EPGS Heroics - July 2002

NOTICE: 20% Discounts through Game Ordering Service for EPGS Members!

Adapted from discussions with Keith Tracton

Through the newly available Vizor Publishing Buying Service (VPBS), EPGS members will be able to get up to 20% discounts on games ordered through VPBS. Keith Tracton already has been providing this service to his game club, PAGE (Philadelphia Area Game Enthusiasts), and has offered to extend this service to EPGS.

The following process should be used to place orders, and all inquiries and orders should be directed to ktrac@earthlink.net:

1. EPGS member e-mails his/her order to Keith
2. Keith confirms availability and price for the order
3. Member sends payments via web or mail a check/money order to:

Keith Tracton, Owner
Vizor Publishing
1041 Clemens Ave
Roslyn, PA 19001

4. Make checks or money orders payable to Keith Tracton
5. Keith will check and answer e-mails towards the end of the work day (having a full time job)
6. Keith will place weekly game orders on Monday (AFTER receipt of funds)
7. Games arrive on Tuesday to Keith
8. Keith will ship items or deliver to the club meetings, if possible (shipping is free)
Note: there have been rare delays of shipment, because items may have to come from farther warehouse, but longest delay for items in stock is one week

Everything is 20% off for such volume club purchases - including Euro-games, Reiner Knizia stuff, and the major war-game and family game manufacturers EXCEPT Wizards of the Coast, Games Workshop and non-Gamers Multi-Man Publishing games. The latter 3 severely restrict their terms to retailers so VPBS can only offer 10% off of their stock.

Also, for each new person referred, a finder's discount for the person referring will receive a finder's discount of a game at 35% off price.

Please note that this is not a service of EPGS nor are the officers of EPGS involved in any respect beyond the placement of this notice.

If you have couple of million dollars to spare and care to fly jets -

By Robert L. Sohn

Recently, I came across a web-site that may be too audacious to believe, but extremely intriguing, nevertheless. The following site http://www.stormbirds.com/project/index.html announces to be the front for Classic Fighter Industries, Inc. (CFII), which is attempting to build an actual, operational Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter-bomber. There are less than 10 originals still in museums around the world (apparently, they used as the production template a Me 262 at our local Willow Grove Naval Air Station, but I have yet to see this aircraft in person).

From the site's FAQ, the Me 262 Project was launched in 1993 to reproduce flying examples of this historically important jet. CFII was incorporated and exercised direct control over the project until early 2001 when all assets were transferred to the owners' group. Production is limited to five aircraft, each at an estimated $2 million plus. For those who are thinking about it, they do anticipate higher final production costs. Two of the five aircraft have already been sold to a private owner in Arizona and another to the Messerschmitt Foundation of Germany.

CFII is taking care to reproduce the actual production aircraft rivet for rivet. However, some of the known original weaknesses dealing with temperamental engines and landing gear systems are being modified for "operator safety and reliability." Amazingly, they are apparently going to be ARMED with the standard four nose-mounted MK 108 cannons that were designed to take down B-17's. Perhaps somebody should warn the FAA?

Specifically, the failure prone original Jumo jet engines have been replaced by the modern General Electric J-85/CJ-610 power-plants in the originally designed nacelle housings. With these new engines, the anticipated maximum speed will be in the transonic 600+ mph range. With new manufacturing and engineering modifications, these Me 262s are expected to have an excellent aerobatic capability with added margin to its performance envelope.

Flight tests are expected to start soon, and you will be able to request paint schemes and markings with your down payment (I hope no IDIOT will feel the need to put the Hakenkreuz (swastika) on any of these jets). If you want to visit the Project's production facility, visitors are welcome at Paine Field in Everett, Washington.

Games People Played

Here is a nearly-complete list of the games played at the last meeting:

Axis and Allies - Pacific (Hasbro)
Clippers (Rio Grande)
Cosmic Encounter (Hasbro)
El Grande (Hans Im Gluck)
Giveaway (Jared Scarborough)
Lord of the Rings (Hasbro)
Lord of the Rings CCG (Decipher)
Money (Rio Grande)
"Ohne Furcht und Adel - AKA ""Citadels"" (Hans Im Gluck)"
Princes of Florence (Rio Grande)
Prussia's Glory (GMT)
Puerto Rico (Rio Grande)
Ra (Rio Grande)
Santa Fe Rails (GMT)
Settlers of Catan - Cities and Knights (Mayfair)
Settlers of Catan - Cities and Knights/Seafarers (Mayfair)
Star Wars - The Queen's Gambit (Hasbro)
Tales of the Arabian Nights (West End)
Tikal (Rio Grande)
Ursuppe (Doris and Frank)
Venizia (Queen)
Vinci (Descartes/Eurogames)
Win, Place and Show (3M)
Wizard Kings (Columbia)