Little Wars

Father Ted · January 06, 2013, 08:59:34 PM

Anyone know what I mean by this? One of my earliest wargaming memories was of the book "Little Wars" by H G Wells (yes, that one). This detailed the game he invented which utilized "toy soldiers" and a model cannon, which could fire projectiles. When I was a kid this self-same model was still for sale and my brother and I bought a couple, together with some packs of 1/32nd scale Airfix Napoleonics, and started wargaming.

TheCommandTent · January 06, 2013, 09:18:49 PM

I read a copy of the book when I first got into tabletop wargaming. It was an interesting look back at the "beginnings" of the hobby.

Staggerwing · January 06, 2013, 09:55:52 PM

The book has been mention a few times now. For those who wish to read it:

Little Wars at Project Gutenberg

Also, here is the link to another HG Wells book in a similar vein:

Floor Games at Project Gutenberg

Also, here is the Kindle Version

LongBlade · January 06, 2013, 10:42:34 PM

I met a guy at a convention a couple of years ago who reprinted both books. I'll need to see if I can find them in my library or whether they're still unpacked in a box somewhere.

besilarius · January 07, 2013, 07:11:59 AM

There used to be a lot of spring loaded cannon miniatures, in roughly 54mm scale. William Britains and Matchbox, I think.
My brothers and I played with those, knocking down toy soldiers. Was I surprised to read that a grown up guy wrote a book about it.
It's too bad that the spring cannon are not available anymore. I'm sure that a lot of kids "shot their eyes out" with them, but they were a lot of fun. Had a big 155 mm cannon from Britains, but it had such loose rifling that you couldn't hit anything. My brother whittled some wooden bullets for it, and damn but it became really good. Could shoot accurately up to about five feet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5D8Ff2bPtY

Barthheart · January 07, 2013, 11:23:50 AM

I had a set of Roman era army men that came with catapults that fired small balls of plastic. Great fun. Got them off the back of a comic book for $2.

bayonetbrant · January 07, 2013, 11:24:27 AM

Quote from: Barthheart on January 07, 2013, 11:23:50 AMGot them off the back of a comic book for $2.

as long as it wasn't an Aquaman comic book.

Barthheart · January 07, 2013, 12:34:11 PM

Quote from: bayonetbrant on January 07, 2013, 11:24:27 AM
Quote from: Barthheart on January 07, 2013, 11:23:50 AMGot them off the back of a comic book for $2.

as long as it wasn't an Aquaman comic book.

Not a Chance! Sgt. Rock! 8)

TheCommandTent · January 07, 2013, 07:14:49 PM

I remember some of the Legos I had as a kid had cannons with a spring in them to shoot Lego pieces. Those were always alot of fun.