Broadside Show 2026

I have managed to go to my second wargame show of the year, with a trip down the old A2 to Gillingham for the “Broadside show” run by the Milton Hundred Wargames Club. I managed to get to the Medway Park Sports Centre a bit earlier this time as Last year there was not any space to park. The journey only takes me about half an hour and in the sunshine, it puts you in a good mood.

Once in the hall I was really surprised on how the hall was packed. This show seems to get better and better each year. So I do my usual thing of going around the trade stands first and although there were many, a couple had not turned up?  There was plenty to see. But I had notice that there were more 3D printed sellers there, thing of the future I guess. The hall was nice to walk around and not too hot as in previous years. Once I had done that I walked around the for sale tables which had books, models and bits of terrain, and there were plenty if them there. There were many demonstration /participation games. With the wargaming tables, a good mixture of things. A big display of the D-Day landings as shown at Salute this year. The Postie Rejects with the “Best of the Show” Retreat from Russia 1812. So I have taken a couple of pictures for you from other games. It was a great show and it’s nice to see how this little show has grown over a short period of time. 

"Polish Blizkrieg"
Deal Wargames Association

"Malplaquet 1709"
Hailsham Wargames Club

"Battle of Berezina 1812"
Posties Rejects

This was a great show for me as I managed to buy a few things this time. The hedge row and two corners are from Debris of War, which I usually but from. Good value for money. At last 1-72 figures were back and so I brought another box of HaTs 8105 French Limbers. (been wanting these for years)

I would like to draw your attention to the 1812 The Retreat from Russia - A Battle chronicle Wargame written and produced by Paul Brook, Lee Hadley and Ray Rousell. They are part of the wargame group Posties Rejects, which you can see from the pictures above. It has taken them 2 long years to produce the rules and the book through play testing. What a achievement by all concerned. The book has coloured photos and colourful diagrams.

Watching the game unfold, to see the French trying to hold off the Russians and to get back over the two pontoon bridges, was fun to watch. I can not wait to read the rules and to look at a couple of scenarios included in the book.

If you would like to purchase a copy, you can contact Lee Hadley via Big Lee’s ‘Miniature Adventure’s’ blmablog.com or Ray at onelover-ray.blogspot.com

Salute 53

On Saturday 11th April I went to my first wargame show of the year, SALUTE 53  run by the "South London Warlords". After a chilly start to the day I arrived at Excel London in just over half an hour. There was no queue when I arrived at 10.50 am, collected my goodie bag and set off looking around the trade stands. I must admit that I have never seen so many people at the show, so it was a great start to the day.

Once again the trade stands had everything you needed for our great hobby, but I did notice a hell of a lot of 3D companies that have been set up over the year. The trade stands were all very busy but I kept getting battered by people and their bloody backpacks. I feel like that I am getting out of touch with wargaming as once again, there were no 20mm plastic figures on sale. All nearly 28mm now. Once I had finished with the traders, I then turned my attention to the games. There were some fantastic layouts this year and plenty of demonstration/participation games.

I would like to salute to all the ladies who came along with their partners and there were plenty of kids as well, making kits or painting figures. They all looked like they were having fun. A great family day out.

I met up with the bloggers at 1pm and it was great to catch up with most of them that I was able to chat to. Sorry if I missed you. With my back now aching, I sat down and had lunch. I did manage to spend some of the coppers in the war chest and brought some bases from “Warbase” and a nice piece of terrain from someone? Purchased my first ever wargaming mat from “Deep-Cut Studio”

I had a really enjoyable day at Salute the best for many a year. I left the venue around 2.15pm knackered but happy. Roll on for the next wargming show. Here are a few pictures that I managed to take this year.

Milton Hundreds Wargame Club
"The Longest Day Sword Beach"

A Few Bits and the Hobby
"Italy 1944"

International Toy Soldier Club
"Men of Lead! Invasion 1897"

To The Strongest
"Lust for Glory"
Marlborough Wras

My Stash

Celebrating 18 Years of Blogging

 

Today my blog is 18 years old. When I started this blog to record my wargaming days, I was hoping that it would inspier me to do more in the hobby. Well the truth is I have failed to do what I wanted this blog to do. When I was made redundant back in April 2014, I thought that I would have plenty of time to go full pelt into the hobby, but life has very much got in the way too much.

I had hoped that my painted figures would be through the roof by now, but I have not finished any units for over 5 years now. I have 2 units that are half done, so I have plenty to do now. By now I was also hoping to have some DIY terrain made, but space is not available for me to do so. My little wargame cupboard is full of painted/unpainted figures, terrain, bits and bobs from wargaming shows. So this year things will have to change (fingers crossed)

Due to owning a very small house, I am now thinking of a wargaming shed at the bottom of the garden. This would have to be well insulated so my little men do not freeze to death and fall apart, or come to think of it, myself.  I would love to have electrics fitted, but that really depends on cost at the moment.

So if your one of my followers or you have just happen to find me, then I really appreciate your time. Let’s hope that this year my blog will be a lot better to view for you.

Vegetable Patch

 

I bought this off eBay a few weeks ago now. The item can be a vegetable patch or allotment plate and it came from Howard Scenic Supplies.  I have purchased from Mike before and it was a reasonable price with very quick delivery.  As you can see from the picture, that you can have any combination you wish as they are separate bases from the main base.  I know that I could of done this myself, but at least it gives me a template for future projects.

Why have I purchased it? Well I hope to get my Airfix Le Haye Sainte up and running. I have been collecting bits and pieces for it for years now and I think that I am ready to do the project soon.

www.howardscenicsupplies.co.uk

Cannon Ball Stacks

 

Cannon Ball Stack

Now I know that there are a lot of gamers out there that like their gaming table to be neat and tidy. I must admit that I am one of them gamers, but I have never seen my idea at any wargame shows or on wargaming blogs, So I hope that I am unique with this project. The idea was to show when the gun was in action or not. With the cannon ball stacks by the gun means that it is in action or without the stacks, the gun was damaged or out of action. Way back in the mid to late 70s, I made some small cannon ball stacks for my artillery. At that time I did not have many guns, so I made just the five to scatter around the table. 

Old stacks

These were made of old finishing lead weights which was given to me back in the 70’s from someone that gave up fishing. I came across these some time ago, while I was looking through my wargaming cupboard and thought that while my painting mojo is dry, that it might get me back into my hobby by doing some small projects that I have in mind. 

Old and New ones based

As you are unable to get the old lead weights now, due to the lead poisoning, I purchased some 3mm metal spacer beads from a craft shop while on holiday last year. These are just the right size and here they are all glued with PVA on their 20mm MDF bases. Once based and painted and flocked, they really came out well for my scatter terrain. Now I can use bigger beads for the howitzers.

All finished