Phil is the author of the Classical Hack wargame series and the co-owner of LMW Works. He was born in Niagara Falls in 1949 and currently resides in Alabama.
Phil began his model making in junior high school where he would create model buildings and relief maps focusing on various historical periods from Classical times to modern times. He was so successful at this that while in High School he was invited to lecture on historical topics to other classes.
After attending Niagara University he began building larger dioramic presentations for gaming conventions. Many of these displays were for modeling conventions as well winning various show awards. These early displays were multiple models depicting the development of the many different buildings in a particular period.
In the 1990's, Phil began constructing larger scale models of Classical and Medieval buildings for set piece gaming scenarios. To proceed in this direction lead to the sale of his Medieval series on the development of the English Medieval Castle. He was awarded numerous certificates of recognition during these years.
The year 2000 saw his being awarded The Excellence in Gaming Cold Wars 2000 for his scenario game Defending the Pharos (first place). Later that year at Fall In! he won three more awards including Best of Convention (Grand Prize) Siege of Tyre, Best Presentation (First Place) and Best Non-Theme (Third Place) Siege of Tyre. Cold Wars 2002 his beneath the Walls of Nola won a blue ribbon and later in the same year at Fall In! first place for The Siege of Atrax.
Many of his models have been purchased by gaming enthusiasts in Texas, California and Tennessee. Several of his models have found themselves on the covers of M.W.A.N. and Historical Miniature Gamer Magazine. His rendition of Homer's Troy was rented by a California Production Company for a television commercial yet to be aired (in 2005).
While traveling the east coast from Strattford, Ontario (two time winner of winning Best Ancient Game)to Atlanta, Georgia he is well known for his presentations of his various models at smaller grass roots conventions as well including Port Huron's Blue Water Con.
Phil has been invited to West coast conventions as well. He has appeared twice in Glendale, California. Other conventions include appearances at ConQuest San Francisco, Strategicon, and ConQuest, where more than four different displays were viewed by the public. Origins in Columbus, OH had him attend as Guest of Honor for H.O.T. on one occasion and as an invited guest two other times. It was here that he first presented Troy and Valencia.
With regard to seminars, Phil has made presentations at Origins (Homeric Warfare and Spain In The Time of The Cid) and ConQuest San Francisco (Homeric Warfare). Most recently he was a participant as a Smithsonian Instructor at the Tunisian Embassy in conjunction with the Georgetown Center for Living History and The Hannibal Club of Washington, D.C. Speakers included John Prevas, Fred Hubig and Viverito as well as the Tunisian Ambassador.
Currently Phil is responsible for the publication of the Classical Hack News Letter which can be viewed by direct subscription or on line at Magweb.com. His books are published by LMW Works and can be purchased from many distributors including Old Glory, On Military Matters, Chiltern Minatures, Military Minatures USA, SMS: Scale Model Specalities, The Wargame Vault, and Noble Knight.