Tag: wargame shows

Partizan 2026 part two

Part two resumes with a dose of medieval warfare….

Lewes 1264 by Mogsy Makes as I know of him opted for some serious sloping ground

I did arrive with a purchasing plan – that failed to survive contact with reality. One intention was to buy Midgard rules but in the end it was a “no” despite my feeling it was a fantastic display and they really did go at the game, unlike some tables where actual progress was harder to determine.

The arrays on show made you want these armies

Not all the units were dressed for a night out at a seventies disco

The Mogsy makes blog explained the walls of Lewes were a mini “bin rescue” project

I did buy some cobbled lanes from “Early War Miniatures” – last year I bought some of their muddy lanes. The latex material means they sit better on some gaming set ups and scenery.

A brace of samurai games provided variety

Unexpectedly I dawdled past the Dutch section on the EWM stand while checking to see if they had any Italeri plastic WW1 1/72 italians (which he did and I now have – using them for my Fauxterre 1930 forces). Suddenly I remembered buying some home defence books at Fiasco 2025 in Leeds (in the royal armouries bookstore), and before you knew it a Dutch roadblock was in the bag along with a small stone bridge (nice shape) which matches the cobbled road pack and a Dutch armoured car……hmmmm

Stunning 18th century and Baroque armies were common as muck

These are correctly proportioned 30mm figures so look overly slender to the average wargamers engorged eyes – still they look fantastic en-masse

Approximately 1500 to 2000 figures graced this table.

I strolled out to the small bring and buy. This visit yielded some now rarer imex 1/72 wagons and horses sets while next door I snapped up 13 (lucky for me) practical wargames magazines. The reason being, the seller must have had a mid nineteenth century bent, because of all the articles on acw but more importantly 1848/1859 and 1866 Italian independence wars featuring heavily.

League of Augsburg put on an impressive display

The buildings on show were fine models and very pleasing on the eye

I was on a roll and back at the Lance and Longbow society stand I took ownership of a book about Stoke Field 1487 (another long in the tooth project of mine). The society zone is a really good aspect of Newark shows and it was sad that it seemingly fell foul of the change of organisation at Hammerhead in March.

I met and had a chat with Chris, he of “not quite mechanised” fame. This time he was having a rest from his hex ww2 participation games which are most enjoyable and ideal show games.

One of the many ACW games being demonstrated

Bodkins ACW table caught my eye as much for the amount of information they provided at the table edge – a lot of homework done here.

Still finding plenty of wandering energy, I passed by Iron Gate Scenery a couple of times looking aslant at their new castle model. I collected nearby some Frankish metallics in 1/72 from Tumbling Dice – hoping they get painted but don’t hold your breath.

Away in a corner Parabellum from Birmingham where there with their plastic figures – I snapped up a Strelets (Ukrainian company) city levy box for my current medieval madness.

Sci fi was more visible in the participation games area – this one was put on by Tangent miniatures

And then mid afternoon I returned yet again to north stars demo table. It was ACW – 25/28mm crusader figures very nicely proportioned rather than heroically fisted 28/33mm figures.

I think these were painted by Nick Eyre who casts these crusader miniatures at North Star

I think we need to start recording 28mm scale in double references as the variation in height and muscularity dwarfs even the 20/25mm dilemmas of the 1970’s.

I found this demo game an enjoyable watch because one of the guys clearly liked explaining what was going on although they offered me to play – it was faster with them even though the rules are new to them as well

Anyway I liked the table, I liked the figures and I enjoyed the guys explanation and interaction – ok so their in business but there is still a good way to sell and show while there are also bad ways.

It’s a 6×4 feet table and with nice scenery and great figures at a “home” scale I found it more engaging than the very impressive “club” or “group” set ups fine though they may be. Both Partizan and Hammerhead have lots of smaller table games.

Later after numerous pop ins to watch them play out the rules with explanations to others I finally returned having bought “musket and tomahawks” core rule book plus the new “kepis and bayonets” period piece they had played, to tell them I was at least one punter sold on the demo.

Back to a restart – the forces were set up to enable a quick engagement

Bearing in mind the core rules – single figures skirmish and originally 18th century oriented have no place in my gaming spectrum you may be thinking there is erratic and then erratic.

Some excellent very specific units which nick eyre talks about on the Lead Adventure Forum website

But the clinchers were the figures played with in the demo were multi based not singular and being ACW not that far from my stamping ground of 1848/1859…..

An astounded Mr Miller spies a measuring stick on the table! (Only joking)

Yet that was not my last splash even though it was a big spend of 50 quid at Caliver. I am hoping these rules get more use than another French authored set “art de l’guerre” – loved the production values of what in effect is an improved DBA but hardly given a run out since ancients slipped off the gaming agenda.

Which reminds me I was buttonholed by the guys promoting DBF – fanaticus, which seems a new version of DBA set to be published. Whilst long in the tooth DBA has always been playable as a house game – getting rid of the wordy complexity of course.

My loot turned out to be a lot more than I planned…..

Anyway my final tour brought me again to Iron Gate Scenery where I succumbed to a Scottish castle…..maybe in a few weeks time, given they sold all their stock at the get go and now have a string of orders to fulfill.

This castle was unavoidable – at the main hall entrance but crucially modelling natural river stone or cobbles instead of the usual dressed stone in the walls. This random rubble look was just too compelling.

All in all a great day out – games, people, figures, rulesets, shopping or just looking and absorbing with loads of people enjoying their hobby their way.

Thanks to the organisers, traders and those volunteers-clubs and their unsung supporters!

And then they were gone – not stayed this late in a long while.

2027 show hopefully not to be missed.

Tags Partizan Newark, wargame shows, wargames, wargaming

wargame shows wargaming

A Brace of shows

My wargaming year invariably starts with Vapnartak in York followed by Hammerhead at Newark on Trent.

The queue at Hammerhead was shorter than I expected though

I was going to do one post about these shows but have decided it’s a bit confusing.

So there will be two separate posts. The most notable thing was numbers, queues to get in were shorter or more efficiently cleared!

But then both felt less “crushed”. In the case of VAP yet again there was this odd mix of available space and some crowded areas. It’s almost as if traders get their usual spot and if there are any “no shows” then there is no rejigging.

Having some participation games right next to the crowded bring and buy felt ridiculous given the bags of space elsewhere – all paid for by someone of course.

In contrast Hammerhead filled its spaces although some “late no shows” occurred because the new show runner – Caliver books offered them out again at the last minute. There were no obvious gaps so I assume there was some juggling to avoid gaps.

Anyway two enjoyable shows to get the wargaming year off to a start. Except my wargaming year has certainly shifted to starting in the autumn and finishing in spring once my two winter painting challenges are done. But that’s another story.

Tags actual size miniatures, hammerhead show, tumbling dice miniatures, Vapnartak, wargame shows, wargames, wargaming

wargaming

Toy Fairs

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 store

I was almost tempted but 20 quid was too much

Some collectibles of course for the discerning customer – not me of course!

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

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.

Tags 20mm figures and modelling, miniature figures, monk bar models, wargame shows, wargames, wargames shows, wargaming

wargame shows

Recon 2025 Pudsey: The end of the year show

Post author By lorenzoseventh
Post date 10th Dec 2025
1 Comment on Recon 2025 Pudsey: The end of the year show

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.

https://wargameamateur.blogspot.com/2025/12/recon-pudsey-december-2025.html?sc=1765231696499&m=1#c7385298737468850535

https://www.instagram.com/p/DR9tnHbDKvw/

Then again here are some retrospective views of a great show.

https://thewargamingerratic.home.blog/2024/12/10/recon-2024/

https://thewargamingerratic.home.blog/2023/12/11/recon-2023-at-pudsey/

https://thewargamingerratic.home.blog/2021/12/08/recon-at-the-double/

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.

Tags Recon, recon 2025, wargame shows, wargames, wargames shows, wargaming

wargame shows

Fiasco 2025

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 varnish

I can never refuse a bargain and love these pre coloured card models – at colour party paints

Some 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 acquisitions

Some nice printed ships and planes at three decks dockyard

The games were mainly small table affairs with plenty of participants joining in.

Big games were in evidence but in smaller scale such as bouvines in 6mm

Plenty of naval action over on the right!

Vertical gaming – a neat, small but intriguing game by Django Ensoe and Stafford Collie

The display included some useful material

The 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 me

I 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.

https://thewargamingerratic.home.blog/2024/10/27/a-genteel-fiasco-part-two/

And here is last years show post.

https://thewargamingerratic.home.blog/2024/10/29/a-genteel-fiasco-part-1/

Tags actual size miniatures, Fiasco Leeds, royal armouries, wargame shows, wargames, wargames shows, wargaming

wargame shows wargaming

Fiasco 2025 returns to the Museum

Post author By lorenzoseventh
Post date 22nd Oct 2025
No Comments on Fiasco 2025 returns to the Museum

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.

The museum I recall was very well lit.

I might just go…..

Tags Fiasco Leeds, Leeds Wargames Club, wargame shows, wargames, wargames shows, wargaming

wargaming

A Game Wow!

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…..

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.

https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Map_showing_a_battle_ground_at_Kelly%27s_Ford,_Virginia,_17_March_1863.jpg#mw-jump-to-license

So taken with his work was I that I simply made an entry for today’s game in his style.

I played using one hour Wargames book, rules and scenario plus solo options for set up. Figures were what I fancied fielding!

Tags 1/72, 20mm, hammerhead show, mid 19th century wargames, one hour wargames, table-top wargaming, wargame shows, wargames, wargaming

wargame shows wargaming

Artists & Makers

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!

Tags art and wargames, wargame shows, wargames, wargaming

wargame shows wargaming

Hammerhead 2023

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.

Tags Gaslands, hammerhead, paper armies, wargame shows, wargames, wargaming

wargame shows wargaming

High Street Hiatus V – Recon Tripled

Post author By lorenzoseventh
Post date 2nd Dec 2022
No Comments on High Street Hiatus V – Recon Tripled

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.

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?

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.

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.