It's been well over ten years since I last visited Carronade wargames show at Falkirk of which I have many fond memories including winning a painting comp or two. Or at least getting prizes, as I say, it's been a while. It was my mate who suggested that we go, make a weekend of it and see how things are nowadays- we were not to be disappointed.
In an era, post pandemic, it is seemingly the small and middle shows who seem to have suffered the most. People are less likely to make the trip to a show post SARS CoV 2, a fact we can't ignore, but I think there is more to it and I will touch on that in the following article/stream of wargaming consciousness!
As a wee note, please forgive me but I cannot names all the games and clubs responsible for putting them on. This is just not as easy as it used to be back in the day when my energy levels were bursting through my skin! Where I could I have taken the time to take a picture of the name of the club so I could cross reference it with the list of games on the Carronade website. any mistakes or omissions are entirely my own fault and do not reflect on the clubs who put these great games together. Rather, look at it as the beginning of my dodderiness!
NB. All the images are clickable, simply right click then "Open in New tab" and you will get them full file. They have been edited down, mostly to 1600 pixels wide or high, just to keep things from getting silly with loading times etc.
Years ago I was lucky enough to witness Colin's highly creative "imaginations" wargames at SESWC (Edinburgh Wargames Club). Very "Boys Own" in style with the same fun ethos of the comics. Overall, quite quirky and "out there". This game was no different and was a real treat as well as a being wee burst of nostalgia. I believe Colin, Dave, Andrew and Bill (plus others) now game on their own away from SESWC under the banner of the Gothenburg Gamers. I'll leave out the part where my backpack took out the artists easel displaying the game info! Embarrassing, it was!
Gothenburg Gamers:
Victorian Undersea Adventure 28mm PP Game
Tyneside Wargames Club:
1st Battle of Polotsk 1812, Russians v Franco Bavarian 15mm Demo Game.
Supreme Littleness Designs:
I did have a rather long conversation with Michael regarding his designs and business, bought his Desert For Ruins kit for £15 which I am still waiting to appear in the hands of the postman. more on that when I get the model.
Claymore Castings:
Hands down the best Early Hundred Years War miniatures by a royal mile. David and co are also working on expanding their ranges which is fantastic news for me- for so many years I wrote letters, then emails begging my favourite sculptors to produce such and such a Late Medieval range, always to be disappointed. Not so now! I'm going to be working on some Italians or Poles (Bohemians) very soon- I cannot quite make up my mind as to what exactly as I feel spoiled for choice and that is quite rare in Late Medieval wargaming!
Battle of Tewkesbury, The Immortals:
As you might have gleaned form my last words this game was a huge hit for me. It was not just the size, (which was huge!) but the attention to detail, the scope of trying to define the battle etc and, of course, there is the fun of playing in such a beautiful game! One day! "A York! A York!"
Glasgow Games Group
Just seeing the banner let loose a lot of emotion on my part. My very sadly departed mate, Spencer, had a great influence on the G3 Group of gamers. He will always be missed and always in my heart.
The Grumpy Goblin Wargames Club
What a Wastelander Post Apocolyptic PP Game
Aberdeen Wargames Club:
Sengoku Jidai! What is not to like. I feel Warlord's Hail Caesar's supplements are getting very popular. They stand a good chance of getting more folk into the hobby, so as much as I have a love/hate relationship with Warlord, it's great to see the company influencing folk to try new things. not that for one moment I'm saying Aberdeen Wargames Club are new to the hobby! Far from it!
The Alamo
Targe, Kirriemuie Wargames show, Saturday 1st November:
28mm Samurai Demo Game
When living in Edinburgh, I used to visit this show religiously. It was always great and always a very social event. Yep, I really miss this one too.
Glasgow and District Wargames Society:
Russo Ottoman War 1768, 28mm PP Game
I did not have time to take pictures of all the games, sorry guys, it's hard to do so and catch up with folk after not seeing some for over a decade!
And finally, one humungous apology to my good friend Colin Spiers who I walked past a few times, didn't recognise him. In the words of Shakespeare, "Shame, shame, and unperdable shame!". I hope you can forgive me Colin, there is nothing i would have liked more than to catch up! If it ever happens again, please poke me in the ribs!
