Magasin de Presse

There are some excellent magazines published in France including these new series that have replaced the defunct magazines previously published by Caractere. They're very much in the same style as Los! or Aerojournal, with an interesting mix of contents, some excellent art work and fascinating text. I'm really looking forward to reading the Coastal Command article and P-47 article, both of which will be great as source material for Bag the Hun. 

Wargames, Soldiers and Strategy 1918 Article

Despite being unwell today I was cheered up by the arrival of my copy of Wargames, Soldiers and Strategy, including my article for Algernon Pulls It Off!. It's written by me, with the models and photos kindly supplied by no less than Steve Dean, who was very helpful in sorting out that side of things. Who knows, maybe I'll get another article in the magazine one day?

Fifteen Seconds of Fame

The next issue of Wargames, Soldiers and Strategy is available for order now and it includes my article and scenarios for Algernon Pulls It Off! Don't worry, as there's lots of other stuff as well if you are a First World War wargaming enthusiast! It's good to see some air wargaming in the magazine and, if I get the chance, I'm definitely up for another fifteen seconds of wargaming fame 

Wargames Soldiers and Strategy Algy Article

I had a chance to look over the Algernon Pulls It Off! article that I have written for the next edition of Wargames, Solders and Strategy magazine yesterday. It looks great and the photos of Steve Dean's superbly painted models really set it off very well. I'm looking forward to getting a copy of the issue when it comes out in a few weeks time. Who knows, I might even write another one at some point? Chocks Away!

Magasin de Presse

I was really looking forward to some more excellent French military magazines this holiday but my favourite company, Caraktere Press, has gone into liquidation due to declining sales. This is a real kick in the teeth as the magazines it published - especially Los! and Aerojournal - were very good indeed and always well worth buying. What a shame!

Forum The World at War - Caraktère Publishing is finished... https://share.google/VOD9lan6o9Ay4i5W2

Ulzen Hat Trick

I had a Bag the Hun scenario published in the Lard Mag this year, based on a game I played a few years ago. It's set on 1st January 1945 and features the 336th Fighter Squadron of the USAAF - the Rocketeers. It's a quick three or four player scenario, proper seat of your pants low level stuff, so ideal for a game over the Xmas holidays with friends. Have fun!

Lard Mag Wash Up

After a lot of work, I managed to get two articles into the Lard Mag for Algernon Pulls It Off!I including the Jasta 18 one..huzzah! It's a bit of a cracker as the Raben's Ravens article and scenarios were bloody good, if I say so myself. I did also get a scenario for Bag the Hun in this year, but that was very much an afterthought, so an underserved bonus. Happy Days!

Arctic Eagles

The Jasta 18 article and scenarios for Algernon Pulls It Off! have now landed safe and sound on Lard Island, hopefully destined for the 2025 Lard Mag. In the meantime, I'm thinking of writing something small for Bag the Hun to submit, with the Arctic Eagles JG5 theme a possible focus, although I've yet to decide exactly what it will be. The idea would be to have a brief introduction then perhaps two or three scenarios, but it all depends on whether I have the time. 

Jasta 18 Write Up Wrap Up

This year I've reduced my part time work days to three days a week, giving me Monday and Tuesday to do other things, at least for the next couple of months or so. This means lots of jobs around the house but also some time to write wargaming articles, scenarios and other things for publication or just for fun. I've been putting off writing the background blurb for the Jasta 18 - Raben's Ravens - article for the Lard Mag for a bit, so that's the job for this week. This will be a mix of historical background, rules amendments and ideas for modelling or painting, running to no more than 1000 words or fewer, which won't take me long to draft but does require some focus. When it's done, I may have a crack at a Bag the Hun article or perhaps something for Wargames, Soldiers and Strategy magazine?

WSS 1918 Article Submitted

I drafted the 1918 themed submission for Wargames, Soldiers and Strategy this morning, focussed on a 1000 word limit but including both historical background and the scenario for Algy. I had to trim it down to fit but, as it turned out, the editor asked me to expand it to 1500 words by including a second scenario. I had one to hand that fitted the brief, so a bit of editing and it was duly emailed off again. There's no guarantee it will be published but at least it's been fun to put it together. Tally Ho!

1/300th Dawn Patrol Painting

Ltn.W.Steinhauser (Jasta 11)

Ltn.H.Weiss (Jasta 11)

I'm going to have to have a go at painting some 1/300th 3D printed aircraft for the Dawn Patrol article at some point soon, as I've been asked to provide some good quality photographs to go with the text. I could submit some photos of my 1/600th scale models but I don't think they would do the job, so 1/300th is the better option. The 'B' Flight No.43 Squadron Sopwith Camels are relatively straightforward but the two colourful Jasta 11 Fokker Dr.I's are a bit more of a challenge, especially Ltn.Werner Steinhauser's striking yellow and red striped machine. I haven't painted any 1/300th scale aircraft for a while but at least they will be easier to see while painting than their half size equivalent!

Magasin de Presse

A couple of very interesting magazines from the local newsagent today, two of my favourite publications to grab when I'm in France. The current issue of Los! is particularly good, with an article on X Craft, the Malta aircraft carrier runs and the naval attack on the Dardanelles being all right up my street. I'll add some more magazines to my holiday reading pile later but these will be more than enough for the next week or so!

Magasin de Presse

We're about to head back home so, as usual, I've been to the local newsagent to pick up some French military magazines. This time there was only one that I thought worth buying, the current edition of Los!, which has some good articles on the Kanalkampf phase of the Battle of Britain and French pre-dreadnought armoured cruisers, amongst other things. The latter has got me thinking about the French pre-dreadnought fleet I have ready for painting but also the WW1 French models from Tumbling Dice for the Get the Goeben! project, which I didn't get round to assembling during the holidays. I'm definitely doing something naval next and either of these would be good fun to focus on next month.

Magasin de Presse

Not a lot of choice this time in the French magazine selection but the current issue of Los! does include some interesting articles with relevant information for naval wargaming. 

Lard Mag 2024

The Lard Mag is out and I'm very pleased to see my Bag the Hun Continuation War scenarios made the final cut. As always, there's plenty more to peruse in this year's edition, with a Jurguthine War campaign for Strength and Honour and scenarios for the Siege of Plymouth using Sharp Practise catching my eye, amongst the usual Chain of Command stuff. Well worth splashing out on as a stocking filler! 

Magasin de Presse

Flypast Beaufighter

I bought this Flypast special at the airport a couple of days ago but didn't have time to look at it until today. It's a bit pricey but very good, with excellent illustrations and some fascinating first hand after action reports, technical design details and aircrew profiles. There's plenty here that could be used for scenario design in particular, so worth a few quid of your pocket money.

WSS Subscription

My very thoughtful daughter bought me a two year subscription to Wargames, Soldiers and Strategy for Xmas and the first issue arrived today. It's a shame it's mostly Napoleonic this month but there's also some interesting content that I'm going to enjoy reading at my leisure over the next few days. At least I don't have stand in WHSmiths anymore to have a quick flick through! 

Magazine de Presse

 

A couple of excellent French naval and air warfare magazines to flick through over the holidays. The Vietnam ones has loads of colour profiles that will be great as a painting reference for Thud Ridge, while Los! includes really good articles on the Jeune Ecole. and on Japanese heavy cruisers. Excellent.

Magasin de Presse

 

The newsagent has been raided again, with these four excellent military, naval and aviation magazines added to the enormous pile of reference material that insulates my loft, sooner or later. The French have much better magazines than we do for some reason, apart from wargaming ones, which is great if you can read them. It takes me some time and effort but is worth it in the end, especially when the articles are relevant to my various projects, the Operation Bodenplatte issue of Aerojournal being a good example.