I have been to...

...WARGAMER 2015.

This is the last Wargames Show of 2015 and at Halesowen is reasonably near to where I live of course, as its held just off Junction 3 of the M5. It suffers in my opinion from very poor pre show advertising. Its web site is primitive, to be kind, and only on Friday this week could you download a floor plan. Even the programme on the door has no floor plan, so if I have labelled any games wrongly you will need to bear with me, I did my best to get it right! Its a local show of course, no pretentions to be another Salute or Partizan, but having said that it attracts a good spread of traders and some very fine games by local groups. As a local show it has much to offer the West Midlands based wargamer I believe and it deserves to grow and prosper, so all being well I will be there again next year! Judge for yourselves anyway, as here are my highlights from the games on show:-
First up, a 20mm WWII game by Kinver Wargamers, lead by my old chum Dave Page and his wife Erica. Its set in 1943 Malaya and features Japanese v Commonwealth forces ~

Next up, a 28mm Wars of the Roses battle by my old club, the Alumwell Wargames Society ~

Now, for those with a long memory amongst us, a game collection probably not seen for well over a decade: a 28mm 1st Sikh Wars game, put on I believe by the SODS ~

The game featured wonderfully animated, painted and based 28mm Wargames Foundry figures from their Sikh Wars range, and other colonial sets to fill out the Sub Continent 'look 'of the game. A few pictures to do the game some justice, but in the flesh it was even more spectacular ~

Not all games were Demonstrations or indeed 28mm games. I don't photograph the smaller scale games, not because they are poor games, but because they are not really to my taste. However, a 15mm Flames of War WWII game proves to me that not all FoW games need be tank parks. I don't know who put this on sadly ~

And a Participation game for two players, upscaling the old Waddingtons 'Battle of the Little Big Horn' board game for wargaming ~

A C15th Renaissance game in 28mm by Wyrley Retinue. I have the odd feeling I taught one or two of these chaps in my first teaching post! If so, they've aged well and can put on a very fine game ~

Another 28mm game, set in the Peninsular War: 'Sharpe's Sorrow 1808', by the The Phoenix Society ~

Finally, from John French and Friends, a 28mm WWII 'Raid on Rommel' game which I thought very well staged; understated but very convincing of the reality ~

Now, if you are not inspired by these to attend next year's Wargamer show {on 4 December 2016 at the Leasowes Sports Centre} then you are a hard person to please I think! I certainly enjoyed my few hours there: chatting with friends and with Traders, watching some lovely looking games and chatting with the folk responsible for them; and, of course, spending some money! My small stash refelects not my poverty but the determination to reduce the 'Lead Pimple' in 2016. From Colonel Bill's some MDF bases for my FRW skirmishers next year; two more pack mules from Tiger Miniatures; a Foundry Draft Elephant set and three Dragoon Guards for my Indian Mutiny games. The irregular MDF bases I can't remember who I got them from, but Jon will know as its a chum of his ~