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58-411: Little Wars is a set of rules for playing with toy soldiers , written by English novelist H. G. Wells in 1913. The book, which had a full title of Little Wars: a game for boys from twelve years of age to one hundred and fifty and for that more intelligent sort of girl who likes boys' games and books , provided simple rules for miniature wargaming . Although first printed in 1913, an updated version

116-688: A wind tunnel or in free flight. Models of scale large enough to permit piloting may be used for testing of a proposed design. Architecture firms usually employ model makers or contract model making firms to make models of projects to sell their designs to builders and investors. These models are traditionally hand-made, but advances in technology have turned the industry into a very high tech process than can involve Class IV laser cutters , five-axis CNC machines as well as rapid prototyping or 3D printing . Typical scales are 1:12, 1:24, 1:48, 1:50, 1:100, 1:200, 1:500, etc. With elements similar to miniature wargaming , building models and architectural models ,

174-633: A century, in particular in towing tanks. Manned models are small scale models that can carry and be handled by at least one person on an open expanse of water. They must behave just like real ships, giving the shiphandler the same sensations. Physical conditions such as wind, currents, waves, water depths, channels, and berths must be reproduced realistically. Manned models are used for research (e.g. ship behaviour), engineering (e.g. port layout) and for training in shiphandling (e.g. maritime pilots , masters and officers ). They are usually at 1:25 scale. Models, and their constituent parts, can be built out of

232-691: A collection of over 6,000 figures; these are on display at the Anne S. K. Brown Military Collection at Brown University Library in Providence. Some of the more noteworthy, annual toy soldier and historical figure shows include the Plastic Warrior Show, which is the oldest established show in the UK. Beginning in 1985 and still being held annually in Richmond, South London. Another well known show

290-604: A color scheme that did not actually exist. This is commonly referred to as 'What-if' or 'Alternative' modeling, and the most common theme is 'Luftwaffe 1946' or 'Luftwaffe '46'. This theme stems from the idea of modeling German secret projects that never saw the light of day due to the close of World War II. This concept has been extended to include British, Russian, and US experimental projects that never made it into production. Flying model aircraft are built for aerodynamic research and for recreation ( aeromodeling ). Recreational models are often made to resemble some real type. However

348-423: A field of study for thousands of years and many of the great problems have been solved using analytical and numerical techniques, many problems are still too complicated to understand in an analytical manner or the current numerical techniques lack real world confirmation. When this is the case, for example a complicated reinforced concrete beam-column-slab interaction problem, scale models can be constructed observing

406-567: A high degree of surface detail, and electrical features such as interior lighting and animation. For Star Trek: The Original Series , a 33-inch (0.84 m) pre-production model of the Starship Enterprise was created in December 1964, mostly of pine, with Plexiglass and brass details, at a cost of $ 600. This was followed by a 135.5-inch (3.44 m) production model constructed from plaster, sheet metal, and wood, at ten times

464-459: A pacifist, was the first to publish detailed rules for playing war games with toy soldiers. He suggested that this could provide a cathartic experience, possibly preventing future real wars. Although this was not to be, Little Wars was a predecessor to the modern hobby of miniatures wargaming . According to Wells, the idea of the game developed from a visit by his friend Jerome K. Jerome . After dinner, Jerome began shooting down toy soldiers with

522-500: A particular type of soldier or historical period, though some people enjoy collecting many different kinds of figures. The most popular historical periods for collecting are Napoleonic , Victorian , American Civil War , World War I , and World War II . Many collectors modify and paint plastic figures, and some even cast and paint their own metal figures. Actor Douglas Fairbanks Jr had a collection of 3000 toy soldiers when he sold it in 1977. Fantasy novelist George R. R. Martin has

580-740: A plan-relief is a means of geographical representation in relief as a scale model for military use, to visualize building projects on fortifications or campaigns involving fortifications. In the first half of the 20th century, navies used hand-made models of warships for identification and instruction in a variety of scales. That of 1:500 was called "teacher scale." Besides models made in 1:1200 and 1:2400 scales, there were also ones made to 1:2000 and 1:5000. Some, made in Britain , were labelled "1 inch to 110 feet", which would be 1:1320 scale, but are not necessarily accurate. Many research workers, hydraulics specialists and engineers have used scale models for over

638-677: A prototype gauge of 2 ft ( 610 mm ). The most popular scale to go with a given gauge was often arrived at through the following roundabout process: German artisans would take strips of metal of standard metric size to construct their products from blueprints dimensioned in inches. "Four mm to the foot" yielded the 1:76.2 size of the British "OO scale", which is anomalously used on the standard HO/OO scale (16.5 mm gauge from 3.5 mm/foot scale) tracks, because early electric motors weren't available commercially in smaller sizes. Today, most scale sizes are internationally standardized, with

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696-578: A scale of 1:43.5. Later, the European authority of model railroad firms MOROP declared that the "O" gauge (still 32 mm) must use the scale of 1:45, to allow wheel, tire , and splasher clearance for smaller than realistic curved sections. N scale trains were first commercially produced at 1:160 scale in 1962 by the Arnold company of Nuremberg . This standard size was imported to the US by firms such as

754-406: A series of high quality injection molded Star Wars kits in 1:72 , and this range is supplemented by resin kits from Fantastic Plastic . Although the British scale for 0 gauge was first used for model cars made of rectilinear and circular parts, it was the origin of the European scale for cast or injection molded model cars. MOROP's specification of 1:45 scale for European 0 does not alter

812-535: A set amount of time for each player to move and fire. Wells also provides a chapter of "Extensions and Amplifications of Little War". In an appendix, Wells provides "Little Wars and Kriegspiel"; more complex rules to be played in a larger space involving military logistics , military engineers , cavalry charges , and railway transport of troops . Little Wars was first published in 1913 by Frank Palmer. Da Capo Press republished Little Wars in its unabridged form in 1977. There have been numerous other reprints and it

870-563: A structural scale model under static loading conditions in the elastic regime is presented in Table 2.2 of the book Structural Modeling and Experimental Techniques . Structural engineering scale models can use different approaches to satisfy the similitude requirements of scale model fabrication and testing. A practical introduction to scale model design and testing is discussed in the paper "Pseudodynamic Testing of Scaled Models". Aerodynamic models may be used for testing new aircraft designs in

928-432: A substantial collection of toy knights and castles. The most extensive collection of toy soldiers was probably that of Malcolm Forbes , who began collecting toy soldiers in the late 1960s and amassed a collection of over 90,000 figures by the time of his death in 1990. Anne Seddon Kinsolving Brown of Providence, Rhode Island, US, began collecting miniature toy soldiers on her honeymoon to Europe in 1930, eventually amassing

986-468: A thick form to be carefully applied to a bonding surface, or in a thin liquid which is applied into a joint by capillary action using a brush or syringe needle. Ethyl cyanoacrylate (ECA) aka "super-glue", or fast-setting epoxy , must be used to bond styrene to other materials. Glossy colors are generally used for car and commercial truck exteriors. Flat colors are generally desirable for military vehicles, aircraft, and spacecraft. Metallic colors simulate

1044-463: A toy cannon and Wells joined in to compete. A similar book titled Shambattle: How to Play with Toy Soldiers was published by Harry Dowdall and Joseph Gleason in 1929. Although people continue to play wargames with miniature figures, most contemporary wargamers use a smaller scale than that favored by collectors, typically under 25 mm. [REDACTED] Media related to Toy soldiers at Wikimedia Commons Scale model A scale model

1102-614: A variety of materials, such as: This includes injection molded or extruded plastics such as polystyrene , acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), butyrate , and clear acrylic and copolyester ( PETG ). Parts can also be cast from synthetic resins . Pine wood is sometimes used; balsa wood , a light wood, is good for flying airplane models. Aluminum or brass can be used in tubing form, or can be used in flat sheets with photo-etched surface detail. Model figures used in wargaming can be made of white metal . Styrene parts are welded together using plastic cement , which comes both in

1160-423: A war game, the book hints at several philosophical aspects of war . The book is written in a whimsical style and illustrated with drawings and photographs of a game being played that Wells describes in the book. Wells also gives a description of the game from the view of one of the generals in the battle bombastically relating his memoirs. The development of the game is explained and Wells's thoughts on war, as he

1218-511: A wood such as pine, with plastic wheels on metal axles, which run on inclined tracks. The most famous wood racing event is the Boy Scouts of America 's annual Pinewood Derby which debuted in 1953. Entry is open to Cub Scouts . Entrants are supplied with a kit containing a wooden block out of which to carve the body, four plastic wheels, and four axle nails; or they may purchase their own commercially available kit. Regulations generally limit

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1276-418: Is 4' 8.5". Therefore, a model railroad reduces that standard to scale. An HO scale model railroad runs on track that is 1/87 of 4' 8.5", or 0.649" from rail to rail. Today model railroads are more typically referred to using the term scale instead of "gauge" in most usages. Confusion arises from indiscriminate use of "scale" and "gauge" synonymously. The word "scale" strictly refers to the proportional size of

1334-597: Is a physical model that is geometrically similar to an object (known as the prototype ). Scale models are generally smaller than large prototypes such as vehicles, buildings, or people; but may be larger than small prototypes such as anatomical structures or subatomic particles. Models built to the same scale as the prototype are called mockups . Scale models are used as tools in engineering design and testing, promotion and sales, filmmaking special effects, military strategy, and hobbies such as rail transport modeling , wargaming and racing; and as toys. Model building

1392-422: Is also pursued as a hobby for the sake of artisanship . Scale models are constructed of plastic , wood, or metal. They are usually painted with enamel , lacquer , or acrylics . Model prototypes include all types of vehicles (railroad trains, cars, trucks, military vehicles, aircraft, and spacecraft), buildings, people, and science fiction themes (spaceships and robots). Models are built to scale , defined as

1450-420: Is done in a variety of scales from 1:4 to 1:450 ( T scale ). Each scale has its own strengths and weaknesses, and fills a different niche in the hobby: gauge gauge Model railroads originally used the term gauge , which refers to the distance between the rails , just as full-size railroads continue to do. Although model railroads were also built to different gauges, standard gauge in full-size railroads

1508-518: Is now available online at Project Gutenberg , along with a previous game book by Wells called Floor Games (1911). A 2004 edition of the book published by Skirmisher Publishing includes an introduction by game designer Michael O. Varhola and a foreword by Gary Gygax . C. Ben Ostrander reviewed the 1977 unabridged version of Little Wars in The Space Gamer No. 17. Ostrander commented that "There are many line drawings and photos of

1566-1151: Is the London Toy Soldier Show held in central London (now owned and operated by the magazine Toy Soldier Collector), the Miniature Figure Collectors of America (MFCA) show in Valley Forge, the Chicago Toy Soldier Show (OTSN) in Illinois, the East Coast Toy Soldier Show in New Jersey, the West Coaster Toy Soldier Show in California, the Sammlerbörse (Collector's Market) in Friedberg, Germany and

1624-1333: The Aurora Plastics Corporation . However, the early N-scale motors would not fit in the smaller models of British locomotives, so the British N gauge was standardized to allow a slightly larger body size. Similar sizing problems with Japanese prototypes led to adoption of a 1:150 scale standard there. Since space is more limited in Japanese houses, N scale has become more popular there than HO scale. Static model aircraft are commonly built using plastic, but wood, metal, card and paper can also be used. Models are sold painted and assembled, painted but not assembled ( snap-fit ), or unpainted and not assembled. The most popular types of aircraft to model are commercial airliners and military aircraft. Popular aircraft scales are, in order of increasing size: 1:144 , 1:87 (also known as HO, or "half-O scale") , 1:72 (the most numerous), 1:48 (known as "O scale") , 1:32 , 1:24 , 1:16 , 1:6, and 1:4 . Some European models are available at more metric scales such as 1:50 . The highest quality models are made from injection molded plastic or cast resin . Models made from Vacuum formed plastic are generally for

1682-513: The 1950s. The first model rocket engine was designed in 1954 by Orville Carlisle , a licensed pyrotechnics expert, and his brother Robert, a model airplane enthusiast. Static model rocket kits began as a development of model aircraft kits, yet the scale of 1:72 [V.close to 4 mm.::1foot] never caught on. Scales 1:48 and 1:96 are most frequently used. There are some rockets of scales 1:128, 1:144 , and 1:200 , but Russian firms put their large rockets in 1:288. Heller SA offers some models in

1740-552: The Great . Miniature soldiers were also used in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries by military strategists to plan battle tactics by using the figures to show the locations of real soldiers. In 1893, the British toy company William Britain revolutionized the production of toy soldiers by devising the method of hollow casting , making soldiers that were cheaper and lighter than their German counterparts. In addition to Britains, there have been many other manufacturers of toy soldiers over

1798-542: The Japanese import Tamiya . Some beginner's level kits avoid the necessity to paint the model by adding pigments and chrome plating to the plastic. Decals are generally applied to models after painting and assembly, to add details such as lettering, flags, insignia, or other decorations too small to paint. Water transfer (slide-on) decals are generally used, but beginner's kits may use dry transfer stickers instead. Model railroading (US and Canada; known as railway modelling in UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland)

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1856-584: The U.S. Modern, collectable figures are often sold individually. Scale for toy soldiers is expressed as the soldier's approximate height from head to foot in millimeters. Because many figures do not stand up straight, height is usually an approximation. Standard toy soldier scale, originally adopted by W. Britain , is 54 mm (2.25 inches) or 1:32 scale. Among different manufacturers, standard scale may range from 50 mm or 1:35 scale , to 60 mm or 1:28 scale. For gamers and miniatures enthusiasts, 25 mm and even smaller scales are available. On

1914-498: The US and Humbrol (now Hornby ) in the UK. Lacquer paint produces a hard, durable finish, and requires its own lacquer thinner . Enamels have been generally replaced in popularity by acrylic paint , which is water-based. Advantages include decreased toxicity and chemical smell, and brushes clean with soap and water. Disadvantages include possibly limited durability on plastic, requiring priming coats, at least two color coats, and allowing adequate cure time. Popular brands include

1972-470: The aerodynamic requirements of a small model are different from those of a full-size craft, so flying models are seldom fully accurate to scale. Flying model aircraft are one of three types: free flight , control line , and radio controlled . Some flying model kits take many hours to put together, and some kits are almost ready to fly or ready to fly . Model rocketry dates back to the Space Race of

2030-631: The author 'at play'. Although it is of little use to the modern gamer, this book stands as an interesting volume." Toy soldier Toy soldiers are made from all types of material, but the most common mass-produced varieties are metal and plastic . There are many different kinds of toy soldiers, including tin soldiers or flats , hollow-cast metal figures, composition figures, and plastic army men . Metal toy soldiers were traditionally sold in sets; plastic figures were sold in toy shops individually in Britain and Europe and in large boxed sets in

2088-528: The biennial Zinnfigurenbörse (Tin Figure Market) in Kulmbach, Germany. In recent years, collectors of vintage toy soldiers made of polythene PE and polypropylene PP thermoplastics as well as PC / ABS plastic blends have reported brittling and disintegration of collectible miniatures or components thereof. Different types and styles of toy soldiers have been produced over the years, depending on

2146-527: The brand names of Herald and Deetail . Also in England, the scale model company, Airfix produced a variety of high quality plastic sets, which were frequently painted by hobbyists. Many Airfix figures were imitated by other companies and reproduced as inexpensive, bagged plastic army men . Timpo Toys, Britains main competitor in terms of sales and quality in the 1960s and 70s developed the 'Over - Moulding' system. Different coloured plastics were injected into

2204-597: The car's weight to 5 ounces (141.7 g), width to 2.75 inches (7.0 cm), and length to 7 inches (17.8 cm). The rules permit the cars to be augmented with tungsten carbide weights up to the limit, and graphite axle lubricant. Miniature wargames are played using miniature soldiers, artillery, vehicles, and scenery built by the players. Before the advent of computer-generated imagery (CGI), visual effects of vehicles such as marine ships and spaceships were created by filming "miniature" models. These were considerably larger scale than hobby versions to allow inclusion of

2262-438: The cost and availability of materials, as well as manufacturing technologies. Here is a list of some of the most commonly collected varieties of toy soldiers. Prominent vintage toy soldier makers include Airfix , Barclay , Britains , Herald, Elastolin , Johillco , Lineol , Marx , Manoil , Reamsa and Timpo . The playing of wargames with toy figures was pioneered by H. G. Wells in his 1913 book, Little Wars . Wells,

2320-519: The cost of the first. As the Enterprise was originally reckoned to be 947 feet (289 m) long, this put the models at 1:344 and 1:83.9 scale respectively. The Polar Lights company sells a large plastic Enterprise model kit essentially the same size as the first TV model, in 1:350 scale (32 inches long). It can be purchased with an optional electronic lighting and animation (rotating engine domes) kit. Although structural engineering has been

2378-550: The first Star Wars film and the 1978 TV series Battlestar Galactica also spawned lines of licensed model kits in scales ranging from 1:24 for fighters and smaller ships, to 1:1000, 1:1400, and 1:2500 for most main franchise ships, and up to 1:10000 for the larger Star Wars ships (for especially objects like the Death Stars and Super Star Destroyers , even smaller scales are used). Finemolds in Japan have recently released

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2436-454: The larger end of the scale are American dimestore figures , and many of the toy soldiers produced in Germany, which are approximately 75 mm (3 inches) or 1:24 scale . Tin soldiers were produced in Germany as early as the 1730s, by molding the metal between two pieces of slate. Toy soldiers became widespread during the 18th century, inspired by the military exploits of Frederick

2494-604: The model, while "gauge" strictly applies to the measurement between the inside faces of the rails. It is completely incorrect to refer to the mainstream scales as "HO gauge", "N gauge, "Z gauge", etc. This is further complicated by the fact some scales use several different gauges; for example, HO scale uses 16.5 mm as the standard gauge of 4 ft  8 + 1 ⁄ 2  in ( 1,435 mm ), 12 mm to represent 1,000 mm ( 3 ft  3 + 3 ⁄ 8  in ) gauge (HOm), and 3 ft 6 in ( 1,067 mm ) (HOn3-1/2), and 9 mm to represent

2552-507: The more skilled builder. More inexpensive models are made from heavy paper or card stock. Ready-made die-cast metal models are also very popular. As well as the traditional scales, die-cast models are available in 1:200 , 1:250 , 1:350 , 1:400 , 1:500 and 1:600 scale . The majority of aircraft modelers concern themselves with depiction of real-life aircraft, but there are some modelers who 'bend' history by modeling aircraft that either never actually flew or existed, or by painting them in

2610-1247: The most concerned with accuracy and detail. Kit assembly is done either "out of the box", or with modifications (known as " kitbashing "). Many kit manufacturers, for various reasons leave something to be desired in terms of accuracy, but using the kit parts as a baseline and adding after-market conversion kits, alternative decal sets, and some scratch building can correct this without the master craftsmanship or time expenditure required by scratch building. Scale models are generally of two types: static and animated . They are used for several purposes in many fields, including: Most hobbyist's models are built for static display, but some have operational features, such as railroad trains that roll, and airplanes and rockets that fly. Flying airplane models may be simple unpowered gliders, or have sophisticated features such as radio control powered by miniature methanol/nitromethane engines . Cars in 1:24, 1:32, or HO scale are fitted with externally powered electric motors which run on plastic road track fitted with metal rails on slots. The track may or may not be augmented with miniature buildings, trees, and people. Children can build and race their own gravity-powered, uncontrolled cars carved out of

2668-456: The mould at various stages, creating a fully coloured figure without the need of paint. During the 1990s, the production of metal toy-grade painted figures and connoisseur-grade painted toy soldiers increased to serve the demands of the collectors' market. The style of many of these figures shifted from the traditional gloss-coat enamel paint to the matte-finished acrylic paint , which allows for greater detail and historical accuracy. The change

2726-413: The notable exceptions of O scale and N scale. There are three different versions of the "O" scale, each of which uses tracks of 32 mm for the standard gauge. The American version follows a dollhouse scale of 1:48, sometimes called "quarter-gauge" as in "one-quarter-inch to the foot". The British version continued the pattern of sub-contracting to Germans, so, at 7 mm to the foot, it works out to

2784-425: The prototype corresponding to one inch on the model, e.g. 1:48 scale = "1 inch to 4 feet", 1:96 = "1 inch to 8 feet", etc. Models are obtained by three different means: kit assembly , scratch building , and collecting pre-assembled models. Scratch building is the only option available to structural engineers, and among hobbyists requires the highest level of skill, craftsmanship, and time; scratch builders tend to be

2842-414: The ratio of any linear dimension of the model to the equivalent dimension on the full-size subject (called the "prototype"), expressed either as a ratio with a colon (ex. 1:8 scale), or as a fraction with a slash (1/8 scale). This designates that 1 inch (or centimeter) on the model represents 8 such units on the prototype. In English-speaking countries, the scale is sometimes expressed as the number of feet on

2900-654: The requirements of similitude to study the problem. Many structural labs exist to test these structural scale models such as the Newmark Civil Engineering Laboratory at the University of Illinois, UC. For structural engineering scale models, it is important for several specific quantities to be scaled according to the theory of similitude. These quantities can be broadly grouped into three categories: loading , geometry , and material properties . A good reference for considering scales for

2958-497: The scale of 1:125. Science fiction space ships are heavily popular in the modeling community. In 1966, with the release of the television show Star Trek: The Original Series , AMT corporation released an 18-inch (46 cm) model of the Starship Enterprise . This has been followed over the decades by a complete array of various starships, shuttlecraft , and space stations from the Star Trek franchise. The 1977 release of

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3016-472: The series of cars in 1:43 scale , as it has the widest distribution in the world. In America, a series of cars was developed from at first cast metal and later styrene models ("promos") offered at new-car dealerships to drum up interest. The firm Monogram , and later Tamiya , first produced them in a scale derived from the Architect's scale: 1:24 scale , while the firms AMT , Jo-Han , and Revell chose

3074-504: The various metals (silver, gold, aluminum, steel, copper, brass, etc.) Enamel paint has classically been used for model making and is generally considered the most durable paint for plastics. It is available in small bottles for brushing and airbrushing , and aerosol spray cans . Disadvantages include toxicity and a strong chemical smell of the paint and its mineral spirit thinner /brush cleaner. Modern enamels are made of alkyd resin to limit toxicity. Popular brands include Testor 's in

3132-838: The years. For example, John Hill & Company produced hollow cast lead figures in the same style and scale. Companies such as Elastolin and Lineol were well known for their composite figures made of glue and sawdust that included both military and civilian subjects. After 1950, rising production costs and the development of plastic meant that many shop keepers liked the lighter, cheaper, and far less prone to break in transit polythene figure. This led to greater demand for plastic toy soldiers. The first American plastic soldiers were made by Beton as early as 1937. The first plastic toy soldiers produced in Great Britain were made in 1946 by Airfix before they became known for their famous model kits range. One large historical producer in plastic

3190-743: Was Louis Marx and Company , which produced both realistic soldiers of great detail and also historical collections of plastic men and women, including the "Presidents of the United States" collection, "Warriors of the World", "Generals of World War II", "Jesus and the Apostles", and figures from the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Marx also produced boxed playsets that featured many famous battles with armies of two sides, character figures, and terrain features. Britains produced plastic figures under

3248-619: Was known to be a pacifist , are revealed in his writing. According to Wells, the idea of the game developed from a visit by his friend Jerome K. Jerome . After dinner, Jerome began shooting down toy soldiers with a toy cannon and Wells joined in to compete. The two decided that with an addition of written rules, a good Kriegsspiel type game could be developed. The game revolved around the use of lead hollow cast soldiers made by W. Britain and battlefields made from whatever materials were on hand, usually blocks or other toys. Simple rules of movement, firing, and close combat were developed with

3306-446: Was largely inspired by the introduction of very high quality painted figures from St. Petersburg , Russia. There is a substantial hobby devoted to collecting both old and new toy soldiers, with an abundance of small manufacturers, dealers, and toy soldier shows. There are even specialty magazines devoted to the hobby, such as "Toy Soldier Collector", "Plastic Warrior" and "Toy Soldier and Model Figure". Collectors often specialize in

3364-537: Was released in 2004. It is mentioned in one of Wells' other books, Joan and Peter , where, during the Great War , a sensitive young man named Bunny Cuspard tries his best to compare his life in the army as a larger version of the manual. Little Wars included fairly simple rules for infantry , cavalry , and artillery in the form of a toy 4.7 inch gun that launched projectiles, usually small wooden dowels to knock down enemy soldiers. In addition to its being

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