I was round at Ronnie’s this week and this book came up in conversation. It appears we both used it quite a bit in our youth. In many ways its influence was greater on my gaming beginnings than the Grant 18th C book or the Brigadier’s one. My copy was published in 1972 and I recall buying it at James Thin, booksellers in Edinburgh. As you will see my copy is annotated and has additions stuck in -
If anyone fancies buying one for themselves there is a fine copy going for £6 in the Oxfam bookshop in Stirling.
This was my first wargaming book as a young lad. I used to marvel at all the photographs of Airfix figures and simple scratch build terrain ideas. So inspirational at the time.
ReplyDeleteAn excellent primer and great photos too.
DeleteAlan Tradgardland
I owned three wargaming books and this was one of them. As you say, a wonderful book and very inspiring!
ReplyDeleteWhat were the other ones.
DeleteAlan Tradgardland
Sadly I don't recall seeing this or reading this from a branch library as a young gamer (probably always on loan) but would have liked and related to the use of Airfix figures that I had. Interesting to see the attached handwritten stuck in notes and reference charts.
ReplyDeleteI bet you would have enjoyed it back then. I can’t recall how many of the notes were my ideas or cribbed from elsewhere.
DeleteAlan Tradgardland
One of the early Wargaming books I borrowed from the library - Terry Wise was using exactly the same figures as me (only he had rather a lot more of them)! Great memories.
ReplyDeleteIt must have been a great borrow and inspiration re your mutual choice of figures.
DeleteAlan Tradgardland
My go to book for wargaming nostalgia, I was living in Ipswich as a 13 year old when I saw this book in the library. kept borrowing every 3 weeks for over a year.
ReplyDeleteWillz.
Lovely story Willz, it is a very inspiring book and one I return to too.
DeleteAlan Tradgardland
Another excellent book that still stands up today. Like yourself, a book that probably had more influence on me than Charles Grant. Certainly 10 figure ACW units could be achieved more easily than Grant's 50 plus figure units.
ReplyDeleteI must look again at the WW2/modern rules. I'd wager they'd still match well against any modern glossy rules. I must also find and read Grant's Battle rules too.
Thanks for the reminder,
Tom
Very true on all fronts. I agree the rules would stand up well. Battle, Practical Wargames is well, well worth a read.
DeleteAlan Tradgardland
I didn't see this when I started but do now own it (and most of the other classic books). CharlieWesencraft's Practical Wargaming was my first "proper" wargaming book - after Little Wars.
ReplyDeleteGood to have the foundational texts on your library shelf. I never knew Practical Wargaming at all back in the day. Strange how we were all exposed to differing texts…
DeleteAlan Tradgardland
Classic book !
ReplyDeleteClassic indeed!
DeleteAlan Tradgardland
Bought my copy a few years ago and very good it is too. James Thin's now that's a blast from the past, we always went in for a browse when on holiday at the family, cracking place.
ReplyDeleteA cracking place indeed. I had an account with them , it was so tempting as all you did was sign for a book and were billed at the end of the month.To easy!
DeleteAlan Tradgardland
Still got my childhood copy. Probably my second wargaming book after Charles Grant 'Battle'. Terry Wise used Airfix figures and simple rules, which made it all very accessible for those of us with only pocket money!
ReplyDeleteAccessible and attainable was part of its attraction to me. Not to mention those wonderful elephants…
DeleteAlan Tradgardland
And who else bought the Britains baby elephants as in the book?
ReplyDeleteI wish l had! I was more ww2 and ACW focussed re plastic figures.
DeleteAlan Tradgardland
I think this was the first wargames book I owned. I have a 1969 1st edition I think (from memory!) and I think it was bought for me in 1969/70. It definitely inspired me more than Charge or Little Wars, (but I loved the photos in charge!), mainly because it spoke to me and my large airfix collection.
ReplyDeleteGreat first book! I think it spoke to many of us due to the Airfix content. It was accessible, easy to replicate and promoted affordable gaming.
DeleteAlan Tradgardland
Gosh! You've still got the cover. Well done.
ReplyDeleteRonnie
I have indeed, albeit it a tad tattered around the edges, just like me. Alan Tradgardland
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