THIS ISSUE: England
thrown into turmoil during the war with no enemy ISSUE 87
S R E H S I L B U P Y A R A S N A W R A K / / M O C . E N I Z A G A M S S W . W W W
ALBION TORN
DEC / JAN 2017 €5,95
US/CN $8.99 7
ASUNDER
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THE ENGLISH CIVIL WAR
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Theme
Specials
• Refighting Newbury and Cheriton
• The last Welsh warrior princess
• The Swedish influence on the Battle of Newburn
• Armoured action action in the autumn of 1944
• Small-scale skirmishes for the ECW
• Let’s play Swordpoint
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T he E gl n glish Civ iviil W ar
A V ERY Y EENGLIS ISH H C CIV IV IL W IL W AR
This w waar without an enemy EAPONS F 32 W EAP FOR OR TH THEE R REEBELS
The S Sw wedis ish h influence o on n the Battle of f N Newburn Publisher: Rolof van Hövell tot Westerier Managing director: Jasper Oorthuys Editor: Guy Bowers Copy editor: Duncan B. Campbell Layout, Layou t, design: Christianne C. Beall Maps: Rocío Espin ©2015 Karwansaray Publishers
A Y EAR A AP PART - W INC IN CHEST ER A AN ND R RO OM SEY
Small scale scenari rio os fo forr th thee ECW 4 2 2
SOLD LDII ER ERLLY AC A CTI TIO ONS IN IN A AN N U UN N HAPPY W W AR
The Batt ttle less o of f Ne Newbury and Cherit ito on 4 8
FOR FO R G GO OD, K ING IN G, AND PARLIA IAM MENT
Collecting E EC CW a arrmies
Contributors: Mark Backhouse, Tony Barton, Ian Beal, Steve Beckett, Piers Brand, Rob Broom, Richard Clarke, David Davies, Tony Harwood, David Imrie, Eoghan Kelly, Michael Leck, Dan Mersey, Chris Payne, Rick Priestley, Nicholas Stock, Ruben Torregrosa, Torregrosa, Rossco Watkins
EFO ORE D DIS ISH HO NO UR 52 DEATH BEF
Illustrations: Georgie Harman www.redfoxillustrations.com
FEATURES
Creati tin ng t th he cover diora ram ma
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BANG! YOU'RE DEAD
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GWENLLIAN OF THE GREAT REVOLT
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AN AUTUMN STORM
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24
GETTING BACK IN THE SADDLE
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NOSTALGIA IN TIN
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A wild west shootout with a difference The last Welsh warrior princess Armour action in Belgium Rediscovering your wargames mojo A sculptor's first inspiration
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Wargames, Soldiers and Strategy is published every Wargames, two months by Karwansaray BV, Zutphen, the Netherlands. PO Box 4082, 7200 BB Zutphen, the Netherlands.
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S SHOT OTS ING G SH PART PA RTIN
ISSN: 2211-503X
HOBBY
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THE DOVE HOUSE
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WHITE DEATH
Building a timber framed dovecote Painting snow camouflage for Kharkov
E dit orial “No more blind bullets, fire, nor bloody sword / Dissentions end, but let just law accord / Brute bankerupt Ruffians, and Blas phemers are / All chief e rejoycers, when true Christians jarred / That they may plunder, pillage, drink, and whore / And mourne when mischief they can doe no more.” — John Barford: a Prayer to God, King and Country The English Civil War is a fascinating period of history which divides opinions and loyalties even today. It was the last real war fought solely on British soil with battles in almost every part of the Three Kingdoms (of England, Scotland and Ireland). A little local research will throw up some surprising facts and many forgotten engagements. I live in the West Country, and near me there are several battlefields and a number of notable sieges. I have visited these sites and even replayed some of the battles on the table top (such as the Bitesize Battle of Braddock Down which appeared in WS&S 67). The great thing about the period (apart from the interchangeable nature of the units) is the variety of engagements, from skirmishes to full scale battles and sieges. Whatever your scale or preferred size of play, the English Civil War has something to offer you. The concept of a ‘Civil War’ still catches gamers’ imaginations. Take the popularity of Very British Civil War or the Winter of ‘79, both rulesets that offer alternative timelines where England goes to war with itself again. But however odd these alternates may be, the history of the actual English Civil War is much stranger still. According to Michael Leck, it’s Sweden’s fault! To learn more, read on… In our next issue, we'll be looking at the Winter Wars and the challenges of fighting in the winter season. Guy Bowers
[email protected]
i e m ebs t w e h t n o w N o
The Battle of Brentford Recreate Prince Rupert's ride to victory against the Parliamentarians in this 1642 battle. (http://www.wssmagazine.com/wss87_extra)
I n t he next issu e
&
Time to chill out In the next WS&S , we'll be looking at the challenges of cold weather actions during World War II. From Russia to Finland, this should be one cool issue.
W ARGAMES , SOLDIERS & STRATEGY 87
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S W E I V E R I N I M
MINIATURE REVIEWS Stoessi’s Heroes Company: Stoessi’s Heroes Size: 30mm ‘foot to eye’ or 33mm tall Era: World War II Price: €5.90 per model toessi.blogspot.co.uk Thomas “Stoessi” Stoesser started Stoessi’s Heroes to give World War II gamers a selection of character figures to paint and liven up their games. This range is fully focused on 28mm WW2 and offers a mix of interesting personalities. Currently there are seven characters. The ones shown (left to right) are US Donny Drumpf (who ‘knows’ more than generals), SS Officer Hans (bad guy in an overcoat), British Para Roy (very Urquhart), Harold the Canadian Sniper and Lyudmilla, the Soviet sniper. Each is well cast and realistically posed. The detail is high quality. Most are one part castings apart from Roy whose arm is separate. The models come on a metal tab, but this can be filed down and removed for basing (I prefer flat bases). Size wise, these are on the larger side of 28mm, but then again character models are supposed to stand out. These are ideal for the WW2 gamer looking for a model with great character to lead their armies.
Paranormal Exterminators Company: Crooked Dice Games Size: 28mm ‘foot to eye’ or 31mm tall Era: Modern Price: £3.50 each or £15.00 for the set www.crooked-dice.co.uk Who you gonna call? These Paranormal Exterminators catch them all. The third and latest set of ‘exterminator’ miniatures from Crooked Dice pay homage to a recent film with an all-girl Paranormal busting team. There is also the one guy – the ‘wannabe’ exterminator - but he can hardly answer the phone, never mind fight ghosts… Who gave him a uniform and a neutron pack? The girls are armed with a selection of specialist ghost fighting weapons (which specialists of this genre will recognise). As we’ve come to expect from Crooked Dice, these are great ‘lookalike’ character models with excellent sculpting and casting. The detail is very good and the characters easily recognisable. Each model is supplied with its own ‘slotta’ bases as standard. If dipping your toes into pulp gaming and fighting the supernatural (with an unlicensed nuclear accelerator strapped to your back) is your thing, then you’ll love these. Now all they need is a car and a fire house…
Land Rover Technical Company: Skirmish Sangin Size: 28mm Era: Post War Price: £20 each or three vehicles for £55 www.skirmishsangin.com It is common practice in Africa and the Middle East to take a commercial vehicle body and mount a heavy weapon on it. This Land Rover has a recoilless rifle mounted on it. Skirmish Sangin has released a new book called Skirmish Africa which encourages players to choose from fourteen ‘imagi-nations’ and fight make-believe wars. They have also released HUMVEEs (armed with M2s or Mark 19s) and a Land Rover technical. There is even a range of African buildings to support these games. The vehicle kits are a combination of a resin body and metal wheels and crew. The technical comes mounted with either a heavy machine-gun or a recoilless rifle (shown). A gunner, loader and driver are supplied as standard. The building is made of a lightweight foam but is very durable – almost as light as MDF. All the models are well cast, fit together well and the finished technical looks impressive. This is the start of a very impressive range from Skirmish Sangin which will have many modern players salivating.
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Churchill and Grizzly Company: Warlord Games Size: 28mm (1/56) Era: World War II and Weird War II Price: £20.00 (Churchill), £25.00 (Grizzly) www.warlordgames.com The Churchill tank was the ubiquitous British heavy tank of World War II. Warlord have released a plastic kit which allows seven variants of this classic British tank, from the Mark III, Mark IV and Mark V including AVRE, Close Support and 75mm variants. Contrasting the Churchill is the Grizzly Combat Walker for Konflikt 47. In this alternate timeline, super science has led to the development of fantastic machines, like the Grizzly. The detail on both kits is excellent. The Grizzly is cast in plastic resin and is very easy to construct, with only a few minor parts needing filing down (vent ports from the casting). Being a kit, the Churchill takes a little longer but everything fits together very well and I think it took me more time to decide which variant to build than to construct the actual model itself.
TYW Cossacks Company: Totentanz Size: 17mm ‘foot to eye’ or 19mm tall Era: 17th century (Thirty Years’ War) Price: € 4.25 for eight infantry www.totentanz-miniatures.com The Cossacks were a fierce and independent people who fought as mercenaries and for their own glory. They earned a bloody reputation in the Thirty Years’ War, fighting against the Turks, and for their rebellion against the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth. Totentanz Miniatures has released a range of seven packs of Cossacks covering both cavalry and dismounted infantry. Shown is a mixture of the infantry, either ready to hold spears (not included) or ready with muskets, plus two command models. The miniatures are very well detailed and could be mistaken in a photograph for being a larger size – these are nice figures! The casting is good, with no mould lines visible. This useful range adds to Totentanz’s existing extensive Thirty Years War range. These are scaled at 18mm, so should fit with similar 15mm/18mm scales and will be a must for those playing the Thirty Years’ War in this scale.
Europe in Revolution Infantry Company: Steve Barber Models Size: 27mm ‘foot to eye’ or 29mm tall Era: 19th Century Price: £5.00 for 4 models www.stevebarbermodels.com The wars of revolution in Europe during the 1830s and ’40s are definitely a neglected area of gaming. During this period there was the Polish Uprising of 1831 and several revolutions in 1848, the most successful of which was the Hungarian Revolution, which saw Hungary for a brief time become an independent state. Now Steve Barber Models has produced 28mm miniatures for this period. There are currently nine packs in this range, which include Polish Revolutionaries, Hungarians and Russian troops. The models are well cast with little flash. The poses are currently limited to advancing or standing, but this is a new range and more are sure to follow as its popularity grows. This is admittedly a neglected period in wargaming, probably because there were so few models to game it with without a lot of conversion. To quote the 1989 movie Field of Dreams, “If you build it, they will come.” More European Revolution models including Austrian troops are promised soon. W ARGAMES , SOLDIERS & STRATEGY 87
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‘Gothic City’ Street Furniture Company: 4Ground Size: 28mm Era: Modern Price: £5.00 to £6.00 a kit www.4ground.co.uk Holey moley, Gnatman! 4Ground has released several sets of street furniture for modern and pulp gaming to go alongside their buildings. These include the smaller items shown, such as street lights, telephone kiosks, waste disposal skips, dumpsters and barricades. Larger items are also available, such as shipping containers, subway entrances and fire escapes for buildings. Assembly is very easy, taking only a few minutes from flat pack to complete item. No painting is required as the MDF is ready-painted, although gamers can always add their own highlights. I’d be tempted to ‘dirty’ up some of the bases. For the smaller items, such as the kiosks and lights, three are provided per kit. Ten barricades are provided in that pack. The skip and dumpster are double layered so are extra sturdy. These are great and inexpensive little kits which can really help bring the modern gaming surface to life. These are going to be useful whether you’re into modern warfare, superheroes or zombie gaming.
Dread Pirates Company: Antediluvian Miniatures Size: 29mm ‘foot to eye’ or 32mm tall; the giant stands 39mm tall Era: Fantasy Price: £16 for four pirate adventurers antediluvianminiatures.wordpress.com “Inconceivable!” I hear you cry… Antediluvian Miniatures has released a strange bunch of ragtag pirates which look like they are fresh from the pages of a story book. Left to right, you have the swordsman sworn to avenge the death of his father, the hero ‘dread’ pirate captain seeking his lost flower, the pragmatic giant and the Machiavellian Sicilian, who isn’t half as bright as he thinks he is… The models are brimming with character – if you do not know the inspiration for these models, I highly recommend a little video research. The casting is very good, with no mould lines, and each model comes with a ‘slotta’ base. While these models are based on fantasy fiction, they would certainly fit into any renaissance or pirate crew (the vengeful swordsman would make a good Dread Pirate Roberts). Hopefully, a second set will follow with a bride princess, a cowardly prince of Guilder and a six fingered man…
Myths of Albion Company: Conquest Games Size: The giants are 60mm tall; Herne is a mere 41mm tall Era: Dark Age Fantasy Price: £13.00 for each giant; Herne and three barghests £12.50 www.conquest-games.co.uk Conquest Games has taken a diversion from its historical lines to bring out a range of mythic creatures for ancient Britain. The two giants are Gog and Magog – while referenced in the Bible and the Quran, there are also many references in Welsh, English and Irish folklore to the giants. It is said that Gog and Magog led the giants of Albion to oppose the landing of Brutus the Trojan. The other magnificent model is Herne of the wild hunt, leading his three barghests (or ‘black dogs’) which can possibly be linked to the Celtic Cernunnos, the horned god. It is said the appearance of the wild hunt is a portent of forthcoming disaster or catastrophic war. All the models are exceptionally clean, are well cast and have good detailing. These are great character models for fantasy or for a more unusual dark ages scenario; after all, the denizens of those ages believed in giants and vengeful hunting gods.
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Plastic Macedonians Company: Victrix Limited Size: 28mm ‘foot to eye’ or 31mm tall Era: Ancients Price: £19.95 for 27 models www.victrixlimited.com It is said that Alexander of Macedon’s father Philip developed the phalangite, an infantryman with the sarissa pike. With the combination of cavalry, hypaspists light infantry on the flanks and a core of phalangites, Alexander conquered all of Persia. Victrix’s plastic phalangites come on sprues of three, with a separate command sprue. The figures are all well detailed with an excellent selection of different heads. The detail on the sarissa pike is spot on, with butt spike, and very good. Assembly is straightforward – just stick on the head, shield, and pike arm. The poses are not quite as animated as previous sets – restricted to the standing position – but as a gamer I’m more than happy with this. It’s by far the best pose to rank up practical wargaming units. Three sets are available: Macedonians, Successors and Hypaspists (the Successors sprues come with the option of wearing trousers). Coming soon from Victrix is a plastic elephant set, suitable for Carthage, Rome, Numidia and the Successors.
25pdr and Morris Quad Company: The Plastic Soldier Company Size: 15mm (1/100) Era: World War II Price: £21.50 for four guns and tows with crew theplasticsoldiercompany.co.uk The Ordnance Quick Firing 25pdr was the standard British artillery piece of World War II and served into the 1960s. It was pulled by the almost equally famous Morris Quad tractor. There is not just a single gun on the sprue but several build options. For early war, there’s the 18/25pdr (using 18pdr ammunition as Britain had so much stockpiled from the Great War), the Pheasant (a 17pdr antitank gun on a 25pdr chassis, used in Tunisia), early 25pdr and late 25pdr (with muzzle flash shield). A full set crew for the desert war and late war are provided as standard. This selection of parts gives enough for eight complete guns (at the cost of using the wheels off the limber). As usual, the design work, moulding, and detail are excellent on the vehicle. Everything fits together well apart from the wheels on the gun, which are a little stiff. The price is very attractive too.
Bear & Viking Ladies Company: Bad Squiddo Games Size: 26mm ‘foot to eye’ or 29mm tall; the Bear is 30mm at the shoulder Era: Dark Ages Price: £4.00 for Thorrun, £10.00 for Jarl Letty and £6.00 for the Bear thedicebaglady.net Annie at Bad Squiddo Games has released a range of animals and more historical female characters, this time for the Dark Ages. Jarl Letty, the "Little Lady Warmonger", comes as set with mounted and dismounted versions. She may be little (27mm tall), but even berserkers turn away from her frown and she would be a great character for SAGA or fantasy… Thorrun is a fierce Viking shield maiden – I’m reliably informed that similarities with a certain TV series about Vikings is entirely circumstantial. The ladies are cast well in metal. The bear is cast in a flexible plastic resin and has a great pose, like he is sniffing the ground for food. Detailing is very good on all the models. These will be a useful addition to Dark Age and fantasy games, with the bear also being useful for many periods, from the Stone Age to the French and Indian Wars. W ARGAMES , SOLDIERS & STRATEGY 87
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Congo boxed sets Company: Wargames Foundry Size: 28mm ‘foot to eye’ or 31mm tall Era: Darkest Africa (19th century) Price: £36.00 for 24 miniatures www.wargamesfoundry.com Wargames Foundry has released a selection of its Darkest Africa range in boxed sets to support Congo, the latest game from Studio Tomahawk (reviewed this issue). Each set provides all the player needs for a 70 point force for one particular faction. There are five boxed sets in total: White Explorers, Zanzibar Slavers, Forest Tribes, African Kingdoms and an adventure set with fierce animals and characters to play the scenarios from the book. The casting is very good with no mould lines visible. The models themselves are full of character and very well detailed. There are no repeats in a boxed set, all the models are different. While the model range isn’t new per se, it is useful to see them available as ‘army deals’ for the game without the need to buy several packs. They are a good price too. These great sets are ideal for someone wishing to dip their toes into Congo or perhaps wanting to build their forces for The Men Who Would Be Kings.
Cold War British & Humber Pig Company: Sgt’s Mess Size: 21mm ‘foot to eye’ or 24mm tall Era: Cold War Price: £3.00 for 4 infantry, £6.90 for the Humber Pig www.sgtsmess.co.uk Supporting their range of British Cold War vehicles in 20mm, Sgt’s Mess has released British Infantry. The current release includes six packs in firing and advancing poses with SLRs, plus support weapons (GPMG, 81mm and 50mm mortar). These will be suitable for 1970s and early to mid 1980s. The models are well cast and detailed, with a little flash. Sgt’s Mess has also expanded its vehicle range to include the CVR(T) series (Scorpion, Scimitar, Samaritan and Sultan) and the Humber Pig armoured car (shown) – available with or without ‘wings’ (riot screens which can be extended from the vehicle). The model is made of a sturdy but lightweight resin with metal wheels and ‘wings’. These are ideal additions to anyone’s British 20mm Cold War arsenal or for the ‘Winter of ’79’ campaign setting.
Napoleonic Light Infantry Company: Gringo 40’s Size: 29mm ‘foot to eye’ or 35mm tall in shako Era: Napoleonic Price: £1.50 per model www.gringo40s.com The one side everyone needs in the Napoleonic Wars is the French. Napoleon’s light infantry had an excellent reputation for their field craft and esprit de corps. Gringo 40’s has released a range of Napoleonic light infantry suitable for 1808-14 (according to regulations, but they’ll do fine for 1815 too). These join Gringo’s existing French Napoleonic infantry releases – the Engineers of the Imperial Guard and the Marines of the Imperial Guard. The models are sculpted in light kit and some wear greatcoats. These infantry do not have backpacks, which is correct – they are skirmishing troops so only carry the bare essential kit. The casting is good, with only a little flash on the bases, and the poses are very animated. You have advancing, firing and marching poses plus the officer and one dead figure. Size-wise, they will be compatible with most mid- and larger ranges and will be a must-have for French Napoleonic generals.
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