SELWG, 15 October 2023

 Hello There! With the timings of the wargaming shows this year, there were two, (The Other Partizan and SELWG), which were consecutive weekends.

The show was again at the Lea Valley Sports Centre. This venue provides plenty of space and plenty of light for photographs. I took the photograph above at the end of the day so the crowd is thinned out, but it was busy at the start of the show and still well worth the visit!

The Newbury & Reading Wargames Society put on the Battle of Hydaspes. This was using 28mm figures and was very impressive with the large Macedonian pike blocks!

Next up, the Battle of Thapsus by the Society of Ancients. Like many ancient battles the terrain is minimal and sparse but the game was impressive with big colourful units.

Now something that you do not see often at shows, or as a demonstration game. A Modern game, or more accurately a Cold War, 1980's scenario. Put on by the Milton Hundred Wargames Group and using Team Yankee rules this game did have a lot of 'drop on' terrain but was nice to see due to the often unseen period.  

The Shepway Wargamers put this game on which had appeared at the Partizan game the week before. As I remember it was using 28mm size figures and recreated a small English village and its countryside surroundings very well. There was also a good scenario with the game as well.

There were many small details, such as this land girl with shot gun ready to deal with any 'Nazis' she may find!

The Home Guard are well represented complete with their homogenous armaments and defences.

The Central London Wargames Club showed off these new Napoleonic rules, 'Emperor of the Battlefield' I was not in a position to pass comment on the rules but visually one of the differences was that the centre of the table held 28mm high figures while the flanks held 15mm high figures.

Here is the front cover of the rules which had only been published that month.

Retired Wargamers Reloaded, regular attendees to the shows I have visited, put on a 20mm Pegasus Bridge scenario. 

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I particularly liked the 21st Panzer Division French conversions.

Complete with the French power lines. I have seen these supplies in laser cut MDF and resin in the past but these could have been 3D print as that medium is all the rage now and the result is a lot more instantaneous than waiting for an order in the post.

A nice representation of a brewed vehicle as well.

I have looked at the SELWG website to find out who put on this lovely 18mm AB Miniatures Napoleonic game but have drawn a blank.

Overall it was an enjoyable show. I did feel a little 'partied out' after a second weekend of a show, so may not do that next year. I went to SELWG because I had some scenery on the bring and buy sale but did not personally feel the staff attending that stall really supported my products well as almost all of it was placed on the table at the rear of the stall and despite asking if it could be put on the front, it was not. Oh well.