showreports

Benjamin Franklin once said, ‘there are only two things certain in life, Death and Taxes.’Well obviously he had not been to Tunbridge Wells Wargames show, as there are two more, 1. The shows always held in February, 2. There is always bad weather. Well it was when I picked up Kev Dallimore, it was snowing, but we left at half nine in the morning, so for all you late risers it was sunny. Pic of snow for the unbelievers out there.

It has been a number of years since I been to the show, the show itself, is a kind of, kick-start for us here at SELWG, to get the wargaming show year up and running, so to speak. I have to apologize first, I never got around to taking any pictures of the Wargames tables, and I cannot remember why, I think it’s the medication.

The show was well attended, , and looked busy all the time we were there. I heard later, nearly 500 people attended. There were around 30 plus traders in attendance, with the main hall taken up by the majority, the rest in the small entrance hall and the corridors, with the games in the classrooms, and the painting competition on the stage as usual.

The nice thing about Tunbridge Wells open day, is the fact that you can run into people you have not seen all year or for a few years, or in the case of SELWG members a few hours, I think there were more club members at the show than there were at the AGM. Have a look at the pics, for the faces.

I bumped into Rob Taylor, ex SELWG, ex Ilford, now a Tunbridge Wells member. Norman Bricklebank, ex SELWG, as well, now totally tonto, Will Power, and John Cohen, from the Old Guard, Steve Gains, ex Warlords, ex Old Guard, and ex SELWG member, and Steve Hales from Littlebigmen studios, who was helping out behind one of the traders. We even bumped into the Cannadine clan as we were leaving the show, guys you are AWOL, get up SELWG.

Like all old Wargames, I tend now to go to shows and only buy a few items, not like the early days, when the lead mist would cross my eyes and the buying madness would strike, then off like a rat up an aqueduct, I would go, purchasing hundreds of figures, that I would never get around to painting. I still have ton’s waiting to be done, maybe one day.

I even managed to forget my list of what Vallejo red paints I required, so had to buy all the reds, but I did manage to get a couple of editions of the fairly new Spanish Wargames magazine, Soldiers and Strategy, which I thought were very nice, same style as Duncan’s Mag, from Dave Ryan at Caliver Books, thank you Dave. I did hear on the grapevine, that there was another Wargames magazine about to come out, bi-monthly it will be appearing on the 14th of March 06.

A good show, probably the first ever Wargames show I went to when I started Wargaming all those years ago. The only down point, it does not attract some of the more larger traders, but then again, with Salute just around the corner, we can all go mad, mad I say.

A big thank you to the guys at the Tunbridge Wells Wargames Society, for letting us use their pics of the games on show, especially, as I forgot to take any of the games, sorry guys, promise it wont happen again.

We reached the position at 12.30, later than expected, the plan was to break through the enemy lines just before first light, but our barrage was late. We drove into the hanger, and Sgt Steve, ‘Blanco,’ Morgan, my driver, veered left, I swung the turret on our new Rolls Royce armoured car, and opened fire with the MK2 Vickers, the Huns ran for cover. I took out the first two Zeppelins with the new tracer ammunition, before the Jerry’s had time to recover.

Well, not exactly like that, but we did arrive at the all new singing, and dancing Salute venue at Excel, on the Friday before hand. It was easy to get to from South London and well sign posted, and what a surprise, apart from being extremely spacious, Steve Morgan, from Millennium Books, was able to drive in, unload, and set up, within 20 minutes. Traders please take note.

The Saturday morning came, and we arrived at 07.30, I had stocked up on sandwiches, as on the previous day I had purchased a toasted, cheese and tomato roll, it did my old Scottish heart no good, when I had to part with coin of the realm, to the tune of £4.95. Ok, the food was nice, and the central area between the halls, reminded me of the Glades precinct in Bromley, I did hear a lot of good comments on the food served, and there were two food stalls within the venue hall itself, but, £4.95, oxygen someone.

Like any good self preservation instinct, my first thought was to get the items that I was after, first and foremost. Byzantines and the new WAB supplement book, Vlad the Impaler, from Gripping Beast, Perry Miniatures, Sudan Mahdist command group, nice as a general set for WAB, General and Standard bearer from Musketeer Miniatures, which I have already painted and are on my site and the Musketeer site, and last, but not least, Kevin Dallimore’s painting guide, from the Foundry stall.

I then spent the next couple of hours guiding members of the public into the correct queue at the SELWG Bring and Buy. I have this great idea for a game for next years show, we set an area aside, and we can toss the rucksacks, not very inspirational I hear you say, but this next part is the best, we leave the rucksacks owners still attached. Guys, Guys, Guys, take off the rucksacks. Myself, and others, were hit by these monstrosities, yes I do know for some people they are essential, especially coming to Salute by public transport, and then, getting all the goodies safely home, but Guys, please, for smegging hell sake, take them off, if only to give your back a rest.

There were around a 150 traders there on the day, untold number of games, and re-enactors, I did read on one wargames community forum, on the internet, a couple of people saying, ‘why were there re-enactors there, that’s nothing to do with wargaming.’ Get with the program people, these people are a sect of wargaming, it’s only that they choose to get their ass in the grass, and do it for real.

150 traders, yes, where else could you get that choice, every large manufacturer was represented, and most of the of the small ones were there as well. From a punters view, there is such an enormous choice of traders, that this is a, must not miss show. The Warlord’s have been running a show now for most of their clubs history, like SELWG, and have, in my opinion always put on a good show, yes there as been the occasional glitch, but the Warlords have, with the feedback they receive from us, the punters, have always sorted it out for the following year. So, it was with some amazement, that I read, that some people had written, there was no atmosphere at the show, compared with Olympia/Kensington. Well, if that means no crush at the trade stands, plenty of room to walk around to see the games, and no stairs, then give me no atmosphere all the time.

When I had finished at the Bring and Buy, I took the opportunity to walk around and take some pic’s, there were two lovely Arthurian dark age games on show, I have to say, that’s one of my favourite periods, see pic’s above. One of my favourite participation game producers, Ad Hoc Games Club, were there under the watchful guide of Graham Hockley, resplendand in monks costume, with the participation game, The Importance of being Frank, where the gamer was taken on a roller coaster ride through the first crusade from Constantinople, to reach Jerusalem, in full, badly painted, 20mm Airfix figure guise, Graham I salute you.

I wont be able to do justice so all the games there, but I have to mention a few, the D-day Sword Beach 1/35th scale game put on by, By John, was a stunning visual game, and I am reliable informed, built mostly by one man, see, care in the community is working, well done that man, a brilliant game. Star Trek, another game run in a huge area, Cloudships of Mars, by the Warlords themselves, which even had Mick Penver, in full late 19th century Naval costume. When I asked him to show me the golden rivet in the boiler room he did not take up the offer, who says everyone loves a sailor. Last, but not least, the SELWG game, set in Napoleonic Spain in 28mm, lovely figures, nice terrain, and well demonstrated, thank you men.

I met some old friends that I had not seen for a while, Paul Thompson, Jim Wallman, David Brewer, son of the late great Bill Brewer, Nick Scott, John Cohen, Will Power, Alan Marques, Andy Flood, Ian Wall, Steve Dean, Chris Steadman, and lots of others, who I had not seen for some years, the latter was especially nice to see out and about, and with just under the 6000 mark, of wargaming wallets in the venue, the South London Warlords, must be doing something right, they even had glass cabinets for the painting competition. I would like to thank all the Warlords, on SELWG's behalf, for a very nice, grand day out, even though most of us were working on the Bring and Buy, to some extent.

I will also like to thank, John Treadaway, Tim Atkinson, David Harvey, James Bloodworth, Phil Higgins, and Bryan Edwards, from SELWG, for letting me use their pic’s, of Salute 06. For all the winners, please go to the links page and click on the South London Warlords, for more information.

We set out on Friday 3rd November, destination, Crisis in Antwerp. Steve Morgan had already loaded the van the night before, so at 5am, after an early breakfast, we headed off into the wide blue yonder, Dover here we come, Belgium or bust.

We had a clear run to the coast, and after boarding we still felt a little peckish, so we had a second breakfast, in the drivers lounge, I could not believe what Steve consumed, 3 Sausages, Bacon, Mushroom's, Bean's, 2 Eggs, Hash Browns, 2 Bread Roll's, and Spam, and then went back for more, 3 Sausages, and 3 Bread Roll's.

The Captain said, the last time he had seen so much food disappear, was when he was taking the, B.E.F.across to France, I seen Hobbits eat less, and no, I did not check if he had hairy feet.

We had a smooth trip across the channel and a relaxing time driving down to Antwerp, mainly as Steve was driving, funny thing was, they were all driving on the wrong side of the road, I did mention this to Steve, but he was busy shouting and swerving about at the time.

At midday we stopped for petrol and a break, then drove onto the venue, parking right outside, next to the entrance, willing helpers moved us into the venue, and it all went very smoothly, we set up the stall ready for the morning, and then were taken to the local Hypermarket, by 2 of the local club members to stock up on beer and wine, thank you men.

Arriving at our hotel we dumped our bags and headed for the bar, where I was introduced to Leffe Blond and great steak, [I hope Leffe Blond was a beer Phil.]

The next morning, we had breakfast in the hotel and walked to the venue across the road, on arriving at our stand we were told there was free tea and coffee, for all the traders, which was a nice touch.

Steve was doing a lot of deals with other traders, and local club members before the show opened at 10. So when the flood gates opened, they were 3 deep for the first 2 hours, then it went into a lull for about an hour, which I then took the opertunity of looking around the show and chatting with some of the traders, there was also some very nice participation games going on.

By the time I got back to the stand things were picking up, more people were comming in, Steve having been to this show many times, left me in charge, [ now were those Osprey books £3.99, or £8.99, Ahhh the fool. I talked to a lot of re-enacters at the event, it was nice to see them at a Wargames show, and we had a steady flow of customers until the end of the show.

When the show was over, we took our time packing up, and had loads of helpers move our stuff out to Steves van, back to the hotel for a quick drink in the bar, and a brush up. We were then taken to the club house where they had laid on a fantastic buffet, and had their very own bar, and a gaming section, we had a great night.

In the morning after lie in and a lesurely breakfast we paid the bill and departed at 10.30. That was never a swallow, it sodden well was, well during this heated argument we missed the Brugge turn off and went of on a site seeing tour of the lovely Belgium countryside.

All in all, we had a good journey back to Blighty, had a great weekend at an excellent show, which we would like to thank the organisers, it was laid back and easy going, just like a good show should be, thank you again lads.

Well, what a difference global warming makes, there was no snow this year when myself, and the three other members of the Sweeny re-enactment society, Steve Morgan, Phil Denny, and Phil Short, left for Cavalier 07, the show itself had a new venue, 'The Angel Centre in Tonbridge.'

Arriving shorty after 10.30, we found, all the car parks nearly full, the venue itself being strategicaly placed, right beside Sainsburys supermarket, so to the cries of, 'look out guv, he's got a shooter, its a blag George,' and other Sweeny refrences, we managed to find a lone parking space, as two other cars faced each other off, we skipped past and parked up.

The new venue was nice, althought the smaller of the 2 halls was packed out, mabey due to the the fact that the bring and buy, was being held in it, but the larger hall was excellent, nice and large, the only problem was the lighting, which gave off a yellowish glow and affected the picturs of the main hall, I have to say, it was a lot better than the old school venue.

Everything was in just 2 rooms, with a bar and tea room where you could sit down, and show off you recent purchases, upstairs, although, I have to say the only thng I bought was 2 cheese and tomato sandwiches. Phil Denny bought some paints, to finish off some WWI figures he is painting for Steve Morgan, and Phil Short bought the latest WAB rule book, swatting up on the rules Phil, your going to need it.

The SELWG game was in the main hall, and ably run by those PBI fanatics, B.Edwards, C.McNeil, G.Bull, P.Greenwood, and J.Blacker, see guys, they do, do some work, I have the pic to prove it.

There were some nice games on view, and about 30 plus traders,and as usual it was a good start to the wargaming season in the south, so guys, all you need to do for next year, is, get the centre to use proper lighting, and get them to drop the permit system for taking pics, [ Political Correctness gone mad I think.] The last 10 pic's, taken by Bryan Edwards, are of the winning participation game run by SELWG, well done those men.