SELWG 2022 Show Photos

Hello There! Yes I know, a 'little late'! I found these photos on my camera and realised that I had neglected to post them.

The Lee Valley Athletics Centre was used again as the venue after the successful show the year before. The area is light, airy and well spaced out. There is plenty of space between aisles and games which stops that situation where you find your self  'in the way' of a persons rucksack or latest acquisitions!

I admit I have not found the group who put on this Battle of Britain game. I have included their introductory poster above. It was impressive with the scenic mat proving very effective.

This game, put on by the Retired Wargamers Reloaded, jumping forward in time, was also present in an expanded format, at Partizan 2023. Proof that it is not just wargamers at New Buckenham Historical Wargames club that suffer from megalomania!

At the game the person who most of this collection belongs too said they are not going to put it on anymore as he keeps adding to it!

The game made good use of a large number of trees which set the spectacle off well. I did not touch them to see if they had been hardened by soaking them in PVA and water but they did not show sings of 'malting foliage' which usually happens when you move wargaming scenery.

The trees making up the woods were fixed directly into the baseboard which looks more realistic, as they had done away with the bases, but in turn have lost some flexibility with moving the scenery around.

The canal was a nice touch and with its boats and bridges this was a nice change to see this sort of thing represented in the scenery.

The town had a stunning centre piece in the shape of a large church. Also the dwellings were all different.

This 1940, Fall of France game caught my eye, partly because it included a Fairy Battle, which I had seen as an exhibit at the RAF museum, as seen on an earlier post.

There were some nice civilian details in the game and it had obviously been thought out.

This Napoleonic skirmish game was very pleasing to look at. Some modular terrain to represent the roads. Also plenty of Spanish troops on the table with few or no British in sight. Much more realistic in terms of sides as the British did play a smaller part in the Peninsular war than many books would have us believe!

The terrain on this game was particularly good and was also a different subject that I have not seen dealt with before. The forests were very well represented and the games did not need masses of figures.

It made a change to see some well represented conifer trees. I have seen some good Pine trees from a model railway supplier, used in the past. That was a snow scene from the Ardennes, I believe, many years ago.

The fields also looked very good, using mainly tufts, which considering the cost I hope was made at home for this game!

The building were mostly card, which made them look generic, but if they were printed out then vaguely weathered looked very effective and would have saved a lot of time.

The Society of Ancients put this battle on which was between Alexander The Greats Successors. Although I do not have an Ancient army painted I do like the period and the changing tactics and weaponry.

Well painted figures and an impressive amount on the table made for a great spectacle.

Too Fat Lardies put on a 2mm, (Two mm!), game which provided for a grand vista of the table and allowed for something very different.

The same group also put this game on which was also taken to the Hartenstein Museum, here. They have also spoken about it on a WSS podcast here. the planning for this display can be heard on the WSS podcast. The buildings were 3D printed and are almost all different. The table was inundated with vignettes and every time you looked at this table you saw something new that you had missed! Outstanding table.

There were many other tables and games, both participation and display at the show but time did not allow for much more. I also find that taking the time to savour the games and make the most of the time at a show also adds to the enjoyment.

People can spend so much time just taking photographs can leave you missing out on the experiences of the show. Looking around the traders stands and talking to people can also benefit you.

Diceni Wargaming Show Norwich 2023

Hello There! There was a show last week at the Forum in Norwich called Diceni. It is held in the entrance hall of the forum and includes many different forms of wargaming and gaming, including Historical.

The New Buckenham Historical Wargamers were asked to put a game on and as it had a local connection they did a small part of Ketts Rebellion when Norwich fell to Robert Kett, a member of the minor gentry, after a previous attempt at taking the city had failed.

Considering the small venue the show had a very good turnout with the public showing a lot of interest in the games

The game by the New Buckenham Historical Wargamers included the club scenery and some newly scratch built city walls which held two of the old gates of Norwich

Norwich was then the second largest city in the country, next to London, so the seizure of it by the rebels represented a big gain in their position 

The club display included a small display case which held figures from other periods of history that the club wargames.

Proof that the sun does not just shine on the 'righteous'!

The game was full of small vignettes and farm animals which moved round during the game, which the public were invited to participate in.

The ubiquitous flock of sheep were also included which have now appeared in many games at the club over many centuries of warfare!

Some of the walls were manned by various figures to show off the clubs painting talents

The local clergy were also involved in placating the rebels

The Government forces which managed to enter the city to try and take back control

There were plenty of baggage and carts on show which remind me |I have plans for a feature for WSS on logistics in wargames. 

Further photos are here but there follows a brief description of the game:

These actions were all based on real events within the medieval walls of Tudor Norwich, including the Royal army's assault and breaking in of the St. Stephen's and Brazen gates, and then the many bloody brawls within the streets and alleys of England's then second city as the Royal troops fought to regain control by taking the market place in the centre ; and unfortunately losing a number of their cannon to a rebel counter-attack as they cleared the city! This second, larger, Royal army under the Earl of Warwick eventually defeated and routed the rebel host on Dussindale heath. The first Royal army, under Northampton, had been driven from the City a month before, when there had been more bloody fighting for various gatehouses and throughout the city.