‘Military Modelling 1981 Manual’ Reviewed

6 Responses to ‘Military Modelling 1981 Manual’ Reviewed

1. Martin Smith says:

   July 12, 2022 at 3:08 am

   Great review . Makes me want to go out and search for a copy. .
   Thanks Jonathan and John.

   Reply
2. jimr says:

   July 12, 2022 at 6:46 am

   Jonathan’s review is interesting. The first idea that popped into my head is that maybe I have not been using the standard definition of modeling. Most people probably assume that our hobby uses military models to play wargames. In contrast, I have always assumed that modeling means a small reproduction and wargaming is modeling battles. Military model figures are just game markers. We could model battles with counters or markers and lately that is what I have been doing: x means infantry, slash means cavalry, dot means artillery, etc. Collecting model figures can be a part of the wargaming hobby but some collectors are not using them in wargames. And professional military wargamers are not using miniature figures.

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3. jimr says:

   July 12, 2022 at 7:19 am

   This article advocates for greater use of wargaming in strategic graduate programs.
   https://www.militarystrategymagazine.com/article/towards-better-civilian-strategic-education-a-case-for-tabletop-wargames/

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   • Martin Smith says:

     July 14, 2022 at 2:45 am

     Interesting article, Jim. Thanks for providing a link .

     Reply
4. JohnY says:

   July 16, 2022 at 7:16 am

   From Rob Morgan:

   Jonathan’s note on this journal from forty years ago, rang a bell. I didn’t buy
   many of them, or many of the parent magazine’s issues either. Compared to
   ‘Battle for Wargamers’ which closed in late 1978, it was thin commons for
   gamers. Yes, there were occasional wargames related articles, one or two an
   issue, and you could still enjoy the publication even if you weren’t a uniform
   painter or a model maker in 1/35 th scale, but ‘Battle’ was better.

   There are one or two good articles in this special, the note on ‘Cantinieres’
   reminded me that I created a couple using the Airfix Wagon Train walking
   female settler, a figure of otherwise limited value in gaming.

   The best article however, is on ‘Penal Regiments of the Napoleonic Armies’
   which led me to jot a few game notes on the subject long ago. I felt, and still do,
   that it has a good deal to offer the solo wargamer. A lot of potential in the term
   ‘penal’, rebellion, mutiny, desertion, the specific use of a group of desperados in
   action, a range of difficulties for commanders.

   I recall there was an article on the ‘Royal African Regiment’, that was a British
   Napoleonic period penal unit in another journal (Army & Navy Model World?),
   but can’t find it at the moment. Penal units and their attendant problems have
   existed through much of recorded military history of course, and we could make
   some interesting use of them on the tabletop.

   Reply
5. jimr says:

   July 25, 2022 at 7:17 am

   Here is an example of wargaming without using miniature figures.
   https://smallwarsjournal.com/jrnl/art/battle-rowletts-station-redux

   Reply