2009-2010 New Release List

[chrisswim]

Hope all is well.

[Schwerepunkt]

I extend my apologies to DrBig for excessive anger and very poor self control in my response to his comments about my political views as applied to my affection for Wehrmacht 47.
My demands were unreasonable and of course, he did not lie not did he defame me per se. However, his implication calls for some clarification. I do not requite it.
I shall not ever return to this site for any contribution. I have been ridiculed for collecting as opposed to wargaming (there is no one here to game with) and I am sick and tired of the criticism, Dr. Big just really touched a nerve and I overreacted.
Goodbye, all.
Schwerepunkt

[Ritter]

How do you stop a Taliban tank?

Shoot the guy pushing it!

[Ritter]

First you have to understand Marines (including Navy medical corpsmen) love each other like brothers. They would literally sacrifice their own lives to save the life of another Marine. Yet they rib each other constantly. To an outsider, the ribbing might sometimes seem cruel. To Marines it is just a way to laugh, vent, and pass the time.

Now let's set the stage for one example (not really cruel, but laugh-out-loud funny if you had actually been there): It's about 1:30 or 2:00 a.m. in the combat operations center of Battle Position Tarawa near the Iraqi-Syrian border. I'm sitting in the COC because it's just too hot to sleep, plus I'm somewhat keyed up from a previous foot patrol and one I'll be pulling in a few hours.

There are several Marines in the COC: Everybody is tired. A couple Marines are monitoring radios. One is updating a board with a magic marker. One is leafing through an old copy of Sports Illustrated. Another — a staff sergeant who is in charge of the COC at that hour — is monitoring a blue-force satellite tracking screen of friendly forces moving through the region. He's also sipping a bottle of Gatorade.

All of sudden, the door to the COC squeaks open; and a few dusty, sweaty Marines fresh from a foot patrol enter the room. One of them — an obviously exhausted Navy corpsman, who everyone simply calls, "Doc" — sits down hard on the bench next to me, and leans his rifle on the wall (bulkhead) between us.

The conversation goes like this:

DOC (looking at the staff sergeant and his Gatorade): Hey, Staff Sergeant, can I have a sip of that?

STAFF SERGEANT (without showing any emotion and continuing to monitor the blue-force tracking screen): Doc, if you and I were the last two people left alive on this earth, and you suddenly — for whatever reason — burst into flame ... and the only thing I had that was wet to put you out with was this Gatorade: I'd drink half of it, and pour the rest out on the deck.

Everyone in the COC starts laughing, except Doc and the staff sergeant.

Then things get quiet again.

DOC: So does that mean I can have a sip?

[Harlan]

I guess I make three!

Harlan

[Harlan]

I collect and wargame

Harlan

[DrBig]

I have no idea what is going on...I just returned.

[Xveers]

I collect, mainly cause there aren't overmany people who play microarmor. But I do game when I can... and I will get some 47 wehrmacht.. when I have the money.

[av8rmongo]

Is there somewhere that we can order the outtakes from the forum? All the editing and snipping has piqued my curiosity. Sort of like watching a train wreck or an episode of Jerry Springer, I know I shouldn't want to but sometimes I just have to watch.

Paul

(For those who can't tell by my tone or facial expression my tongue was planted firmly in cheek.)

[cbovill]

I go on vacation for a week, come back and the forum is on fire! Who left the iron plugged in?

[CBoy3]

On the gaming/collecting debate, I think that both are great. If more of us are out there buying things, then more things are going to be made, right? Who cares if people are buying to collect, or to game? Sometimes the amount of time, if any at all, that people game is directly proportionate to the number of people that they have who live within a reasonable distance to game with. Maybe some people like to collect, and have no interest in gaming. Maybe some people collect because they don't have anyone to game with, and don't have anyone to show them how to get started. Let's face it, some of the rule sets are tough to get through on your own, even if you do have some gaming experience. The bottom line, let's try to concentrate on common interests- all of us have an interest in military history, and in buying and painting models that let us better experience that interest.

With that being said, I have found that the people who have more of an interest in the collecting side of the hobby often times have the better looking models. The painting and the modeling aspects of the hobby are the most important things to them. Often times those who are more interested in gaming are sometimes more interested in getting something out on the table ASAP. I have even seen some **gasp** unpainted things on a gaming table before. Let's just try to remember that all of us who view this are probably much more on the same page, than on different pages.

[Schwerepunkt]

..I have to admit that my models look shabby compared to the beautiful work on the Show Us Your Stuff thread. There is unbelievable work and I have yet to go through all of the pages.
I agree that getting through the GHQ rules on my own is extremely difficult. There used to be wargamers (or conflict simulators, if you like) in the area but they have families and other things to take up their time. It would be really good if a GHQ solitaire wargame could be developed, but that is asking a bit much, I think.
Collecting is enjoyable and overall, I probably have two Panzer Divisions, one Werhmacht '47 and the other about 1944 (late). I like to think that the hobby keeps going thanks to gamers and collectors alike.

[ACWBill]

I received six packs of the new ACW 10mm Charging Cav on Thursday of last week. This weekend I painted and based one pack of each. I will be bringing these along to Historicon as I could not resist including them in my Cedar Creek Fire & Fury Scenario. The horses are excellent and I feel make the figures pop. When finished painting I mounted the riders leaning slightly forward in the saddle. This adds to the feeling of movement a great deal and I recommend this to anyone seeking that charging look.

The riders have either pistols or carbines. None have sabres as I would have preferred for the Billy Yanks. However, that was easily altered by adding a sabre arm from an officer figure to one of the pistol toting lads. There are three variants of horses and all are very well done. One is nearly an inch long and is in full stride. I like this one alot. If you're going to Historicon, pop by my game on Saturday (S-110) at 10:00AM if you wish to see them. I had to pack them today so I had no opportunity to take pics. There were enough figures to make a six stand brigade of each. I will be using my other four packs on my return and will make an entire Union Brigade charing with Sabres. I also plan to order several more packs of CS charging cav to make in Western Federal Cav. I will file down the stetsons into bollo style slouch hats to give them an authentic "bummer" look. My overall impression was excellent. I love the horses and the riders are nice. They are also easily altered to suit my tastes. Well done GHQ. I like them and will order more soon.

Fig descriptions

Rider with pistol raised and slung carbine
Rider with Carbine held aloft
Officer with Pistol raised
Bugler with slung carbine
Colour Bearer with slung carbine

The only diiference between US and CS were the caps. Slouch (Stetson style) for CS and forage cap for the US. Both sides wear some form of shell jackets and have riding boots. There are three horse variants and all are superbly cast.

PS - Jim, if you gents wish to borrow my painted figs on Thursday and Friday for display you're welcomed to do so.

Thanks, B

[suisse6]

I have to come to Schwerepunkt's defense. I too only purchase to collect. I have no interest in wargaming, I can do so on many strategy PC games in 1/5th the time it takes to play a game of microarmor, only down side is not getting (having) to role the dice. I collect because I have always collected, however once I hit upon the the detail of GHQ's microarmor I realized I could make fairly large dioramas incorporating entire company or battalion sized formations in the same space my 1/35th scale took to do a couple of tanks. That is cool to me. I also collect 1/2400 scale Micronauts for the same reason, and there is something about looking at a British light cruiser next to a German destroyer and their comparable size that you just don't get from reading a book. In addition, while I have no interest in Civil War (or I should say less than in WW2) miniatures, I understand that many do. Good for them, I DO enjoy seeing them painted up as it requires a level of detail I have not yet perfected. That said, it appalls me to see some of the vitriol which has been poured forth by those that do not share the love for collecting that some do. As if one camp is better than the other, for goodness sakes, we are all adults that play with toys, how serious can we possibly be???? I especially take umbrage at the statement made by DrBig. Your comments about how much money you have or would have spent sound too much like an adolescent who hasn't gotten his way, I mean so what??? I too am blessed to be financially secure but there are many folks on here who aren't, and at a time when many are struggling financially it seems a bit tastless if not vulgar. Even if you did spend what you claim you would, which I doubt, GHQ is better off selling to someone who will spend $250 at a time when there are hundreds of them than tailoring their catalog to one big spender, hence all the "wish lists". If one vehicle is keeping you from doing something you enjoy, I feel sorry for you. I have had to make do with a number of "interim" models to complete units, that's life. Anyway, all the best everyone, keep on doing what makes you happy.

[SJDonovan]

Thanks for the review of the new ACW cavalry. They sound great. I'll give the Wargames Emporium here in the UK a call to see if they have them in stock yet.

It's a little disappointing about the lack of sabres for the the Yanks though. Custer and Sheridan's boys were all about the sabre charge.