USEFUL WEBSITES FOR THE MILITARY HISTORY ENTHUSIAST AND HOBBYIST

AVIATION, MILITARY AND NAVAL WARFARE

Britain’s Armed Forces

British Army
Everything you need to know about the British Army.

Royal Air Force
For news, events, and more on the RAF.

Royal Navy
With a forum and regular news updates, this provides a wealth of information for the RN enthusiast.

Communities

A History of World War I
World War I.com is a unique resource for all those interested in The Great War.

The Second World War Experience Centre
An exceptional resource for all those interested in the experiences of the people who served in the Second World War.

Museums (UK-based)

Imperial War Museum
The IWM is a multi-branched national museum of war and wartime life from 1914 to the present day.

National Army Museum
The NAM presents the history of Britain's armies from the era of the Redcoat through to the present day.

National Maritime Museum
The National Maritime Museum comprises three sites: the Maritime Galleries, the Royal Observatory and the Queen's House. Together these constitute one museum which illustrates the importance of the sea, ships, time, the stars and their relationship with people.

Royal Air Force Museum
The RAF Museum is one of the greatest aviation museums and provides a unique visual history of the key aviation events in British history.

Royal Marines Museum
The RMM provides a fascinating insight into the history of the Royal Marines.

Royal Naval Museum
The RNM at Portsmouth is dedicated to preserving and displaying the historical heritage of the Royal Navy.

The Royal Tank Museum
The Tank Museum at Bovington holds the world's largest collection of tanks and armoured fighting vehicles and is a rare treat for all AFV enthusiasts.

Societies

Military Historical Society
This society celebrates and encourages the study of all aspects of military history.

The National Archives
Provides access to information on British military service records.

Magazines

History Today
History Today is perhaps the world's oldest history magazine, publishing news and essays on all aspects of history by the world's leading scholars.

BBC History Magazine
BBC History Magazine is a magazine devoted to history enthusiasts of all levels of knowledge and interest.

Military Illustrated
Military Illustrated is a leading military history monthly, spanning the entire history of warfare.

Britain At War Magazine
Britain at War Magazine is dedicated to the history of Britain at War from the 20th Century through to the present day.

Soldier Magazine
Soldier is the official magazine of the British Army.

FlyPast
Aviation monthly dedicated to the history of aviation for enthusiasts everywhere.

Aeroplane Monthly
Monthly aviation magazine dedicated to history in the air, with news, articles and reviews.

Aviation News
Monthly aviation magazine dedicated to aviation enthusiasts of all interests.

Fighting High
New e-zine devoted to all aviation enthuasiasts, with news, articles and reviews.

MILITARY VEHICLES

Communities

Military Vehicle Web Forum
MVWF is a forum for those dedicated to preserving military vehicle history.

Historic Military Vehicle Forum
HMVF is a forum for those who preserve and collect historic vehicles.

Museums

Military Vehicle Museum
MVM is a museum dedicated to vehicles and militaria from World War II onwards.

Societies

Military Vehicle Trust
MVT is a charitable organisation dedicated to the conservation of ex-military vehicles and preserving their history for all enthusiasts.

Magazines

Classic Military Vehicle
CMV is a leading monthly magazine dedicated to articles, news and features on both modern and historic military vehicles.

Windscreen
Windscreen is the official magazine of the Military Vehicle Trust.

WARGAMING

Communities

The Miniatures Page
Web community dedicated to wargaming with miniatures for all genres.

Edinburgh Wargames
Website devoted to historic miniature wargaming by Angus Konstam, Edinburgh author and wargamer.

Societies

British Historical Gaming Society
The BHGS is a society for all players of historical miniature wargaming, with regular events, news and competitions.

Society of 20th-century wargamers
Society dedicated to the playing of 20th-century wargames.

Society of Ancients
Society devoted to the playing of Ancient warfare wargames.

Magazines

Wargames Illustrated
Wargames Illustrated provides the wargamer with a monthly round-up of news and events, battle scenarios, hints and tips, product reviews and gaming photographs.

Battlegames
Bi-monthly magazine dedicated to all wargamers, with news, reviews, historic articles and battle scenarios.

Wargames Journal
Recently turned online wargaming e-zine, available for free download and contains hints and tips, articles, news, reviews and scenarios on varying aspects of wargaming.

Wargames Soldiers and Strategy is a jointly English and Spanish-language magazine (one month English, one month Spanish) and provides information on both British and European developments and interests in the world of wargaming.

MODELLING

Communities

Military Modelling
A complete resource for all military modellers, wargamers and military enthusiasts, featuring regular product reviews, news and events.

Hyperscale
A detailed webzine for aircraft and armour modellers, featuring frequently updated content, product reviews and an online discussion group.

Missing Lynx
A key source for AFV model making, providing new product updates, discussion groups and galleries.

Societies

MAFVA (Miniature Armoured Fighting Vehicle Association)
Society dedicated to promoting and supporting the interest of those interested in AFVs and model-making.

International Plastic Modeller’s Association (IPMS)
Society founded by modellers, for modellers, with over 60 local IPMS modelling groups across the country.

Magazines

AFV Modeller
Bimonthly magazine devoted to all AFV modellers and enthusiasts, with news, reviews, hints and tips.

Air Modeller
Bimonthly magazine devoted to all aviation modellers and enthusiasts, with news, reviews, hints and tips.

Military Modelcraft International
Authorative monthly magazine for all those interested in modelling military vehicles, dioramas, and figurines.

Scale Military Modeller International
New magazine devoted to scale fighting vehicle and figure modelling with news, previews and reviews.

Scale Aviation Modeller
Aircraft modelling magazine devoted to scale aircraft modelling with news, previews and reviews.

Model Military International
New monthly magazine dedicated to all apects of the military model-making hobby with news, reviews, hints and tips.

RE-ENACTING

Communities

Re-enactment Directory
Search engine and directory for the global historical reenactment community, with a wiki, and links to societies and trader details.

Societies

UK Homefront
World War II re-enactment group, whose website provides a wealth of info on the British homefront during World War II.

Magazines

Skirmish
Leading living history and re-enactment magazine for all those interested in the hobby.

MILITARY HISTORY EVENTS 2008

July

The War and Peace Show, 16–20 July
Annual military vehicle event at Hop Farm Country Park, Beltring.

Festival of History, 19–20 July
UK's largest historical event, featuring a weekend for all the family, full of clashing swords, thundering hooves and roaring cannons!

August

Claymore 2008, 2 August
Annual Edinburgh wargaming show, run by the South East Scotland Wargames Club, with game demos, competitions, books, figures, and a second-hand market.

Military Odyssey, 23–25 August
Largest living history event in the UK, taking place in Detling, Kent, with re-enactments, jousting, and flyovers, spanning over 2000 years of military history.

September

The Victory Show, 6–7 September
From airmen to infantry, The Victory Show in Leicestershire is a World War II extravaganza, which opens a window into a different time for all the family.

Colours 2008, 13–14 September
Annual wargaming show held at Newbury Racecourse, run by the Newbury and Reading Wargames Society, with competitions, game demos and traders selling books, figures and other accessories.

EuroMilitaire, 20­–21 September
Annual largest military modelling show, held in Folkestone and run by Military Modelling magazine, with a wide array of top class models, clubs and traders.

November

IPMS Scale Model World, 15–16 November
UK's largest modelling show, held in Telford and run by the International Plastic Modelling Society, it is devoted to every aspect of modelling, with model displays, competitions, traders and kits for all modelling enthusiasts.