Gaslands – The Wargaming Erratic

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.

My only purchase! Pendraken TD10 to the rescue………

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.

Pursuing my side game of buying “face to face” for my latest project, in the world war two era, means wargames shows count.

For decades wargamers have treated shows as their own very necessary High Street. Remember once upon a time visiting “fairs” were very much part of medieval life for whole areas of a country. And of course prior to the internet and ebay they were the dominant route to wargaming purchases.

Quite simply the hobby could not sustain even general hobby shops on the high street even with railway and broader modellers sharing the same sources.

In fact talking about fairs reminds me that there is an excellent book by Graham Robb called the “Discovery of France” which highlights the circularity of life in France right up to the 20th century where whole rakes of the population derived their living through moving around the country. Even if your not a Francophile this book is a fascinating insight into a country which has dominated European Military history. His book certainly gives, in my view, a different view of France.

And then for the wargame shows, Covid19 really did drive us all fully online which may have far reaching consequences. On the evidence I saw at Leeds I am not sure what they will be though. Yes traders down, gamers down but then again we now have a late year crowded calendar plus organisers still having an obligation to manage their events to minimise the effects of Covid19 spread.

I for one, was a happy customer of the face to face variety.

I had stored up some planned purchases and spending money so here is a run down of my acquisitions and of course a “thank you” to the “SUPPLY CHAIN” without which we would not have the hobby we all enjoy.

First up some basics from Pendraken – 40×40 mdf bases for my currently stopped MAIN 2021 Project of the Italian Wars of Unification 1848/1859.

Colonel Bills yielded some 20mm preloved WW2 metals in the shape of a British Universal Carrier by SHQ and Romanian 47mm Schneider AT gun by FAA.

Regular visit to Coritani aka Magnetic Displays bought me some much needed paintbrush replacements and I spoilt myself with a prepainted crossroads – yes it was one of those days.

Stonewall Figures had some interesting kits and BT7 Russian Tanks were on my shopping list so these two Pegasus models dropped into my hand. And well these T34/76 armourfasts fell in as well.

Next up is a venerable book published in 1973 by Donald Featherstone. No4 in the series this is a bit late for me (1943-1945) as I am focused on early war activity. But it does cover the Tunisian Front and apart from Egypt/Libya where the British main north african action was, there is not so much printed material on matters west of Tunis.

Having grown up with Donald Featherstone books I find them an easy read: I know what I am getting. A nice purchase from Dave Lanchester.

Now for something completely different and I mean different. In this blog I have recounted my “sanity line” being nothing more recent than 1730-ish or the end of Peter the Greats reign. I caved in to Wars of the Italian Unification for 1848/1859/1866/1870 and suddenly found an interest in naval actions as well. You can see the slippery slope here………….Gradually ironclads have been creeping into my wargaming thoughts. So this book at Dave Lanchesters store was shown to me by Dave when I asked innocently if he had anything on Lissa 1866. Thanks to Dave I have a very nice 244 page hardback covering the second half of the 19th century.

Next up in contrast Grubbys Tanks yielded a small booklet at just 16 pages offering Rapid Fire fast play. This ruleset started life in 1994 so if age is pedigree that will do. I will give it a shot.

Now the Peter Dennis paper soldier books always look attractive and I finally picked up one I had previously nearly purchased back in 2018. The Spanish Armada is completely off my gaming list but I just could not resist, what with my current naval gazing.

I also tipped gaslands into the shopping basket at Dave Lanchester’s – not for me but as a christmas present for someone else.

The next two books from Dave were pure indulgence. The Russian Army in the Great Northern War 1700-1721 and William III’s Italian Ally 1683-1697 both Helion publications. I am hoping they will be ok on typos but I am not holding my breath. even so as I have posted before Helion publish where others fear to tread. So I have to be grateful.

Finally this is a repurchase – in fact I think it may be the third time I have bought this ruleset. Careless ……..

I do like Peter Pigs ideas, especially the uncertainty of process, and this set offers something a little different on the WW2 front.

Well thats it. Quite a mix when I think about it: More books than expected and less models.

So apart from Rapid Fire from Grubbys Tanks, I bought all my books at Dave Lanchester’s, who I must say keeps his books in very good condition.

The ones that got away or rather failed to appear – Russians by Plastic Soldier Company (Grubby’s were not short on Germans or US boxes though) and maybe a BA10 armoured car yet Stonewall Figures have promised to look out for one of them and set one aside for next year when they head north again.

So thanks to all my suppliers at Fiasco 2021 may you all prosper.

Thanks to Leeds Wargames Club for a very enjoyable show, all the sweeter, after such a long break from this aspect of wargaming.

Back to painting table………I wonder what will be up next?