group Scimitar 2024 Show game Yes Scimitar is a Coventry gaming club and we play both miniature and board games. Join us to play a quick fun
miniatures game based on a board rules.

GD13 Levellers Wargames Club 15mm Ancient battle Yes A 15mm ancient game using the conquerors and Kings rules.

SALUTE 51 Q OFFICIAL SHOW GUIDE 27

SALUTE 51 Q GAMES
No. Name Name of Game Participation Description of Game

GD14 ROK Minis Small scale wargaming you can play on your coffee table. Yes Come and try out a veriety of small scale games that let you get a full gaming experience in a much smaller space!

GD16 Reverence Games Last Living Souls Yes It’s a survival game where you have to work together to escape but there can only be one survivor so the participants
have to choose how they complete it.

GD18 Hornchurch Wargames Club TBA - Horse & Musket period game.

GD22 Wigmore Warriors Shenanigans in the Sudan Yes Foreign Legionnaires come up against an Arab Revolt in this fun game using Men Who Would be Kings rules and
RR‫ܪ‬LZWJX

GF08 Italian Municipality of Gradara Seige of Gradara Yes A playable game involving the whole of Gradara castle town as it looked in the 15th century enacting a typical siege
of the time. Will you defend or attack?

GF09 Random Platypus Wild in the Streets Yes In the clash of pop cultures will the Crust Punks iron out the Straight Edge mob. Or will the Roller Derby Girls pile in
on the Goths? Come join us!

GF10 Game Therapy UK Game Therapy UK (therapeutic gaming charity) - The therapeutic gaming charity which provides evidence-based therapeutic gaming projects to people experiencing
homelessness, addiction recovery, military veterans, autistic adults and young people, young people in schools and
care homes.

GF11 Tunbridge Wells Wargames Society Rage of The Beast - 40k Eldar vs Chaos - Iyanden Eldar wage war the chaos space marines of the Black Legion and their allies amongst the ruins of an
imperial city. A Warhammer 40k game using 3rd edition rules.

GF11 Tunbridge Wells Wargame Society The Longest Night - In the last days of WW2, an American patrol comes across a Nazi Re-animation laboratory. A 28mm game using
7TV rules. twws.org.uk

GG01 Yarkshire Gamer Jutland! - Massive scale WW1 naval battle

GG02 South London Warlords 2 Space 1889 - Cloudships! Yes In 2005 we built a series of 25mm scale ‘Cloudships’, Steampunk airships set in an alternative 19thC where Earther
colonies are established on Mars. We’re back again - in 6mm...

GG03 South London Warlords 1 A Song of Ice and Fire - A huge clash between armies of Westeros form the Gane of Thrones world

GG04 South London Warlords 4 Salute Hall of Fame Yes ,F[NS1^FQQѣX4UJWFYNTS<FWGTFWI/TNSZXKTWFVZNHP‫ܪ‬WJWJHWJFYNTSTKF\FWLFRNSLHQFXXNHFSIYTFII,F[NSYT

TZW 8FQZYJ-FQQTK+FRJ 8TRJ\MJWJNS+WFSHJ'FYYQJKTWF[NYFQWN[JWHWTXXNSLZXNSL&NW‫]ܪ‬YFSPXFSI‫ܪ‬LZWJX
Suitable for all ages.

GG05 South London Warlords 3 Salute Mountain / SLW Asteroids Yes A range of beginner games as an intro to the world of gaming plus the now infamous asteroid game...

GG06 Titan Owners Club Full scale Warhammer Adeptus Titanicus showcase - &QFWLJXHFQJLFRJTK&IJUYZX9NYFSNHZXZXNSL+TWLJ<TWQI9NYFSXT[JWFMZLJRJLFGFYYQJ‫ܪ‬JQI

GH01 GriffCon GriffCon Hobby Lounge Yes GriffCon Hobby Lounge lets you kit bash, build and paint your models, so come along and build anything your
imagination can think of.

GH08 Sheppey Models WW2 Company Commander Yes Sheppey Models staff are also members of Milton Hundred Wargame Club and we were beta testers for WW2
Company Commander, a game developed in conjunction with Victrix.

GH10 Magrathea Builder Of Worlds The Battle Of Luneden Stone Yes A multiplayer participation Burrows & Badgers game. FIght across the streets of Luneden. Defend the city or loot,
pillage an raze it to the ground

GH12 Pendraken Future War Commander Yes Future War Commander launch - We’ll be launching the new Future War Commander 2.0 at Salute 2024, so come by
and take a look!

GH13 BunnyBadgerGames / Frothers Grotesque Gogglebox & Episode V - The Trumpire Strikes Back: Yes Grotesque Gogglebox : A dungeon crawl through the underbelly of Britain via the medium of classic TV & Episode
V - The Trumpire Strikes Back: Trump is back... and this time he is not letting power slip from his tiny hands! Escape
YMJUZWLJG^‫ܪ‬SINSLF\F^T[JWYMJGTWIJW\FQQNSYT2J]NHT

GJ01 Crooked Dice Game Design Studio 7TV Yes Come and play 7TV - the cinematic skirmish game!

GJ02 Uhrwerk Verlag Chronopia Yes Chronopia is a dynamic wargame that allows you to play small hero skirmish battles or massive army battles set in
a dark fantasy world. Using beautiful miniatures from Uhrwerk-Verlag.

GJ04 Great Escape Games DEAD MAN’S HAND REDUX Yes Dead Man’s Hand Redux is the ever popular Old West wargame where Outlaws, Lawmen, Cowboys and Desperados
XMTTYNYTZYNSHNSJRFYNHLZS‫ܪ‬LMYX

GJ05 Maidstone Wargames Society “ The Summer of 77 “ Yes 1/300 WW2 Battle of Britain

GJ07 Essex Warriors Wargames Club Marvel Zombicide Yes The hunger takes hold after many superheroes in the Marvel Universe have been turned into zombies. You play
infected heroes and will be eating people to satisfy your hunger.

GJ09 Bloodforged Games Sythopian Wars Yes Brutal, fast-paced sci-fan wargame which puts you in control of unique forces in an original setting.

GJ10 Surrey Spartans Takkure Demos Yes Takkure is cyberpunk rugby. You assume the role of a coach leading your team to victory in a dynamic and fast
paced game.

GJ11 Oathsworn Burrows & Badgers Yes Defend the village of Warren Percy against the undead hordes.

GJ12 Peter’s Paper Boys The American Civil War in Paper Yes An American Civil war encounter, played with Peter Dennis’ paper soldiers, in 18mm.

28 SALUTE 51 Q OFFICIAL SHOW GUIDE

No. Name Name of Game Participation Description of Game

GJ13 Osprey Games The Silver Bayonet: Egypt: Shadow of the Sphinx / Oathmark / Yes Explore the mysteries of ancient Egypt, venture into forbidden ruins, and beneath the Pyramids themselves. Face an
A War Transformed array of terrifying foes, unknown to the living for more than 3,000 years...

GJ14 Eavier Metal Eavier Metal Speed Painting Yes Participants can paint a model for free. The catch is that you only get 20 minutes! Keep what you paint but there are
prizes in each round. All materials supplied.

GK01 South East Scotland Wargames Club Valour & Fortitude Napoleonic Game &‫ܪ‬HYNTSFQ3FUTQJTSNHGFYYQJXJYNSYMJ-ZSIWJI)F^X(FRUFNLSZXNSL;FQTZW +TWYNYZIJWZQJXFSIRR
‫ܪ‬LZWJX

GK02 Masterstroke Games Force of Virtue Yes A skirmish wargame set in Renaissance Italy. Use cards to choose your troops equipment, training and lay traps.
Command your troops with the virtues of prudence, audacity, speed and fortitude.

GK03 Twilight Miniatures World of Twilight Yes Multiplayer introductory games in the fantasy world of Anyaral & Small introductory game in the fantasy World of
Anyaral.

GK04 Mad Gaming Terrain Warhammer 40000 Combat Patrol - Small games of Warhammer 40000

GK08 The Drowned Earth The Drowned Earth Demos Yes The Drowned Earth is a skirmish scale tabletop miniatures game where brave heroes and villains risk the dangers of
the wilds for glorious riches and ancient technology!

GK09 Caseshot Publishing The Assault on Fort Mulgrave, Toulon, 16/17 December 1793 Yes A 15mm Black Powder participation game depicting the decisive French night assault on Fort Mulgrave, which
guarded the entrance to Toulon harbour. The participants will be the French column commanders.

GK11 Cornwall Wargames Association Gallants of Fowey. The French take revenge on the Yes Following the plundering of Brittany throughout the 100yrs war, the French set out for revenge on the Cornish
Cornish pirates 1457 Pirates. Facing them are Elizabeth Treffry and The Gallants of Fowey

GK13 London Wargames Guild What A Viking Yes It’s 1014 and the Vikings are attacking London. Assemble your crew, board your longship and sail down the Thames.
A drop in, drop out quick play game.

GK14 BelloLudi BelloLudi tasters Yes BelloLudi will show a skirmish game and a big battle game. Games are open to participation! Cooperating with
hmgs-nextgen from the USA.

GK15 Grumpy Gorilla Publications Rosebyrne Manor Yes A narrative driven dungeon delving boardgame with an evolving dungeon. Can the heroes uncover the secrets of
(DMB Games) the Manor?

GK17 Veterans Wargames Association The Quick and the Dead Yes Are you quick on the draw or will you be resting on boot Hill

GK18 Loughton Strike Force Saigon 68 28mm Vietnam skirmish

GL01 Duncan’s Band of Brothers A Road in Normandy Yes A participation game, using Bolt Action rules, based on the Band of Brothers TV Series . The game is around
Brecourt Manor.

GL04 Kitastrophe Miniatures Mech Mayhem Yes 'WZYFQFWJSF2JHM‫ܪ‬LMYNSL

GL06 Footsore Miniatures and Games Gangs of Rome v2 Yes Present and introduce people to Gangs of Rome version 2. Event miniature for participants.

GL08 Tempus Fugitives Live Elizabethan sword play! Yes Try it yourself sessions will be available to book on the https://tempus-fugitives.co.uk/

GL09 Brecon Wargames Club DAK ATTACK Yes WW2 North Africa. Long Range Desert Group. Come and see if you have what it takes to command this Elite unit
behind enemy lines.

GL10- Two Fat Lardies - Lard Zone! TFL and Reisswitz Press Games - A range of the usual top quauiity tabels and games from the TFL and Reisswitz Press teams
GM12

GL13 1/72 Wargames The Defence of Duffer’s Drift Yes &STUUTWYZSNY^YTUQF^YMJWTQJTKFOZSNTWTK‫ܪ‬HJWUWJUFWNSLYMJIJKJSHJTKFWN[JWHWTXXNSLNSYMJ&SLQT'TJW<FW(FS

you successfully hold out against the Boers?

GL15 Gentlemens Wargames Parlour The pirates of Penzance 1938 - The piratesof Penzance 1938 - a daring raid to capture our very model of a modern Major General Fuller and his
family - can the local police avert disaster?

GL16 Gravesend Gamers Guild Yuletide Mayhem: Gaslands Refuelled a Christmas Wonderland - Gaslands Refuelled Yuletide Mahem, takes you on a thrilling journey through a snowy wonderland, transformed into
Christmas themed battleground

GM03 Form Square Games Maida 1806, Limits of Glory campaign II - Test your skill while pushing your luck, commanding either the French or Allied forces during the six month
campaign to conquer or save the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.

GM04 Marquee Models Star Wars Legion Yes Marquee Models will be running introductory games of Star Wars Legion allowing players to command forces from
the legendary Star Wars Universe.

GM07 Oakbound Studio The Woods Yes Discover a world of dark folklore fantasy with this unique and innovative skirmish game.

GM08 Society of Ancients Battle of Thapsus - &SHNJSY\FWLFRJZXNSLRR‫ܪ‬LZWJX/ZQNZX(FJXFWѣXGFYYQJIZWNSLYMJ(N[NQ<FWXFLFNSXYFRTXYQ^3ZRNINFSFWR^

GM16 A Few Brits and the Hobby Battlegroup Italy - WW2 wargame using Battlegroup rules and AB Figures

GM18 Modiphius Entertainment TBC TBC

TD12 Batman Tournie / Crispian Woolford Batman Tournament - A 3 round tournament of 350 rep for Batman Miniatures game.

SALUTE 51 Q OFFICIAL SHOW GUIDE 29

SALUTE 51 ■ PAINTING THE MODEL

Wargaming
through our ages
Alan Patrick and David Cundill talk about this year’s Salute
Hall of Fame game; Gavin Lyall’s Operation Warboard

T
he plan this year was to have market for books on uniforms, along with
a game that pays homage to showing us we must paint models. Some
wargaming’s pioneers. We realised even showed us how to paint the bendy
that a lot of different shoulders plastic figures we all had, and even how to
had to emerge for wargaming to clamber convert them into other figures (the choice
over them. So before we honour the First of plastics was quite small).
Wargamers here is a shout out to those that But most importantly for our hobby, we
came before them. salute the early wargames rules writers.
Firstly, the model makers. Most Warlord “Discovering a Rulebook” (often from
Oldies started with Airfix and similar the library) gave a level of knowledge
plastic figures and models. Unbased and transcendence most religions would die
unorganised, our troops and tanks fought for. The rulebooks showed you how to
over blanket covered books. Most hazardous move, shoot, fight with a combination of
were the garden campaigns, where we lost fixed factors and dice to introduce chance.
figures by the score (literally). There were no They would give a (rough) idea of how to
rules, but what we all remembered was that organise forces, so we started to understand
we were absorbed for hours and hooked for how armies actually operated. They
life. recommended basing the figures, some
Secondly, The model railway hobbyists. even suggested multiple figures on a base,
These are the people that terrain and and using figure scales! Others matched • That it is great fun from the day you start
buildings were originally made for. The initial movement to weapon ranges, and had the with your first models.
scale of the mass wargaming hobby – HO/ revolutionary concept of Morale – plastic We decided it must be a participation
OO – was a railway modelling scale. A lot troops might run away, not die for your game where players can spend an hour
of wargame terrain was DIY, so the railway glory. And so, with rules, dice and tape or so pushing models around and just
trees, lichen, flock etc. was pressed into measures we all sallied forth into action. have fun, and that it doesn’t matter if
service. To this menagerie of manufacturers it’s unpainted plastic on a blanket or a
and magazines, we are forever grateful. A game to honour them all gorgeous terrain with marvelously painted
Thirdly, the military modellers and their We decided our Salute game, to honour our armies.
media. It seems hard to believe, looking at hobby’s origins, had to hit 3 objectives: Just play, the pictures in your
Salute, but military modelling was much • Be a sort of “lived history” showcase of imagination are always better.
bigger than wargaming in Them Days. This how our hobby evolved, showing the But what to play? In the days of plastic
market drove demand for military figures major stages. armies choices of troops were very limited.
and models, and small pots or bottles of paint • Show potential newcomers, young and The American Civil War, World War 2,
that had the colours we needed. old, that you can start very small, with and the Battle of Waterloo were very well
The military modellers also drove the minimum outlay. supported, everything else far less so

32 SALUTE 51 ■ OFFICIAL SHOW GUIDE

(hence the interest in conversion). But tanks invaluable source materials? But who could
and planes were easily available thanks to ignore Terry Wise, Brig Peter Young or
the military modellers, and the number of Stuart Asquith?
nations and weapon types available made
WW2 wargaming a step above the other The Salute "Operation
periods in terms of variety of nations and Warboard" Game
combination of forces one could field. So But the inspiration for us came in a short
for our game that pays homage to the ITV television series hosted by Edward
greats, it had to be World War 2. Woodward in the late 70’s including,
amongst others, the great Peter Gilder
Operation Warboard – recreating Waterloo and Gettysburg. One
Remembering Gavin Lyall episode showed an imaginary game set
Who then from the greats of the age in Northern France after D-Day. It was discovered that the rules were available
would best help us recreate a World War fought out between the author Gavin Lyall in most bookstores. In short Gavin Lyall
2 wargame with tanks from the toyshop? and his son, Bernard. This was about the brought affordable tabletop wargaming to
Donald Featherstone, whose Battles with time that Lyall had published his own the masses; not just to those who could find
Model Tanks could be a good start. Or set of wargames rules called “Operation a specialist wargames store.
perhaps Charles Grant, a huge name for Warboard”, which were used on the Operation Warboard was Gavin Lyall’s
us, as were his friends Phil Barker and show. The game looked great fun. It used only foray into wargames rules writing
Tony Bath? How about Bruce Quarrie models any boy of a certain age owned, or but we feel this is one of the classics of
whose Airfix magazine guidebooks were could buy from the local toyshop, and we wargaming literature and its author

SALUTE 51 ■ OFFICIAL SHOW GUIDE 33

SALUTE 51 ■ PAINTING THE MODEL

deserves his place in our Hall of Fame. they’ve been reproduced and published by
Operation Warboard can still deliver an The History of Wargaming Project and are
enjoyable gaming experience today; well readily available through Amazon. It would
over 40 years since it was first published. be entirely possible to play the game today
Indeed Donald Featherstone once said “there as you could in 1976; buying new rules and
have been few wargaming books written as using the same models and toy soldiers (that
well as Operation Warboard. Gavin Lyall are still in production).
applied his established writing talents to The Salute “Operation Warboard” Game
create a wargaming book that in places We thought it would be fun to set up the
seemed more like a thriller than a book game with three separate eras of terrain
about a marvellous and engaging hobby”. layouts (the warboards) and model state
Gavin Lyall was born in Birmingham in of presentation, representing what players
1932 and was a newspaper reporter and the used over time as the hobby grew and more
aviation correspondent for the Sunday Times resources became available. These are:
before embarking upon a successful career “Get playing, Now!” - troops and models
writing action thrillers and crime novels. straight out the box with the simple starter
His first novel, The Wrong Side of the Sky, terrain many of us recall – the books,
was published in 1961, drawing from his blankets and boxes full of bendy plastic
personal experiences in the Libyan Desert soldiers
and in Greece; having spent his National “Stepping Up the Gear” – the “80/20”
Service as a Pilot Officer in the Royal Air warboard – most of the benefits, for a fraction
Force flying Gloster Meteors. of the price and effort (aka the Student’s
Operation Warboard’s rules were Edition of Wargaming)
straightforward, fast and comprehensive; an Full Monty game with all the mod cons,
entry level for wargaming that in fact has a the “Pro Edition” of Wargaming - with
greater level of detail than most “beginner” money substituting for time as players get
rule sets. In some ways it was very much a jobs, families or (and) players’ painting and
product of its era, but in others it was very modelling skills are now at a higher level and
much ahead of its time. Lyall’s vehicle rules they want to show it off.
were hugely influential, featuring different
armour values for vehicles front, side and Playing Operation Warboard at Salute –
top armour - with an attack-defence system your mission, should you accept it:
anyone playing Bolt Action will recognise. The scenario is the same on all 3 terrains, that
His writer’s professionalism really shines creator of drama and tension…The Bridge. The Warboard consists of
through, with a breezy style and such clarity Your mission is to take (or defend) The • A ubiquitous piece of green cloth. Carpet
of narrative and layout that are all too often Bridge. Forces are a combined battlegroup or blanket is also acceptable, or a painted
lacking in even in today’s the most popular of tanks, troops and guns. The attacker has a board.
rulebooks. stronger force, but no plan survives contact • Hills = Books.
The commercial availability of Gavin with the enemy, or the dice. The Warboards • Terrain - carpet tiles, felt, cloth,
Lyall’s rules inspired many others. are created as shown below: • Basic trees - from the garden and fishtank
Publishing with high production values • Masking tape roads
including photographs (no card covers Warboard I - “Get playing, Now” • Cardboard Rivers
with staples here) proceeded even TSR’s This Warboard remodels the games we • Buildings
Dungeons & Dragons and also almost remember from our beginnings, and it There were (and still are) a lot of cut out
every historical wargames rules by decades. shows: paper buildings that one can glue to
Scenarios were used to illustrate the rules • The troops – a box of plastic soldiers for cardboard. We also made some from a
and enable readers to see how to play each side. We have cheated a bit and glued “build a model village” book of the era that
them. Where would Bolt Action be without the traditional 1p piece to the bases so they we used back then.
Operation Warboard’s generous approach to stand up on the terrain.
total historical accuracy of forces or Lyall’s • The tanks and other models– unboxed Warboard II - Stepping Up the Gear
attack-defence system? or just built and sent onto the battlefield, This warboard represents the sort of “first
Such is the significance of these rules that unpainted modelling attempts” forces that would

34 SALUTE 51 ■ OFFICIAL SHOW GUIDE

 terrain, as might be used by a South
London Wargames club, for example. What
is on table represents more the “working
person’s wargame” – more money to buy
better terrain and models, but less time so
pre-painted and easy-to-build or off-the-
shelf built models are more popular. We try
and showcase:
• The troop and model paintwork
represents what people can do after
they’ve been painting for a while, or it is
bought ready painted.
• Introduce some “upscale” models – lead
troops, resin and metal models etc.
• The gaming mat is high quality and not
cheap.
• The terrain is largely bought, not built.
• So pull up a chair, grab some figures, and
go take The Bridge!

What have we gained…

While we were writing this we reflected
on what had changed. We have gained a
lot – just walk around Salute and you will
see a profusion of models and terrain in
every scale and from every period and
theme you can imagine (and some you
wonder who the heck thought of that!).
3D printing continues to make inroads,
ever rarer models become possible. There
are rulesets dealing with everything for
detailed small unit action to big picture
strategy. There is also much information
now available in books and online (though
one of the insights from all the information
online is that uniforms typically aren’t,
and organisation structures were far more
be the mainstay of the school / university attempts at painting models. variable than those TO&E charts imply).
wargames club (there are strong parallels • A better cloth - makes a big difference
in the 40k armies of the 1990’s/2000’s when • Upgrading the Warboard terrain ….but what have we lost?
that was a very popular school hobby) • Contoured hills This is going to sound odd, and maybe
The troops are those first efforts at painting • Homemade trees it’s just us, but we wonder if having so
and modelling (the authors have used one • Some terrain making techniques to make much choice means there is a bit too much
of their 11 year old son’s models for this better roads and rivers available “on a plate” today, and the magic
game). The changes are • Buildings – a few Airfix and Railway of discovering things for yourself has
• Base the troops in groups – faster Hobby suppliers’ plastic buildings were diminished? Anyway, we have tried to
movement, representing groups, not 1:1 available. Resin cast buildings start to recreate that early days “get started, just
• Simple painting - (Washing and Dry appear later. play” vibe with this Salute game.
brushing are a bit fancy, but once found, And we know all those people whose
never dropped) Warboard III – The Full Monty shoulders we clambered over to take the
• Flock off – or on? This Warboard represents good next hill, would want us to play, play up
• The models – ditto 11 year old son’s first commercially available table mats and and play the game! ■

SALUTE 51 ■ OFFICIAL SHOW GUIDE 35

SALUTE 51 ■ BOARDGAMES

W
hile South London Warlords
is, and always will remain,
a predominantly wargam-
ing club, there’s been a
board-gaming presence from very early on.
However, over the last half a dozen years
boardgames have becoming increasingly
common within the hallowed halls of St.
Barnabas’s. As a fan of such ‘games in a box’
I thought I’d give my reasons that maybe
we’re entering into golden age of board-
games and somewhere out there exists the
perfect boardgame for each and every one of
us. Even if you’re a wargamer.

Gaming Agnostic
You only play orks with their cobbled-
together vehicles and green hordes
rampaging across a grimdark universe, but
your best mate has a deep and unshakeable
love for Napoleonics, ever since he saw
Waterloo in the big screen when he was
but a nipper. What to do? There are cliques
within the wargaming world but it rarely
extends to boardgames. Hard-core historical
wargamers are still happy to take a trip in
This Ain’t Your
the TRADIS for an adventure across time
and space.
The perfect drop-in. Just gather a random
Daddy’s Monopoly
bunch of people at the club and get playing. by Sarwat Chadda
Looking at some of the to fill games night
when our opponent’s cancelled at the last of the biggest factors in the boom in the appealing to casual gamers to spend a
moment? As long as you can explain the popularity of board-gaming. Horror has Sunday afternoon with their mates. A great
rules in about ten minutes, or just happy to been particularly well-catered for. Cthulhu way to try before you buy!
muddle along, then you’re on. is no doubt pleased at the vastness of his
gaming cult. Zero Commitment,
Evolution Minimal Prep
The modern games designer is first and No longer specialist It’s all in a box. Board folds out and you
foremost a fan. They play, they design, they entertainment grab your gaming piece. No gaming
live and breathe games. They adapt from Was it the rise of Trivial Pursuit in the matt, no scenery. Also, and I know this is
games they’ve played, they’ve loved, and 1990s that has brought us here? It was the a problem for some of us, no struggling
all their friends are doing the same. And ultimate party game, whipped out after around the loft or shed to find out where on
it’s global. This network means systems dinner along with the Hagen Dazs. Before earth you left your Celts.
are developing in directions that we could that you might have got out a pack of cards,
never have imagined ten years ago. It’s a but certainly not anything more elaborate, No Space Required
Eurogame, it’s a Resource Management unless the evening was a dedicated games You need a table. Doesn’t need to be 4x4
game, Solo, Co-op, etc. Often a combination night. Now bringing out a boardgame is and certainly not 6x4. While we all dream
of several systems. just part of what you do after the table’s of our dedicated gaming shed alas, most of
Something for fans of every genre. Every been cleared. This goes alongside the us have to make do with commandeering
genre, franchise, period in history, past, ascendency of boardgames cafes and how the kitchen table which, in this day and age,
present or far future. This, perhaps, is one many games’ shops are branching out by might have to be sized to fit into a studio

36 SALUTE 51 Q OFFICIAL SHOW GUIDE

 that system to Lord of the Rings, making
use of the vast horde of minis he bought up
during that lull between the movies!

Quality
Boardgames are so beautiful. The designers
are true fans of the hobby and each game
comes across as a passion project. Sure, it
apartment. Nothing dictates the gaming their appeal, with companies like CMON might mean waiting an extra year (or five)
experience more than the lack of space. and Monolith entering the board-gaming for the Kickstarter to get delivered but the
market the minis for games like Zombicide rise of the cottage industry of gaming has
Crossover Appeal and Conan are just as detailed, exciting and led to the most wonderfully diverse library
For many of us it’s the minis. We’ll lovingly sculpted as any from a mainstream of gaming.
spend so much more time painting than wargaming manufacturer. No doubt there are hundreds of reasons
playing. We will never conquer our pile of to love boardgames, but these are mine.
shame. It doesn’t matter how many you Boardgames are Wargames They’ve filled the lulls between campaigns,
have, there’s always that next boxed set I’m not just talking about Risk, but the or those long periods where my painting
of Romans, Vikings, Stormtroopers, etc designers behind Command and Colours schedule’s got too far ahead of me. The
that you absolutely have to have. Once (for example) have brought a gaming world of board-gaming is going from
boardgames couldn’t scratch that itch. experience as rich as any wargame. At our strength to strength and there’s so much
While standees and Meeples still have club one of the members has even adapted more still to come! ■

SALUTE 51 Q OFFICIAL SHOW GUIDE 37

SALUTE 51 ■ MEMORIES

My South London by Ian Spence

Warlords’ Memorabilia
T
here has been a lot of talk at defending the retreat lines to Dunkirk. In
the Warlords recently about the 1980 there was nowhere near the choice and
Clubs long history, so being the availability of stuff there is now, my French
only active member from when were Airfix WW1 infantry painted khaki.
the Club started in 1971 I thought I’d rem- We were awarded a shield each plus a copy
inisce about what I have accumulated and of a Blandford book. Blandford were a long-
what it means to me. Some may remember established publishing house and many
a TV programme back in the day called “All of us started with their reference books
My Yesterdays” – this is my equivalent. alongside our Funckens.
The earliest thing I have is the first Then in 1983 we did it again with a huge
mention on the Club forming in November 15mm Napoleonic game, taken from, the
1971 edition of Military Modelling, we sorely missed, Jim Cutler’s campaign.
weren’t called South London Warlords back Jim had been running a wonderful 1814
then – The South Bermondsey Military Campaign at the Club and we took the
Modelling Club –rolls off the tongue? I also battle from this. The figures all belonged
have an advert for the very first Club Open to Peter Edwards – there must have been
Day in April 1972 at the Surrey Tavern. thousands of them!
We’ve grown a bit since then! This was followed in 1984 by, again,
Then I move onto the club’s 19th Century picking up Best Game at Salute with a 36ft
Wargaming rules, written by Dave Rotor— long Operation Market Garden game in
one of the three founding fathers of the 20mm. This took 18 months to plan, had
Club – some will recall his Minifig shop a team of 12 and was certainly one of the
near Victoria Station in London. These are highlights of my time as a Warlord. Never
probably 1973-74. They cover Napoleonic, again!
American Civil War and Franco Prussian They were, to paraphrase Mr Bowie, our
War gaming. Looking back at them they golden years as a Demo Team.
look very old school but at the time they Club games were barred from winning at
were widely used, even if the games were a Salute just afterwards. I wonder why?
tad bloody! I know of only one other person the ruleset. At that time Napoleonics was I still do the occasional game at shows,
who still has a copy. I might try a game with the main gaming period at the club, very the last couple being based in South
them in 2024 just for old times’ sake. popular even now. It’s still my first love in America in the 1820s. I was instrumental,
The first Trophy I have is from 1974. my gaming. with Mike and Martin, in creating the
This was won by myself, Jon Louder and In 1976 medals were awarded as prizes in Warlords Hall of Fame idea – how many
Steve Lodge – both ex-club members, at the the Salute Painting Competition. I won my great ideas originate over a lunchtime pint
Southend Club Show (SEEMS). We wrote gold medal for a 25mm Minifig mounted with your wargaming buddies? So after all
rules covering the Mongol invasion of figure of Warwick the King Maker, on a these years the Warlords still matter moving
Japan— yes very niche in 1974, painted the fully barded horse, I’d painted the Warwick forward.
new Minifig Samurai and Mongol figures Heraldry onto the barding – a feat I couldn’t I hope this shows that there is a long,
and won best game at the Show Award. I’m do now! It’s nice to see that medals are back and cherished, history of gaming within
fairly sure it’s the first trophy the club won in vogue at Salute after nearly 50 years. the South London Warlords, as there is in
anywhere. In 1980, along with Mike Evans, Peter many a club. It’s made us realise that, as
Then there is the original club badge, Edwards and Mike Taylor we won Best we get older, the history of our club needs
with a Napoleonic shako on it. The image Demo game at Salute. This was a 1940 recording before, like old soldiers, it fades
I think was based on the front cover of 20mm WW2 game based on the French away. ■

38 SALUTE 51 Q OFFICIAL SHOW GUIDE

 GAMES
STORE
BOARD GAMES I RPGS I CARD GAMES I MINIATURES
From trading card games and RPGs to miniatures, visit the
Tabletop Gaming Magazine online shop to discover your new
favourite games and add to your collection

F
E T £10 OF
G IRST
U R F
YO OX!
E R Y B
MYST E
OD
USE C 0
BOX1

MYSTERY BOXES I GAMING ACCESSORIES I & MORE

SHOP NOW AT
www.ttgami.ng/gamestore
 OFFICIAL MEDIA SPON

Immerse yourself in the world of tabletop miniature wargaming with a

subscription to Miniature Wargames magazine - the UK’s best-
selling independent wargames magazine for over 25 years. You’ll receive
access to whole rule systems to take away and play, free downloads,
How To guides, special offers and more.

Get your
rst iss u e
fi
FREuEbscribe
when you s *
quarterly

Subscribe and save at: www

Use discount code MWG/SALUTE51 online,
T’s & C’s apply. *Recieve 1 free copy of Miniature Wargames magazine f
NSORS OF
SALUTE 51
„ Whole rule systems to take and tips to enhance your gaming
away and play experience
„ The latest news, previews and „ Everything you need to know
informative reviews about modelling materials, figures,
„ Practical ‘How To’ guides wargames, shows and more

.ttgami.ng/MWG_Salute51
or call 01778 391180 and quote this code
free of charge when you subscribe to a quarterly direct debit at £14.50.
It has to be

Colour Party Paints It’s the only one!

Buy BASETEX from £13.50 with Colour Party Paints!

BASTEXNXFZSNVZJ‫ܪ‬LZWJGFXNSLX^XYJR\MNHMNX
pre coloured, acrylic textured compound which can
GJZXJINSFQQY^UJXTK‫ܪ‬LZWJGFXNSLGZNQINSLNYZU
to the desired thickness or texture.
You can even use BASETEXTS^TZWGZNQINSLX
2FYHMNSLUFNSYXF[FNQFGQJ

Payment to:
Colour Party Paints
8 Woodhall Place, Thornbury,
Bradford, BD3 7BX
HTQTZWUFWY^UFNSYX%LRFNQHTR
www.colourpartypaint.co.uk
 Immerse yourself in the
world of
Just
£6.99
per
month*

Subscribe and save with

Tabletop Gaming Magazine
The UK’s no.1 magazine dedicated to board
gaming, RPGs, trading cards and card games
•Subscriber-only artwork covers
•The latest board game news, previews and reviews
•Deep dives & interviews with world famous creators
and designers

To see our latest subscription offers go to:

www.ttgami.ng/TTG_Salute51
or call 01778 392034 and quote TTGM/Salute51
*T&Cs - £6.99 monthly issue rate applies when you subscribe via a monthly direct debit. Cancel anytime.
 FREE
STL!

No printer? Find us on Anvil Industry stand TH10 where we will have a limited quantity for sale.

This swashbuckling space pirate STL download is available free to attendees of Salute 51 and
would make a great addition to many 28mm scale skirmish games and TTRPG’s.

Join Anvil Digital Forge on Patreon or Tribes in April to download a full pack of Space Pirate minis,
and stay subbed each month for a new theme to expand your digital bits box!

Scan the QR code or visit

anvilindustry.co.uk/salute51

You’ll need this passcode:

CUTLASS
 VISIT OUR STAND AND
PLAY A DEMO GAME!

UNLEASH ARMOURED
FURY THIS APRIL!

Achtung Panzer! is our new 28mm

WWII platoon-level game
of fast-paced, close quarters,
tank-on-tank firefights
for 2 or more players!

PRE-ORDER NOW AT WARLORDGAMES.COM

© 2024 Warlord Games Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Warlord Games is either ® or ™, and/or © Warlord Games Limited, variably registered around the world.
 FREE UK SHIPPING ON ORDERS OVER £20*

SCAN TO
SHOP
NOW
*TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY, SEE OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS. WHILE STOCKS LAST. WWW.WAYLANDGAMES.CO.UK