Well its been a while.
Unfortunately I had to replace my old PC after an electrical storm finally blew its circuits. I then had to wait for my new PC to be delivered and then have the whole thing set up. I am a Luddite I'm afraid and useless with such things.Anyway apart from annoying issues like spell check, Windows 10 etc.
I am back.
Being of a certain age I have always appreciated the wargaming press and the magazines that have been produced over the years. My favourite remains Donald Featherstone's Wargamers Newsletter. Yes it is definitely dated nowadays and a lot of the small snippets have little use to modern wargamers but I have always cherished the enthusiasm that burst out of each badly produced page.
I always loved Don's forthright editorials. He never shirked from calling a spade a spade which given the current atmosphere is just so refreshing and amazingly no one died if they were called a fraud or a cheat!
Unfortunately when it was actually being published I wasn't aware of its existence and only discovered its delights after Don had stopped editing it and the magazine had folded.
Over the years I have attempted to obtain back issues and have had a certain amount of success but I am still shy of certain copies and several of the early years.
The nearest I got to completing my collection was several years ago when I was sat talking to the great Charlie Wesencraft who airily told me he had all the copies. I couldn't contain my excitement. There was a caveat and I needed to lie down as he told me how he was clearing things out and threw the lot on his garden bonfire!!
Anyway recently I thought I had finally sourced my missing copies but they were in the USA. I was however determined to buy the magazines and scraped together the required amount of cash only to be then stuck for the postage costs. The seller, a magazine dealer apparently wanted individual postage for each magazine? My dream was once again shattered as he sent me a bill for over $700 for 20 magazines over 40 years old!
Sadly they remain in somebodies cellar in the USA and all I can do is continue to dream.
Maybe one day.
Progress towards completing my ECW project has been sporadic given how I started a new 'little' extra project; Warlord Games SPQR.
I have managed to complete two additional Parliamentarian regiments that have turned out very nicely. The figures are Mini Figs and to be honest are really lovely sculpts.
The Featherstone Newsletter was hugely important because it was of its time and it helped the hobby grow, it was an essential part of the fabric of the hobby - difficult to fully appreciate in the internet age.
ReplyDeleteThere was a hobby shop on the other side of the city that sold it and as a pocket money item it made my visits to that shop hugely exciting.
In those days, not only could Don be forthright, but as a young teenager, I had the freedom to travel alone on 3 buses to get to the other side of the city and then walk down a lengthy road in a dubious area to get to this corner shop - something that is also of its time I suspect :-).
Your ECW stuff is very compelling :-) Nice!
Thanks Norm, I keep hoping that one day I will walk past a charity shop that has a window full of the said Wargamers Newsletters. It is still a dream, As for the bus ride, sadly it was different for me coming from a village where the bus journey would take me through another village that saw interlopers like me a ready target for a kicking.I learned to walk everywhere.Ah the good old days.
DeleteRobbie, your ECW project is going gangbusters! Superb new additions.
ReplyDeleteAs for your Wargamer's Newsletter dilemma, if the issues are listed on eBay and still available, I could buy them and ship to you without (hopefully) costing an arm and leg.
Jonathan the ECW project has gone a bit over the planned size as seems to be the way of things with me. As for the magazines yes they are back up there on the old E Bay.
DeleteRobbie, if you are interested, send me a list of the issues you are after via the Contact Form at,
Deletepalousewargamingjournal.blogspot.com
I can put in offers and see what happens.
Jon
That's a nice offer from Jonathan... alternatively put the issue numbers you're looking for here, I'll see if I have them, and I can at least scan them for you??
DeleteAgain thats a really kind offer Steve. If its okay I will do some more digging and then send you the numbers/years Im looking for.
DeleteGood to see you back Robbie!
ReplyDeleteThanks for that, I was a bit lost without a computer.
DeleteGlad to see your ECW project progressing
ReplyDeleteNearly there Neil, nearly there.
DeleteGreat figures in your ecw project, lovely to see them.
ReplyDeleteThanks very much, they are more colourful in real life.
DeleteIts criminal what that dealer did. It must be tempting to name and shame.
ReplyDeleteTo be fair he did say he was retired and needed to make a living which was an interesting explanation.
DeleteVery nice additions to your ECW project. Looking forward to seeing many more! As to the Wargamers' Newsletter, well, I've never seen the appeal myself, but each to their own I suppose.
ReplyDeleteBy your a queer so and so David, no appeal in re reading wargaming history. What sort of teacher were you?
DeleteWargamer's Newsletter: scans available at http://www.fourcats.uk/mags/index.html, index available at http://vintagewargaming.blogspot.com/p/the-vintage-wargaming-index-to.html. See also link section on http://snv-ttm.blogspot.com/p/wargames-magazine-database.html for other magazines.
ReplyDeleteOh wow! What a resource!
DeleteThanks for that Phil I appreciate the time you have taken to give the links.
DeleteLovely looking pair of infantry regiments! They look particularly good I think,I also really like your rabble of clubmen,they look excellent! Of course your doing another artillery piece you don't need! Don't we all?!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
One of the figures was from you Iain and was too nice not to conscript into my armies.
DeleteMy advice (for what it's worth) take a holiday in the US and collect in person.
ReplyDeleteIt isn't so bad over there.
Normally I go to the states every year but not this year.
Delete