I have just discovered that Ron Kay of Irregular Miniatures has died at the age of 98. He was full time on the team until 93, casting figures for all us hobbyists. He carried on as a part time member of the team still handling the big and complex castings. “Hats off” as they say.
I did not know Ron personally but seem to remember him at the Irregular stand at wargames shows.
I can do best by sharing some of my Irregular Miniatures collection and sending my condolences to Ian Kay and the Irregular family.
Irregular have provided me with some great 20mm figures that helped me build my 1848 forces.
1848 Danish Infantry repurposed from Irregulars colonial range1848 Duchy of Parma artillery Duchy of Modena Dragoons which were Neapolitan Dragoons 1848 Rumanian infantry which were ww1 Austrians 1848 Roman Legion which were ww1 Austrians Colonial British posing as 1848 Danes1848 Garibaldeans in red and blue shirtsNeapolitans posing as 1848 French1864 Dane’s which were ww1 Austrians 1850 Dane’s which were ww1 Austrians Grand Duchy of Tuscany Infantry repurposed from the colonial range
The last wargames show of the year for me is Recon. It takes place at Pudsey Civic Hall. It used to be run by Wakefield Wargamers but since last year The Pit Gaming Shop have taken over. While it is one of the smaller shows its still a great day out and in the case of the venue you get free parking on site, level access to a well lit two storey event space with civilised toilets (yes I have been to Partizan many times….) and a decent licensed cafe bar on site selling a good hot food range.
The show supported “models for hero’s” who were at the entrance – no queuing as the show is FREE entry. You could make a donation as I did and also Pit Gaming ran a raffle.
Pit gaming had a good range cowboy skirmish material – notably dead mans hand
And if thats not enough a great range of traders and lots of participation games were to be had not to mention some life size sci-fi warriors wandering the aisles.
Hopefully The Pit Gaming Shop will host this enjoyable, relaxed and friendly wargames show again in 2025.
No apologies for pens – this was a to be played game not a demo.
This year I managed to take part in two medieval games at the lance and longbow stand. They were very enjoyable with veterans and beginners playing a modified version of Lion Rampant.
The game was designed for a balanced play and it delivered with both battles being close run affairs. It is always a challenge to design a scenario that gives enough opportunity without a walkover by one side. “Show” games are peculiar with the dynamics of unfamiliar players, unfamiliar rules and the distractions of other games, demos and traders. So they need to be interesting.
In this case the heavy mounted knights (attackers) looked like they would steam roller the bow and bill (defenders) albeit behind stakes. However in the first game just as the defenders looked to collapse the knights leader fell to his death and the attackers lost their will to press home the attack.
In the second battle the defenders were again overrun but no lucky leader death seemed forthcoming when the battle ended – so a sort of draw maybe:Exciting to the end though.
At the end of the day I had plenty of enjoyment from these games.
In fact I neglected to take many photos around the show.
Yarkshire gamer brought 1867 Italy – garibaldi trying to knock over the papal state despite French resistance You can never have enough red shirts!
There were plenty of traders but at the moment I am on a clear the iron mountain and plastic pit push. Of course impulse buys override such plans and I indulged at blotz.
28mm (but in 20mm) Bronze Age fortress starter pack made up there and then with a nice discount-thanks blotz
To be fair I had previously gazed at their Bronze Age fortress yet held off. Now though I have some converged plans which mean the fortress bit the dust or rather my wallet did!
Autumn sees me on the move – the other partizan is done and now it was the turn of Fiasco in Leeds.
In contrast to the Newark show I reckon I was about fiftieth in the queue despite arriving about fifteen minutes before the doors opened.
The dock hall is a sombre black lined but very high ceiling cavern! Today there was plenty of space due to less traders and some missing games and others, compared to previous years.
Maybe it was a bit of half term effect as numbers held up during the day?
I was done trader wise in thirty minutes in terms of checking out who was there and what was on offer. So I could then home in on those traders that took my fancy.
Caliver books and Dave lanchester books absence meant that the show was book free except for some stalls typically selling old ospreys.
There were plenty of games being played and in that sense the show was vibrant. Few straight demo/display games or showstopper demo only tables but again every table that set up was playing as far as I could see. Gaming tables for gaming and there was plenty of variety on offer.
Some traders were clearly doing excellent business while others looked a bit too quiet from their owners early doors looks.
Now I went back in the afternoon and I reckon it was still as busy as at ten. You don’t get that at other shows where there is an initial rush and then numbers dwindle.
Fiasco was enjoyable as you could shop without the scrum at many of the big names traders.
I had no particular buying plans for what is really yet another convenient Yorkshire show.
I ended up buying a few things that were wanted plus some surprises.
A few tables caught my eye.
Recycling partizan……
Ok so I forgot to snap this one in the dock hall lucky for you I caught it at partizan
Winter…….
Ice flow was a favourite board game of mine but no one else liked it so it got the heave ho – wargaming on ice anybody? This looked an engaging fantasy game with bespoke rules
The Yarkshire Wargamer presented his Italian wars game nineteenth century style. Think ACW with vineyards and garibaldis – no not the biscuits!
The French Papal zoaves Garibaldis hordesArtillery and a machine gun?Garibaldis menLive recording as Yarkshire man throws a double six seemingly to order….Earnest efforts all round1867 and all that
I chatted to the what a cowboy gamers who were typically happy to converse over their lunch break hence no fighting on the board…..
Warlord game – boardgame/wargame crossover? Maybe a take on what Zvezda art of tactic sought to achieve?
Buying wise I am still looking at nearly mechanised….
Airfix trusty old kit
A Japan surprise from EWM
These vehicles I bought from the friendly helpful guys at battle zone games
Grubby tanks yielded this ancient Tower in more ways than one from one of their bits and pieces boxes.
I had a chat with Mr Grubby himself as ever willing to talk to his potential customers and just not sell even though he was very busy. He has now selectively cast SHQ/Kennington and has sold them on request. So I need to get an order in for some 1848 Saxons!
Artillery feature at actual size miniatures. I found a miscasts box – bag ‘em yourself for 1 pound – a bargain I reckon. The owner even helped me match the barrels to the carriages! Chapeaux as cyclists say.
Well that’s it or would have been except Fiasco has a fantastic addition. The royal armouries is a minute across the square.
A decent range of traders and games means this show is worth a visit in 2025Unlike partizan (an agricultural show facilities wise) Fiasco has tons of food options – even gluten free – proper tea for one yes two Yorkshire tea bags in that pot: And table service. The wrap? I was technically late for the breakfast menu at the museum cafe but they knocked me up a gluten free bacon sandwich with some imagination-the wrap was “loaded” with bacon.
Part two properly covers my museum trip. But you’ve read that already – probably…..
Footfall measure? – last valley still had stock on the shelves a couple of hours in. But at least you could shop like human!
Next up……
New venue……Nice to see 1848 Danes on show in the promo flyer
That however, seemed to reinforce summer as a break.
So if this is now to be the start of my wargames season what’s on the cards for the next twelve months?
Well firstly probably the plan will fail! With that out of the way what might be done if it succeeds?
Painting wise I feel it will be more mid 19th century forces.
Some more obscure units are likely – Jutland sharpshooters 1848
Also nearly mechanised feels like it will get an outing.
My pontoon bridge but John at just needs varnish provided the armour!
Brief summer spells of interest in ancient and renaissance plus Wild West periods have fizzled out in 2024 and I can’t see that changing into 2025.
I guess one wild card could be sci fi which has gained some traction in recent years.
The painting table is more likely to see guns rather than spears it would seem.
Gaming wise I think it will revolve around campaigns and again currently mid 19th century wins out along with nearly mechanised.
Nothing like a map to get the campaign spirit moving
I hope to go to the Other Partizan which I missed last year especially as I missed Partizan this year. Oh and I should manage two out of Battleground, Fiasco and Recon.
One more year…..
Recon will be the last at Pudsey civic hall as the property is being sold off.
And just maybe online painting/modelling challenges will figure given both AHPC14 and season of scenery have seen my output of painting and making increase and diversify.
The 2023/24 ahpc14 haul Testing out a quick build Italian hilltop town for grid gaming during season of scenery challenge
Purchases wise the war chest has been thin of late more because I have what I need so it follows the figure mountain and scenery pit are full.
Books wise purchases have trailed off since 2023. Although 2034 gave me a surprise. But that’s another post.
If I do buy it is more likely targeted. For example I would like some more Irregular Miniatures bell shako infantry as well as some garibaldi men.
Well that seems like the bones of a plan. We will see……
Well suddenly VAP was here and then gone for another year.
I turned up early and got in quick and did a rapid recce including the bring and buy.
I managed one participation game in the end, collected some preordered figures, bought some stuff I had not planned to, but did want, and chatted quite a bit.
The show seemed as busy as last year but maybe emptied out a bit quicker? These thoughts are subjective as it depends what your doing and when – you don’t notice stuff going on if your immersed in a game or a conversation.
Overall I had a good VAP24 and the queue seemed to move promptly at ten with plenty of attendants present: Last year there was a slow ticket purchase process which delayed entry obviously causing a deal of grief for the punters.
The reenactment vikings entertained the front of the queue – not sure it was appreciated as people often use the queue time to chat. It was a neat idea though.
Onto my purchases
Ubiquitous pendraken bases and some neat spears I kept meaning to buy some extra road and of the flexible kind – these are from early war miniatures Plus a curveAt Irregular miniatures I picked up my preorder of two packs of colonial British in bell shakos which will give two battalions each of Danish infantry 1848 and a Tuscan regiment along with some 1848 danish artillery in bell shakos
I participated in the Lance and Longbow Society game – this time it was 1177 and the crusades. Modified Lion Rampant and 1/72 plastics in abundance. It was fun.
Lance and longbow society game – Saladin attempts to halt Baldwin, but it was not his day. Loads of 1/72 plastic miniatures on display and no heavy lifting!
I went with three gamers. We puzzled about whether the show was busy or different compared to other years. It felt like another transitional VAP reflecting hobby developments.
This Venice game shows how scenery quality has really been transformed by the industry offerings in the hands of talented wargamers
2022 felt the benefit of post covid and lockdown ending while 2023 felt that some changes were afoot. In 2023 we said goodbye to the likes of SHQ Miniatures and Magister Militum (in the past MM had been a significant stand at VAP).
Harrogate Wargames’s club offered the battle of ferrybridge – a wars of the roses action in 28mm
It felt though that there were less games this time. The normally crowded ground floor had some big spaces, mainly around the York Club game tables.
Then again it felt like more use had been made of the upper floors to give people more space for circulation. Frankly in previous virtual scrums were a big deterrent in reaching some traders.
Overall this extra room was a really good thing. And accessibility was improved as a result.
1866 kepis in Europe – once again Garibaldi is up against papal forces and losing?
I reckon there were 65 tables all up this year (all types of activity) compared to 57 in 2022 but it seemed many were smaller offerings: For example Helion Books were absent. But their space was used by a smaller vendor.
And the bring and buy seemed to have less turnover – I went at the beginning and some sellers were still there much later on.
Which ever way you cut it VAP is still a great show to meet the hobby, throw dice and make some sound buys.
Last week York was inundated with cameras as its annual flood season reached its peak.
Anyway if in doubt get a coffee. You can view Irregular Miniatures figures in the gifts section at the Alma cafe on copper gate
And Irregular Miniatures will be at VAP on the racecourse site so here are some of my buys over the last few years.
Austrian ww1 infantry repainted as 1850 danish Ww1 Austrians repainted as 1864 danish British colonial infantry repainted as 1848 danish British colonial infantry repainted as 1848 Tuscany troops 1859 range Straight painted garibaldini for 1848Their 1848 French opponents stolen from the 1859 Neapolitan range
I use the 20mm ranges with extra washer bases to compliment my plastics which are typically 2mm taller.
Last but not least danish artillery for 1848 although the piece is suspiciously looking a later rifled version – based up these 20mm chaps have no problem with their plastic cousins
The last photo also shows one of my entries into AHPC14!
This is one of a series of ruletests for mid 19th century warfare. Neil Thomas published a book specifically looking at the wars between 1815 and 1877. With a European focus these should be the go to ruleset for my Italian Wars of Unification which either run from 1815 to 1870 or 1848 and 1861 depending on your preferences.
The usual set up has been followed. But this time the Austrians have made way for the French. The Piedmontese have been displaced by the Italian Nationalists of the Roman Republic. It is 1849 somewhere near Rome……..
The Battle of Symmetry Ridge
The French led by General Charles Oudinot (looking suspicously like Napoleon) were deployed looking to exploit the road on their left flank. None other than Garibaldi himself was leading the Republican Army you can see at the top of the picture.
French Forces
Left Flank – 36th Regiment of the Line – Infantry Brigade
Left Flank – 13th Battery 3rd Field Artillery Regiment
Centre Right – 66th Regiment of the Line – Infantry Brigade
Right Flank – Some Austrian Hussars (I decided the French Expedition was short handed in 1849)
The French left flank benefited from road movement
Neil Thomas 19th century European Warfare rules (NT19e) are based on 1d6 dice throws to hit with saving throws for both firing and melee. Generally you don’t save on melee hits though. That means close combat can be very damaging.
Morale tests are a simple 1d6 throw against a quality rating – a roll of 4-6 being required by all the “average” units fighting. For this test all units had this common rating.
The 66th Regt formed in column of march while the Austrian Hussars formed up in the only formation they were permitted – in two ranks. Because I use deep bases the formations used by Neil Thomas show as very elongated. This has no real affect on the game mechanics although visually it is probably a bit jarring. Note I also have some 50mm base width units alongside 40mm base width units. Ho Hum…….The Orchard on the ridge: (inaccessible under my rules and an “obstruction” under NT19e firing rules) effectively divides the battlefield.Garibaldi leads his soon to be famous red and blue shirts!The Parma National Guard Lancers provide the right flank of the Republican Army joining the Blue shirts
Alternate movement was in operation and as with previous tests all units and leaders were the same quality/common value.
Opposed 1xd6 rolls determined who moved first each turn. This rule is I think is essential for this ruleset. It did have an impact and altered the game. This “initiative” roll has become a common theme in rulesets.
1xd6 roll determined command effect for that turn. This rule is optional and in the test did have a material impact.
roll on 1xd6=5,6 – allows 4 units to activate
roll on 1xd6=2,3,4 – allows 3 units to activate
roll on 1xd6=1 – allows 2 units to activate
The scene is set.
Garibaldi has his red shirts on the left, blue shirts on the right. The Duchy of Parma 1848 Provisional Government has sent some Lancers to defend the newly declared Roman Republic. Garibaldi’s artillery are dressed in Austrian uniforms but are italian troops who have strayed from the Imperial Armies………Garibaldi won the first turn and commanded 4 units forward, General Oudinot could only manage 1 unit in his turn.On move 2 both sides could activate 4 units while on move 3 General Oudinot moved first and fired his artillery on the blue shirts column scoring 1 hit.
In NT19e each unit comprises 4 bases (artillery have 1 base) and each base can absorb 4 hits. So after 16 hits on Infantry or Cavalry or 4 on Artillery the unit ceases to exist.
Taking hits has added risk in that for every base lost a morale test is required and if failed a further base is lost. Artillery can only lose firing hits as they get automatically eliminated if they lose a melee.
On move 4 Garibaldi could only move 1 unit and the French artillery failed to hit the Blue shirts. Oudinot got back to back initiative scores on moves 4 and 5 moving his forces with vigour……………On move 5 the Austrian Cavalry destroyed the republican gun while the French artillery did yet more damage to the Blue shirts. However the republican artillery had in its turn severely damaged the Austrian Cavalry whose morale failed (extra base lost). To add to their problems the red shirts fired on the Hussars leaving few to return alongside the 66th Infantry Regt.The Austrian Hussars are decimated while the republican artillery has been silenced. On the French left things look ominous as their flank is turned.
On move 6 Garibaldi had the advantage, but little happened except…………in move 6 & 7 the Blue shirts destroyed the french artillery while the 66th Infantry Regt began to attack the red shirts. The Parma Lancers were decimated by the firepower of the 33rd Infantry Regt.
It looks like the republican strike on the French left has failed………The decisive moment as the red and blue shirts aided by the remnants of the Parma Lancers attack both the 33rd and 66th Infantry Regts.On move 8 the Parma Lancers are destroyed by the 33rd Infantry Regt. Heavy losses on both sides in the infantry melees follow………Move 9 fire exchanges between the Infantry units cause more casualties. The 66th Line practically cease to exist while the Republican right flank has been severely mauled. The republican blue shirts paid a price for not getting into a firing line. On move 10 Garibaldi attacks taking more fire damage but decimating the 33rd Infantry Regt and causing the morale to collapse for the 66th infantry Regt
It is a characteristic of Neil Thomas rules that units are visibly destroyed yet even at the end still have some effect.
Move 11 Oudinot has remnants of the 33rd left while Garibaldi still has elements of both his blue and red shirt brigades
General Oudinot quits the field.
Garibaldi has triumphed for now – but he could ill afford such heavy losses in this victory.
Neil Thomas provides victory conditions within his scenarios. His book offers a separate set of game rules as well as numerous scenarios to use them in.
I bought Wargames, Soldiers and Strategy No.118 for January/February 2022.
My magazine buying is haphazard – appropriate for the erratic in me.
This edition certainly caught my eye, enough to part with £5.50 – around the cost of a small 1/72 tank kit.
Sicily for some strange reason has become the epicentre of my wargaming interests.
Originally it was just Romans versus Carthaginians.
Then Renaissance interest emerged albeit in the context of mainland Italy and Spanish/Aragon influence.
Both of these interests have failed to come to fruition.
Then the Normans arrived and I headed south with them – Roger of Sicily beckoned. Except that dragged me back to Normandy/England and the Scandanavians.
A trip to Palermo helped maintain Sicilian interest though.
Byzantine wall painting fused with Arabic wood carved ceilings encased in heroic Norman structures – a legacy of Roger of SicilyBaroque Sicily was a significant player in the mediterraneanEver the great market place – a crossroads on the seaNorman grandeur to be found in the suburbs of PalermoA bronze helmet from the pre christian Greek era of influenceThe baroque gate facing the old port beyond. it manage to survive the WW2 allied bombing of dogged german defence of this old city. Even today some built up areas areas are still simply cleared ground – old plots awaiting a new life 80 years later
However the Normans in the South project stalled at the end of 2020 as Garibaldi hove into view.
Garibaldi has taken me to the Island again in my 2021 project – the Wars of Italian Unification.
Neapolitan Cacciatori elite light infantry from 1859 – Garibaldi did not have it all his own way.Regular Piedmontese by “lucky Toys are in some cases touching 28mm and come multi pose “ish”. They stayed out of Sicily but headed south when Garibaldi was getting to much hero worship.A collection of units from the Army of the South 1860 – lucky toys again large 25mm 1/72 figures ripe for skirmish actionsMy essential troops for 1848 – Austrians wearing the transitional uniforms that make them look less Napoleonic yet fighting much the same way – except of course in 1848 the troops still wore shakos, breeches and tailed coatees with turnbacks. this new style only really arrived in 1850 and by 1859 was already dated!
Garibaldi and the Unification Wars project is currently stalled as well.
Now my Fauxterre projects around the interwar 1930’s era hover over the western mediterranean as inspiration for an imaginations campaign.
So the magazine promised me much. And yes it was a good buy.
My Key Connections were
Miniature Reviews – Butlers Printed Models H39 and Lorraine 38L VBCP for Fauxterre 1930+
Lundehogda 1940 – a Norwegian campaign scenario that looks adaptable to use for Fauxterre 1930+
Stepping Stone to Europe article – all about Sicily and its strategic geographic position – touching on Greeks, Normans, even Austrians (1859 in Neapolitan Lands?), Garibaldi and Operation Husky (1943)
The very last “Desperta Ferro” – although 1300 era (so a bit late for my Normans in the South project) were dragging my thoughts back to medieval Italy and Sicily and some glorious castles I had seen watching the pro cycling – Giro d’Italia.
Spedizione Dei Mille Garibaldi 1860 – One of the actions that propelled me into reading more about Garibaldi……
Irregular Neapolitans ready to fight the Garibaldini reviewed by Guy Bowers in WSaS108, however I have them looking vaguely like French 1848 Line Infantry fighting? you guessed it Garibaldi – this time in Rome…….
the section “An Offer you can’t refuse” – figure choices – amongst the 28 mm and 15mm usual suspects, Irregular Miniatures Garibaldi figures in 20mm get a mention…….
The irregular 20mm Garibaldini reviewed by Guy Bowers in WSaS108 – in COLOURGaribaldi – The man himself from unloved “lucky toys” where 1/72 stretches to 28mm on occasion !!!!
Carving out an Island Kingdom – back to Roger of Sicily and his multicultural Kingdom – a quick one pager about this amazing character.
This thing of ours – Chris Breese – writing about our hobby and who might join us. I actually met Chris at Fiasco in 2021 by his fantastic display. Great communicator and unlike me able to deliver his vision of Stoke Field 1487 – a late late show in the Wars of the Roses complete with Irish and German interests.
I failed to take a pic but did get one of the equally grand rennaissance demo next door…….
My discards were minimal out of 21 articles. Excellent work by the editor Guy Bowers.
Of the other articles I learnt some new ideas from those on figure conversion and scratch built walling.
Street fighting the Punic Wars or Gangs of Rome go south, looks good visually while Assault on Johnny 1 was a nice scenario for the parachutists amongst us.
The features section included
Killing Yamamoto – interesting but not my thing
Defend the King – again interesting and contemporary with Norman/Saxons/Viking wars so very enjoyable
My converted 1/72 Normans in the South – shields on left straight lift from osprey of a certain family.Been there done that – 28mm Vikings by Garrison circa 1977 – they were shown the door by the hobby at the time……………
Guardian of the Shrine – Napoleonic Zombies – must be very compelling but again not my thing – well the zombies bit anyway
Six steps to Naploeonics was an ok read but seemed to side step the material problems with the demise of the 15mm metal market segment, no mention of 6mm and the rise of 28mm – it seemed to keep taking you towards bigger battles with large 25mm and out of most peoples budgets. Its sister article about Warlord Epic Battles – bulk plastic 15mm units did not get a link but seems complimentary?
Back end Napoleonics 1848 Austrians are still visibly of that era, handling the same smoothbores.The 1st War of Unification ended in 1849 with an Austrian Triumph, ten years later the styles are bleeding over to ACW era – kepis all the way. In this case some English Legion Volunteers who served Garibaldi’s Southern Army.
So this particular edition was actually packed with interesting material. I don’t read just what I prefer – often periods or rules I don’t do give me ideas, that can be transferred. At the end of the day its all wargames in some way or other.
happy reading
In my 2021 year end post this model theatre appeared and originates from Palermo and celebrates the history of puppet theatre – wargames stories in another mode?
These figures by Irregular I chose as I like their slender style and they do have some stoic determination about them.
I opted for two units one in blue reflecting the fact that although Garibaldini fought in red shirts while in South America, they had to use blue shirts initally when defending Rome in 1848.
The second unit is a “red shirts” unit although I think uniforms were probably very un-uniform during the hiatus of declaring the Roman Republic. So they have some mixed shirt colours too.
I mounted the figures on washers to match them better with other 1/72 and 25mm figures, sort of 20-25mm ish.
They are based for Piquet units of 4 x 40mm square bases using the Peter Pig 3 up style which Piquet also seems to favour. I used my wars of Italian unification base style – 3 colours and some grass: I have written about this in previous posts.
Irregular supplied me with these 24 figures including the bugler and flag captain as a pack. The Kepis are reckoned to be 1859 plus era so technically these chaps are not right for 1848. A major problem is many illustrations for 1848 show the Kepi probably because by the time of publication it was a common sight.
This figure shows one of Garibaldi’s Guides who were mounted (when they had horses!).
I have shown this officer in the uniform they landed in Sicily with and wore until the fall of Palermo.
They then switched to an all grey uniform. One wonders if the bright uniforms marked them out for the enemy sharpshooters? Although with an army of red shirts that might have been less of a problem?
The Wargaming Erratic 