This month sees the publication of Miniature Wargames 408. That's the April edition and it's a show special. How so? Well, apart from the usual selection of articles and regular columnists, it also features four show reports and the separate guide to Salute 2017.
So: what's in the shrink-wrap?
FORWARD OBSERVER
What's up and coming in (mostly) historical wargaming. This month includes releases from Ainsty, Flames of War, Brigade Models, Early War Miniatures, Milicast, Old Glory, North Star, Pendraken, plus a new version of In Her Majesty's Name.
SEND THREE AND FOURPENCE
Don't fence me in: Garden wargaming. Conrad Kinch steps out into the long grass and shows what can be achieved in the garden beyond lawn darts and croquet.
WHEN IN ROME
A campaign system for all of those wanting to be friends, Romans or countrymen. Jim Webster gives us a political campaign setting for pulling together separate games in the Roman Empire that can be bolted onto the tactical rule system of your choice.
VAPNARTAK
A trip to the York show: the Editor enjoys a Yorkie (or two) with a visit to Vapnartak.
MAD DOGS AND ENGLISHMEN
The second of a two-part article: Jon Sutherland completes a set of rules for gaming the Indian Mutiny. This comes with a set of downloadable cards available from the MW website.
DARKER HORIZONS
This month Fantasy Facts has its usual round up of what's out in the world(s) of non-historical gaming with releasers from Mierce, Brigade Models, Crooked Dice, and Black Pyramid. There's also an interview with the authors of Mantic's new SF rules Warpath and Firefight, explaining why they have written more than just one set. Lastly, Roger Dixon shows us the finishing touches to building and customising 4Ground scenery for Sci-Fi games explaining his dirtying down process.
HAMMERHEAD
The Editor visits Newark and the Hammerhead show: an unusual beast in the UK as it is an all participation games wargames show.
PICK A CARD
Using playing cards to help with orders in wargames, Arthur Harman offers a system for giving orders using playing cards.
ROBIN
Roger Dixon makes trip to the new Red on Blue in Nottingham show: games, trade and seminars.
RECCE
Books for wargamers – what's a good read and what to leave on the shelf. This month our crack reviewers look at World War II Soviet Field Weapons and Equipment; Fighting Napoleon; The Berlin Operation 1945; Crete: The Battle for Heraklion; God's Generals; Magyar Warriors; Tiger I and Tiger II Tanks; A Military History of the Russo-Turkish War 1877-1878; and They Called it Shell Shock.
WARGAMES WIDOW
Scratch building an Arab stockade. Diane Sutherland builds a structure using nothing more sophisticated than willow edging, MDF and a hot-glue gun (plus heaps of perseverance).
CAVALIER
The final show report of this issue from Tonbridge. The Editor visits this old, Kentish favourite.
CLUB DIRECTORY
Find a club in your vicinity and add your club for free!
PLUS: this issue contains a FREE SALUTE GUIDE. For 2017, this is now a whole, separate publication, rather than being part of the magazine itself, but it includes:
· The sculpting of the Salute RUSSIAN REVOLUTIONARY FIGURE
· Kevin Dallimore paints the Salute figure in three different paint schemes
· A guide to the history of the Russian Revolutionary period
· Superb examples of the 2016 Salute painting competition
· A full guide to trade and games – with a floor plan – for Salute 2017 (almost 100 games and over 160 traders)
Other articles included are:
NEUSTADT CROSSING – AUGUST 1985
An introduction to a 1/285th Coldwar game at Salute using GHQ Micro-Armour rules and models.
THE BROTHERHOOD OF MARS
A Horus Heresy 30k game appearing at Salute.
IT'S NOT ALL GIANT SPACE ROBOTS…
A ‘club spot special' from the South London Warlords.
Enjoy!
John Treadaway
Editor on Miniature Wargames