Wargames Illustrated #390 (April 2020)

OBSERVATION POST

A look at what’s new in the hobby, with a focus on neu releases at Tactica 2020.

THEME: PLAYING THE LONG GAME

Pete Brown offers some thoughts and ideas for using covert operatives during the course of your campaign.

WWI PORTUGUESE

Mark Hargreaves takes on another challenge, creating Portuguese troops ready for service in Africa during the First World War.

THEME: THE ASSASSINS

Stephen Tibble, author of Crusader Armies from Yale Press, draws us into the world of the Crusades, and introduces the sect which came to be known as the Assassins.

PAINTING BLACK HAWK DOWN

The latest figure set from Giants in Miniature pays tribute to this pair of

Delta Force snipers made famous by the movie Black Hawk Down. ‘Demon Brush’ Ben Macintyre provides a step by step guide on how to get them colour ready for the tabletop.

THEME: ORDINARY PEOPLE, EXTRAORDINARY SPIES

Having been enthused by reading a collection of World War Two spy books, Dom Sore recounts some of the exploits of various spy agencies and commando forces featured in their pages and goes on to suggest how they could be re-created on the tabletop.

DESIGNER’S NOTES: IN DEO VERITAS

Philip Garton, author of the first in a series of wargames rules from Helion Publishing, presents an insight into his fast play rules for exciting seventeenth century battles.

FIGURE SPOTLIGHT: PUTTING THE MUSKETS AND TOMAHAWKS INTO MUSKETs AND TOMAHAWKS

A brief guide to what’s out there for the 28mm gamer after some French and Indian War large scale skirmish action.

COMPANY PROFILE: EMPRESS MINIATURES

We took a trip down to Oxfordshire and the home of Empress Miniatures to talk about the current ranges and future plans for this flourishing company.

THEME: LISTEN VERY CAREFULLY

Pete Brown takes us on a journey to a different sort of ‘spy’ experience, with derring-do, subterfuge and ‘big boobies’.

THEME: “MEET ME ON THE EDGE OF THE SOUK”

Howard Whitehouse offers aid and assistance to those looking to add some spycraft to their games.

RECREATING AN AIRFIX CLASSIC: THE PONTOON BRIDGE

In WI387 Swedish wargamer Jan Karman revealed his project to recreate the Airfix classic Gun Emplacement. Not satisfied with bringing one piece of modelling history back to life Jan returns to show us how he went on to create a 28mm model of another Airfix classic – The Pontoon Bridge.

THEME: STRANGLERS IN THE NIGHT

The war against the Thugs in India 1820 – 1840. Nick Buxey takes a look.

TACTICA 2020

Editor Dan battles Storm Dennis to bring you the best from Hamburger Tactica.

INFANTRY IN MAXIMILLIAN 1934

Wayne Bollands has some thoughts on increasing the range of options for those who enjoy this ruleset and background to an alternate 1930s.