Well, it finally got us! After holding out for over two years WiHQ was finally awash with the Coronavirus in March, with five out of six office staff scumming to various levels of infection. Production of this venerable organ, and all associated online content, was seriously hampered by that pesky spiky virus as we coughed, sniffled, and ached our way into seclusion at various bolt holes away from polite society. But, with the spirit of the Blitz, ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’, and all that we managed to put together another belter of a magazine for you. It’s not exactly the one we had planned admittedly; the finale of our Silver Bayonet Society campaign fell victim to the virus, and our Combined Operations theme has been somewhat curtailed by our inability to gather and game, but never fear because into the breach come several articles that are more than a match for those that didn’t make it in (but will appear next month), and our theme still has enough legs to entertain you with wargaming content, beginning on page 30 with an examination of what Combined Operations is, and how we can then bring it to bear in our games.
So, coughing, spluttering, and cursing aside, we’re sure we’ve pulled together another treat of illustrated wargames for you again this month, with plenty of painting (see the Wi Hammerhead Painting Comp, page 36) and modelling (see Transforming Ready Made Dungeons, page 54) on the side.
Happy reading and rolling.
Dan Faulconbridge
Owner and Editor
Content
QUICK FIRE!
A few short, shots from your fellow hobbyists.
OBSERVATION POST
Our look at new and upcoming releases in the wargames world.
RELEASE RADAR
Dom Sore mans the radar and searches for some less obvious hobby releases.
FULL PAPER JACKET
Neil Smith takes a look at wargaming relevant books you need to know about.
THEME:
SOLDIERS AND SAILORS OF BRONZE
After considering the different angles of our Combined Operations theme, Colonel (Retired) Bill Gray looks at combined operations in Western antiquity. The first article in this two-parter takes in the Sea Peoples and their adversaries, the Egyptians.
HAMMERHEAD PAINTING COMPETITION
For the fourth year in succession Wargames Illustrated ran the Hammerhead 2022 painting competition, supported by Kalistra. Here you will find photos of the winners for your delectation and dissection.
THEME:
A WILD GAMBLE: OPERATION LÉA
Karim Van Overmeire looks at Operation Léa in the First Indochina War. In examining the French attempt to bring armour, paradrops, and riverine operations together, we can learn about some of the challenges of combined operations in a war without fronts.
TRANSFORMING READY-MADE DUNGEONS INTO TABLETOP RUINS
Wargames Illustrated’s in-house terrain tinkerer Marc trains his tools on a plastic dungeon set from Dungeons and Lasers.
THEME:
COMBINED ARMS
River Horse designers Alessio Cavatore and Jack Caesar talk to Wargames Illustrated about their new WWII campaign game, Combined Arms, created for Warlord Games.
THEME:
BEOWULF AND MOONSUND
Jim Graham explores two World War Two combined operations to seize a group of Estonian islands: Operation Beowulf and the Moonsund Landing Operation.
PAINTING CARNEVALE LESSER UGDRU
Ben Porter talks reference material, mood boards, and brushwork, then applies paint to some Lovecraft looking sub-aquatic beasties from the fantasy skirmish game Carnevale.
THEME:
THE BATTLE OF BLACKPOOL SANDS, 1404
A story of (and scenario for) medieval-era combined operations going badly wrong, by Andy Callan.
TRAVEL SIZED 28s: WIGLAF MINIATURES
Daniel Mersey has shifted from game design to miniature design with his new Wiglaf range. We ask him all about it.
WHY I LOVE…
ALTAR OF FREEDOM
Grayson Brill finds beauty in simplicity while playing this 2013 ACW ruleset by Greg Wagman of Little Wars TV fame.
CREATING A SNOWY DIORAMA:
THE RETREAT FROM MOSCOW
Inspired by last issue’s ‘facing the elements’ theme, some new North Star figures, and Napoleon’s costly defeat, Painter Marc builds a snowy diorama for the Retreat from Moscow.
