An Away Day...

...in Nottingham's famous 'Lead Belt'. I had to pop to Nottingham to make a delivery today so decided to make a day of it and pay visits to some of the leading hobby elements based in and around the city. A word of caution though to any contemplating the trip: Nottingham must be the speed camera and traffic/crossing light capital of Britain!

Having negotiated all hazards, plus flooded roads and Long Eaton I arrived eventually at Warhammer World. Now, worry not, I was making a delivery to a good friend and in the process picking up a very generous gift from the same. 

No new picture, it was a quick exchange in the car park!

Next stop was at Wargames Illustrated HQ, which I'd passed on the way to Warhammer World! Sat Navs, dontyajustluv'em eh? DOH! 

I had two purposes in this visit: to deliver next year's Tales From GHQ calendar for Dan and to discuss a piece I'd delivered by email in draft form at the weekend. Having accomplished both tasks I was treated to a behind the scenes tour of WI HQ, to see where much of the photographic magic happens.

A table set up for taking photographs for the much anticipated new edition of 'Never Mind the Billhooks'. This new edition will be signed off for printing very soon I'm told. I'm looking forward to seeing a copy as it has sections on the Italian Wars which may suit our games here in GHQ. We shall have to wait and see...

Talking of seeing, I was much taken by some of the bespoke buildings, seen on photo tables and shelves, like the walled manor above. Many of these passed into the care of the magazine at Duncan's express wish after his unexpectedly sudden passing. It was odd I have to say being in the offices, I half expected to see him you know!

The walled manor was a great scratch built piece, from America Dan thought and made me wonder if it might be by Herb Gundt. As a splendid piece though it was dwarfed by this magnificent High Medieval castle! To my eye it looked as if it was from the same hand. I especially liked the 'used' look of the gardes robes, very realistic! Perhaps it was Nottingham Castle à la Errol Flynn!

Again, thanks to the sat nav, it was back passed Warhammer World to find Warlord Games. Tucked away from view on one of many light industrial estates it took some finding, but it was worth the hassle.

My reason for the visit was to look at a couple of items I wanted to buy and hopefully receive some advice on the suitability of a third. I was much taken though on this first visit by the display cases crammed full of beautifully painted figures.

The sumptuous display of Warlord's own Epic Napoleonics. Too late for me now, but if I were younger I would be sorely tempted to splash the cash. Even now if they ventured down the Peninsular War route I might find the temptation almost too much!

The new North Africa theatre had a display to draw in even the most jaundiced gamer's eye I think. Italians, DAK and British & Commonwealth forces are available to purchase. It looks a very full range already to my inexpert eye!

For  the European theatre of WWII there is an even wider choice facing the gamer. Although a tad dark to my taste these British figures and vehicles were beautifully modelled and painted.

As I've already indicated, the latter visit was with purchases in mind. As I was successful in this respect I thought I'd better finish off by showing the purchases and a little explanation of each.

I wanted to have a couple of figures to populate my Warbases Roman Villa and to add some background detail to Pompus Maximus's command base and I think these will do the trick nicely on both counts.

For our Burma 1943-44 games the British & Commonwealth force is lacking in artillery. I thought this would do the job nicely and so added it to the purchase list!

Finally, in the same theatre of WWII I wanted an alternative to my sole Grant tank for them, so I purchased this plastic kit of the Stuart M3. It is close enough for me and after my successes with Plastic Soldier Company's 15mm Soviet and B.A.O.R. vehicles I'm confident I can tackle this! Famous Last Words? We shall see in due course.

A tiring day in the end and I'm glad to be safely home, but it was a grand day out and no mistook!