For this month’s Vietnam War theme we intentionally sidestep a history lesson on the conflict and instead focus on several different hobby projects and wargaming ideas. From the skies above, to below ground, our five theme articles take in transport vehicles, Saigon ’68, Tunnel Rats, collecting ’Nam models, and the disaster that was the Battle of Ap Bac 1963.
Elsewhere in Wi440, we give two new rulesets a run-through: World War Two skirmish game V for Victory and Never Mind the Billhooks supplement Fantasía. We also see what our master modelmaker, Matt Parkes, came up with when we handed him three Epic Battles Hail Caesar figure frames and a dead elephant. I share my Italian travelogue, telling the tale of my trip to Gradara with the Perry twins, and there are all of our regular reviews and previews too.
Happy reading and rolling.
Dan Faulconbridge
Editor
OBSERVATION POST
This month’s reviews include WWI Warships, sci-fi Deathships, female fantasy cultists, and 15mm MDF.
RELEASE RADAR
Dom Sore presents the new goings on in the world of wargaming in his monthly column.
QUICK FIRE
Short, quick-read posts from Wi readers about their hobby projects, notes, news, and observations.
THEME:
TUNNEL RATS
Lisa Smedman goes underground and braves the harrowing conditions of VC tunnels for our Vietnam War theme.
BUILDING AN EPIC DIORAMA
Matt Parkes shares valuable insight on the building his huge Ancients diorama, made with a few of Warlord Games’ Hail Caesar Epic Battles frames.
THEME:
SAIGON ’68
For our Vietnam theme, James examines Loughton Strike Force’s magnificent Tet Offensive board and interviews its creator, Martin Stanbridge.
V FOR VICTORY
Dom Sore’s managed to get Studio Tomahawk’s new WWII game onto the tabletop for a few sessions. He gives his expert opinion.
THEME:
THE WARGAME THAT GOES WRONG
Pete Brown considers the Battle of Ap Bac, and how to play wargames full of mishaps.
BUILDING MIDDLE-EARTH: BAG END
In his second article about his Tolkien-inspired constructions, Mark Clayton shifts his attention to an iconic hobbit hole!
THEME:
THE VEHICLES OF VIETNAM – PART ONE
James takes this issue’s Vietnam War theme as an opportunity to bring transports and support vehicles into the action, focusing on ground and air assault.
MASSACRE AT DWARVEN TOWER PASS
Following the recent release of Fantasía – the fantasy supplement for Never Mind the Billhooks – we invited the author, Andy Callan, to take us through a game.
THEME:
ANOTHER TOUR OF DUTY
Ron Ringrose rebuilds his Vietnam War collection and we show off his fine figures in action!
PAPYRUS AND PULP
Glenn Clarke tries out Osprey’s Pulp! gaming system and shows off his Egyptian explorers’ bold adventure.
THE GRADARA PROJECT
A wargame inspired by the novel Warrior of Rome – Fire in the East.
