I'm currently painting up some Foundry 7th Cavalry and Plains Indians figures and went in search of pictures of painted figures to use as a model. The Coupstick and Lance Yahoo group was one source suggested to me. The group focuses on Plains Indian warfare and culture from 1790 to 1890. The group also hosts Tim Greene's "Coupstick and Lance" rule set for Plains Indians wars.
Here's are some instructions on building a trench system for miniature wargames set in World War I. I also think that they would be useful for the Warzone science fiction game, which has a definite WWI flavor. This period has experienced somewhat of a renaissance lately, with several companies, including Renegade and Brigade games releasing 25mm - 28mm wargames figures.
Christopher TenWolde has created 10mm World, a photo catalog of 10mm figures. 10mm seems to be a rising standard in the wargaming miniatures world. Old Glory has released a line of 10mm figures, and Games Workshop's Warmaster also is in the scale.
Mandarin's Corner is "Milton's Blog on his hobbies: Miniature gaming, painting, boardgaming in all its various guises (consim, German games), card gaming (MtG), reading (history and Sci-fi), Music (most genre under the sun), and then some..."
Andy Watkins has this page with an amazing list of his ratings on hundreds of historical reference books. It's worth checking before you take the plunge on a particular volume.
Games Workshop's Warmaster has shown itself to be a remarkably versatile set of rules. There is a Yahoo Group that is dedicated to porting the basic rules over to a wide variety of historical periods. Even better, the group's files section has modifications for periods such as: The American Civil War, Dark Ages, Franco Prussian, Napoleonics, Renaissance and World War II.
If you play AK-47 Republic, or have just gotten into miniature wargaming with some of the new 25mm - 28mm modern Africa figures, this site is for you. Africa At War has a large number of pictures of modern conflict in Africa, including French, Portugese and Rhodesian troops, as well as vehicles and ordinance.
You've seen him on the History Channel's "Mail Call", in "Full Metal Jacket", and "The Boys In Company C". Now you can visit R. Lee Ermey's Official Website. Don't miss the animated introduction. Its a hoot.
Miniature Wargaming is part of the "adventure games" hobby, which includes r ole p laying and board games. Wargamers recreate battles on the tabletop with toy soldiers, like a more complicated game of chess. Models range in height from 6mm to 28mm tall, with 15mm and 25mm being the most popular. There also is a growing interest in toy soldiers and military models, such as the 1/32 and 1/35 scale plastic soldiers from Conte, and Marx.
The most popular miniature wargames are fantasy and science fiction based, such as Warhammer, Warhammer 40K, Warmachine and The Lord of the Rings. World War II games such as Flames of War and Axis and Allies are new favorites. Other favorite historical periods include Napoleonics, the American Civil War, and ancients, such as Romans or Greeks. Other gamers enjoy miniature naval wargames, recreating battles like Trafalgar, Jutland and the Coral Sea.
Hobbyists research historical periods and paint their tiny soldiers in accurate uniforms. Others develop "historically realistic" rules sets or build scale battlefield terrain using model railroad techniques.
For pictures, visit the gallery.
Some of the bigger hobby companies are Games Workshop, which produces Warhammer, Wargames Foundry and Old Glory Miniatures. Wizards of the Coast produces several lines of pre-painted miniatures games, such as the Star Wars and Dungeons and Dragons miniatures games, and a historical game with pre-painted miniatures: The new Axis and Allies game. Wizkids produces a fantasy collectable miniatures game, such as the Mage Knight and Heroclick fantasy games, the science fiction games MechWarrior and Rocketmen, as well as the quasi-historical Pirates of the Spanish Main.
