This Winter was wet and is now dry – it has been sometimes cold but the overwhelming feeling is it is another mild winter – famous last words, as Spring is not yet with us and it can still snow and freeze well into April………
Sunrise-Sunset
2023 like 2022 seems to have been richer for its sunrise and sunsets.
This Winter was wet and is now dry – it has been sometimes cold but the overwhelming feeling is it is another mild winter – famous last words as Spring is not yet with us and it can still snow and freeze well into April………
Flood – natural – its concentration made by human hands.
This years Hammerhead was very busy – the car park was full and early on. This site is no good for public transport being well outside Newark with no bus services to the site. The car park is therefore a good measure of attendance.
Inside the main hall it was extremely busy. Traders were doing lots of business or rather had many visitors. How much was being spent was another matter.
The participation games looked well patronised.
One change was the second hall that held mainly the DBA gamers was not open this year. So the DBA gamers were in the main hall. Much reduced in number post covid19 and perhaps some were grateful for the hubbub around them while others maybe longed for the quieter setting of the second hall. Earnest stuff though!
I spent little – in fact just a set of transfers on the day!
Normally I have a few things in mind but not this time. I was tempted by some paper boys books, see below one of the participation games, while Helion publications on Franco Prussian and Hungary 1848 wars almost made me part with some cash. Osprey have published yet another book about late roman britain – my interest was that it covered Gaul as well – but not enough to make a buy – yet. Some 1/72 plastic kit armoured cars nearly captured me. In the end I was happy just to look.
A few games I did snap all looked fine. I forgot to go back and play the Spanish Civil War game (GB30 a very spanish civil war by Three shirews gaming) or get a pick – it was very lively.
Similarly no pick of Anarchy in North Yorkshire 1138 (GB15) by Red car Iron Beards: Using the versatile Lion Rampant ruleset for a small skirmish. I had a good chat with them – hope they find a new home and grow again.
Hammerhead offers an excellent variety of gaming opportunities. When you add in the trader range it is definitely a show to consider.
For me there was the added social aspect – it is a welcoming show.
Compared to VAP 2023, Hammerhead was clearly well organised on the day. It benefits from being on one level although it perhaps lacks facilities to be much bigger – the second hall only really works on fine days I guess!
The emphasis on participation brings a greater variety of games, it seems to me.
In that sense the two shows being close together on the calendar are complimentary.
This Winter was wet and is now dry – it has been sometimes cold but the overwhelming feeling is it is another mild winter – famous last words, as Spring is not yet with us and it can still snow and freeze well into April………
Frosty Morning – I found this particular sunrise “developed” an interesting image on my window.
This Winter was wet and is now dry – it has been sometimes cold but the overwhelming feeling is it is another mild winter – famous last words, as Spring is not yet with us and it can still snow and freeze well into April………
Fog – The flood plain of the River Ouse – ideal for fog, mist and interesting skies…………
York is a good place to visit as a Wargamer especially if you like History. Aside from all the sites concerning the Roman, Viking and Later Medieval periods, there are still real shops where you can buy things for your hobby.
Bookshops have still been dissappearing at a fair rate, yet Amnesty International reopened their York book store which involved moving across the river to a new revamped premises.
On the model front you can still get a good range of stock,
Boyes everyday shopping plus warhammer and loads of paints and hobby tools – 35 Goodramgate
So if your visiting York check out these traders and give them some valuable support. And remember February is the Month for Vapnartak Wargames Show and the Viking Festival.
Of course the centre piece of Medieval York is the Minster which on a sharp winters day looks fantastic.
Or you could visit the many other churches in the city and take in the glazed windows.
VAP 2022 felt like a throw back – as if COVID19 had not happened – all those companies were back and there was a feeling of relief.
You can read here my thoughts a year ago https://wordpress.com/post/thewargamingerratic.home.blog/4337
VAP 2023 felt changed – I had seen changes at other shows in recent years – VAP had seemed to buck the trend. It had continued to grow and evolve. This time it was the show with empty space and yet more shoppers and less players?
It also had the misfortune to have some logistics issues around not enough people on the entry tills and perhaps not enough show experience either?
So what about the actual show? Well I decided to “play” first. I chose the lance and longbow society refight of the Battle of Buda between The Ottomans and Imperialists. My post about the Tour de France visit to Hungary finishes with scenes of Hussars and Berlioz in the Capital. Budapest is still a fantastic city and well worth a visit if you like history and panorama.
The game was multiplayer using modified Lion Rampant and played well in a crowded show area – the actual play took a few hours simply because it turned out neither side could get a knock out and the attrition took some time to play out with both sides in with a shout of victory until the final turn. I compounded poor decision making with poor dice throwing in the early stages – nothing new there! It was a good game in my book (for multiplayers) as there were no early disinterested observers.
Thanks to the guys at Lance & Longbow Society for another great game.
By the time the game ended I needed some food and after that it was early afternoon – the show was now emptying out after seemingly very crowded. I wandered round the trade stands and detected satisfaction – maybe buyers had been out in sufficient force?
There were participation games The Balkan Wargamer highlighted some and the Lake Priepus game looked enticing. On the other hand I was now in buying mode. Actually I only bought some 1/72 figures at the, by then, deserted bring and buy.
One company did catch my eye and given I am not into 28mm that was interesting. Black Scorpion Miniatures had a small but effective stand showing their range of 3D printed miniatures.
If I was to enter the 3D market in 28mm I think this sort of figure type might entice me. The detail clearly repays careful painting.
Thats it for VAP 2023 and I had a great time playing a game but found little to tempt my wallet on this occasion.
St Michael cum Gregory in York, is the home to the glass painting skill centre and the other day it was an open day. Walking past – I paid a visit.
The Church itself has been used as a venue for arts and theatre in recent times.
The Church was built, modified and extended over centuries and its glazed windows are a story in themselves.
In one respect our ancestors recycled window glass into new arrangements meaning you now see mixes of glazing perhaps made hundreds of years apart reassembled to create a new window.
The volunteers present included a demonstrator. They showed some of their fantastic examples and created a basic image while we watched. So the skills are still to be found and looked to be very satisfying – if you have a careful hand!
The centre details and extra information can be found here. https://www.stainedglasscentre.org/
Painted or Stained glass has a long and venerable history dating from the early middle ages – the oldest extant stained glass windows appear to be in Canterbury Cathedral, Kent.
These figures are from Warrior Miniatures who were my first hobby metals miniatures purchase ever. In this case I bought these figures during lock down after trying to find a suitable figure to show off the Cavalry Regiment Guide who served in the brief existence of the Central Italian League.
My go to reference book is Osprey Men at Arms 512.
The basing uses my standard 3 colouring of bird grit PVA’d to the 40x20mm base. The three colour is yellow ochre dry brushed over burnt sienna with a yellow white highlight. This time I used Gamers Grass Desnse Beige 6mm in large quantities – I am quite keen on the pale grasses they sell which do have a hint of new growth at the base, great detail.
The figure on the cover of Osprey 512 caught my eye – bottom left. This is a fantasic quartet of books by Osprey.
Being guides (although eventually becoming a regiment) I have just two figures, who will be brigaded with others if in the unlikely event they fight in the battle line!
I have done no alteration to the Warrior Figures which are sold as 25mm British Hussars from the Napoleonic Peninsular Campaign.
They will no doubt appear in one of my imagi-nations armies. And if I ever get other forces done – some actual 1860 actions. While the uniform has limited period use I simply found it a compelling one to paint up.
Not sure when the next painted unit will appear as I have at least a dozen units all in states of dis-completion – talk about dissipating your resources……
These Austrians sporting waffenrock full skirted tunics and tapered stove pipe shakoes are really post 1850 . This time I have two weak units representing Infantry Regiments 40 and 41.
IR40 Baron Koudelka 1834 to 1849 probably means the men with light blue facings are from IR40 Inhaber (Ceremonial Commander in Chief) Baron Rossbach who took over in 1850.
IR41 with sulphur yellow facings, under Baron Sivkovich from 1841 then handed over to Baron Kellner in 1857
These are weak Field of Battle Battalions at only 3 bases. Right now I tend to paint the figures by sprue and “Waterloo 1815 manufactured” Austrians come with 10 figures including a mounted officer. So I get 3 bases of 3 foot figures.
I use the excellent Osprey Men At Arms 323 by Darko Pavlovic as my main reference.
The Wargaming Erratic 