I came across this interesting set of Old School rules on James Opie's Facebook page (4) James Opie Wargaming | Facebook it was issued by Britains on the back of some of their larger boxed sets in 1962 . It has a lot of similarities with H.G. Well's 'Little Wars' with the additional suggestions for tanks etc . I must admit I had no idea that Britains had tried to promote using their figures for wargaming - if you click on the photo it will enlarge .
I do like the home made guns constructed from cotton reels and elastic bands.
ReplyDeleteYes very clever !
DeleteOne of my friends got a box of plastic Britain's w the modern version of the 4.7", with an abbreviated rules on the back and we played one game, covertly as we were just into our teens. iir he was one of the people that I roped into trying Featherstone a few years later.
ReplyDeleteYes I started with Featherstone , it's interesting that Britains dabbled in wargaming .
DeleteOdd that Airfix never did (although they had Donald Featherstone's books to do it for them).
DeleteI recall buying one random Atlantic Playset which had paper playmats and odd rules, both longlost and not very playable as I recall.
Yes Don probably sold more Airfix figures in the late 60's than anybody else
DeleteAn interesting piece of information on Toy Soldier Battles from Britains - a good collectable find Tony. A chap I knew many years ago had everything Britains ever made in metal from dot- his Display House was jammed packed with everything from Britains Garden to the Trooping of The Colors at Buckingham Palace - just amazing! Robin's collection covered Hollow Cast to perfection. Regards. KEV.
ReplyDeleteIt's an unusual idea, wonder if it had much influence on Britains customers?
DeleteInteresting find. OTOH, there were quite some 'toy soldier' games around before Featherstone's WARGAMES in 1962. See Jogn Curry's books on the subject of early wargames and wargaming pioneers.
ReplyDeleteYes I have a copy, lots about but most didn't seem to catch on
DeleteGreat stuff Tony, imagine shooting pencils around the house. Me missus would gan crackers.
ReplyDeleteRegards,
Paul.
'you'll ave somebody's eye out with that!'
DeleteGreat find Tony, very interesting! That is what toy soldiers are for after all, to have battles and be a general! What could be better?
ReplyDeleteYes it's a natural progression
DeleteBritains did issue their very own rules, "The Great War Game", a 16 page booklet covering the battlefield,the army, moving of troops, time, ammunition and methods of firing, killed and wounded, recruits, prisoners, tactics and war correspondents. Extensively illustrated with photos of their own products, some obviously adapted for the photos (no bases). Numbers were excessive, for example an infantry regiment consisted of 3 or 4 companies of from 10 to 20 men each. My copy is undated and believed to be a more recent facsimile.
ReplyDeleteOh! not heard of that before will have to try and look it up.
DeleteStrange they did not utilise their own artillery in some capacity. To be fair, many of my die-cast guns can fire matchsticks eight yards, but not bringing dice into their starter-game is equally strange.
ReplyDeleteMichael
Yes very odd , thought they would have mentioned their 4.7 Naval Gun !?
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