A week or so ago, Kev Robertson – who is one of my regular blog readers – mentioned in a comment that back in the 1980s he had once written a book entitled COLONIAL SCRATCH MODELLING FOR WARGAMERS. I replied that I wish that I had known about it and bought a copy, but we both agreed that I was unlikely to find a copy nowadays. John Armatys – another of my regular blog readers – took up the challenge of finding me a copy, and as a result of his endeavours, I was able to buy a second-hand copy via Abe Books. It arrived yesterday morning … and it was well worth the £10.00 plus postage that I paid for it!
I found the 'how to ...' instructions for each of the models easy to understand, especially as Kev had split them into the following sections:
The models covered in the book are:
Well done, Kev! To my mind this is a mini-masterpiece!
I found the 'how to ...' instructions for each of the models easy to understand, especially as Kev had split them into the following sections:
- Design Problem
- Material Available
- Cutting (and Scoring, if required)
- Joining
- Painting
- Design Restrictions
The models covered in the book are:
- Colonial British Tents
- Rowing Boats
- Pioneer Bridge
- Timber Pontoon Bridge
- Defence Works
- General Service Wagon
- Ox and Draught Wagons
- British Artillery Limber
- Naval Maxim Gun
- Naval Pinnace
- Naval Gunboat
- Rorke’s Drift (in particular, the Store House and Mission House, as well as the Stone Kraal, the Mealie Bag Wall, and the Mealie Bag Redoubt)
- Colonial Dwellings and Public Buildings
- ESCI Conversions – Conversion of 1/72nd Soft Plastic Figures
Well done, Kev! To my mind this is a mini-masterpiece!
Looks interesting Bob - I'll have to look out for a copy.
ReplyDeleteMaudlin Jack Tar,
DeleteGood luck with your search! I was very lucky to find a copy.
All the best,
Bob
I'm delighted that you are pleased with the book! You'd be surprised how often I track down books for people who then decide they don't want them....
ReplyDeleteI think that the print run was only 100 copies - I wonder if it would be worth Kev Robertson doing a second edition through Lulu or just making a scan available as a pdf.
John Armatys,
DeleteThanks again for finding this copy for me!
I agree that it would nice if Kev Robertson was able to make this available again.
All the best,
Bob
Excellent find and reminds me of the stuff I'm reading in old Airifx magazines.
ReplyDeleteSteve J.,
DeleteIt is very similar in style to the sort of ‘how to ...’ articles that used to be published in Airfix Magazine.
All the best,
Bob
Now that's one I hadn't heard of. Nice find!
ReplyDeleteIf Kev wanted to make a few bob he could scan his copy and upload it to Wargame Vault.
Donjondo,
DeleteI’d never heard of it until Kev Robertson mentioned in passing.
I’m sure that it would sell if he republished it, especially if it was in PDF format.
All the best,
Bob
I would certainly buy a pdf.
ReplyDeleteSimon
Simon,
DeleteI don’t think that you’d be disappointed if you did!
All the best,
Bob
Hi Bob,
ReplyDeleteI'm so pleased you have obtained a copy of my old 1986 Book- I thought obtaining one to be near impossible- well done John Armatys. My collections of models that were used for the Book are long gone- sold to a Friend I haven't seen for thirty years- however, I still have all the B&W Photos that were taken as well as much the same in Full Color. I've often thought about doing another similar book though at today's publishing prices I just simply cannot afford it. At present I'm struggling to put together an 18mm Imaginations set of Armies. Also, the original Book focused on ESCI Plastic 1/72nd Figures - which I don't think are available now. I'm well pleased that you have a copy Bob- it has all made talking to you over the years very worthwhile that you can now see what I'd achieved so long ago now. Best Wishes. KEV.
Kev Robertson,
DeleteIt is an excellent book, and I wish that I had bought a copy when it was originally published.
Modern print-on-demand publishing means that the financial outlay you would have to make Is minimal if you were to republish this book. It’s certainly something worth considering.
There are a lot of plastic figures on sale these days, and your conversion methods should work with them as well as they did with the old ESCI figures ... which I think are still available on the second-hand market.
All the best,
Bob
I agree with Bob. You'd be surprised how easy it is to do (I use Amazon's KDP, and it's a doddle) and it costs you nothing other than your time.
DeleteTrebian,
DeleteYou are spot on! Self-publication has become even easier in the time since I started in 2014.
All the best,
Bob
Hi Bob,
DeleteYes, I must admit never thinking of re-publishing this book. Now that you've planted the idea I may do something about it - or perhaps aim at writing and illustrating a whole new book- though not promising anything as last time I inquired I was certainly astonished at the cost. Best Wishes. KEV.
Kev Robertson (Kev),
DeleteA new edition would be very welcome, and now that print-on-demand means that the set up costs are minimal, self-publishing has become a lot cheaper. For example, when I published THE PORTABLE COLONIAL WARGAME, all I had to pay for was the cost of a single printed copy of each version of the book that I had to approve before it could go on sale to the public.
All the best,
Bob
Given my own burgeoning collection of plastic 19th Century armies (Imagi-Nations), the kind of manual for scratchbuilding accessories would be just the thing!
DeleteArchduke Piccolo,
DeleteI only wish that I had bought a copy back in the 1980s!
All the best,
Bob
Good pick-up Bob. Kev put a lot of work into the book and it deserves a wider audience. I have many happy memories fighting Zulu war games with his collection.
ReplyDeleteDelta Coy,
DeleteIt was only £10.00 (plus postage), and I would have been willing to pay twice that. Hopefully you’ll be able to persuade Kev to think about republishing his book in electronic format.
All the best,
Bob
Come on Kev, another customer here.
ReplyDeleteJim
Jim Duncan (Jim),
DeleteI only hope that we can persuade Kev to re-publish it in some form or another.
All the best,
Bob
I'd be interested - my kind of reading material.
ReplyDeleteRob Young,
DeleteIf only we can persuade Kev to re-publish it ...
All the best,
Bob
I have a copy, never associated with Kev. Got it years ago and it is a good read. Small world eh?
ReplyDeleteTradgardmastare,
DeleteAn amazing coincidence! I can see why you bought a copy; it is inspirational!
All the best,
Bob
Sounds like a wonderfully useful book. I wonder if I could find it here in the States.
ReplyDeleteReese Crawford,
DeleteYou might find a copy on sale at one of the online second-hand bookshops.
Good luck with your search to find a copy.
All the best,
Bob
Hello, I've not posted here before, so I hope you forgive a stranger jumping into this conversation. I too bought a copy of this wonderful little book from Athena Books in 1986 and it has been a joy and delight ever since. It would be so nice to see the original photos both colour and black & white if someone could be persuaded to host them on a blog. If Mr Robertson did not want to publish the book himself, perhaps the History Of Wargaming Project might be interested in the original and possibly a revised and updated version? I would certainly buy an updated version. Shortly after purchasing my copy I went to a military conference which was also attended by Don Featherstone. After a couple of days I screwed up my courage and went to speak to him. What a delightful man, but that's another story. I had the book with me and during our conversation I showed it to him and he looked at it most carefully and said he thought it one of the most useful wargames books he'd seen. So with such a ringing endorsement, Mr Robertson should feel encouraged to make it available again!
ReplyDeleteUnknown,
DeleteNo problem with jumping in on this topic!
I found Kev’s book inspirational, and like you, I’d buy an updated version. I know John Curry - who runs the ‘History of Wargaming’ project - and I might be able to persuade him to republish it with Kev’s permission, especially if Donald Featherstone endorsed it.
All the best,
Bob
Sorry the "unknown" comment was from me John Crawford. Sorry can 't seem to work out how to add a name to a comment.
ReplyDeleteJohn Crawford,
DeleteThanks for identifying yourself, and please feel free to comment on other blog posts whenever you want to.
I’ve had problems adding my name to comments on some blogs, even when I am replying using the name my Google account is in.
All the best,
Bob
Hi Bob - A bit late in the day, but I think I agree with Mr Featherstone's assessment: by the look a very useful little volume. Is there any chance it might become more generally available as a published manual? Or something?
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Ion
Archduke Piccolo (Ion),
DeleteSeveral of us are hoping that we can persuade Kev Robertson to republish his book.
We can but hope ...
All the best,
Bob