WELCOME IT’S A LONG WAY TO THE TOP

IN THIS ISSUE
04 FORWARD OBSERVER
With the latest news items.

07 SEND THREE AND

W FOURPENCE
hat have we got in issue 508? Conrad Kinch
has a take on the Ardennes Offensive and
In A Rather Unsightly Bulge Mr Kinch takes us to a
Command Decision has Jon Sutherland
wintery Ardennes for Memoir ’44 transferred to the
start a two-parter with an unusual approach for
table top multiplayer game.
Omdurman. Army Painter’s Fanatic Historical
Paints are applied to some German Infantry
from Wargames Atlantic (with whom we also 12 FULDA GAP
It’s the Cold War Gone Hot: the ultimate ‘What-if’
have an interview for all the latest news!); plus
we take an unusual rules approach to The Lord of with two scenarios.
the Rings with another trip to the Wild West with
some shootin’! There’s a Cold War outing in the 19 FURIOUS FUSILLADE
Fulda Gap as well as a Quixotic scratchbuild plus A photographic visit to the Broadside show with a
all of the usual reviews and another show report on the games of the day.
trip to Broadside. So – on that basis – and
as Bon Scott sang – “Ridin’ down the 23 DEFENCE IN DEPTH
highway, Goin’ to a show, Stoppin’ on the With the latest figure and rules reviews.
byways, Playin’ rock ‘n’ roll”. Well I
always have music on for the car or 26 INCIDENT AT OMDURMAN
trike so that counts, right?... In Command Decision Jon Sutherland poses a
colonial ‘What If’ for 2 September 1898.

32 THE LAWLESS HORRELL

Get in touch BOYS
We’re back in the wild west using the new Tales
tabletopgaming.co.uk
of Derring Do rules supplement as the rules
John Treadaway
MiniatureWG author gives us Winchesters are Plentiful Part 2:
Editor the scenarios.
MiniatureWargames

miniature_wargames_magazine 40 SENTRY DUTY

Painting some Wargames Atlantic WWII
Germans with the new Army Painter Fanatic
MINIATURE WARGAMES historical range.
EDITORIAL PUBLISHED BY
PUBLISHER Claire Ingram
COVER 44 THE FORDS OF
EDITOR John Treadaway
[email protected] [email protected]

Warners Group Publications PLC The Maltings, West Street, FEATURE ISEN
DESIGN Mike Carr Bourne, Lincolnshire PE10 9PH | 01778 391000 Playing a show game of Lord of the Rings adapting
COVER: Forth Eorlingas! Photo by the Editor
Valour and Fortitude as a rule set.
NEWSTRADE DISTRIBUTION
ADVERTISING AND PRODUCTION Warners Group Publications Plc 01778 391150
COMMERCIAL MANAGER Alex Lyon 49 TRANSATLANTIC
07350 360313 | [email protected] An interview with Hudson Adams of Wargames
Atlantic.
PRODUCTION MANAGER Kay Cotterill
01778 395065 | [email protected]
51 RECCE
MARKETING The views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the A selection of gaming related books to line up on a
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 wargamer’s shelves.
01778 395085 | [email protected] omissions. While every care is taken with unsolicited material submitted for
publication, we cannot be responsible for loss or damage. While every care is

MARKETING ASSISTANT Rebecca Abbott

taken when accepting advertisements, we are not responsible for the quality
and/or the performance of goods and/or services advertised in this magazine.
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) exists to regulate the content of
57 SCRATCH BUILD
01778 395081 | [email protected] advertisements. Tel: 020 7429 2222 © Warners Group Publications PLC, 2023 A windmill with a difference.

August 2025 Miniature Wargames 3

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

PIONEER STATION
CREW
New Brigade 3d direct prints
FREEDOM!
Bess musket, wear the bearskin cap and
you can build a mix of advancing, firing, More suitable crew figures for the
The Age of Reason from and loading poses from the five standing likes of Stargrave are being produced
Wargames Atlantic bodies, all with separate heads and packs in a direct to print format by Brigade.
On page 49 of this issue you’ll see an (with a location lug in the figure’s backs Sculpted by David Sheff they can be
interview we did with Hudson Adams for those). To fight against them they have printed in either 32mm (‘heroic’), or
talking about what to look forward to a box of Minutemen: this set has another 28mm versions for the same price: just
for the next short while from Wargames 30 figures with a mix of musket types state your preference. I have the 28mm
Atlantic. Well – as nothing stands still in reflecting their diverse, militia equipment. in front of me and they are 30mm to the
wargaming – we see that the new AWI/ They also have five bodies but with top of the head. They are sculpted flat
Revolutionary War figures he mentions quite a variation of coat and waistcoat footed (no base or tab) but come with a
there are now ready to pre-order. The lengths plus ten different heads (all with a ‘tec-deck’ style printed base. The Station
British Grenadiers (5th Regiment of Foot) selection of head gear) to underscore their Crew (8 figures) is available for £25 or
are 30 figures to the box for £25. In hard ad hoc equipment. Same price and quality: you can buy individuals at £4 each. They
plastic they are armed with the Brown go to wargamesatlantic.com for more info. have a heavy Alien/Outland feel about
them, especially the space suits, but they
are not actually recognisable crew from
the Nostromo. However, they would
fit in very well with that background.
Detail on the one piece prints is superb
and are a great mix of proportion and
character. Some of the elements are
quite fine (‘Bullneck Thompson’ has a
baseball bat or something as a weapon
and it’s not overly thick) but the resin
seems resilient. These are excellent
WEAPON OF THE lift fans. They are highly detailed and figures requiring no assembly. Go to

FUTURE
about 20mm long/wide. Each type comes brigademodels.co.uk and – by the time you
in four variants, with different choices see this – there should be robots too!
15mm SF Drone Warfare of underslung weapons systems, those
GZG are expanding their range of flying options being “gatling” miniguns; auto
drones for 15mm grenade launchers;
(although equally 8-round missile
useable in both packs; or a recon/
6mm and especially sensor package. All
28mm) with some packs are priced
tri and quad copters. at £6.00 for three
These Flying Drones models with some
are all 3D-designed clever ‘off centre’,
and mastered, then multi-height metal
cast in metal, and flight stands. Go to
all feature shrouded gzg.com.

4 Miniature Wargames August 2025

 SHOW & TELL
FUTURE WARGAMING EVENTS
NAVAL GAZING BARONS’ WAR 2025
28mm Napoleonic Salty Saturday/Sunday 2nd/3rd August
Seadogs Wallace House,
Sally 4th have been Oat St, Evesham
adding to their ranges of WR11 4PJ
figures with some new shop.battleofevesham.co.uk/
Napoleonic Naval chaps product/baronswarwargames
which they’ve sent in conventionsaturday
for review. They are cast
CLAYMORE
in white metal and mostly in multiple
Saturday 2nd August
packs (of generally three different
Edinburgh College
figures). They are cracking sculpts with
Granton Campus.
great faces and crisp uniform details. Edinburgh EH5 1QE
Some are cast in one piece but the seswc.co.uk
majority seem to have separate heads
which should give the opportunity for BRITCON
swapping their noggins around. All Friday/Saturday/Sunday 22nd-24th
come with a thin circular base August
and I know that Sally 4th The Venue@DMU
make clear ones if that 20 Western Blvd,
shivers your timbers. The Leicester LE2 7BU
models are all cast flat footed bhgs.org.uk
so there’s no slot tab or puddle base to
cut off which is good.
What’s in the range? Well there’s
now Barbary Pirates; Naval gun
THIS MONTH
crew (four figures: with cannon IN HISTORY
KURSK
ball, with a match, with ramrod,
and with a length of rope; there’s
some French Navy, both Command JULY 4TH ONWARDS 1943
and Armed Crew; there’s Royal Navy The Battle of Kursk, fought
with a Command team (with a Captain between four German armies
in full uniform with a bicorn); Royal and twelve Soviet armies, was
Navy regular crew armed with a single probably the definitive WWII
weapon or double armed with a tank battle on the Eastern Front
pistol and cutlass. They also make and the largest tank battle in
various sizes of guns from history with around 5000 AFVs
Swivel (with a separate on the Soviet side, double that of
gunner) plus Heavy, Medium their opponents: and the USSR
and Light guns. brought in even more vehicles
Sculpted by Iain and men for their counter attack.
Lovecraft they are Viewed as a turning point in
mostly £12 a pack for the war, the German offensive
four different figures (Citadel) aimed to eliminate a
or less (the lone Soviet salient, but the USSR,
swivel gunner is anticipating the attack (via
£3, for example). allied espionage), launched
They are 32mm a counteroffensive from their
to the top of heavily fortified lines which
the head and resulted in considerable losses
are nicely (on both sides). All in all, the
proportionate without maximum depth of the German
being cartoony. Go to advance was somewhere up
wargamesbuildings.co.uk to 7 miles and it marked the
for this great range. beginning of the German retreat
that ended in Berlin.

August 2025 Miniature Wargames 5

 BRING FANTASY AND HISTORY
TO LIFE WITH

SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE WITH

MINIATURE WARGAMES MAGAZINE
WITH OUR BIGGEST DISCOUNT YET!
The most convenient and cheapest way to
receive your monthly magazine
| Whole rule systems to take away and play
| The latest news, previews and informative reviews
| Practical ‘How To’ guides and tips to enhance your gaming
experience
| Everything you need to know about modelling materials,
figures, wargames shows and more!

To see our latest subscription offers go to:

www.ttgami.ng/MWG500
or call 01778 391180 and quote MWG/Subs25
T&Cs apply. Price applies when subscribing to Miniature Wargames print magazine via monthly direct debit from 29th October 2024
 BELOW: As the Germans try to encircle St Vith, the
Commander in Chief delivers some bad news about
the fuel situation…

SEND THREE AND FOURPENCE

A RATHER A Memoir ’44 stroll in the

Ardennes Words and pictures by Conrad Kinch

UNSIGHTLY BULGE
pal of mine has a pet theory any of the other theatres was somehow brought their attack to a stand still.

A about the Battle of the Bulge.

He reckons there are so many
games about Hitler’s last throw
of the dice in the west because it’s one
of the only campaigns on the western
pre-ordained. Even with numbers and
technology on their side, the Allies
fought a brutal and unforgiving war in
every theatre. Normandy was no walk
over and the lads in Italy faced casualty
This scenario was written for a Battle
of the Bulge game day using Memoir
‘44 that I was hoping to run. We were
hoping to get 8-10 players and I needed
something new, given that we’d
front because its where the Americans rates exceeding those of the Great played most of the Ardennes scenarios
faced the Germans, who were the team War, along with tough opponents and available. I had originally decided on
to beat in the Second World War, and impossible terrain. two games, one focusing on the defence
did so where there was a decent chance Nonetheless there is something of St Vith and the second based on the
of losing. It probably doesn’t hurt that appealing about the Bulge. The story has assault of Panzers. I used the Western
the Germans also used a lot of their drama, a final death ride by the German Front Unofficial Scenario Compilation. This
Gucci equipment in the Ardennes so armoured corps, throwing their best kit is a great resource and a regular haunt
if you want to see Nebelwefers, Royal against a superior opponent. The GIs, of mine when I’m scratching around
Tigers and all the rest of the Nazi freezing and overwhelmed, struggling to for something to play. I actually ended
fashion catwalk, it’s all there. However, hold back the tide or in some cases, just up writing both and then realised that
checking games in Wargames Geek buy time, so that reinforcements can be they were both games based around
indicates that the Bulge is a topic of brought up. The Germans initially held small numbers of Americans fighting
interest to wargamers. I would take the initiative, but logistics, terrain and heavy armour formations in woods. This
issue with the idea that Allied victory in dogged American resistance eventually wasn’t a bad idea, but the issue with it
›
August 2025 Miniature Wargames 7
 SEND THREE AND FOURPENCE

was that both games would seem very

similar: American forces holding on for
dear life against German heavy armour
in close terrain.
On mature reflection, while those two
defensive games would certainly be
an accurate reflection of the situation,
it would make for a day’s gaming that
would be quite one note. I settled on a
two game structure, playing the defence
of St Vith in the morning and using a pre-
written scenario about the 11th Armoured
Divisions counter attack at Bastogne for
the afternoon. I reckoned that would keep
things varied enough to keep the players
interested. This second scenario was
available on the Days of Wonder Memoir
‘44 website, but that is currently being

ABOVE: A lone Sherman counter attacks some IVs and Stugs). After a game last year
German infantry in the open. The roads are model
railroad paper road texture glued to laser cut MDF. where some players were having
I realised I was missing some the night before difficulty telling the difference between
the game and ended up slicing myself open while paratroopers and regular leg infantry
cutting some out of grey mounting board.
in 1/72, I rebased my lads. Regular
infantry were on square bases, while
20mm figures leavened with resin elite (“special forces” as per the rules as
and plastic armour and artillery. Given written) infantry (Panzer Grenadiers,
that this was a game with 8-10 players, Paratroopers, Irishmen, etc) were based
some of whom hadn’t played in a while, on round bases. This simplified matters
I kept things relatively simple. Rather and let the game flow a bit more quickly.
than using the separate rules for the I’m still debating whether I should base
Nebelwerfer batteries, I just rated them my tanks for storage purposes.
as Artillery. For armour, I distinguished
between elite and standard German TERRAIN
ABOVE: I must admit, I got a lot of amusement formations by using my “Cat Recipe”. For this game, I used my standard
out of the little label maker. This was a previous
version of the scenario where we used road blocks If it’s named after a cat (Royal Tiger, “snow terrain” set up. The only
rather than barbed wire. Panther, etc) its elite and otherwise it’s innovation from that perspective was
a standard formation (mostly Panzer that I had found (when I wrote my
updated. It can be accessed at the moment
from the Western Front Scenario Compilation
on BoardGameGeek.
As for writing the St Vith scenario,
I went through a number of different
versions. My first draft involved the
Americans trying to extract troops
from the Schee Eiffel. This was a bit of a
shooting gallery for the Germans, picking
off understrength American units while
they tried to flee the encirclement. This
wasn’t’ much fun for anyone, but also
meant that I would have to compress the
terrain even more than I already have.

FIGURES
We used my “winter Americans” and ABOVE: A brutal close range firefight as
Volksgrenadiers run into Americans in hasty
“winter Germans” for this game. These defences in the woods around Eupen.
are a mix of 1/72 and

8 Miniature Wargames August 2025

initial draft) the movement to be rather
“stodgy”. Using the jungle rules to
represent lighter woods restored a bit
of movement to the game and made it
flow better. The trick was finding a way
to represent them on the table in a way
that was crystal clear to players with
the minimum of interpretation. I settled
on using my fir trees (all of which
had been given the snow treatment)
for Heavy Woods and the bare trees
(actually “make your own tree”
armatures from Woodland Scenics)
for Light Woods. This was an idea that
worked very well and one that I think
we’ll use again.
One thing that we did have a bit of ABOVE: German armour idles while the infantry try
fun with was a small label maker. I had to clear the way around St Vith.
been given this as a
Fathers Day gift by the Kinchlets (I While the Americans are facing the cream ◗ Ticking clock: The American
sense their mother’s hand in this) and it of the German Panzers and the brutal Commander in Chief may spend a
was a little Bluetooth tactics of the SS, Allied High Command Recon card twice during the game to
operated label printer that connected are rushing reinforcements to the area. claim a victory medal. This cannot be
to my phone. I had some sign posts, Will the Panzers break through before the winning medal of the game.
which I used during our the 7th Armoured and 82nd Airborne
last Ardennes game, to mark can plug the gaps? SPECIAL RULES
objectives which were worth victory ◗ Heavy & Light Woods: The Ardennes
points. I used the printer to quickly CARDS is heavily wooded and hilly. In this
whip up some relevant (and some not ◗ American: 8 (draw an additional card scenario, thick woods are represented
so relevant) signs for the game, which for the first four turns) by Forest hexes and lighter more
marked the victory point ◗ German: 12 passable terrain is represented by
locations. I was particularly pleased Jungle hexes called Light Woods,
with “St Vith welcomes careful drivers”. CONDITIONS OF VICTORY (Heavy Woods are represented by
◗ 14 medals evergreen trees and Light Woods by bare
INTRODUCTION trees. Light Woods use the same rules
Adolf Hitler has put his faith in Sepp OBJECTIVES as Jungle – repeated here for the sake of
Dietrich’s 6th SS Panzer Army. The strike ◗ St Vith: 2 Medals clarity. )
was to crack the Allied line and this has ◗ Malmedy: 1 Medal ◗ Movement: A unit that enters a Heavy
worked so far. Seven thousand Americans ◗ Etsenborn: 1 Medal Woods hex must stop and may move
were put in the bag at Schnee Eifel and the ◗ Eupen: 1 Medal no further on that turn.
terrified survivors are fleeing west ahead ◗ Battle: A unit may not battle the turn
of the Panzers who are driving on for the These medals are controlled by it moves onto a Heavy Woods hex.
Meuse and Antwerp. whichever player has a unit occupying When battling an enemy unit that
However, all is not going well for the hex. is on a Heavy Woods hex, Infantry
the German high command. While by reduce the number of Battle dice
ruthless measures, they have managed ◗ German Exit Hexes: The German rolled by 1, Armor reduce the number
to concentrate armour to drive through player can claim a medal for each of Battle dice rolled by 2 and Artillery
the breakthrough, but the Volksgrenadier armour unit that exits the board from Battle dice are not reduced.
Divisions who are to make the hole one of the Exit hexes if there are no ◗ Line of Sight: A Heavy Woods blocks
for Panzers are a shadow of their 1940 American units in that section (4 or 5 line of sight.
selves. The terrain and the weather are hex wide) of the board. This cannot be ◗ Movement: A unit that enters a Light
also against them. The roads are narrow the winning medal of the game. Woods hex must stop and may move
and winding and unsuitable for tanks. ◗ German Victory Conditions: 14 no further on that turn.
The battle hardened US 2nd Infantry Medals. At least two of which must be ◗ Battle: A unit that enters a Light Woods
Division had been transferred to the from Objectives. hex may battle if the unit starts its
sector just before the assault and they ◗ American Victory Conditions: 14 move in an adjacent hex. If an Armour
were determined to make a fight of it. Medals. unit starts its move in an adjacent hex
›
August 2025 Miniature Wargames 9
 SEND THREE AND FOURPENCE

ABOVE: German infantry attack an embattled American unit at Malmedy. I had included rules for massacring
prisoners in a previous draft of the scenario, but cut them out as being in poor taste. The building is a paper
building from Peter Dennis’s paperboys range. A very affordable and quick way to whip up some terrain.

and makes a successful combat against Vith tends to be a pivotal part of the game,
a unit in a Light Woods hex, it may as it represents an objective marker and it
Take Ground and do an Armour Over- is usually garrisoned, which means a two
run. When battling an enemy unit point swing in terms of victory medals
that is on a Light Woods hex, Infantry when it changes hands.
reduce the number of Battle dice rolled
by 1, Armor reduce the number of
Battle dice rolled by 2 and Artillery
Battle dice are not reduced.
◗ Line of Sight: A Light Woods blocks
line of sight.

SNOW & BAD WEATHER

◗ No airpower or barrage cards may be ABOVE: German infantry on the ridge watching
their fellows advance through the woods.
played for the first three turns due to
bad weather. Starting from turn three,
barrage may be played as normal. the hexes and then some leafless trees at
ABOVE: Bradenbergers. The Germans did make
Airpower may also be played, but the sides. This proved rather awkward use of troops wearing American uniforms in the
strikes with one die per hex only for as players couldn’t reach in to put Bulge with mixed results. Paradoxically we had
both sides. units on the road without constantly some trouble with these in our last game with them
with players from both sides moving them! So in
◗ Off road movement is capped at two knocking the trees over. After about the end, I settled for representing them with some
hexes, on road movement is capped fifteen minutes of this, I replaced the slightly scruffy looking German types but with an
at three. trees with some yellow-ish lichen that American jeep.
looked suitably wintry. Units have line
RIVERS of sight along the road, which is treated GERMAN FUEL SHORTAGE
◗ Neither the River Our or the River as open, but units in adjacent hexes (that After Turn 7, any German armour unit
Amblieve are fordable. aren’t along the road) can draw line of moving must roll a die for each hex they
◗ There is one ford on the Our, which is sight through the hex and gain the usual intend to move before moving. Any
marked on the map. benefits of cover. Grenade rolled means the movement is
Update: I tried a few different versions cancelled. German armour units on roads
TERRAIN AROUND ST VITH of this, using the road block rules, but may always move one hex, without rolling.
The tile set doesn’t allow this those simply stopped the Germans in their
conjunction of terrain. The tiles marked tracks. The German advance is meant BLOWING UP A BRIDGE (AMERICANS)
with Barbed Wire are Light Forest (i.e. to be difficult, but not impossible. I’ve To blow up a bridge the Commander in
Jungle) with a road going through it. We substituted barbed wire for road blocks in Chief must, on his turn, play a Section
dealt with this by placing roads through this version, but your mileage may vary. St card corresponding to the flank in which

10 Miniature Wargames August 2025

the bridge lays (if the bridge is across
two distinct sections, the player may then
play a Section card from either of the
two sections). Roll two Battle dice. If a
star is rolled, the bridge is destroyed and
removed, otherwise it survives the attack.

BUILDING PONTOON BRIDGES (GERMANS)

To construct a Pontoon Bridge over a
river, the Commander in Chief must play
an play a Section card corresponding to
the flank in which the bridge is to appear,
and instead of ordering units in the
section, place a Pontoon Bridge on any
river hex in the section. This can be done
up to three times in the game.

AIRBORNE FORCES (GERMAN) ABOVE: Handshakes and smiles after a hard ◗ Group C: One German Special Forces
fought game.
After much thought, I’ve decided not Infantry Unit, One German Artillery
to include these as it’s simply adding Unit.
too much complexity to the game. The either the Left, the Centre or the Right
Airborne forces have been folded into and cannot be split between two sectors. Turn 6:
the reinforcements. ◗ Two German Engineer Units.
Turn 4: Two American Armour Units.
AERIAL RESUPPLY (AMERICAN) Turn 5: Four American Special Forces Turn 8:
Removed for reasons of ease of play. Infantry Units (82nd Airborne) ◗ Group A - Two German Special Forces
Turn 6: Three American Infantry Units. Infantry Unit.
SS RUTHLESSNESS Turn 7: One American Artillery Unit. ◗ Group B - One Elite German Armour
Removed for reasons of ease of play. Turn 8: Two American Armour Units. Unit, Two German Armour Units.
Turn 9: Two American Armour Units.
ENGINEERS Turn 9:
Mark the American and American GERMAN REINFORCEMENTS ◗ Three German Special Forces Infantry
Engineers appropriately. German Each group of reinforcements must be Unit.
Engineers who start adjacent to a blown initially deployed wholly in one Sector
bridge may repair a Blown Bridge if (Left/Centre/Right.) Where multiple CONCLUSION
activated. groups are deployed in a turn only one So how did it go? We got a full
group may be deployed per Sector. complement of players and everyone had
BRANDENBERGERS Reinforcements not brought on in the a good time. The first game was quite
Use an American Jeep and three German turn they arrive, may be deployed in the tense as the Germans ground forward
infantry figures. same Sector on subsequent turns. while the Americans did everything they
could to hold on. Things were made a
REINFORCEMENTS Turn 2: bit simpler by one of the players who –
Both sides will be receiving ◗ Group A: One German Artillery Unit, having read the scenario – hit upon the
reinforcements during the battle. These Two Elite Armour Units. idea of writing what happened on each
must be placed on road hexes on the ◗ Group B: One German Artillery Unit, turn (weather effects, reinforcements, etc)
players base line. They may be ordered One German Armour Unit, One on some index
on the turn that they are placed. If there is German Special Forces Infantry Unit. cards and then
insufficient room for the reinforcements ◗ Group C: One German Brandenberger turning them
to be placed on the turn specified, they Unit. over as we played
may be placed after units are ordered and so nothing got
moved or placed on a subsequent turn. Turn 4: forgotten in the
◗ Group A: Two German Special Forces heat of battle.
ALLIED REINFORCEMENTS Infantry Units, One German Armour I was pleased
Each group of reinforcements must be Unit. with how it DOWNLOAD
THE SCENARIO MAP
initially deployed wholly in one Sector ◗ Group B: One German Special Forces turned out and
tabletopgaming.co.uk/
(Left/Centre/Right.) i.e. The turn six Infantry Unit, One German Infantry I think we’ll play information/downloads
infantry units must be deployed to Unit, One Artillery Unit. this one again. ■

August 2025 Miniature Wargames 11

 Cold War Gone Hot: the BELOW
Challenging,
Fortunately, the aggressive stance of both sides did not
trigger a catastrophic war (see my comment above! Ed.).
Ultimate ‘What-if’ congested
terrain This has not stopped wargamers, lured by the great
favouring tanks and other weaponry from postulating what may
Words by Alun Stuart. Photos by John Treadaway from a pair defending have happened if the cold war did go hot.
of games: Hahausen 89 by the Shepway club at SELWG 2022 and forces.
another at Hammerhead 2020 by Dave Tuck & Crew.
OLD BATTLEFIELDS REVISITED
Both of the games featured as photo references are from that Generations of wargamers have fought out what-if
long forgotten era before we had a war in Europe so... it’s engagements in the Fulda Gap, along the Danube and
always interesting to compare reality with toy soldiers. Ed. on the North German plain. The Fulda Gap is a familiar
stomping ground for armies. Napoleon slipped through
BACKGROUND it after Leipzig in 1813 and the U.S. XII Corps raced
For over forty years following the defeat of Germany through it in April 1945 to grab territory that had been
in 1945 Nato and Russia massed troops, armour and promised to the Russians at Yalta. The ground proved to
artillery in Europe facing off against one another. be a valuable bargaining chit post-war.

12 Miniature Wargames August 2025

 ABOVE
British light
armour edges
forward along a
hedged track.

LEFT CENTRE
ALL REVVED UP & NOWHERE TO GO A lightly
armoured
And that is where we are, post-war. Thankfully the scouting vehicle
Cold War period proved to be largely uneventful halts beside a
in Europe. There was no conventional war and the railway bridge.
horrors of nuclear exchanges never materialised. LEFT
Wargamers born in the late fifties and sixties were A BMP’s low
acutely aware of the spasms of paranoia and the dread guises were the go-to set for Micro-wargaming with profile makes is
a tricky target.
of a bright flash on the horizon. The rapid development masses of tiny tanks swarming across the rolling model
of weaponry in the war years continued to accelerate hills of Germany.
and inevitably led to wargamers wanting to try out Great Escape Games have a nice simple set Seven
T72s and their successors, M1 Abrams, Chieftains and Days to the River Rhine available through North
Conquerors, Leopards, AMX-30s and LeClercs and a Star. The modern day daddy of them all is Cold
host of other fascinating armour. Over the years, the War Commander now in its 2nd Edition with Cold
miniature versions of armour certainly saw a lot more War and post-Cold War coverage. It is a solo, two-
action than their full-sized counterparts. player and multi-player system where players take
command of a battlegroup (which can be a division
SELECTED RULE SETS or just a company). The rules are built on the bones
The snappily entitled Wargames Rules for All-Arms of the successful Blitzkrieg Commander. Cold War
Land Warfare from Platoon to Battalion Level 1925- Commander tends to revolve around 10mm gaming.
1950 and 1950-2000 by Phil Barker were the market If you like your gaming with a extra dash of gung-
leaders for some years having been published in the ho then Team Yankee is just the thing. It comes from
1970s covering the 1925-1950 bit, then a 1980s update the same stable as Flames of War and is based on
to take to cover 1950-1975 and finally a third update to Harold Coyle’s novel Team Yankee and gaming Team
bring the rules up to 2000. These rules, in their various Yankee ensures that your Cold War is rather hot. As
›
August 2025 Miniature Wargames 13
 FULDA GAP

ABOVE with Flames of War, Team Yankee gamers tend to be encouraged and rewarded for launching operations
A Russian BMP favour 15mm (I believe the rules work very well left ‘as that integrate all of the elements available to them.
makes cautious
progress along is’ and substituting 6mm models as it works well with the
a train line telescoped ranges but looks less of a tank park. Ed). SOME TESTING SCENARIOS
beside a thick If you want to go a bit more skirmish then Force on I was mistaken in believing that modern tank warfare
forest.
Force does a good job with lots of supplements and was rather like WWII with up-gunned and lower
additional material around. Gaming with these rules profile armour. It’s a lot more than that. Tanks are
tends to be 20mm or 28mm. Sticking with 28mm, important and can be crucial in an engagement but
Bolt Action Modern has been developed by various infantry elements are far more capable of taking care
enthusiasts, check out Jay White’s blog for links to the of themselves and putting up a determined defence
rules conversion, army lists and QRFs. against armour.
Added to that, tanks in the open are incredibly
ITS ALL IN THE MECHANICS exposed, not just from other tanks but from air attack
Any gaming with enhanced communications and and, more importantly, anti-tank missiles fired from
surveillance brings with it some real challenges to try concealed positions. The following two scenarios aim
and replicate on the tabletop. A decent set of wargame to give us a taste of the challenges in commanding a
rules should emphasize command and control and force in post-war what-if Europe (and we’re not even
require players to maintain unit cohesion. This should going to discuss drones at the moment... Ed.)
be achieved by allowing units to communicate,
cooperate and coordinate. The rules should also take 1: ASSAULT ON HAHAUSEN
hidden movement into account, but recognise that One of the featured games used to illustrate this article
intelligence and surveillance are extremely important. focusses on Hahausen in northern Germany and pit the
Finally, perhaps the most important of them all is 107th Guards Division against elements of the British
the fact that the Cold War saw the development of 1st Corps (in this case the 1st Battalion Staffordshire
complete combined arms operations. Players should Regiment). The Russian battlegroup has reached

14 Miniature Wargames August 2025

Hahausen some six hours after crossing the West The Russians arrive on the table with the recon units
German border. ahead of the BMPs carrying the infantry and their
immediate support units.
FORCES On turn 2, the Russian tanks can either arrive using
The town and surrounding area is defended by the same road entry or they can delay a turn and arrive
elements of the British 1st Corps: on the road leading out to the left of the Russian side of
the table.
BRITISH 1ST CORPS: The British can call in a single airstrike of Harriers
ELEMENT DETAILS at any point after turn 3. The Russians have scheduled
1st Battalion Staffordshire Regiment Dismounted rifle company and BELOW strikes on turns 3, 6 and 9. Any visible enemy unit
a recon company with FV721 Fox
Recon vehicles The rolling can be targeted or specific structures or junctions on
terrain of the the table. Speculative firing at enemy targets that are
Mechanised infantry One platoon in Warrior IFVs German plains
Tank support 2 Challenger platoons make for ideal known to be in a position but have not actually been
Artillery support FV432 mortar carrier tank country. spotted by their troops is not allowed.
Abbot 105mm battery
Anti-aircraft support Air Defence Anti-Tank System (ADATS)
Air Cover One Harrier strike
The Soviet Forces are not overwhelming, but they are
strong and effective:

THE SOVIET FORCES

ELEMENT DETAILS
Mechanised infantry 3 companies in BMPs
Infantry support BMP ATGM platoon, BMP mortar
platoon
Recon Company in BRDMs
Tank support T80 company
Anti-aircraft support ZSU 23-4 company
Artillery support 2S3 Akatsiya Self Propelled Gun
company
Air Cover Three air strikes

The Russians must clear three of the four roads

leading out of the town on the British side of the table
by the end of turn 15 in order to be on schedule with
the overall attack plan. This constitutes a strategic win.
If they manage to clear half of the roads out of the town
then this is a tactical win.
The British win a strategic victory if there are no
Russian units to the south of the main road running
across the table at the end of the game. They win a
tactical victory if there are Russians south of the road
but they have not captured more than 1 of the roads
leading out of the town.

2: FLASHPOINT CZECHOSLOVAKIA
– TANKS IN THE SNOW
The Russians have launched a secondary series of
attacks from the Czechoslovakian border region into
US held southern Germany. Advance elements of the
Russian force have moved across the border from
Klatovy and are aiming to seize the vital road and rail
junction at Deggendorf along with the bridges crossing
KEY OBJECTIVES & TIMINGS the Danube. Hastily assembled US forces have been
The British can set up a forward line in the fields thrown forward to disrupt and fragment the Soviet
beyond the town to make use of the hedgerows. The spearhead.
British units are considered to be concealed until either This is a typical ‘what-if’ scenario and it does not
spotted or fire from their position has been spotted. need huge forces to stage a really compelling and
›
August 2025 Miniature Wargames 15
 FULDA GAP

attractive game. The majority of the units chosen for The Russian force is quite tank heavy as would be
this scenario can be found in Battlefront’s Flames of the case with a breakthrough unit. You can reduce the
War starter sets. I have provisionally set this encounter number of tanks and replace them with BMP mounted
in 1986 so the Soviets have T80s and the Americans infantry:
have M1 Abrams. There are plenty of alternatives to
Flames of War kit, notably in 10mm from Pendraken SOVIET FORCE
and an increasing number of 3d print vehicles. ELEMENT DETAILS
T-80 Shock Tank Company HQ: 1x T-80 (10 pts) ; 3x T-80 (29
pts) ; 3x T-80 (29 pts); 2x BMP-3
Recon (9 pts) and 2x Gaskin AA
Vehicles (1 pt)
Support 3x Spandrel AT Vehicles (2 pts);
2x T-64 (13 pts and 2x SU-25
Frogfoot Aircraft (7 pts)

ABOVE
A ZSU-23-4
or Shilka, this
was a self-
propelled, radar
guided anti-
aircraft weapon
system.

RIGHT KEY OBJECTIVES & TIMINGS

A BMP takes a The American units can set up anywhere on the
direct hit. tabletop (see map), bearing in mind that they must
BELOW RIGHT attempt to prevent the Soviets from crossing the stream
A burning and exiting the table on the table edge opposite their
BMP comes entry point. American units only arrived in the area a
to rest beside
an abandoned couple of hours before the Soviet spearhead, so they
civilian van. FORCES may be concealed but not dug in. The cold weather
To make things workable on a reasonable sized table, means that the enemy can see where vehicles are even
the following lists are designed for Team Yankee and if there is no clear line of sight.
set at a maximum of 100 points (although the American The Americans may only deploy half of their tanks
one is 101 points). The American force is well-rounded on the southern side of the stream at the beginning
and balanced and it should put up quite a fight on the
tabletop:

US FORCE
ELEMENT DETAILS
M1 Abrams Armored Combat Team HQ: 1x M1 Abrams (10 pts); 3x M1
Abrams (30 pts); 2x M1 Abrams
(20 pts); - 2x M113 Scout Vehicles
(2 pts)
Mechanized Infantry Support M113 Mechanized Infantry Platoon
(8 pts); M901 ITV Anti-Tank Vehicles
(6 pts)
Artillery & Air Support 3x M109 Paladin Self-Propelled
Howitzers (9 pts); - 2x AH-1 Cobra
Helicopters (10 pts); - 1x A-10
Thunderbolt Aircraft (6pts)

16 Miniature Wargames August 2025

 A TASTE OF REALITY
Technically, modern wargaming covers pretty much
everything post-WWII, but – in reality – the prime
areas of interest for ‘what-ifs’ are Europe, Vietnam,
Afghanistan and the various wars across Africa.
Although this article hasn’t specifically referenced
the invasion of Ukraine by the Russians which was
launched in the spring of 2022, the lessons learnt
seem to reflect just how wargamers predicted a war in
Europe in the 1980s might have turned out. Seemingly
overwhelming numbers bogged down by smaller,
highly motivated and well-supported units.
of the game, all other units can be anywhere on the TOP The effectiveness of semi-autonomous front line
tabletop. The Soviets must enter the table with their A T-80 in the defenders backed up with timely artillery and air
snow.
recon vehicles in the lead. The Americans have better strikes has long been predicted on our tabletops. The
intelligence reports on the region and know that the ABOVE stunning impact of drones, not so much, but then
stream and its banks can be crossed at any point. The A Russian again this was a technology in
supply truck
Russians believe that the only crossing point is the ford dodging its infancy despite the fact that
and have targeted this as their first primary objective. between cover the Austrians had first used
The Soviets win the game by either eliminating all along a gravel unmanned balloons packed
track.
of the American armour or by exiting three of their with explosives against Venice
tactical units via the road opposite their entry point. back in 1849.
The Americans win the game by frustrating the Soviets
or by knocking out all of their armour. LINKS
The hedges provide cover, the farmhouse and barn Jay White’s blog for Bolt Action DOWNLOAD
THE SCENARIO MAPS
can be driven into to provide concealment. Soviet Modern: jayswargamingmadness. tabletopgaming.co.uk/
aircover will not operate on the southern side of the blogspot.com/2017/03/bolt-action- information/downloads
river for fear of hitting friendly targets. modern-v31.html ■

August 2025 Miniature Wargames 17

FURIOUS
FUSILLADE
Broadside 2025 Words and photos by The Editor

he Milton Hundred Wargames Club ran

T
ABOVE
their latest show in June of this year and the Freeman's Farm,
AWI 28mm by
organising club did another great job. Fighting
the Hailsham
against a multi-occupancy car park with three Wargames Club.
other, simultaneous (and unrelated) events, it was
superbly managed by the club members. The team ABOVE RIGHT
The Battle of
TRADE
– headed by David Mustill (Club Chair and show Gela 1943 by Last year’s 27 traders and a ‘flea market’ section was
organiser) got a bigger, busier show than last year. the Canterbury 35 traders this year and door numbers were certainly
Crusaders.
up, even though it was a hot June day.
LEFT
Skirmish GAMES
Wargames
Last years 31 party and demo games were up to 34
Group's Chris
Swan, Ian Colwill, and were split pretty evenly, plus there were painting
and Ted and competitions and crafting areas for young gamers.
Gordon Herbert
Games I really liked were the excellent Shepway
shot some
wrong 'uns Wargamers’ Bridge Over La Vie, France 1944 (28mm with
Texas style! superb scratch built card buildings); Posties Rejects
with The Battle of Rivoli 1797 (a 6mm French Revolution
game with some of the infantry as very convincing
MDF flats); and the impressive Retired Wargamers
Reloaded Gotterdammerung 1945 in 15mm, but there
were lots of good ones. The Society of Ancients had a
nice Battle of the Granicus 334BC in 28mm; Maidstone’s
›
August 2025 Miniature Wargames 19
 BROADSIDE

ABOVE
?????????

RIGHT
????????? 3D printing set in a flooded Venice (well, you know:
more flooded...). Finally Deal’s Gradual Sunset, Thailand
1980s is nice to look at as was Hailsham Wargames
Club’s Freeman’s Farm, 28mm AWI game, but there were
no bad games at the show: all were fun to look at and
often very enlightening.

TOP Battlezone (computer game on the table top) is fun;

Would you North Kent Nomads had a Cyberpunk Red Combat Zone
like a slice of
Brandenburg? game with working advertising screens; and the Friday
Retired Night Fire Fight had a World War Z game with lots of
Wargamers
Reloaded's
Gotter-
dammerung
1945 in 15mm.

ABOVE
Gradual Sunset
by Dea WS.

ABOVE RIGHT
Victory at Sea
by the Hythe
Tyrants.

RIGHT
The Dengar
Appreciation ran
a Society Star
Wars Legion
game.

20 Miniature Wargames August 2025

CONCLUSIONS CLOCKWISE
The show is well lit (even better this year which – as FROM ABOVE
Bridge Over La
a photographer – I really appreciate) and is a good Vie France by
space to be at (if a little muggy). Catering was mostly Shepway.
via a burger van which was expensive and not very
Posties Rejects
good but there was coffee, ice cream and chips from 6mm The Battle
vans which was all better. This well run show with of Rivoli.
a nice atmosphere is the epitome of good, everyday
Friday Night Fire
wargames shows. Be at the 2026 event next summer! ■ Fight's World
War Z in flooded
Venice.

6mm Hammer's
Slammers by the
Werelords.

North Kent
Nomads'
Moonstone
game.

Society of
Ancients Battle
of the Granicus
334BC.

›
August 2025 Miniature Wargames 21
 rolling 4+ is always a success, which
makes stuff easier to remember. Because
the game is almost period agnostic it’s
also (of course) figure agnostic too and
can be played on a table as small as
a 3ft square. If you go to the US store
(store.pulpalley.com) Dave Phipps (the
designer) has produced a four minute
video explaining how to play the system
RULE BOOKS

which is a great place to start.

& FIGURES

The Core Rules are in an (almost) A5,

soft-back book (although a hard back is
also available for £42.50 (although that
almost goes against the ‘pulp’ feel of
the product!) and that is over 120 pages
PULP ALLEY 2 long and is well illustrated in mono
◗ wargamesbuildings.co.uk plus the game is just flooded with ‘add
◗ £29.50 ons’. I was sent two colourful
Card Packs (the Starter Deck
Pulp Alley is
a set of rules
that have been
around for
over a decade
but they are
constantly added
to and - with this
second edition
- they are well
worth a look,
especially as they
are distributed in
the UK via Sally
4th.
For those who
haven’t come across them
before, Pulp Alley is easy
to mistake for ‘just’ a set of at £19.99 and the
rules for ‘Gum Shoe’ type Solo Play Deck for
adventures and – while it £16.99) and I’d
certainly does that very well say that – while
– it does lots more besides they are not
and can be viewed as a absolutely needed
small scale skirmish ‘tool- – they are really
box’ (or perhaps a Swiss going to make
Army Knife) with loads of play easier.
support for the period of So, if small
your choice. It can be played action play – in
solo or against another whatever period
player for co-op play or – is of interest
with 2-4 players (or more) for more to you, have a look at a set (there’s a
confrontational stuff. cheaper PDF version too) and if you like
Mechanisms are pretty straight it, maybe look at the card decks? But –
forward: you’ll need a selection of dice more importantly – look in next months
(D6, D8, D10 and D12) and generally, if issue where Chris Abbey of Sally 4th
your character has a skill, they get more has written a scenario just for you!
(and bigger) dice but – irrespective – Recommended.
›
August 2025 Miniature Wargames 23
 REVIEWS

MAD DOGS ON THE NORTH

WEST FRONTIER
◗ caliverbooks.com
◗ £29.95

Jon Sutherland – who writes Command

Decision for this magazine – is obviously
chained to a typewriter somewhere
because, along side what he does for
you all via Miniature Wargames, he is
furiously expanding his Mad Dogs and
Englishmen colonial rules with new

THE BEAR DANCES WITH THE

CHRYSANTHEMUM With Part Three a pattern is beginning to
◗ lulu.com form! This has 37 scenarios spanning The
◗ £9.99 Mahsud-Waziri Blockade 1900-1902 and
taking us right up to WWII with Mazrak
Self published via Lulu by Jim Lucas, I Zadran’s Invasion of India 1944-45.
have a copy of The Bear Dances With Scenarios are laid out in a sensible
The Chrysanthemum. This is a series way with Deployment and Objectives, a
of linked scenarios using the Chain of map and – very often – an Aftermath
Command rules by the TooFat Lardies. report. Pretty much what you’d expect
Similar in period to the article in if you enjoy Mr Sutherland’s Command
last month’s Forgotten War article, Decisions and – talking of which – over
the 21 scenarios in TBDWTC are this issue and next month he’s giving us
chronologically ordered and are set in the a suitable taste with a pair of articles on
Manchurian/Mongolian conflict of 1939. a ‘what if’ scenario based at Omdurman
Over the eighty pages of this (almost) A4, which should give you an interesting
soft-back book, the Soviet and Japanese scenarios. Has he written a new volume feel for the period (especially as the
forces ‘have at it’ and the scenarios are for the North West Frontier, you ask? first part this month is a sort of ‘solo’
backed by a lot of army lists and national No: he’s written three, the first of which programme paragraph affair!)
characteristics for the different forces is already on sale at Caliver Books and Assuming that they are all the same
(configured to mesh directly with Chain the last two will, I assume, be right price these are highly recommended.
of Command) and all of those scenarios along behind it. Always the trouble with
are backed by maps in colour and the scenarios books: they’re like busses...
odd photograph of forces involved. Suitable for Jon’s rules (or really any
The scenarios are split into three others for the period) Part One is entitled
sections: the Initial Encounter/Build Up Mad Dogs on the North-West Frontier
(April/May ’39); the Japanese Attempt On 1857-1944. It contains 34 Scenarios
The River Crossings (July ’39); and the spanning The Bozdari Expedition 1857 to
Russian Counter Attack (August ’39) and the Mohmand Expeditions 1879-80. It is 120
detail is excellent. Illustration is maybe pages long in A4 with full colour maps
a little basic (the maps could do with a (which are excellent) and photos with lots
little more assistance with a Key, maybe) of shots of suitable pictures of models
but the info you need from them is all in in play plus the odd period illustration.
the accompanying text. There are also rule fiddles/amendments
I find navigating Lulu tricky so to smooth play out.
– if it helps – the ISBN number is Part Two is... well similar: there are 30
9798808348943 which might make it scenarios for The Marri Expedition 1880
easier to find. This is a good price for a through to the Buner Field Expedition
large selection of scenarios that could January 2-19 1898 and the quality of the
form a mini-campaign. Recommended. illustrations and maps is largely identical.

24 Miniature Wargames August 2025

 COMMAND DECISION

A ‘What If’ for 2 September 1898 Words by Jon Sutherland. Photos by the Editor

A bit of a different approach this time. For this month Mr ABOVE this short example we find Colonel Martin, regimental
Sutherland gives us a ‘programmed paragraph’ sort of Advancing into commander of the 21st facing Osman Digna, a Turco-
action.
game suitable for some solo play. Next month we transfer Hadendoa ex-slave trader and wily adversary of the
Omdurman to the tabletop! Ed. All of the British in the aftermath of the Battle of Omdurman.
photographs
in this article
COMMANDER’S BRIEFING

O
ur fascination with “what-ifs” is one of were taken by
the driving forces that makes wargaming The Editor of The arrival of newcomers always draws caustic
so attractive. Constantly, we want to see a game by the remarks from the old hands, but none more so than
South London
what might have happened had historical Warlords seven those that have greeted your regiment to the Sudan.
events been somewhat different. The charge of the years ago at Being the only British cavalry present, four squadrons
21st Lancers at Omdurman was the last time any Vapnartak 2018. of lancers, and looking fairly bedraggled it must be
British cavalry were involved in a full charge. Eventful admitted, did not inspire favourable comment.
enough, but a young lieutenant attached to the unit The 21st, the junior regiment of all British cavalry,
would later become the British Prime Minister, one was formed barely forty years ago and has never been
Winston Spencer Churchill. in action. This misfortune has given rise to the popular
The gamebook format gives us the chance to witticism that your regimental motto is ‘thou shalt
make decisions and then have to react to the new not kill’. The need to correct this slur, at any cost, is
consequences we have created. A programmed paramount in your mind. Amongst your officers is
adversary also needs to react to your choices and still one from a far older regiment, a Lieutenant Winston
threaten and make reasonable choices of their own. Spencer Churchill of the 4th Hussars, combining his
Each of the encounters generated by your decisions duties as a troop officer and correspondent for the
could form the basis of an evolving solo scenario. In Morning Post.

26 Miniature Wargames August 2025

 Yesterday, whilst patrolling the Kerreri Hills and DECISION ONE
the Jebel Surgham, your regiment was the first to spot Thirsting for action, you are delighted to take your
the vast army or Ansar of the Khalifa some four miles lancers forward to reconnoitre. This is your chance to
away. You estimated the host at around forty thousand, disprove the regiment’s rather inglorious reputation.
four miles long with masses of cavalry. Despite the While the infantry prepare to march, the regiment
expectations of battle, the Dervishes did not move all weaves its way past the blocks of khaki clad figures
day. As night fell, the regiment rode on to a mud-built and mules struggling under the weight of water
village of El Egeiga and the safety of the British force bottles, saddlebags, picketing gear and tins of bully
establishing itself there. beef all jolting and jangling together.
At half past three the following morning, the army This is not the glorious days when cavalry ruled the
was given order to ‘stand to’. Reveille sounded as your battlefield, but your pride is irrepressible, your men
regiment trotted out to the ridge between the Surgham may be without grace, but at least you are an active
and the river. Barely having reached your objective, BELOW unit at war with the enemy. After crossing the ridge,
you spotted some 8,000 warriors with white flags Egyptian you signal back to Kitchener, informing him that
infantry
moving very quickly towards you. With the enemy deploying out of stragglers from the Ansar are making their way back
closing fast, your regiment retired back to the zariba the zeriba. towards the city in small groups. His reply orders you

defences around El Egeiga. to ‘annoy them as far as possible on their flank and
At 6.25am, the first artillery rounds smacked into head them off, if possible, from Omdurman’.
the approaching Dervish army. As the shells exploded The signal allows reasonable latitude; you can
at a range of 2700 yards, the gunboats on the Nile either continue south-west and head around the Jebel
joined in. At 2000 yards, the Grenadier Guards opened Surgham, cutting off the stragglers, if so move on to
fire with section volleys, followed by the Warwicks, Decision Three. If you think that this is too risky at
Highlanders and Lincolns. Some 12-14,000 Dervishes present and wish to see beyond the Jebel Surgham
of this first wave were beaten back, few of them getting without getting too close, you should skirt the banks
closer than 500 yards. of the Nile and make for a small village in the distance.
By 7.30am, Broadwood’s Camel Corps in the Kerreri If you wish to take this course of action, move on to
Hills were under pressure. Through your field glasses, Decision Two.
you could see them in a fighting withdrawal as a vast
force swept towards them. Broadwood slowly fell back, DECISION TWO
and the Dervish horde disappeared from sight. By The mud along the banks of the Nile show the tell-tale
9am, the Camel Corp had returned to the zariba having signs that many men have passed this way. There are
drawn Sheikh-ed-Din’s men away from the battle. stragglers several hundred yards away, but they do not
A second frontal attack was driven off with great appear to have any fight left in them. You are unable to
losses to the Dervishes and, as the last remnants of see very well from your position, but it does not look
the Ansar fled away towards the west, orders came like there is any serious opposition this side of the Jebel
through for you to move out. Kitchener would need Surgham. Ahead, there is a village on the banks of the
to know if the last attack had broken the Khalifa’s Nile, should you wish to continue towards it, move to
army. Your orders are to check the ground between the Decision Four.
Nile and the Jebel Surgham for Mahdists, then swing Over to the east, beside a dried upriver bed, or khor,
around the hills and look for the enemy forces near are several hundred blue clad figures milling around.
Omdurman itself. Now move to Decision One. They do not seem to have any particular purpose in
›
August 2025 Miniature Wargames 27
 COMMAND DECISION

ABOVE mind, and you could easily brush them aside if you would be able to clamber up allowing you to circle the
Members of the wished. Your orders from Kitchener are not specific and hills further upslope. It would be a possible advantage
Naval Brigade
man part of the
do not preclude you from contact with the enemy. If you as far as vision is concerned, but you would not exactly
zeriba. decide to make for the Mahdists, go to Decision Five. be in ‘cavalry country’ on the slopes. If you want to
risk this possible disadvantage in exchange for the
DECISION THREE intelligence you may gather, go to Decision Seven.
The undulating terrain, broken by deep cuts made by
long dried up rivers, makes the going rather difficult. DECISION FOUR
Constantly, you have to ride up and down the regiment The village is two or three hundred yards away. At first
making sure that the ranks are maintained. If nothing sporadic fire and half-hearted volleys come from the
else, you must be prepared to face an unexpected few huts and walled enclosures. The regiment fans out
threat from any quarter. The ground is very dry and to a two-squadron frontage as you bark the orders to
the dust that the horses are kicking up must be visible your troop commanders, cantering now; you close the
for at least 2000 yards. distance with lances at the ready.
You are roughly heading in the direction that you The Mahdists have dropped five of your men, but the
were ordered, the enemy stragglers that are visible sound of the gunfire spurs you and your troops onwards.
offer no resistance, casting down their weapons and Covering the last few yards, pistol in hand, you brush
standing motionless and expressionless as you approach. aside the handful of Mahdists and seize the village.
Nevertheless, you ignore them, there are risks attached to As your men make short work of the survivors, you
chasing them or attempting to capture them. Whatever dismount and pick up a wickedly broad bladed spear and
information they may be prepared or persuaded to pull off a blue patch from the jibbeh of a fallen warrior.
divulge will now be out of date and, besides, you need to With standing orders not to take prisoners, you are free
view the situation with your own eyes. to make your own choice as to your next move. Having
The slopes of the Jebel Surgham rise to your right blooded the 21st, you are happy now, at least you hope
and it will be some time before you clear the ridges you will not be the butt of any more barrack room jokes.
and can see what lies beyond the hills. If you wish to A detachment has already returned with three of your
continue further in this direction, move to Decision Six. dead and has begun to cover their bodies with a rough
There is a cut in the ridge just ahead; the horses cairn of stones. Two others are slightly wounded but

28 Miniature Wargames August 2025

 should be able to continue with you for the time being. the distance seems strangely tranquil considering the
If you wish to ride back to Kitchener, in the circumstances.
knowledge that there are no major concentrations of With no sign of the Ansar, you have but one choice,
Mahdists to the east of the Jebel Surgham, then move to press on to the top of the Jebel Surgham moving on
on immediately to Decision Ten. to Decision Nine.
If you are not sure, in your own mind, that the
ground is truly safe, it would be prudent to remount DECISION EIGHT
and make for the Jebel Surgham, just to be sure. The Mahdists are barely five hundred yards away.
You decide to leave a small escort to take the dead Already, the rapid volleys are making inroads into
and wounded back to El Eleiga; the regiment remounts the strength and cohesion of the regiment. A mounted
and heads east. Beside a dried-up riverbed are several man in the open provides a splendid target for even
hundred Mahdists, they appear well formed and an inexperienced and nervous rifle man. You have
prepared. Despite the extreme distance, you can two choices now that you have decided to engage the
already see puffs of smoke from the long-range shots enemy.
which are falling short of your column. If you wish to Caution tells you to dismount and return fire with
close with the enemy, move on to Decision Five. your regiment’s carbines. If you prefer this option,
move to Decision Twelve. If, in the true traditions of
DECISION FIVE cavalry regiments, you favour staying in the saddle,
You are on the left of the Mahdists; their flank appears then a charge is called for. At least this would be a sure
to be unprotected. As you manoeuvre towards them, way of proving the regiment and silencing all of the
they open fire and bring down several men and doubters. With steel-tipped lances and a bit of luck,
horses. You must make a rapid decision here. Will you you could scatter the Mahdists in a matter of minutes.
If you wish to try this tactic, then move on to Decision
Thirteen.

DECISION NINE
As you reach the crest of the Jebel Surgham, you find
your quarry. Stretched out, concealed behind the hills,
is the Khalifa’s reserve of 17,000 men led by Yakub. The
black flags of the Khalifa flutter in the slight breeze.
The vast horde is still and seems to be waiting for a
signal to move forward.
Kitchener must be told about this, if the full weight
of this fresh force were to hit him unprepared then
a disaster would be inevitable. Taking stock of the
ABOVE continue to head for them, if so move on to Decision situation, you order the regiment to descend Jebel
A small unit of
Hadendowah Eight, or will you report this immediately to Kitchener Surgham, leaving a troop to stand watch over the
break for cover. and not risk the regiment, if so, go to Decision Eleven. Mahdists below. It is with a sad heart that your
regiment has not yet been in action, but at least no
DECISION SIX one will be able to deny that you have done your duty
Beside a dried- up river bed are several hundred blue today. You will have to wait for another opportunity to
clad figures. They do not seem to have any particular blood the regiment in combat. Your decisions are at an
purpose in mind, and you could easily brush them end for today.
aside if you wished. Your orders from Kitchener are
not specific and do not preclude you from contact with DECISION TEN
the enemy. Continuing forward, you see that their The men seem to ride with much more fire and grace
flank appears to be unprotected. As you make this that had eluded them before the brief skirmish.
manoeuvre, they open fire, bringing down several men Although this was only a minor action, the regiment
and horses. You must make a rapid decision here. Will has been blooded.
you continue to head for them, if so move on to Decision Although you have not carried out your orders to the
Eight, or will you report this immediately to Kitchener letter, you are sure in your own mind that there is no
and not risk the regiment, if so, go to Decision Eleven. danger to fear to the southern flank of the army.
Events in the next few hours will prove you wrong,
DECISION SEVEN for concealed beyond the Jebel Surgham are the
The odd sniper manages to bring down one or two Khalifa’s reserve of 17,000 warriors. It is fortunate
men, but you are fairly safe here. Below, to the south- indeed that Kitchener will not rely on your information
east, the panoramic view of the Nile snaking away into alone. Your decisions are at an end for today.
›
August 2025 Miniature Wargames 29
 COMMAND DECISION

DECISION ELEVEN horror several hundred more Mahdists scrambling out

Being the only British cavalry in the campaign, you of the khor in front of the riflemen.
feel it imprudent to risk the whole regiment in such The regiment continues to fire, the volleys smashing
a foolhardy gesture of mindless bravado. The small into the emerging spearmen. A great shout erupts from
group of Mahdists will flee soon enough when the the Mahdists as they begin to form for a charge. They are
infantry move up. There will be rich enough pickings still three or four minutes from you, but they are closing
for the regiment in the inevitable pursuit of the fast. Now, the enemy are barely a hundred and fifty yards
scattered remains of the Ansar. away, your men are still firing as quickly as they can.
As you pick your way through the khors, the The regiment’s measured volleys are more ragged due to
first elements of the infantry force, along with their cartridge blockages and the nervousness of some of the
artillery support are beginning to climb the slopes of younger recruits. The old hands are helping as best they
the Jebel Surgham. Wheeling the regiment to avoid can, but the regiment’s fire has slackened.
them, you canter back towards El Egiega. In less than The enemy will be on you in a couple of minutes, most
an hour’s time, the infantry will discover what you of the men are still sending ten shots a minute at the
failed to notice. Beyond the Jebel Surgham lies the oncoming Mahdists. You must make a quick decision,
Khalifa’s black flag infantry reserve of 17,000, but fire or flight. If you want to hold your position and try to
Kitchener will be prepared for them. Your decisions smash the Mahdists move on to Decision Fourteen. If you
are at an end for today. decide that discretion is the better part of valour, under
the circumstances, move to Decision Fifteen.
DECISION TWELVE
The regiment halts at your command and dismounts DECISION THIRTEEN
with all the calm of an exercise on the parade ground. “Right wheel into line!” You shout. The bugler sounds
Each troop takes up its position in the firing line and the call and the whole sixteen troops wheel into one
begins to pour volley after volley into the milling mob long line. The lances come down from vertical to
of Mahdists and Dervish warriors. At first, they return horizontal as one and the 21st for the first time in their
fire, and then as they begin to waver, you see to your history charge into battle.

30 Miniature Wargames August 2025

 without pausing for breath, charge again. This time,
the Mahdists are beginning to falter, but the cost to the
regiment is still high.
Breaking off again, you wheel off to the flank, order
the regiment to dismount and open fire into the khor.
The volleys are murderous, within a few minutes the
Mahdists break leaving hundreds of dead and dying
in and around the khor. The remnants of the enemy
are led off by the hunched and disgruntled figure of
Mahdist leader that you later learn was none other
than Osman Digna.
The action has been costly, sixty-five men and
119 horses killed or wounded. At least you have
demonstrated that there is nothing wrong with the
discipline and courage of the 21st. Despite the fact that
three of your men will receive the Victoria Cross for their
actions, you have not really achieved your objective of
reconnoitring the area beyond Jebel Surgham. Kitchener
could have profited by knowing what was lurking there:
17,000 fresh Mahdist warriors. You return to your lines
to bury your dead and care for your wounded.

DECISION FOURTEEN
As volley after volley crash into the enemy, their charge
begins to lose momentum. A handful of warriors get
close enough to be cut down by your men’s sabres. A
hunched figure on a horse beyond the khor signals his
men to break off. It is Osman Digna, a very resourceful LEFT
and devious adversary. Your action today has been one Massed British
infantry
of the few defeats that he has suffered all these years. deploying into
At least you have demonstrated that there is nothing open desert.
With about 200 yards to cover, it looks as if the wrong with the discipline and courage of the 21st,
few Mahdist riflemen will be simply bowled over although you have not really achieved your objective
by the galloping hooves of three hundred horses of reconnoitring the area beyond Jebel Surgham.
or transfixed by the sight of the lance points. Like Kitchener could have profited by knowing what was
Cardigan at Balaclava, you lead from the front, sword lurking there: 17,000 fresh Mahdist warriors. Your
still sheathed. But before you have covered half of the decisions are at an end for today.
distance, you realise that you have been fooled.
Before you is not a shallow depression with a few DECISION FIFTEEN
riflemen, but a deep twenty-foot-wide gulley packed Barking out the order to fall back, your men
with 2,000 or more white clad spearmen and swordsmen. desperately try to hold off the enemy, As the Mahdists
They are crouching twelve deep in a line as long as sprint the last few yards, half of your men are
the regiment. Unknown to you, Osman Digna has laid mounted, others are stranded with dead or wounded
this ambush for you as soon as his scouts on the Jebel horses, many more have seen their mounts bolt away.
Surgham had spotted you leaving the main British force. The fight is brief and bloody; blades flash, carbines
Too late to stop the charge, you spur your horse on fire and then go silent. You go down fighting, having
and into the khor at full gallop with the regiment close emptied your pistol into the nearest Mahdists; you are
behind. The collision bowls over thirty or so of your reduced to your sword. Honour will not allow you
men and at least a couple of hundred Mahdists. As leave any of your men to the mercies of the enemy.
your men struggle to stay in their saddles, the Mahdists Barely a fifth of the regiment manage to make it back
spring at them, hamstringing horses and slashing at to Kitchener. It seems that there was more than just a
reins and stirrups. To fall is death and your men know it. hint of truth in what had been said about the 21st. You
For two or three minutes, the hacking, stabbing and return to your lines to bury your dead and care for
thrusting holds the regiment in place, then suddenly, your wounded.
the 21st breaks through and scrambles up the other Next month we’ll move back onto the tabletop and
side of the gulley. Riding on for a couple of hundred see how we can use gamebook style mechanics to create a
yards, you wheel the regiment around, rally and plausible and implacable opponent. ■

August 2025 Miniature Wargames 31

 Winchesters are plentiful. Part 2
Words by Chris Swan. Photos by The Editor from the Skirmish Wargames Collective game at Salute 2025

INTRODUCTION ABOVE swap rolls. Alternatively, if you have more than two
In the last issue I gave the background to the tale of the The cruel noon- players then one should control the Brothers and other
day sun beats
Horrell brothers whose murderous reign spread across down on the
players each control one of the groups of opponents.
Texas and New Mexico in the 1870’s. So inspired by the gunslingers. The rules we used for this campaign were our
story of the Horrells and their feud with the Higgins Then the Town’s own Tales of Derring Do and its supplement Tales
folk scatter as
I’ve created a mini campaign told in three chapters the shooting
of the Old West. However, the games can equally be
based around a clan of brothers whose violent exploits begins! played with any set of western gunfight rules which
take place across Texas and New Mexico in the mid concentrate on individual characters and their abilities,
1870’s. Now for some gaming! such as Fist Full of Lead, Dead Man’s Hand, Legends of
the Old West, Gutshot, the Rules with No Names and
A WESTERN SAGA Dracula’s America, if you ignore the fantasy stuff (I
As this is The Tale of the Holman Brothers, for this might suggest Pulp Alley as well. Ed.).
series of linked games I suggest that one player takes Each of the three games has a cast list designed to
control of the Brothers and the other controls each of work with our rules but these can be used as guidelines
their opponents and once the campaign has ended for any other set of western shootout rules.

32 Miniature Wargames August 2025

 WHO LIVES & DIES LEFT
As this is a mini campaign using a clan of brothers A customer
against different opponents it is important to determine leaving the
Legal Tender
what happens to each brother at the end of each chapter. Saloon probably
the worse for
◗ At the end of a chapter roll for each character that wear...
was ‘Wounded’ (i.e. had cards remaining at the end BELOW
of the game) and for each character who was ‘Out of Of course its
It’ (had lost all of their cards) only a western
film set really
◗ Roll their action dice and check the outcome. Tough and Lucas
characters or those with access to a trained medical Spielberg - set
THE MAIN PROTAGONISTS practitioner may reroll their dice but must keep the up on the roof
top - tells his
Led by Grant Holman, the brothers are a violent and second outcome. man to get all
arrogant group who stand aside for no man and put ◗ I’ve included a score line using a D6 for players the right shots.
brotherly loyalty above all else using a rule set which is based on that type of dice.

THE HOLMAN BROTHERS

NAME TYPE DICE PERSONALITY SKILLS/TRAITS WEAPONS
Grant Holman Main 3 cards Commanding Brave Winchester Carbine
Character 2D10 High Expert with Rifle Revolver
Quick Witted Hold Out Gun
Jack Holman Secondary 2 cards Brave Quick Draw Revolver
Character 1D10 Expert with Pistol Knife
Jed Holman Secondary 2 cards Brave Man Killer Revolver
Character 1D10 Quick Witted Knife

Noah Holman Secondary 2 cards Rash Poor shot with a Winchester Carbine
Character 1D10 hand gun Revolver
Eli Holman Minor 1 card Quick Witted Brave Revolver
Character 1D10

›
August 2025 Miniature Wargames 33
 THE LAWLESS HORRELL BOYS

ABOVE DICE SCORE 1D10 1 2 TO 4 5 TO 9 10

A Mexican DICE SCORE 1D6 1 2 3, 4 OR 5 6
sleeps in
the shade Ends the scenario Wounded Bad Wound Still Wounded Full Recovery Recovers and Gains
Begins the next Chapter e with Begins the next Chapter with Experience
whilst grain Misses the next Chapter 1 card less than normal all of their cards Begins the next Chapter with
is delivered all of their cards and can add
to Hoffman’s a new skill or trait
store. Ends the scenario Out of It Dies Bad Wound misses the next Still Wounded Recovers and Gains
removed from the campaign Chapter Begins the next Chapter with 1 Experience
RIGHT card less than normal Begins the next Chapter with
all of their cards and can add
Other town’s a new skill or trait
folk look on in
horror.
If a brother dies or is unable to play in the next THE SET UP
chapter then the clan may recruit a cousin or friend Use a 4’ by 4’ table
who is a minor character to join them as a temporary During this period towns in Texas and New Mexico
replacement for each card the missing character had a mix of buildings constructed in adobe and
would have had e.g. if it was a main character with 3 timber/clapboard so players can use the same set up
cards add in 3 temporary characters. If the wounded to represent the different locations. Place a cannon/
character then returns for the next chapter this artillery piece (which does not fire) and a flag pole
character or characters are removed from the group or a statue or fountain or other suitable landmark in
having left town. the exact centre of the table and then set up suitable

NAME TYPE DICE/CARDS PERSONALITY SKILLS/TRAITS WEAPONS

Joe Doe Minor 1 card Ordinary Brawler Colt Revolver
Character 1D10

34 Miniature Wargames August 2025

 CHAPTER 1: ‘A WEST TEXAS TOWN’
The Holman Brothers have a ranch a few miles outside
of the town of Robbins, West Texas. Their lawless and
violent ways have drawn the attention of the state’s
Governor who has sent in a squad of State Police under
the command of Captain Regan to enforce the new law
about not carrying or wearing firearms within town
limits and arrest anyone who refuses to obey it.
It’s mid morning and Regan’s men having
encountered Nathan Price in town carrying a shotgun
and have arrested him. They are walking across the
town square taking him to the local jail when all five of
the Holman brothers armed to the teeth walk out of the
Last Dollar Saloon and insist the Troopers release him.
Price is their brother in law and they aren’t about to see
him put into jail.
buildings on all four sides at least 12 inches from the Captain Regan tells them to back off when Jack
central landmark to create a town square or plaza. Holman, rash as ever, reaches for his gun and all hell
Set the buildings up so there is plenty of cover and breaks loose!
access to their rear. There should also be an exit/
roadway between the buildings in the centre of each STARTING POSITIONS
side of the table leading away from the town square/ ◗ Place the 5 brothers directly outside of the saloon
Plaza to represent streets leading to other parts of the ◗ Place the squad of State Police in the centre of the
town. Add in suitable scenery such as water troughs, square by the landmark but on the same side of
wagons, barrels, etc to provide extra cover. square as the saloon – The group has stopped and
The key buildings in Chapter 1 is a Saloon and in is facing the Holman Brothers: Price is held by a
Chapter 2 it is a Cantina– there’s no reason why you Trooper in the centre of the group.
could not use the same building for both and simply
say what it is – of course if you actually have a saloon OBJECTIVES
and a cantina to use and can change the buildings for ◗ The Holman Brothers want to free Price and in doing
each chapter, then so much the better. In Chapter 1 you so kill or wound as many of the State Police as possible.
might also want to designate 1 building as the jail. For ◗ The State Police want to get Price to jail but are
Chapter 3 simply reuse the town as per Chapter 1 and happy to kill or wound as many of the brothers as
in addition designate one building as a livery stable. necessary in order to do so and then arrest those left
One possible set up is shown in the plan. standing.

August 2025 Miniature Wargames 35

 THE LAWLESS HORRELL BOYS

THE STATE POLICE BELOW

Then all hell
NAME TYPE DICE/CARDS PERSONALITY SKILLS/TRAITS WEAPONS
breaks loose
Captain Regan Main 3 cards Rash Expert Shot Revolver as two sets of
Character 2D10 High Quick Witted Knife shootists fight it
Sergeant Mason Secondary 2 cards Disciplined Two Fisted Shotgun out as the clock
Character 1D10 Tough Revolver strikes twelve.
Officer Archer Minor 1 card Resolute Brawler Revolver
Character 1D10
Trooper Brown Minor 1 card Brave Brawler Revolver
Character 1D10
Trooper Carlen Minor 1 card Rash Brawler Revolver
Character 1D10
Trooper Dennis Minor 1 card Resolute Brawler Shotgun
Character 1D10 Revolver
Trooper Eves Minor 1 card Brave Brawler Revolver
Character 1D10

SPECIAL RULES Ain’t worth dying for!

Nat Price The Troopers aren’t going to fight on until all are slain
Price has been manacled by the troopers and initially – they just work for their wages and the prestige the
only moves on the card of the trooper assigned job gives them. So:
to guard him. Sergeant Mason has the key to the ◗ If Captain Regan, Sergeant Mason and at least one
manacles. If the trooper guarding Price is KO’ed or trooper have been KO’ed or are otherwise out of
otherwise stops guarding him then add a card into the fight the remaining troopers must each take a
the pack for Price and when it is drawn the player Courage Test and act on it immediately or
controlling the Holman Brothers can decide what ◗ If the squad is down to only three characters, no
action or actions Price intends to make and then test to matter who they are, the remaining troopers must
see if he is successful. each take a Courage Test and act on it immediately.

NAME TYPE DICE/CARDS PERSONALITY SKILLS/TRAITS WEAPONS

Nat Price Minor 1 card Ordinary Brawler None
Character 1D10

36 Miniature Wargames August 2025

 In either case remember to factor in any trait which
might affect the Courage Test.

CHAPTER 2: ‘NIGHT-TIME
AT ROSA’S CANTINA’
If the Holman Brothers won the shootout, then they
escaped with Price and after deciding that Texas was
‘too hot’ for them, they moved to New Mexico for a
fresh start. If the State Police won the shootout, then
the Homan Brothers were arrested and locked up in
the local jail. However, once they recovered from any
wounds their friends managed to break them out and
they fled to New Mexico to avoid justice. Either way
they have now settled around the New Mexican town
of Martins. Here they have returned to their violent
and bullying natures, particularly where the local
Hispanic population are concerned. Despite this Grant
Holman has taken to drinking in Rosa’s Cantina as
he is besotted with a young Mexican girl, Felina, who
sometimes dances in there although she has so far
spurned his advances.
Last night Holman got drunk and once again made
unwanted advances to Felina which led to him being
thrown out of the cantina by its customers, including
Hector Vega, the son of Don Louis Vega, a local ranchero.
Grant Holman has sword revenge, vowing to return
BELOW
with his brothers on the next night. So as night falls SPECIAL RULES Marshall
they head across the plaza towards the cantina, but as It’s Night Time Newman
they do they see Don Vega and his men standing in ◗ Visibility is only clear for 12 paces from the viewing outside of his
office.
front of it ready for a show down. character.
◗ Beyond this characters can automatically be seen if
STARTING POSITIONS they shoot a firearm.
◗ Place the 5 brothers half way across the plaza ◗ Otherwise, it requires a skills test using Reduced
heading towards the cantina. Dice to spot any one needing 5+ to do on a D10 or 4+
◗ Place Don Vega and his men directly outside of the if using a D6.
cantina. ◗ The light coming from the cantina doorway
and windows and from other buildings clearly
OBJECTIVES illuminates anyone standing within 6 paces of them.
◗ The Holman Brothers want to enter the Cantina as
Grant Holman intends to grab Felina and wreck the CHAPTER 3: BACK TO TOWN
place ◗ If... the Holman Brothers won then they entered the
◗ Don Vega and his men want to prevent this at all cantina and wrecked it but in the fracas Felina was
costs. killed forcing them to flee back to Texas just ahead of
a lynch mob.

DON LUIS VEGA AND HIS VAQUEROS

NAME TYPE DICE PERSONALITY SKILLS/TRAITS WEAPONS
Don Louis Vega Main 3 cards Commanding Brave Revolver
Character 2D10 High Expert with Pistol Knife
Quick Witted
Hector Vega Secondary 2 cards Proud Expert with Firearms Winchester Carbine
Character 1D10 Tough Revolver
Jesus Rivera Secondary 2 cards Brave Tough 2 x Revolvers
The Segundo Character 1D10 Fighter Knife
Juan Gusto Minor 1 card Quick Witted Expert with a shoulder Winchester Carbine
Character 1D10 Arm Revolver
Raul Rojas Minor 1 card Brave Bladesman Revolver
Character 1D10 Knife
Joachim Martinez Minor 1 card Rash Brawler Revolver

›
Character 1D10

August 2025 Miniature Wargames 37

 THE LAWLESS HORRELL BOYS

RIGHT SPECIAL RULES

Mr Moneyman Towns Folk
was waiting for
the Assay Office The people who lived in the towns of the old west
to open. came from a variety of backgrounds and were well able
to protect themselves if pushed too far, as the James
BELOW RIGHT
Silas Slone Gang found out at Northfield and the Daltons found
awaits business out at Coffeyville. All three of these chapters take place
on what is likely in towns with citizens who might intervene in any
to be a busy day
for him. violence or might just run away and hide until it’s all
◗ If... Don Vega and his men won then they forced the over.
Holman Brothers to back down and leave the area If you want to include them, then:
having lost face.
◗ Either way they have now returned to the area ◗ In each chapter place between 6 and 12 suitable
around the town of Robbins and as the State Police figures into the set up
have been disbanded all outstanding charges in ◗ Once the shooting starts roll to see what they do on
Texas have been dropped. that turn
◗ Then place a card into the Action Pack for each
So they have established a new ranch and – subsequent phase and when it is turned up test to
surprisingly – they have thrived as their herd seems see what each one does on that turn.
to keep growing whilst those of surrounding ranches,
especially the one owned by John Bates keep losing stock.
Whilst rustling is suspected so far nothing has been
proved but Bates and his brother in law Bob Baylor have
sworn to ‘get the varmints’ and end their lawless ways.
It’s a hot summer’s day and – as the people of Robbins
go about their business – the Holman Brothers have
gathered at the Last Dollar saloon, when one of their
friends rushes in to tell them that the Bates/Baylor clan
has just ridden into town and are at the livery stable.
As the Bates/Baylor clan head across the square,
they see the Holman Brothers coming out of the saloon
to meet them, and as the townsfolk stop and stare
death comes to Robbins!

STARTING POSITIONS
◗ Place the 5 brothers outside of the Saloon.
◗ Place Bates/Baylor clan 6 paces outside of the Livery
Stable heading across the square towards the saloon.

OBJECTIVES
This is a straight out shootout: winner take all, so both
sides need to kill or wound as many of the other side
as possible and be the last men standing!

THE BATES /BAYLOR CLAN

NAME TYPE DICE PERSONALITY SKILLS/TRAITS WEAPONS
Big John Bates Main 3 cards Commanding Brave Revolver
Character 2D10 High Two Fisted
Quick Witted
Dan Bates Secondary 2 cards Resolute Expert with Firearms Winchester Carbine
Character 1D10 Tough Revolver
Jimmy Bates Minor 1 card Rash Quick Draw 2 x Revolvers
Character 1D10
Bob Baylor Secondary 2 cards Brave Quick Witted Winchester Carbine
Character 1D10 Expert with a Carbine Revolver
Tom Lee Minor 1 card Brave Bladesman Revolver
Character 1D10 Knife
Pecos Jack Minor 1 card Resolute Brawler Shotgun
Character 1D10 Revolver

38 Miniature Wargames August 2025

 LEFT
Meanwhile
Cougar James
was trying to
court Miss
Wellbody.

SITUATIONS D10 1 2 TO 4 5 TO 9 10 The models

used are all
SITUATIONS D6 1 2 3, 4 OR 5 6 54mm models
When the action Panic! This might be Dangerous! What should I do? Enraged! from various
has started but not Run 2D10/3D6 paces in a random Go to ground or head towards Roll 2D10/2D6 and take the Decide to take an active part in manufacturers
already engaged direction until they reach cover the nearest cover - either way lowest the fight and attack the nearest
and they will then stay there. they then disappear as a viable 1–4 enemy in close combat rolling some of which
OR target Head towards the nearest cover 1D10/1D6 are certainly
Test again next turn to see what and then disappear as a viable OR four decades
Responding if Shot they do target if armed with a firearm shoot old.
at and their card 5+ at the nearest enemy character
has not yet been Decide to take an active part and rolling 1D10/1D6
activated attack the nearest enemy rolling .
2D10 and taking the lowest
OR
if armed with firearm shoot at
the nearest enemy character
rolling 2D10 and taking the lowest
Responding if Roll 2D10/1D6 and take the Evade 2 +1D10/2D6 paces away Roll 2D10/1D6 and take the Stand and fight
attacked in hand to lowest from the attacker and towards lowest
hand combat and 1-4 the nearest cover 1-4
their card has not Freeze and become defenceless Run away from the attacker and
yet been activated 5+ towards the nearest cover
Run 2D10/3D6 paces directly 5+
away from the attacker Stand and fight

Note: Players should decide beforehand whether any historical figures and others on recognisable characters
of the townsfolk are carrying firearms or have access to from film and TV. Their faction packs are excellent
them, otherwise if they intervene they only use their fists value and can readily be used to create the sides for
or improvised weapons. On average 50% or more of such this saga.
populations carried or had access to firearms such as rifles
and shotguns, although some carried or used revolvers. BUILDINGS
Great Escape Games, Sarissa and other manufacturers
THAT FIGURES... produce a wide selection of suitable buildings or you
These games require less than 30 figures so, even if you can try and scratch build them –
don’t yet have any Old West figures, the outlay to get clap board and adobe building
some is not huge. are not that difficult to construct.
Assuming that most players will choose 28mm
they have a wide selection of manufacturers to CONCLUSIONS
choose including Wargames Foundry, Artizan, Black So will the Holman Brothers
Scorpion, Blue Moon Manufacturing, Dixon and live on to become legends
Great Escape Games especially their plastic multipose or will one of their sets of
figures which have great scope for personalising the opponents end with their DOWNLOAD
THE SCENARIO MAP
models. Probably the best range at present comes from lawless ways: only you and the tabletopgaming.co.uk/
Knuckleduster’s Gunfighters Ball range. These figures Gods of the Dice will decide! information/downloads
are all characters, some of which are modelled on Happy Gaming. ■

August 2025 Miniature Wargames 39

 Using Army Painter timely fashion. The rules remain the Tone (Dark Tone), Warm Skin Tone ( Warm
same as with the challenge the Editor set Skin Shade) and Military Shade. I missed
Historical on me for the British that I painted in Issue the latter colour out by accident when I
507, which is I could not use any colours reviewed the contents of the British box
Wargames Atlantic other than the 20 paints that come in the in the last issue. You also get Matt White
Germans World War II German Paint Set. Again I
have cheated slightly (sorry John...) and
and Matt Black.

Words and photos by Paul Mackay used one paint that is not provided. FELDGRAU
The Army Painter claim in one of their
his is the second of a number of promotional videos that, with this set,

T articles where Paul paints some

Wargames Atlantic models using
the new Army Painter Fanatic
Historical boxed sets which are theme
appropriate. Ed.
you can get every shade of Feldgrau. If
you look at photographs of German
uniforms, this green grey colour varied
considerably over the course of the
war. As with all uniforms the colour
was also affected by the environment
THE PREMISE and wear and tear. However the big
The Editor sent me The Army Painter’s advantage of this release over say AK’s
Historical sets to try out, so that I
can paint some minis and to offer my CONTENTS
thoughts on this release. The figures In this set you get nine new paints:
I used are from Wargames Atlantic’s Camo Brown, German Camo Green, Camo
excellent German WWII Infantry box set. Sand, Light, Mid and Dark Feldgrau,
Rifle Brown, Tanker Grey and Strap Grey.
INTRODUCTION The rest of the colours are from their
The finish I am going for here is what I previously released triads or shades
would term high end tabletop, however (tones): Command Red (Pure Red),
I intend to also suggest how you can get Weathered Skin (Agate Skin), Leather
good results with this paint set to get Brown, Steel (Gun Metal), Rust (Fresh
your German Blitzkrieg rolling in a more Rust), Brown Tone (Strong Tone), Black

40 Miniature Wargames August 2025

or Vallejo’s version is you can choose then done with a 1-1 mix of the Camo
the grey you want, have more variety Sand and White. The black hair was
across your units, or use them as a triad highlighted with Tanker Grey.
of mid-tone, highlight and shade. The The skin was highlighted with the
three colours mix well if you want to base colour and a tiny bit of white was
have intermediate shades of them to added into it for areas like the end of the
smooth transitions between the colours. nose, cheeks and knuckles, fingernails
The photo (opposite below) is used quite etc. I then glazed a mix of Weathered Skin
commonly on sites such as Bolt Action and a small amount of Command Red
on Facebook but does clearly illustrate around and beneath the cheeks and the
the enormous variety fieldgrey came in. side of the nose. An even pinker version
of this was used for the lower lip.
BASECOATS Any visible teeth on the
If you look at the original version of miniatures were painted
Field Grey on this figure’s uniform with with Matt White mixed
the MP40 (I used Mid Feldgrau for the with a tiny amount of
field cap ) that they made in their old Strap Grey. I also
Warpaints line you can see that the used this mix for
colour is very different from any of the the sclera which
three Fanatic versions. I tried to shade I painted
this grey with the Dark Feldgrau but
this did not work as the hue was too
dissimilar. I thought this picture may
be of use to those readers who have
used this paint for their own Germans
and wanted to see how the paint would
compare with the Army Painters’ latest
iteration.

Flesh: Weathered Skin help with the

Uniform: Mid Feldgrau result looking
Belts and straps: Strap Grey more natural,
Boots: Black blended and less
Gaiters: Dark Feldgrau stark.
Helmet: Dark Feldgrau (I used Mid Additional
Feldgrau on one of the figures for some highlights were
variety) applied to the uniform, helmets and
Field cap: Mid Feldgrau caps working all the way up to Light inside the eye
Magazine pouches for MP40: Camo Feldgrau. I edge highlighted the helmet sockets, for these
Sand with this colour also. I had made a 1-1 mix and the pupils I
Wooden parts of the rifle: Rifle Brown of Light Feldgrau and Mid Feldgrau and used Strap Grey.
Metallic parts of the weapons: Matt another of Mid Feldgrau and Dark Feldgrau A 1-1 mix of Black
Black and used these to blend the uniform to and Rifle Brown was
Hair: Across the six figures I painted I get a smooth transition from light to dark used to separate the
used Camo Sand, Camo Brown and Matt across the cloth. A heavy glaze or very lips and for any
Black. thin paint consistency is what you should open mouths.
be aiming for. Some edge highlights I then
At this stage I repainted the uniform on the cloth and pockets (especially ‘blacklined’
of the MP40 soldier with Mid Felgrau. I on the upward facing areas) were also the figure.
then shaded the uniform in the recesses applied. Areas that are black leather were Using Matt Black where any colours
and creases with Dark Feldgrau and highlighted with a mix of Strap Grey and meet I painted a thin line as this makes
washed the wood and Camo Sand and White. Extreme highlights were done with details stand out better and improves
Camo Brown hair with Brown Tone. Tanker Grey. the overall readability of the miniature.
I then began highlighting the I was happy with the brown hair Shoulder boards, the eagle on the chest
uniforms, helmets and caps with and did not highlight it. For the blonde and details on the officer’s cap that are
a thinned 1-1 mix of Mid and Light soldier I reapplied a layer of the original white were picked out with the very
Feldgrau. Thinning the paint will really colour and an additional highlight was light grey mix I had made previously.
›
August 2025 Miniature Wargames 41
 SENTRY DUTY

I edge highlighted the MP40 magazine The black areas of the weapons were
pouches with the base colour. All the ‘brushed’ with a soft pencil and some
buttons were then painted black to extreme highlights were achieved with
make the metal stand out more in the Steel. I also dotted all the buttons in with
next stage. Wood grain on the rifles this metallic.
was done with the very dark brown I
had previously mixed and highlights
were done with Leather Brown. At this
stage the miniatures were then matt
varnished.

Here’s some rear views of the

miniatures.

42 Miniature Wargames August 2025

 Shade.
Paint in
the straps
with either
Matt Black or Strap
Grey and – after a quick drybrush with
Light Feldgrau – your models would
be (with a few more details added)
table top ready. You could also add
variety into your units by painting
helmets with Strap Grey rather than
the Mid or Dark Feldgrau that I opted
for. I painted my MP40 magazine
pouches a tan colour to contrast with
the rest of the model but they could
also be olive, grey, brown or black.
All these colours are achievable
with this set either straight out of
the bottle or with a little judicious

mixing. I used Vallejo Game Colour

Dark Blue as my base colour for the
lenses in the glasses in case anyone was
wondering what my ‘cheat’ colour was!
(you just can’t stop yourself! Ed.)

CONCLUSION
Whether these Germans match your
vision of what feldgrau uniformed troops
should look like I will leave it up to the
reader to judge. Remember though that
I used a 1-1 mix of German Camo a very different result will be achieved
Green and Matt Black, Matt White and if you start with the Dark Feldgrau
Command Red for the central detail on and are more sparing with the
the officer’s cap. highlight stages. This
– as I stated earlier
DOGGY DO’S – is one of the
The Alsatian was a fun little model to advantages of this
paint. The model was base coated with set as it provides
either Matt Black or Camo Sand which you with three
was then washed with Brown Tone. I dry readymade colours
brushed the black fur with one of the to work from that
grey mixes I had made earlier before complement each
picking out more prominent areas other very well. ■
with a brush. I then re highlighted the
Camo Sand fur. The eyes were dotted
in with a reflective dot in the centre
with Matt White and the ears were edge
highlighted with Tanker Grey.

OTHER PAINT OPTIONS

Instead of using glazing and layering,
as I have done in this tutorial, you could
pick the Feldgrau base colour you like
the most (or a mix if you are going for
less uniformity) and then wash the
model with either Brown Tone or Military

August 2025 Miniature Wargames 43

 at my school. I became fascinated by the world of
Middle-earth, through reading The Hobbit, The Lord
of the Rings and The Silmarillion. This breathed life
into wargames that emerged from the imaginations
of my gaming group, all were avid readers Tolkien’s
books. Figure options were limited in the late 1970’s
(Miniature Figurines ‘ME’ range spring to mind! Ed.) but
surges of new figure ranges lent impetus expanding
our collections. Full weekend games at our local club
based around the battles of Tolkien’s world emerged
over my middle to late teens. Heady, enthusiastic and
enormous fun are the memories of those days.
Fast forward thirty plus years and the appeal of
Developing a Lord of the BELOW
The Marshal's
these mass battle games has not diminished. In the
Hammerhead game at the Newark Showground in 2024
Eored charges a
Rings scenario line of mounted our group, The Boondock Sayntes, presented ‘Aure
and ravenging Entuluva’ which means ‘Day shall come again’ which
Words By Mick Fletcher of the Boondock Sayntes. Photos by Wargs. Photo by was the battle cry of Húrin during his last stand during
the Editor.
Mick Fletcher & the Editor that battle: a moving tale of the final stages of the
‘Battle of Unnumbered Tears’ (the Nirnaeth Arnoediad)
I saw this game at Hammerhead earlier on in the year and in the First Age of Middle-earth.
was so impressed that I asked Mr Fletcher if he could tell the Thios was a departure from our previous exploits at
readership a little more about it! Ed. the show which had a historical perspective: in recent
years we focussed our games around colonial India
INTRODUCTION or Africa,, but nevertheless Aure Entuluva was still
Nearly five decades ago I was introduced to the world aimned on the storytelling with ‘rules’ being the means
of wargaming through the lunchtime modelling club of delivering the narrative.

44 Miniature Wargames August 2025

 LEFT potential for participative play which could also be
The Orcs from fought to a conclusion on the day.
Saruman's
army are An early play test clearly indicated potential for
accompanied these rules to play outside of the original ‘black
by some heavy powder’ time frame especially in a semi historical,
hitters in the
shape of a pair fantasy framework.
of large Trolls. We sorted out a list of seven ‘must haves’ that we
wanted from the conversion:

PLANNING
Immediately following th2 2024 game I began the
planning of our display at Hammerhead 2025 which
would be the 1st Battle of the Fords of Isen fought
between the army of Saruman (the wizard occupying
Isengard) and Rohan. This was a battle of the later
War of the Ring, in the Third Age of Middle-earth so
about more than five millennia after the previous one.
Perhaps only the more studious readers of Tolkien ABOVE CONVERSION KEY POINTS
The Wargs try a
would recognise this significant event outside of the charge against ◗ A focus on fast play.
nod given to it in the Peter Jackson films. The text, in the cavalry who ◗ A ‘fate card’ system which adds unpredictability and
fact, gives a remarkably detailed account (in Tolkien are particularly influence to players.
vulnerable
terms) of the battle and forces present. as they can Fate cards used to characterise Middle-earth ‘world
get under the view’ and army characteristics.
RECREATING THE BATTLE horse's legs
and attack their
◗ The cavalry vs. Infantry rules work remarkably
With more than a thousand figures on the board and bellies. effectively both in terms of the initial impact of Warg
a perspective which places Middle-earth firmly in the riders then the Rohrrim cavalry later in the game.
Dark Ages, rather than the high fantasy framework or ◗ The standard rules for attack columns work well
the popular films, a key question was how well would for aggressive units such as Uruk Hai giving them a
the rule set choice facilitate the story? Also, with a strong more effective ‘line breaker’ role.
participation theme to the event, would they be easily ◗ Unit stat lines are straight forward and based on
accessible to gamers ‘chipping’ in on the game? Valour firing or combat effectiveness plus a tenacity value,
and Fortitude rules by Perry Miniatures captured my all of which are easily scaled up and down to
imagination in terms of both versatility and playability produce a wide variety of unit types.
for this type of battle. Why did we chose those? ◗ Further unit or leader characterisation can be added
The Boondock Sayntes had – in the previous year been with some simple additional traits.
introduced to the Valour and Fortitude ruleset (which are
co-written by that rules wizard, Jervis Johnson) following EXTRA RULES
the award winning Battle of Unao at Partizan 2024 an Some of the bespoke additions to the lists were adding
invitation to showcase the game adapted for V&F was a Shieldwall ability for the dismounted Rohirrim Eored
extended to us for Britcon the following August. (elite cavalry unit) which reduced hits in combat
So... a bit of a leap then utilising the rules for against them by 1 (the levy were not afforded this) and
Middle-earth, especially considering the core ruleset adding lances/spear to the mounted Eored giving 1
contains listings for British and French Napoleonic extra melee dice at first contact.
Armies... (although further expansions cover AWI to We gave both the two Rohirrim captains Grimbold
the Franco Prussian War). Our Unao game demanded and Theodred (the King’s son) the ability to fight with
work from our own India wise men to produce lists for their units enhancing the overall combat effectiveness
the Indian Mutiny so we were used to chopping and of their Hearthguard. This did also mean that
changing and V&F offered several key aspects which Theodred could fall in battle, which ‘historically’ on the
made it eminently suitable for a large show game, with day, was exactly what happened.
›
August 2025 Miniature Wargames 45
 THE FORDS OF ISEN

NARRATIVE APPROACH
All of the above offered a game, with plenty of interest
and drama. Not just a wargame, however, but telling a
story which is very much the signature of all Boondock
Sayntes games. The balance between a competitive
game and inevitable outcomes is difficult to attain with
storylines. There are refights of course and what if battles.
The aim here was to create a sense of drama putting
pressure on Theodred’s Hearthguard and additional
rules that both the contingents of Grimbold and Elfhelm
(another Rohirrim captain) could not enter the central eyot
area of the fords until Theodred was engaged in combat
(the fords in the river were a two stage affair with a small island
separating the ford in the middle of the stream. Ed.)

a look of a Dark Age Middle-earth more bound to

the written works than the films. This is not to be
prescriptive or ‘anti-film’ Jackson’s work (that’s my job...
Ed.). The greatest gift of Tolkien, in my humble view, is
the firing up of our imaginations.
To this end the huge variety of Dark Age plastics
from Victrix, Gripping Beast, Oathmark and
Wargames Atlantic all featured in this game. The
kitbashing of parts across multiple packs and ranges
became a huge feature and enabled specific vignettes
of bases with Theodred and his Hearthguard, an
animated Grimbold surging forward to save his
Lord, and a charging Elfhelm and Bannerman to be
constructed. These all adorned at the painting stage
with sun ray on green field shield designs, then
white horse on green field (reversed for Elfhelm) for
abundant banners to ensure Rohan had actually turned
up, not just models from our collection of Romano
British warriors doing double duty.
In truth these, early Saxons and the odd Varangian
PLAY TESTS TOP
Theodred
were exactly the right look. I had also plundered and
Several playtests of the game indicated a near 50/50 makes a last repainted my Aventine Avars, while my colleague
ratio of the chance of Theodred surviving as opposed to stand. Photo by Graham had some magnificent Foundry Vikings as
falling before reinforcements could converge to secure the Author. dark and grim Dunlendings (some human opposition
the Fords. On the day Theodred was to fall, mortally ABOVE whipped into a frenzy by Saruman) and had plundered
wounded with Grimbold and Elfhelm a single move Grimbold's Der Kriegspiel Orcs from his treasure trove (that’s
away. In terms of the story this was the victory condition charge. Photo going back 40 years! Ed.). Another of the group, Ian,
by the Author.
for Saruman above all else. Although the Fords of Isen produced an impressive Isen (soon to be Sutlej) and a
were strategically important at this juncture the plan daunting series of Fangorn type trees. The heady stuff
from Isengard was to remove Theodred .The key to the of my youth come full circle!
game therefore was not simply choosing V&F because
we liked and had experience of them. It was how well IN CONCLUSION
we could adapt those rules into the narrative played out Many parts come together to make a game but the
on the tabletop. glue which ultimately binds it all together is surely
Further details of the battle and the back story can the companionship and collaboration of like minded
be read in Tolkien’s Unfinished Tales. The V&F rules gamers. It is unlikely these games would reach the
available via the Perry Miniatures website and army table if not for the efforts of individuals lending in their
lists on the Valour and Fortitude Facebook page. talents and help. The group lost our dear friend, Keith
Gendle in the Autumn of 2024, a well known and well
VISUAL APPEAL liked gamer who will forever be the soul of our group
Of course the spectacle – the ‘look’ – of the games is as and to whom for this game and future games (you
critical as the flow. To this end we wanted to capture know if you know) we will raise a glass. ■

46 Miniature Wargames August 2025

 The UK's only dedicated historical wargames convention and trade show,

22-24 August Leicester

Over 15 different competitions DeMontfort University's
and events including; "The Venue@DMU"
• The Warlord Games Bolt Action GT
• The Gripping Beast Saga Grand Melee
• Two-day Wargames Trade Show
• Traders including Warlord Games, Forged in Battle,
Perry Miniatures, Sarissa Precision/Footsore/
Wargames Atlantic, Irongate, The Pit & many more
• Demo and participation games
• Bring & Buy
• On site Bar

"FREE ENTRY to the trade show if booked in advance!" www.bhgs.org.uk

USE DISCOUNT
CODE TTG100 From trading card games
AT CHECKOUT FOR

£10 OFF
and roleplaying games to
miniatures, visit our
YOUR MYSTERY
BOX ORDER Tabletop Gaming online
shop to discover your new
favourite games and add to
your collection
INTERVIEW

A chat with Hudson Adams of Wargames Atlantic Interview by John Treadaway

What with the recent changes at WA and all the United States will be Made in the UK
sorts of other stuff (tariffs and whatnot) I and everything sold inside the US will
had a long distance chat with the Wargames continue to be made here. This should
Atlantic Head Honcho. Ed. effectively shelter us (and our customers!)
from any tariffs. We already ship all
So Hudson: these are some questions I’d our EU orders using IOSS (an EU VAT
like to ask that the readership would, I scheme for Import One-Stop Shop) so
think, like the inside track on: EU customers don’t have to worry about
additional fees and duties. We’re hoping
How has the move back to the US from to implement similar services for Canada
China with your production affected later this year.
things? Do you think it has enabled you
to be more ‘timely’ in your releases? How has the rise of sales for the 3D
We originally moved production direct print and STL download affected
from China to the US at the end of 2021. hard plastic production?
At the time there were ongoing issues behind them (hell, he doesn’t even We were one of the first plastic
with ocean freight and it was becoming understand how they work!) and that manufacturers to embrace 3D printing
painful. We had always wanted to make the results would just be chaos: that through Atlantic Digital. We have
our plastic here so it seemed like a good has been borne out. We also saw the a “Tribe” membership system at
time to rip off the bandaid and go for it. It massive reaction from Canada and other MyMiniFactory and every month we
did take a long time to get the production countries in response with customers release 19 file sets for our subscribers (or
running at the same speed and quality as in those places boycotting US-made 12 if you go with the $10/month level
China, though, but once we had gotten products. I decided we needed to make or one if you go with the $1/month
through those growing pains it’s the best changes to our operations immediately option). Membership fluctuates but we’ve
thing we could have done. And yes, to and we quickly started the search for a had as many as 1100+ subscribers in
answer your question it does allow us second injection partner this time in the any given month. We also partner with
to go from design to tooling to plastic in UK. Earlier this year we had set up a StrangePlastic.com (operated by Joshua
boxes in stores much faster. UK business for Wargames Atlantic. So Qualtieri of ZombieSmith the creator of
Wargames Atlantic UK Ltd has opened the Quar!) and he sells printed versions of
How is the current situation with an office in Telford to be our home on the our files from the US, UK, and Australia
tariffs – especially the uncertainty with other side of the pond. We were lucky to to customers around the world. At the
differences between the UK and the rest quickly find a partner to do our injection time of writing we’ve released almost 500
of Europe – affected your plans? and we started moving mold bases and digital file sets and some of those have
When the Trump tariffs started to be molds to the UK to begin production gone on to be made into plastic.
implemented it became very clear very there. Going forward all Wargames That all said, the digital side and 3D
quickly that there was no real strategy Atlantic products that are sold outside printing haven’t effected the hard plastic
›
August 2025 Miniature Wargames 49
 INTERVIEW

side at all as far as we can tell. Wargames

Atlantic has doubled in size each year
since launching our first hard plastic sets
in May of 2019 and it just keeps going.

Will the current ratio of 3d printing to

hard plastic continue
in the short term at
Wargames Atlantic?
Atlantic Digital
has definitely been
an experiment for us we’re definitely going although the main thrust of the rules
whereas hard plastic to be expanding his will be Good vs. Evil which will allow
manufacturing (and Barons’ War with you to build your army using a mix of
now the development several additional all the various Good and Evil races.
of original games) is the real focus of the releases over the next few years (more The second rules system is something
company. I suspect digital will always plastics are being worked on now). we call the “round based rules” for
play a role for us but I tend to think of The rules may even be adopted for 28mm. The first game that will use these
it as a testing ground for new ideas: a some other periods as well. We recently as a foundation will be for our Death
place to bring more obscure historical announced a new partnership with Fields science fiction range. A beta
subjects to life, and to see which digital Mongoose Publishing to make hard version will be out this summer with a
subjects should end up in hard plastic plastic 28mm figures for the iconic full launch later this year. The rules are
which I think is the gold standard for 2300AD universe (originally launched incredibly flexible and Andy’s designed
wargame figures. in the 1980s by GDW!) and the first very clever and fun way to keep the
Looking further into the murky depths sets will be out in a few months. (I’ve action moving. These will also be at
of the future, I have to believe AI is going been a fan of 2300AD since it came out the heart of our Shattered Union 2nd
to disrupt the “digital creator” business when I was in high school so I’m very American Civil War game coming in 2026
model significantly. Anybody will be able happy about this one!) We have a very (the first models for these: Survivors/
to shove some images into an AI tool and secret license for a historical property Civilians – both male and female sets –
with a little bit of work output a 28mm (yes a licensed historical property!) plus Operators, Agents, and more will
figure and print it out. That said, the AI that will be announced in late June all be out in the next three months).
isn’t there yet from what we’ve seen but that should make a LOT of Grognard And there are more games in the
it can’t be more than a year or two away. wargamers very happy. We have pipeline behind these!
But until 3D printing becomes as easy another partnership with a historical
and fast as a Star Trek style replicator, it’s figure maker which will result in their Finally, can you say what current ranges
going to remain a niche hobby within the first hard plastic figures too. And finally will be expanded upon next? More of
hobby. I have a fairly high end Formlabs we have a partnership with Helion to the small scale? More 28mm? What new
printer myself that I use to check parts, release a game-in-a-box built around ranges will be added?
sizing, proportions, fit, etc. but I can’t their recently released Heiho mass battle Every range is being expanded! More
be bothered to print out figures to game wargame using our Grand Battle Scale Death Fields, more Classic Fantasy
with. I’d much rather have a hard plastic Samurai range. 28mm, lots of 10mm Classic Fantasy
model: it’s way easier to work with, way But along with these projects, we’re Battles sets, a new Age of Reason range
less messy and smelly, and more durable. most excited about releasing original is launching now with Minutemen
games. Andy Hobday has been hard and Grenadiers of the 5th Regiment of
You have constructed partnerships with at work developing two unique rules Foot (who played important roles at
several other companies (the Quar! and systems. The first will make its debut Lexington/Concord and Bunker Hill
the Barons’ War material being a good with Classic Fantasy Battles. This is in 1775), more Decline and Fall, more
example of this). Is this a direction you our 10mm, mass battle fantasy system Renaissance... we’re adding to every one
would like to continue with? Have you launching at the end of the year/ of our ranges this year and next.
any other ‘alliances’ in the works? beginning of 2026 using 40mm x 20mm There is a lot more historical 10mm
Absolutely yes and yes! We’re going basing. We’ve already produced the Orc (our Grand Battle Scale) sets in the
to continue to push out lots and lots of Horde, Dwarven Host, and Boneblades (the pipeline starting with English and French
hard plastic Quar: more games, maybe first Skeleton unit) in hard plastic with armies for Azincourt. Then we’ll be
even more scales: everyone seems to Horselords, Landsknecht Ogres, and more jumping forward several hundred years.
love these wonderfully whimsical little following quickly behind. By the time And all of these will be manufactured in
warlike fellows! Andy Hobday joined the rules launch we’ll have a great both the US and UK!
us this year as Creative Director and selection of armies to choose from Thanks Hudson! ■

50 Miniature Wargames August 2025

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

JELLICOE’S WAR: SLOG OR SWAN

◗ Nicholas Jellicoe ◗ Dermot Rooney
◗ Seaforth Publishing (2024) ◗ Helion (2025)
◗ £30 ◗ £35
◗ 438 pages (hardback) ◗ 241 pages (hardback)
◗ ISBN:9781036109028 ◗ ISBN:9781804516690
◗ seaforthpublishing.com ◗ helion.co.uk

This book (subtitled The Operation Veritable in

U-Boat Threat in World 1945 aimed to sweep
War One and the Question eastwards in the 15-mile-
of Convoy) is logically constructed and wide corridor between the rivers Maas
meticulously researched and referenced. and Rhine with a view to seizing Rhine
It describes warfare in an industrial age crossings at Wesel and elsewhere.
and Jellicoe’s work in the construction of History tends to show it as a British/
the ‘tools of war’. It examines submarine Canadian strong success, achieved
warfare and its undeveloped nature at against reasonable defences and ‘mines
the beginning of the war and equally the and mud’. The author’s contention is
lack of anti-submarine warfare (ASW) that it actually showed weak operational
capability. It considers early maritime skills, with unnecessary overkill in
operations, the move towards a trade men, armour and artillery, resulting
war and the politics behind unrestricted in congestion and over-use of roads,
submarine warfare in Germany. poor infantry-armour coordination,
The book has a comprehensive and an unwarranted fear of German
explanation of the submarine war defences (the initial plan saw five Allied
in the North Sea, Atlantic and divisions, rich in armour and artillery,
Mediterranean from 1914, Q-ships, against one weak German division).
the growing countermeasures, mine The author has meticulously
barrages, the Dover patrol and the compared unit war diaries to discover
advances in technology. It explains what really happened. His critique
Jellicoe’s involvement in these areas, his might appear a tad unfair at times – a
highly effective reorganisation of the commander will usually be cautious
Admiralty which had a marked effect with lives just before war’s end.
on combatting the submarine menace, However, for the wargamer this book
his lack of political acumen and his own is a treasure trove of battalion/brigade
predictions that he would only last a level battles, with superb black-and-
year in post. white large-scale maps covering a range
This excellent book is a thought- of sample actions (manoeuvre, urban
provoking treatment of an important warfare, breakout, and so on) right
and controversial aspect of the war down to company level. Good writing
at sea in WW1. It is very strongly skills, thorough research – very highly
recommended for all readers. recommended.
Martin S. Pike Chris Jarvis
›
August 2025 Miniature Wargames 51
 REVIEWS

would be authorised. In October 1847 the

Confederation ordered that the army be
mobilised to execute its decree by force.
This book, first published by Helion
in 2012, covers the organisation and
strength of the military forces of each
Swiss canton, a separate state with its
own army in 1847, gives details of the
armies’ uniforms, weapons, battle-
flags and badges and offers a concise
narrative of the war.
THREE WEEKS IN NOVEMBER: Following The Swiss Canton Armies
A MILITARY HISTORY OF THE in 1847, seven chapters narrate the
SWISS CIVIL WAR OF 1847 events of the campaign, culminating in
◗ Ralph Weaver the Confederation victory of Gisikon,
◗ Helion & Company (2025) the surrender of canton Wallis and the
◗ £25.00 peace settlement. Separate chapters
IWO JIMA ◗ 116 pages (softback) describe the Uniforms of the Swiss
◗ Jon Diamond ◗ ISBN:9781804518496 Canton armies; Canton cockades; Swiss
◗ Pen and Sword (2025) ◗ helion.co.uk Battle Flags, and offer brief biographical
◗ £25 details of nine Swiss commanders.
◗ 248 pages (hardback) Number 52 in Helion’s From Musket to Twenty-four pages of colour plates
◗ ISBN:9781036107147 Maxim 1815-1914 series offers a concise include fifteen uniform figures by
◗ pen-and-sword.co.uk account of a civil war fought in just three Ralph Weaver; nineteen reproductions
weeks, when twelve Swiss cantons, of contemporary paintings and prints;
The assault on the 7.5 square miles of supporting the Confederation founded four quarter-page reproductions of early
Iwo Jima (‘Sulphur Island’) in early 1945 in 1815, fought against the Sonderbund, twentieth century maps of the theatre
saw around 47,000 men killed, wounded a military alliance of seven other of operations, the Confederate forces’
or (rarely) captured – a casualty density cantons, over the future of the country, advance on Freiburg, the campaign and
approaching that of Waterloo in 1815, which ended with the establishment of battle of Gisikon; and the author’s half-
and with the Americans having more the modern, federal Swiss state in 1848. page sketch map of the Swiss cantons,
than 50% of the losses. The majority of the cantons favoured on which coloured borders distinguish
This book is largely a black-and- a more democratic form of government the opposing cantons and those
white photographic compendium with and believed that a more centralised, remaining neutral.
extensive caption notes, giving a very federal state would serve Switzerland Appendices contain orders of battle
clear picture of terrain, men, equipment, better. Those cantons with a Catholic for all the cantons and for the main
and fortifications, based often on the majority, however, tended to have an action at Gisikon.
records of the embedded Combat aristocratic government and rulers who There is one full-page reproduction
Photographers. regarded a federal state as an attack on of a monochrome plan of the battle of
There are few organisational details, their privileges. In 1841 the majority in Gisikon, and numerous monochrome
but the handful of maps is helpful the Confederation council voted to close illustrations, including line drawings
in marking the defences, the assault monasteries and convents in the canton of battle scenes published in 1848, and
phases, and the terrain. Japanese tactics of Aargau and seize their property. The portraits of the principal figures.
recognised that they could not win, but aristocratic cantons set up their separate An ideal book for wargamers wishing
– by integrated fire plans, use of caves Sonderbund alliance and invited the to recreate this campaign, as it contains
and underground tunnelling, excellent Jesuits, whose avowed aim was to sufficient uniform information to select
camouflage, etc – they could make restore Catholicism to Switzerland at appropriate figures from ranges for
the US victory expensive and time- the expense of Protestantism, into their other historical periods, such as the
consuming: and so it was. cantons to run the education system. In Mexican War of 1845, the Crimean
This is perhaps a prime example of the summer of 1847 Luzern and the other War and the Franco-Austrian War of
wargame victory conditions reflecting Sonderbund cantons began to prepare 1859. The map showing the cantons
the conflicting need to minimise openly for war; in July the Confederation could also be used to generate different
casualties and maximise progress, Diet passed a decree that the Sonderbund alliances between the cantons, perhaps
within an inevitable final outcome. A was a separate alliance prohibited by in a manner similar to games of RISK or
bit too grim for me to refight, I have to the Swiss Federal Treaty of 1815; that by using dice, to create an ‘alternative
confess. it should be dissolved; and if those history’ Swiss Civil War.
Chris Jarvis cantons did not obey, military action Arthur Harman

52 Miniature Wargames August 2025

 FEEDING LEE’S ARMY OF poor command
NORTHERN VIRGINIA performances
◗ Michael C. Hardy during the battle
◗ Savas Beatie (2024) of Gettysburg
◗ £19.99 … and along the
◗ 176 pages (hardback) banks of the North
◗ ISBN:9781611217315 Anna River In
◗ pen-and-sword.co.uk May 1864.’
Camp Servants
Prologue: Pre-War Foodstuffs describes explains that ‘while
how Southern diets were ‘simple and many Confederate soldiers cooked their
provided adequate nutritional value’ for own meals, others employed slaves, free
the men who would become soldiers in men of color, or brought slaves from
the ANV. home to forage for food, prepare meals,
Army-Issued Food and Food in Camp and handle other camp chores’ and
explains how rations were procured describes the lives of these servants.
and issued, describes the problems Food, Morale and Memory quotes
of cooking them and how increasing soldiers’ letters to show that, from
LIGHT PANZERS, & GROUND shortages caused many veterans to the very start of the war, lack of food
FORCES IN THE KOREAN WAR ‘desert to the enemy in the hopes of a had a significant effect upon morale
(VOL 2) full meal.’ and ranked ‘near the top’ of factors
◗ Thomas Anderson, & Robert Mackowiak Food from Home explains that contributing to the demise of the ANV.
◗ Osprey (2025) ‘requesting food from home was a viable Appendix 1 Commissaries of
◗ £35, & £12.99 option’ when ‘rations were reduced, and Subsistence were responsible for seeing
◗ 288 pages (hardback), & 48 pages (softback) opportunities to purchase or forage … that those commands to which they
◗ ISBN:9781472861771, & 9781472862648 gradually disappeared’. Such foodstuffs, were assigned received the proscribed
◗ ospreypublishing.com often shipped by rail in wooden boxes, rations. This section describes the
also provided a morale-boosting link careers of the various chief commissaries
The first title describes the development with home. of the ANV.
and use of the Pz I, Pz II, Pz 35(t) and Food on Campaign and in Battle Appendix 2 Transporting the
38(t) – plus all their derivatives in the describes the problems of supplying Needs of the Army: The Role of the
form of engineering vehicles, self- soldiers in the field. ‘Seldom did Wagon explains how the Confederacy
propelled artillery and anti-tank guns, calorific intake from issued rations or contracted with existing wagon makers
and the limited specialist variations foraged foodstuffs match the exertions and established its own wagon works
such as heavily-armoured models. Add demanded by a soldier on campaign.’ in Virginia. Wagons and the craftsmen
to this a brief examination of the light Food and the Plight of the Sick and needed to produce them was so
tanks of the Allies, and you have another Wounded begins by commenting that, important that the latter were exempt
tour de force in this excellent series, ‘considering the poor food and polluted from conscription, and skilled craftsmen
including around 200 black-and-white water, it is surprising that anyone were detailed from their regiments to
photographs plus operational reports survived the first year of the war.’ This government wagon shops. Captured
and ample technical detail. Superb stuff. chapter also describes Confederate Federal wagons were also widely used.
The Korean War saw some interesting hospital care. Although ‘hospitals were One map, titled ‘Railroads of the
developments in personal dress and typically better supplied than the troops Eastern Theater’ appears at the very
equipment, combining new technology, in camp or on campaign’, there were front of the book. The monochrome
the experience of WWII, and the need shortages and ‘the lack of a consistently illustrations are mainly reproductions of
to adapt to the terrain and climate nutritious diet prolonged recovery times contemporary photographs of officers
specific to Korea. This will be of especial …and led to many Confederate deaths and of illustrations from Battles and
interest to any infantrymen amongst or permanent disability.’ Leaders or Harper’s Weekly, that will
us, as it describes well the inevitable Feeding Robert E. Lee and the be familiar to readers from other books.
pros and cons of significant bits of kit in Confederate High Command, whilst A bibliography and an index, mainly of
terms of ease of carrying, accessibility, acknowledging that ‘the public revered persons and places, conclude the book.
durability, weight, and so on. The US him. He seldom went hungry,’ notes that A different perspective on the
Marine Corps tended to have some ‘Lee’s headquarters ate meat only twice operations of the ANV, using many
superior equipment (such as better flak a week’ and that ‘Lee’s normal fare was quotations from letters and diaries by
vests), but on the whole both Army and a head of cabbage boiled in saltwater ‘Lee’s Miserables’, that will be of interest
Marines had fair kit for the times? and a pone of cornbread.’ Diarrhea and to ACW wargamers.
Chris Jarvis sickness ‘undoubtedly contributed to Arthur Harman
›
53 August 2025 Miniature Wargames 53
 REVIEWS

Maurienne Legend; and Always on the

Front Line: The Granatieri Reali.
The next four chapters are Infantry
Uniforms, Flags and Equipment; The
Militia; and The Elite Units. Infantry
Weaponry. Volunteer Light Troops and
Other Corps – such as engineers and
artillery – are covered in two separate
chapters. Chapter Ten describes The
Loyalty and Vicissitudes of a Small Navy.
The book is lavishly illustrated.
There are twenty-one full-colour pages
FORTY FOUR MONTHS IN THE of reproductions of contemporary
ALPS illustrations of troops and their colours,
◗ Enrico Ricchiardi with details of headgear and weapons.
◗ Helion & Company (2025) Tables show the distinctive colours of
◗ £29.95 the national, foreign and provincial
◗ 180 pages (softback) infantry regiments; the volunteer light
INFANTRY ◗ ISBN:9781804516775 infantry; and the mounted regiments.
◗ Jeremy Black ◗ helion.co.uk Six full-page new colour plates depict
◗ Pen and Sword (2025) fifteen figures and a further four
◗ £22 Number 144 in Helion’s From Reason to half-page plates, also by Emanuele
◗ 230 pages (hardback) Revolution 1721-1815 series is subtitled Manfredi, show soldiers and musicians
◗ ISBN:9781399050470 The Resistance of the Piedmontese of the Reggimento Granatieri Reali; an
◗ pen-and-sword.co.uk Army Against Revolutionary France officer and gunner of the Corpo Reale
1792-1796 which is slightly misleading: d’Artiglieria instructing grenadiers how
The author is clearly a man of in his Preface, the author states: ‘It is to operate an 8-pounder light gun; and
distinguished achievement, with an not among the purposes of this book to soldiers of the Cacciatori Scelti di Nizza.
impressive array of source material and narrate in detail the fights of the War of One full-page black and white map
a long string of professorships etc. The the Alps …This book … illustrates … shows the Kingdom of Sardinia in 1791;
primary theme of the book is the value the organisation, uniforms, flags and another shows the defensive lines in
(and relative cheapness) of infantry individual armament of the Piedmontese December 1792. Both are reductions of
throughout history, and its versatility army of the period and, finally, whenever much larger maps, resulting in the many
and range of skills especially in modern possible, the hard life of ordinary soldiers place names and topographical details
peace and war, well-illustrated with and officers in the Alps.’ being impossible to make out. There are
examples. A Chronology of the War in the Alps no diagrams showing the manoeuvres
However, the style of writing is…. 91792-1796) is followed by a two-page or engagements to help readers follow
Well, judge for yourselves. One example: Glossary of Piedmontese Military Terms. the narrative of events offered in the final
“The disruptive as well as enhancing Chapter One describes The Kingdom three chapters. A three-page bibliography
consequences of change in other spheres for of Sardinia Between 1789 and 1792, and one page of further reading
the operation and effectiveness of infantry with sections on the King and the concludes the book; there is no index.
can be assessed alongside the extent to which Royal Family; The States of the King This is a book of two parts. The
infantry was a potential consequence of of Sardinia; The State: Boundaries and first provides an excellent, detailed
transformation in other spheres or a means Possessions; Mastering the Mountain examination of the organisation, uniforms
for it”. The most readable parts are the Passes of the Western Alps; The Long and weapons of the army of King Victor
extracts from soldiers’ memoirs, with Border to Cover, and Specialists in Amedeo III, supported by numerous
the author’s own contribution making Alpine Warfare. colour illustrations, that gives wargamers
some valuable insights but in a rather Chapter Two, Vittorio Amedeo wishing to recreate it in miniature all the
disjointed and ‘bitty’ manner. III’s Army, explains the composition information they could desire. The second
I hate criticising an author’s style, but and organisation of the army – ‘an gives a concise account of an obscure
this is unnecessarily heavy going. You unprepared army led by inexperienced campaign with the potential to make an
may prefer the more straightforward commanders’ - before the French attack. interesting subject for wargames, but
British Army approach in the 1980s The Piedmontese Army in Action, those wishing to recreate either the whole
– ‘An infantryman is a machine for Chapter Three, has sections on Getting campaign or individual engagements will
converting live rounds into empty the Ordnance Infantry Ready to Fight; have to look elsewhere for suitable maps
cases’. Getting the Provincial Infantry Units or battle plans.
Chris Jarvis Ready to Fight; The Reggimento Arthur Harman

54 Miniature Wargames August 2025

 and Saluting with details of how officers
were to salute when carrying a spontoon
or a musket and sergeants when
carrying a halberd.
Chapter six, Infantry Uniform, Arms
and Equipment begins by explaining the
written sources for these matters - the
decrees of 1729, 1736, 1747 and 1762
and the Etats militaires from 1758 to
1762 – and pictorial references. The
Soldiers’ Uniform describes headgear
and hairstyles before dealing with coats,
FRENCH INFANTRY DURING waistcoats, breeches, stockings, gaiters
THE SEVEN YEARS WAR and shoes, shirts and neckcloths and
1756-1763 other equipment, such as spoons and
◗ Jean-Louis Vial canteens. Then there are sections on the
LUFTWAFFE BOMBERS VS ◗ Helion & Company (2024) accoutrements of fusiliers and grenadiers;
BRITISH AA DEFENCES ◗ £25.00 rank distinctions of non-commissioned
◗ Donald Nijboer ◗ 166 pages (softback) officers; the uniforms of drummers and
◗ Osprey (2025) ◗ ISBN:9781804514368 fifers; musical instruments, and the
◗ £15.99 ◗ helion.co.uk uniforms and arms of officers.
◗ 80 pages (softback) Colours and Pennants is the subject of
◗ ISBN:9781472865762 Number 137 in Helion’s From Reason chapter seven and relies solely upon
◗ ospreypublishing.com to Revolution 1721-1815 series is the verbal description without the benefit of
first in a series on the French army in any illustrations or diagrams. Provincial
We are probably all aware of the Battle the Seven Years War. The second volume Militias, the Grenadiers Royaux Regiments
of Britain ‘The Few against the Many’ will detail the distinctive uniforms and and the Coastguard Militias are the
in recognition of the skill and valour of flags of all the regiments and the third subjects of the last three chapters.
RAF Fighter Command, although most volume will describe the tactics adopted Eight full page colour plates by Sergey
modern analyses seem to stress the by the French infantry during the war. Shamenkov depict an officer of the
many advantages enjoyed by Britain – A Note on Units of Measurement Aquitaine Regiment 1761; a standard
integrated air defence network, radar, explains that the text will use eighteenth bearer of the Dauphin Regiment 1757;
better production output, recovery of century French pieds and pouces and a grenadier of the Saint Chamond
downed aircrew over friendly territory, provides metric equivalents. Regiment 1757; a sergent of the Royal
lack of German range, and so on. This The first, introductory chapter des vaisseaux Regiment; a drummer of
book presents part of that overall offers an overview of the French the La Reine Regiment 1757; a fusilier of
appraisal, in which AA defences played regular infantry and its strength at the the Royal Roussillon Regiment 1757; a
a significant role despite shortages in declaration of war, the raising of new fusilier of the Berry Regiment 1757, and a
equipment and personnel. Relatively regiments, the Reform of 1762, and the drummer of the Guyenne Regiment 1757.
few aircraft were shot down, but heavy foreign regiments in French service. Monochrome illustrations are
flak forced the bombers to higher Chapter two, The Hierarchy of an Infantry reproductions of contemporary pictures
altitudes and hence less accurate Regiment, describes the regimental staff, and prints of recruits joining a regiment;
bombing, reduced the serviceability the junior officers, other personnel – officers’ tents; soldiers playing cards;
levels of machines (and men), and aided the provost, the treasurer, the chaplain two positions from the Exercise of the
fighters to pick-off damaged stragglers. and the surgeon – and the non- King’s Guard; ‘The tulip will’; two
As usual in this series, there is a fine commissioned officers of the regiment. drawings by Charles Elsen showing
blend of strategic, operational and The next two chapters are devoted to sword-belts; two soldiers on the march,
(largely) technical analysis, including The Soldier, his Recruitment and Training and a Royal Musketeer guard of 1758.
the curious case of the German bomber and Officer Training and Careers. The book concludes with a nine-page
that actually landed on top of a barrage The fifth chapter, The Housing of bibliography; there is no index.
balloon: the aircraft toppled off, and Soldiers, and Marches, is divided into There is a great deal of information
just managed to pull out at very low two sections: Housing Troops in Times in this book that should be of interest
altitude. of Peace and Marches of the Army and to wargamers with French armies of
A good basis for a wargame campaign, of the Infantry during Campaigns. The the period. One hopes the next volume
on perhaps a lesser-known aspect of the latter includes Making Camp, The Camp in the series will benefit from more
Battle? during Winter Quarters, The Bivouac, illustrations.
Chris Jarvis Soldiers’ Leisure, and Paying Honours Arthur Harman

August 2025 Miniature Wargames 55

 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
JUST •The latest board game news, previews & reviews

£6.99 A
•Deep dives & interviews with world
famous creators and designers

MONTH* The most convenient and cheapest way

to receive your monthly magazine.

To see our latest subscription offers go to:

https://ttgami.ng/Offers
or call 01778 392034 and quote TTGM/Subs25
*T&Cs apply – Offer available while stocks last. Valid from 21.01.2025 onwards, when you subscribe via a quarterly Direct Debit (3 issues).
HOBBY TIPS

SPANISH WINDMILL
A quixotic endeavour
Words and images by Tony Harwood

n March 2025, I attended The West

I Midlands Military Show and – as with

many earlier shows – I met up with a
number of like-minded wargamers and
we got talking about our favourite games,
in this case Flintloque by Alternative
Armies. I was asked if I had a favourite
model amongst the many pieces of
Flintloque themed terrain that I have
built and this got me thinking. There is
one model that I built many years ago
and was featured in the long out-of-print
and Flintloque themed fanzine called
Barking Irons which I think was one of
the first made-for-publication models I
ever produced. The Spanish Windmill;
and I feel it was a major improvement
in the techniques I now employ. I have
reproduced the basic article with this
tutorial in the hope that it will inspire
others to try their hand at scratch
building their own wargame terrain
pieces.
Planning started by searching the
internet and sketching a simple plan of
a whitewashed Iberian windmill. I later
picked up a plastic beaker which was
used as the base of the main structure.
I thought the plastic beaker was too
thin and used strips of foamboard to
build up the girth. The foamboard
was strengthened with strips of torn
newspaper glued in place with PVA glue
and then skimmed with both ready-
mixed filler and DAS modelling clay to
smooth out the plaster walls.
I based the model windmill on to a rough and Dulux Pure Brilliant White household MATERIALS USED
oval of MDF which had the edges trimmed and emulsion. With the main parts painted I used ◗ Plastic beaker (from ASDA)
sanded before thin blue foam was used to add my now familiar Snakebite Leather colour to ◗ Foamboard
some stone slabs to the base and the simple roof paint the groundwork and a dark brown/black ◗ Torn newspaper
◗ DAS modelling clay
was modelled from a cone of card with more colour for the roof. ◗ Ready-mixed filler
card used for the angled roof section which later The detail painting didn’t take that long ◗ MDF
housed the wooden sails. and once dry I varnished the whole building ◗ Balsawood
The sails were constructed from wooden with matt varnish before finishing off the base ◗ Chopsticks and lollipop sticks
chopsticks and cut down lollipop sticks glued with dyed sawdust (railway scatter material) ◗ Card
◗ Plastic card
in place with superglue. The main painting and ground foam. For regular readers, none of ◗ Resin cast of an open flour
was done with spray cans (I found it much the techniques should come as a surprise but sack
easier to paint the sails with spray cans) and remember, this model windmill was produced
the walls were painted with both acrylic paints in 2011.
›
August 2025 Miniature Wargames 57
 HOBBY TIPS

1. BEAKER PEOPLE 4. THE APEX

This model windmill was The roof apex which houses
constructed for the magazine the main windmill axle was
Barking Irons back in 2011 also built from card with a
(now out-of-print) and after balsawood core.
searching the internet for
inspiration I produced this It was then covered with strips
simple sketch. of torn newspaper glued in
place with PVA.
The main body of the windmill
is built over a plastic beaker The hatch is a feature I had
bought from ASDA (other seen on a Spanish windmill
supermarkets are available... illustration and I built it from
Ed.) which was trimmed to scrap wood and thin slivers of
make it shorter and then clad plastic card, glued in place with
in foamboard strips to bulk out superglue.
the girth. As you can see areas
were left open for the windows
and the main door.

2. INITIAL OUTLINE 5. SET YOUR SAILS

The foamboard strips were The windmill sails were
covered with strips of torn constructed from wooden chop
newspaper glued in place sticks and cut down lollipop
with PVA glue. This simple sticks over a paper template.
process produces very strong
and stable structures on Once the sails were glued
which to add further detail. together, I trimmed and sanded
the edges before adding dozens
The base is a rough oval of of nail heads cut from plastic
12mm thick MDF which has card and glued in place with
had the edges trimmed and superglue.
sanded smooth.
The main axle is another section
I have used some thin blue of wooden chop stick with a
foam to add paving slabs to section of metal paperclip to act
the base. These were glued in as a pinning or strengthening
place with a mix of superglue axle which will hold the sails in
and PVA then textured with place on the rotating roof.
a rough stone to add subtle
surface detail.

3. PLASTERING 6. BASE COAT

I used ready-mixed filler and With the walls painted white, a
DAS modelling clay to ‘plaster’ mixture of acrylic paints and Dulux
the walls of the windmill. Pure Brilliant White emulsion paint
I sprayed the sails and wooden
This was built up in layers and doorway with ‘rattle can’ black
sanded smooth when fully highlighted with a dark brown spray
set to give the impression of paint.
rustic, whitewashed walls.
I found that it was much easier
The roof is built over a cone and quicker to spray the sails
of card, actually two layers than try to paint them with a
to add strength and covered brush.
in strips of torn newspaper
similar to the technique seen Later I painted the door with
on the main windmill walls. acrylic paints and highlighted it
with washes and drybrushing.
The simple ironwork was picked
out in grey, highlighted silver.

58 Miniature Wargames August 2025

7. DETAIL PAINT
The sails were ‘washed’ and
drybrushed with lighter colours
to add interest and to highlight
all that detailed modelling, the
walls were cleaned up with
more Titanium White Dulux
acrylic paint and odd highlighting
with more PBW, before the
groundwork was painted in my
signature Snakebite Leather
colour.

The roof was painted in a dark

brown/black colour to mimic
tarred fabric over a wooden
sub-structure.

8. FINISHING TOUCHES
With all the painting complete,
I varnished the whole model
with matt varnish and then
glued some dyed sawdust
(railway scatter) over PVA glue.

I then applied superglued and

added odd clumps of ground
foam to the edges of the
windmill walls.

In these images you can see

how I have exaggerated the
nail heads with some rust
coloured paint and added a
resin casting of an opened or
spilled bag of flour to the base
to add a little more interest.

9. INGENIOUS ENDING
The Spanish Windmill was
memorable to me as it marked
one of my first modelling
commissions and although
not breaking any new ground
concerning techniques or
materials used it remains one
of my favourite scratch built
models of all time.

The Spanish Windmill stands

240mm tall (to the top of the
upper sail) and is mounted on
a MDF base 110mm x 140mm.
The windmill has also featured
and my-self published book
Dampfpanzerwagon Guide
No. 2 - More Wargame
Terrain (but... that’s also out-of-
print!).

August 2025 Miniature Wargames 59

 !TXHMF 2DKKHMF@MC/@QS $WBG@MFHMF0T@KHSX6@QF@LDR %HFTQDR@MC BBDRRNQHDRRHMBD

GHMCRƥFTQDRKSC BNL Email: GHMCRƥFRKSCFL@HK BNL !HQBGNUDQ6@X  KKDRSQDD #DQAX#$0'4*

Tel: +44 (0)1332 559025 5HRHSNQRAX@OONHMSLDMSNMKX
 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!
Wargame Miniatures & Scenery RANGES FOR SALE
of any period & scale.
Diecast models & figures, unmade kits.
Military naval & aviation books.
Large collections a speciality.
Distance no object. Best prices paid.
Prompt professional collection service.
YORK MILITARY BOOKS
Tel: 01423 360828
[email protected]
www.ebay.co.uk/str/yorkmilitarybooks
Moulds for Magister Militum ranges:
THIS SPACE COULD 10mm: Fantasy and dinosaurs

BE YOURS! 15mm: Chariot, Navigator, Hallmark,

Polly Oliver (AWI)
TO ADVERTISE
CONTACT ALEX ON 28mm: Navigator and Fantasy miniatures

01778 391129 OR and 1:1250 Aircraft 617Sqn.

[email protected]
Casting equipment available once ranges sold.

Contact us for more details.

EMAIL: [email protected]
TEL: 0044 7980 756 424
 COMING NEXT MONTH:

ON SALE AUGUST 8TH

WWII GLIDER ATTACK!

PLUS

COMMAND DECISION ERASE THE ENEMY THE EARTH’S CHILDREN

Omdurman Part 2: the Tabletop The Battle of Wagram, July 1809 A Pre-historic Pulp Alley Adventure

BUY YOUR COPY ONLINE AND GET FREE POSTAGE IN THE UK

OR SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE OVER 33% (SEE P.6 FOR MORE)
www.ttgami.ng/MWG CONTENTS MAY
BE SUBJECT TO
CHANGE