It has become a habit of mine to visit toy fairs in Doncaster and York at Christmas and New Year.
Sometimes you get a bargain but mostly the prices are way too high for wargaming and anyway you’re likely to be paying for the classic box or venerable package.
Toy graveyards are common even at the flashiest storeI was almost tempted but 20 quid was too muchNot many games at these shows anyway But lots of toy carsSome collectibles of course for the discerning customer – not me of course!I don’t remember this set Building graveyards too 25 quid gets you a low loader but of course you get that JCB as well!
Then again it is a trip down memory lane – when a toy shop was found on every high street across the country.
Mind you, you can still get to an excellent bricks and mortar hobby shop in York which is full of model kits and trains.
A classic toy shop window of the high street – now a rarity
So this holiday season I managed three trips and came away with some useful purchases after all.
First up from Doncaster I got some buildings and railway wagons
A card market hall by super quick models Card and plastic goods shed make unknown Some more bin end lorries
Two quid each for the buildings and three vehicles for a fiver: they were on a table tidily arranged so not graveyard prices. I can’t find the railway wagon picture and now their store away……probably to be forgotten! Finally from Doncaster…….
Two kits for a fiver in a slightly upper class bin end! I only wanted the truck but this stall only sold combined packs no splitting
Second visit of the three I picked up some strelets sets at York Monkbar model shop.
Monkbar price match hannants from what I see so buying just a few saves me the postage. And I get some fresh air and a walk into the bargain
And finally I bought some more “bin end” lorries at York Toy Fair.
More bin end Lorrie’s which I can’t resist for some reason
These work out a quid each from bin ends. Toy graveyards used to be 50p or less but jumped during Covid and now range between one and two quid a pop or with discount if you buy a few together.
If you’re lucky there are still bin ends selling at 50p. There was one at the Doncaster Show.
So quite a satisfactory haul.
February will see normal service resumed on the Wargames show circuit starting with Vapnartak.
Recon 2025 didn’t happen for me this year due to family commitments. Which is a pity because I really like this show. In fact it has been almost my most commonly attended show.
It has certainly been my most enjoyable: Big shows are great but sometimes you just get overrun with the volume. It is Joseph Stalin’s rule in reverse – quantity does not always give you the quality you want.
So what to do?
Well for starters here are some links to those who did go.
And finally look out for the show next year and go along, maybe game (participation games are on the increase) but above all buy some stuff from real humans. Yes we can use postal/online methods yet the hobby is so much more with these face to face shows.
This year the dates fell such that no sooner was The Other Partizan only just fading in my memory than I was heading to Fiasco and Leeds in the morning sun.
I grabbed a coffee in a nearby cafe as I had turned up early. Obviously as everyone got the lay in bonus with British summertime ending, I thought it would be a big queue on opening at ten.
Centre shows the exhibition area entrance – the queue just after ten was not what I expected.
The reality is that the musuem while being a giant venue itself offered perhaps the floor space only half of that if the normal dock hall venue.
That said the dock hall venue had some of the most generous circulation areas of any major show. And that was a big plus I always thought. And of course it had a very high ceiling which simply added to a cavernous feel.
Today we got a compact, cosy yet brighter venue.
The victims for space were the big demo games – those that characterise the partizan shows. And some bigger retailers were missing.
However the traders present offered a nice selection and choice. In fact having gone intending to only maybe do some gaming I ended up buying quite a few things
Bow and blades stand yielded some Vallejo varnishI can never refuse a bargain and love these pre coloured card models – at colour party paintsBases from pendrakenSome nice ship kits at stonewall figures
I was very happy with my purchases.
Actual size miniatures have a great table of products – I had to resist because I am still painting last year’s acquisitionsSome nice printed ships and planes at three decks dockyard
The games were mainly small table affairs with plenty of participants joining in.
Two tables of battletech on showBig games were in evidence but in smaller scale such as bouvines in 6mmPlenty of naval action over on the right!Bolt action action!Some great Greek style FantasyWith Some nice sceneryVertical gaming – a neat, small but intriguing game by Django Ensoe and Stafford CollieThe display included some useful material Simple figure requirements Purpose written rulesetLeeds the organisers have a big clubThe facility was fully occupied and cosy with a great cafe in the museum just a few feet away if you chose to ignore the dedicated bar. The facility was better than the farm shed at Newark The organisers-2025 flyer shows last years black cavern Maybe next up- I want to go but other priorities may prevent meI nipped into the armouries looking for a present for someone in their bookstore but came away with a surprise for me instead.
So a good day out as it happened.
Postscript
Thought I would share some extra bits
The books I bought at the armouries include some period illustrations. All helping to get into that feel for the times – a few telephones, telegrams for those who could afford it and snail mail ruled the day – or probably word of mouth!
I dug out 2024 because I did a long post on the armouries – no photos this year.
I remember many years ago going to Fiasco Wargames show and it being held in the museum.
I seem to remember it was packed. So while it’s a great venue if the space available is cramped then it kind of backfires.
That said the usual venue in the dock hall is quite dark with black drapes even with a full lighting set up. The high ceiling height means the light quality at table level is poor compared to say Partizans agricultural shed.
When I think about it this first half of 2025 has like 2024 been dominated by AHPC – analogue hobbies painting challenge. By contrast I managed only two shows yet one yielded one of the few games I have played.
That was a cowboy shootout using homemade rules…..
It’s was fun – quick and lethalSparse yet effective as were the rules!
Not surprisingly it was Hammerhead at Newark.
Then I had a game of “what a cowboy”. My opponent loved “what a tanker” and reasoned WAC should be as enjoyable. Well that proved not quite the case. We will play again but it has slipped down the list.
Actually there is no list and until today my gaming had been quite limited.
Then I had a spur of the moment, moment no doubt brought on by quite a bit of reading about battles fought.
In this case ACW – I am reading western theatre actions at the moment.
I also have been reading my Colorado purchase – a soft cover book of maps showing the whole ACW war.
In the book are some contemporary maps by a certain Robert Knox Sneeden. He was a Union mapmaker who not only spent time as a confederate prisoner but was also a watercolour artist. Clearly he had a good eye! And by good fortune his maps and diaries have survived.
If you strip it down making a car or a piece of art is the same thing. I am stretching a point here regarding quantity.
It is a creative process that ends in something tangible which may also be useful. And “use” can result in different things.
The piece of art that is still in use 200 years later because its action is to be seen. Or that car which was mercilessly driven in all weathers every day with every component exercised till its early demise on a scrap heap a few years later.
Wargamers are often gamers but as opposed to say Board gamers they are often model makers and nearly always painters.
And some Wargamers are collectors as well.
Add to this that some wargamers are what one would call artists – their work is exemplary, out of the ordinary, admired and copied.
And you can visit thousands of sites on the net to learn how they did this or that.
In a world that has rapidly replaced the physical world with the online world (both are real but different), it is interesting to meet real humans, who are artists and be able to connect their creations with their working area, their tools and discuss their processes right there – one to one.
No rewind – you have to listen and concentrate. It is an experience.
So York Open Studios offers you a hundred artists and makers to chose from. A useful booklet shows you where each artist/maker is located and a thumbnail picture and a few words provide the introduction.
My experience is that I select on image – it is disconcerting. I force myself to read the useful words – collage, etching, printing, digital, sculpture, carving…..
This time we wanted to walk between sites within a specific time frame – we chose an area with many locations and it meant we visited some locations where the brochure image was not compelling and the words uncertain.
At least one artist whose work I like had used an unfamiliar image and I could never remember their name. it was a surprise to find them in my list of maybe/so so sites to visit in the area we had chosen.
And the lesson about “reinforcing what you like means you might miss out” continued as I found my less preferred visits yielded very interesting discussions on process – how, why, what, where, when etc.
What is overwhelming?
Individuality – they may use fairly common materials, and even processes yet what they add is crucial. That is the most important ingredient
Commitment – despite the throngs of people in kitchens, conservatories, the garden shed, part of a living room – these people must spend a lot of time on their own to achieve what they do.
Enjoyment – to open your “studio/space” to strangers and be cross examined (politely of course) on how you did that or why did you do this – is an act of bravery – most of all I think it reflects their enjoyment of their work and the pleasure it gives them.
In a way wargame shows are those open studios when artists and makers show their work on the wargames table – the difference tending to be that you don’t buy (except at the nearest trader), you just look and maybe discuss. You might go home and copy their work – inspired by their enthusiasm – which includes the game as well – rules, scenery and figures.
Then there are the traders – many of whom are still small businesses in effect our hobbies most obvious artists and makers.
There is also a place for all those useful internet sources*.
And there is the irreplaceable act of human contact discussing a shared interest.
So whether it is a local arts and crafts show or that wargames show – “go see” – I am betting that seeing what others do will inspire you to paint more, make more and be more creative.
*That includes the American Railroad Modeller preoccupied with homemade Italian Cypress Trees which I might need one day!
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.
GA03 Gaslands on show – but I am guessing this product has run a bit low on gas since its spectacular arrival?It remains an interesting alternative that is easily accessible – Homefront Gamers offered a good set up.Not much scenery tempts me although I have a soft spot for sunshine buildings – maybe thats a winter thing? TD19 Charlie Foxtrot Models was busy.GB01 Ice Slaughter – Lake Priepus by Like a Stone Wall Wargames Group I think.GB17 Edge on Flat Figures don’t seem that tempting.However – face on I think they are more than impressive. And these are 10mm – much smaller than the original sets. So en masse they look good.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.
Before the high street, one might say the big shopping destination was the market place and in medieval cities there were the quarters – with the street of tailors or say the street of bakers. So maybe you get some quarters surrounding a market.
You would go to a quarter or street for specific things. The Market might have variety.
Small traders characterised such places. Scale is important.
You could say Wargames shows are simply a return to one of those medieval quarters – a place where you knew you could buy a certain thing. I suspect in previous times certainty of a purchase was very important as travel was very expensive, time consuming and energy draining (before the iron horse arrived).
For wargamers its probably a market or fair they want because there is a variety of things to see and buy at a wargames show.
Recon 2022 is that street for wargamers or that Wargames Fair – either way its a market of small traders.
Colonel Bills is a typical trader offering a great variety of stock and lines.You can see the goods, compare and contrast and be confident in your purchase.
This year I think I detected more traders in terms of space occupancy as the games area seemed a bit squeezed in the main hall.
Given the football coverage, energy crisis, cost living hikes and transport chaos I thought the show might be very quiet. It actually seemed as busy as last year with only the bring and buy quieter – that was more about what was for sale. Less gamers selling on I suspect?
New Pudsey Civic Hall is a light and airey space – just right for wargamers.
Then again when I think back – 2021 was between lockdowns and people were only just peering out at a post covid world. And so last year I think there was a greater effort to get out there. So 2022 may have had no more in numbers but I suspect there was greater energy to do stuff.
This year seemed more relaxed, normal if you like, except of course things are anything but normal at the moment.
Stoke Field 1487 was the participation game at the Lance & Longbow Stand – Lion Rampant with House Rules.
This is a great show and maintains the variety and number on offer in northern england. The BHGS show in Manchester went south this year to its new venue in Nottingham. In my case Recon22 more than made up for my missing Fiasco this year.
The Bring and Buy was back in the upper floor area for 2022Plenty of traders and games were availableThis year the main space felt a little more congested but still gave plenty of room to get around
This is my last show of the year so roll on 2023. Why not add Recon to your diary now? Recon 2023.
The Heraldic display in the main entrance to the Hall.
I made it to the Other Partizan, so thats three trips to Newark in 2022 (hammerhead, partizan and the other partizan). I missed Fiasco in Leeds last week owing to calendar congestion – real life intervened. Fiasco has been one of my most regular show trips.
Hopefully I will make it to Recon at Pudsey in December.
I find all these shows different and maybe most people give Recon only a nod. It is a really great show – ok so the foot fall will be a lot less – but remember quantity does not always equate to quality.
Recon not only has good carparking on site, its also just 5 minutes from the national rail network – strikes permitting. It has all the facilities you need under one roof with more eateries nearby in town. The show itself is well laid out and has a variety of traders and gamers and a well run bring and buy.
I found another gamer had reported their visit to Fiasco, The Balkan Wargamer. I follow them as they often write interesting book reviews with a good mix of posts about figures and gaming. Well balanced and thought out.
Mixed views and yes the current location is not naturally lit. Mind you I was sunshine dazzled at Partizan.
You win some you lose some!
I plan to return next year.
As a kind of subsitute for missing Fiasco I indulged the High Street buying two wargame magazines in one go! Talk about pushing the boat out – you don’t get change from a tenner anymore.
I reckon magazine prices track a different cost inflation curve to wargames figures anyway and probably always have.
Three national magazines were sold at the WHSmith store – where I bought mine. I took Wargames, Soldiers and Strategy (WSS) plus Wargames Illustrated (WI). Miniature Wargames (MW) was the third option.
I tend to buy WSS and occasionally buy certain themed WI. I rarely buy MW now, I enjoyed Battlegames so did follow it into MW. Even when most of that DNA was gone I found their Table Top Gaming angles of interest. Ultimately MW does not offer me more than either WSS or WI. So thats that I guess.
You win some you lose some!
Like the Times Illustrated* WI is the king of the image. And I do think if you value the printed word alongside relevant images then WSS is the best of the bunch. Of course they are all up against the behemoth of “online” so have to push large amounts of advertising. Anyone who can reflect on Wargames history knows that magazines were always loaded with adverts – it was and is a frail business model and buyers want that info anyway – even today when all that info is available free, in tons of gigabits. That data mountain is a problem and just maybe one reason why magazines still offer value as a “data consolidator”.
What did I get for my money?
WSS offered up a Dark Age Britain and Arthur theme and profiled the second edition of Dan Mersey’s Lion Rampant. Plus you get a lot of regular features including quite a few opinion pieces.
I thought it might restart some interest in previous adventures (Dux Brittaniarum, Shieldwalls) – I am not sure though.
WI majored on Twisted History which is apparently the new name for fictious historical wargaming or imaginations wargaming even. To cover every genre and time period, perhaps Twisted History might catch on as it has no baggage or rather has not already been claimed.
I quite like the idea of a generic term for taking history and twisting it. – except that is what historians do any way, don’t they? ok many are trying to untwist twisted history. Crikey I am confused now.
One reference point is Richard III (recently even the subject of a film without a single battle scene). Despite the discovery of his body and the dismissal of many myths created by the Tudors (history goes to the victors of course) you can still consume lots of now baseless Tudor tradition.
Ever Twisting Twisted History………maybe it will catch on.
And into the bargain of not attending a show I did some kit bashing and figure mods. These tell you that 19th century gaming is still on my mind.
A lucky buy on the high street………..Irregular Miniatures WW1 Austrians went under the knife…………
*The Post title image is from a Times Illustrated large format publication about the British Royal Family. WI is simply continuing a great tradition of image!
Britain and Russia at war – in the Crimea………….
Here is another .
The transition from Sail to Steam in three images…………
Earlier this year I attended Partizan at Newark Showground. For the first time in many years I have made a second visit in one year – this time its the “other” Partizan.
Same location, same show – sort of.
The Autumn sun blazed through the south facing windows. I think that bright light helps – its uplifting. Except when your looking into the sun at the grasses selection on the Northumbrian Tin Soldier stand. You simply cannot please some people……
I enjoyed the Other Partizan. I almost feel Partizan in Spring was still all about what might be and was upbeat while the Other Partizan is no less upbeat but just maybe many gamers have now got stuff done and there is also an air of reflection maybe even planning thoughts for 2023…….
Here are some pics of things that caught my eye.
Westbury offered a more unusual amphibious demonstration……Dark Ages featured on a few demonstration gamesAn expansive demonstration of the Anglo Danish shieldwall in its strong position at Hastingsa very effective winter demonstration of the Battle of the Bulge winter 1944.A less popular era and also uncommon scale for shows. A neat game with a thoughtful display – quite a few displays chose to use background screens to good effectI like the period and find Phil Olleys armies rather compelling.Its not just the details that attract. The choice of colours, textures – its complimentaryThe castellated gate further adds to the effect.From within – the town offers some delightful vignettesNow a corner backdrop would have capped off this excellent displayEverything here is available to other gamers and yet in combination the game “viewing” was a step above the rest of the demonstrations for me.
Participation Games
Never mind the billhooks was present in the particpation area – 2 games I think. This one (with Andy Callan? – the Billhook brothers) had some nice renaissance figures in play I still cannot make up my mind about printed mats, do they compliment or distract from the figures? I think it depends.I spotted only one balloon – on the “The Bunker PG18” table where Martians? were about to rout human mankind This was a participation, with it seemed, plenty of participation
Back to Demo Land
I liked this table in the demonstration zone but the photo picks up the sky “lines” which is unfortunate.Probably the most striking demonstration scenery was Boondock Sayntes with their Turkish assault on this city comprising a variety of architectural styles but no less impressive for that. Maybe it is a modern eye to look for similarity. consistency and repetition.Peter Pigs Bloody Barons was the chosen ruleset for this demonstration gameRather traditional coloured lichen seemed effective to meLots of Perry miniatures on the table – rule of three figures per base shows you can extend your figures per base without any real loss of unit density.These units felt good – a nice size and the three figures to a base means you can still enjoy all your artwork.also the rule of three somehow makes the soldiers look less ordered – something to be welcomed in medieval armies.The forces close to decide the latest historical findings about this most defining battle in english history.The League of Extraordinary KreigSpeilers put on an excellent display of accurately proportioned 18th century era figures. They were very impressive yet somehow I think my vote remains with Phil Olley’s well fed troops and scenery on this occasion.
Materiel
I turned up in time to get a free figure: The Empress Matilda.
I might paint one one day!
I did buy a few items – nothing like some retail therapy.
I seem to be quite taken with autumnal or dry summer shades at the moment – Nothumbrian Tin Soldier no less.These chaps are not what they seem (from HSLBCo) – you see british while I see Pickelhaubed Prussian types!
2022 The Other Partizan: Another excellent show advertising next years dates as well……………Under one roof – 114 tables/stands offering a massive range of choice in games, demos, societies and tradersI was quite taken with the role playing ranges shown by Nothumbrian Tinsoldier but I must draw the line somewhere………anyway I do have some really ancient RPG kit that I can always drag into the light……….
In that last link nestling at the end of a post about RPG was a 1970’s era Minifig ECW regiment. A very failed project I think. Yet ECW remains an aspiration – I have the armies, copious rulesets and now even more scenarios, but for now the C19th remains a very interesting and compelling period – so unsurprising that I came away with something of that ilk. Vintage already? 2007 era and I have numerous rulesets in use – yet I will enjoy this authors take on a transitional period that effectively sees Napoleonics rubbing shoulders with machine guns
The Wargaming Erratic 
