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

Broadside Games Show 2025

Today I went to my second wargame show of the year, with another trip down the A2 to Gillingham, Kent for the Broadside Games Show run by the Milton Hundred Wargames Club.  

When I reached the Medway Park Sports Centre which only takes me about half an hour to get there, the car park was full once again as there was yet another college Sport’s day plus a swimming competition, but I did manage to find a parking spot which was very lucky.

The venue was right at the back of the sports centre and once again it was easy to find your way there. I paid my £4 entry fee, which I must say is a really good deal still, and entered the hall. This was just after 11am and it did seem busy. With the collapse of the SELWG shows, maybe people are now paying attention to this show.

The first thing for me was to look around the trade stands and there was plenty on offer for buyers. Although there were no 20mm plastic soldiers on sale like Salute this year. After a quick walk around the trade stands, I visited the Posties Rejects with their Battle of “Rivoli, 1797”. A battle between the Austrian’s and the French. Here are a couple of pictures of that game. 

The Rules are from “Volley and Bayonet - Road to Glory, and the figures 6mm Commission Figurines, which I believe are all painted by Richard (great work) 

There seems to be a lot of 3D printing companies out in force these days, but most do sci-fi stuff. I found that little room with hot/cold drinks machines and a few tables to have lunch in. Once finished, I went back into the hall and started to look around at the tables layout. There were quiet a number of demonstration games this year  which is always great to see. Even the area where people were selling their second-hand goods looked bigger.

There were loads of wargaming and participation games tables on show a total of 34, some small and some large games. One of them I have already seen at Salute, “Berlin 1945” from the Retired Wargamers Reloaded. Love this table/terrain, so here are a few more pictures of that. 

I went back to the Posties to see how the battle was going. It was nice to see and to talk to Ray Rousell, Big Lee and the rest of the group. It’s always nice to chat with these fine fellows. I had a great time at the show I even brought some Hedges (2pkts) and Vegetable strips from Debris of War out of the old war chest. Returned home just after 3pm on a beautiful summers day. Here is another picture of one of the other games at the show.

"Bridge over La Vie 1944" Shepway Wargamers Club

Salute 52

On Saturday 12^th April I went to my first wargaming show of the year, to “SALUTE 52” at Excel London run by South London Warlords.

It was a lovely sunny spring day as I set off for the show and arrived at 10.50 am, collected my goodie bag and set off looking around the trade stands. The first thing that hit me was the amount of people that had turned out for the event, which was really nice to see.

The trade stands had about everything you needed for your hobby, but once again no trader had anything for us out of date, 1/76 plastic figure collectors/gamers. Although I had some cash in the war chest to spend, I brought it all back home with me. Never seen so many dice of different shapes and colours though?

After lunch I met up with the bloggers at 1 pm and it was great to catch up with most of them that I was able to chat to. Sorry if I missed you.

Around the hall there were many games and a hell of a lot of participation games which were well attended. The only problem for me was that there were not many historical games but loads of sci-fi and fantasy ones again being played. I take my hat off to all of the gamers who made their tables look like museum model layouts. I was lucky enough to see Rifleman Harris from the TV series “Sharpe” 

Rifleman Harris Then

Now

So here are a couple of photographs that I took at Salute this year, not many I know, I should of taken more.

"Caen 1944" Joe Bilton

Not Known

79th Highlanders

"Berlin 1945" Retired Wargamers Reloaded

                                               

To the Strongest-Louis Quatorzes Wars

"Zeppelin" Hornchurch Wargames Club

It was a good show and I will be going back next year, but before that there is “Broadside” in June.

Broadside Games Show 2024

For my second wargame show of the year, yesterday it was another trip down the A2 to Gillingham, Kent for the Broadside Games Show run by the Milton Hundred Wargames Club.  

When I reached the Medway Park Sports Centre which only takes me about half an hour to get there, the car park was full as there was yet another college Sport’s day on plus a funrun day in the park next to the sports centre. I managed to find a parking spot which took me nearly 15 minutes to find one, and it was free to park. The venue was right at the back of the sports centre and it was easy to find your way there. I paid my £4 entry fee, which I must say is a really good deal, and entered the hall. This was around 11.40am and it seemed really busy.

The first thing for me was to look around the trade stands and there was plenty to offer buyers. After I could nto find any 20mm plastic soldiers on sale at Salute I found a stand that sold mostly plastic figures, called 1-72 Model Figures, so out came my short shopping list, but there were none of the Hat 1/72nd figures that I wanted. Oh well. After a quick walk around the trade stands, I visited the Posties Rejects with their Battle of “Croix-de-Bouquets, 1792”. A unknown battle between the revolutionary black slaves and the French. A interesting battle and the game was planed by Ray Rousell in which he made all of the terrain and painted all of the figures. Here are a couple of pictures of that game.

The Village

I found a little room with hot/cold drinks machines and a few tables to sit. So I had my lunch inside this year as it did not look all that good outside. Once finished I went back into the hall and started to look around at the tables layout. There were a hand full of demonstration games and a nice area where people were selling their second-hand goods. There were 18 wargaming tables on show, some really small and a couple of large games this year.  I went back to the Posties to see how the battle was going. It was nice to see and to talk to Ray, Big Lee and the rest of the group. They even had cake there made by Sparky. I had a time at the show even though I did not buy anything. Returned home about 3.30pm. If you have not been there, may be you should try it out next year. Here are some pictures of the other games.

"DORNIER DOWN"
The Shepway Wargamers

"PEGASUS BRIDGE"
The Retired Wargamers Reloaded Group

"A CROWN OF THORNS"
Deal Wargames Association

What a Great Shame

Just saw this today on Facebook and it’s very sad for everyone that usually goes, that SELWG 2024 has been cancelled. It seems that the show has struggled to attract traders for the last few years now, and to increase attendee numbers. But they are saying that they might be running a smaller event in the future (next year earliest), so hopefully this isn’t the end of the SELWG Shows. I must admit that I have only been to the Lee Valley Centre once and that was last year. Not as good or big as when they had it at Crystal Palace. Lets hope that they will move it back to south of the river next year.

SALUTE 51

Saturday (13 April) . I went to my first wargaming show of the year, to help Warlords celebrate 51 years of wargaming shows. Left my house at about 9.50 am on a lovely Spring day. Started the journey first by bus and then onto the Queen Elizabeth line. I arrived at Excel London in just under 30 minutes, door to door, which was great and no long queue to get into the hall.

It was nice to see how busy the show was although there were a few empty tables laying around. It did not have a shopping list this time, started off visiting the trade stands first which I always do and there seemed to be a lot more than last years show.

It once again became clear that the main supply of figures were again in 28mm and no 20mm figures at all, this might be because of the continuing war in the Ukraine, where most of the 20mm figures are made. But in reality it might be that they are not needed in wargaming any more?  The traders had a very good selection of everything you need to wargame from wargaming mats, rules dice (which there were plenty of)  terrain pieces, figures, paint and brushes.

Going around the wargaming tables, there was a lot of very good layouts and I must say that there were loads of demonstration and participation games going on which were always seem to be busy. Another thing that stood out was that there were many paint and take away activities which is always great for the hobby. The main games were Sci-fi or fantasy and not many historical games at all. Most of the games were at a high standard. At 2 o’clock I met up with the Bloggers meet and it was nice to see the faces again and to catch up with their new projects. I left the show at about 3pm and must say that I did enjoy the show and hope that next year will be even better. Here are a few pictures of the show.

South East Scotland wargame Club - 1815 100 Days Campaign

As above

 

Two Fat Lardies - Stalingrad 1944

 

Who would not want this on their table
15th Century-Italian Gradara Castle

 

Retired Warganes Reloaded - WWII Pegasus Bridge

Rubican Models - Vietnam

SELWG 23

This is the first year that I have been to three different Wargame Shows. I was toying about going to North London to see SELWG 23 as the last time that I went to one of theirs was in 2019 the very last one at Crystal Palace Sports Centre. As there were a few good reports from last years event, I finally thought why not and go and see if it’s as good as 2019.

I decided to travel there by car and got stuck in a few traffic jams, one of them was being the Blackwall Tunnel. But a slow progress up the A12 and a couple of rounder-bouts later,  I arrived just after noon at the Lee Valley Athletic Centre in brilliant sunshine. I was hoping to get there before 11.30am. No parking problems at all which was great.

Once I had paid my entry fee, I entered the Sports Hall. The first thing that caught my eye was the Bring and Buy stand and that was jammed packed. Trying to have a look at things was a bit impossible. So onto the Athletic track to see the rest of the show. 

It was easy to go around the trade stands and look at their wears, but about half way round I thought that I am a dying 20mm plastic gamer as not one trader had any 20mm companies. It was great if you are into 15mm and 28mm no problem for you, plenty to see. All the usual stuff with figures, terrain, books and games. But I did manage to buy some MDF stands (3pkts) for myself from “Products for Wargamers”.

On the gaming side there seemed to be a lot of fantasy games which included demo games where you could join in. Everyone seemed to be having a good time on the gaming tables, which is good for the hobby for the people just enjoying the day. I did not take many pictures but here are a couple of pictures from the games I liked.

 

Shepway wargamers Club "Dorrier Down"

Streatham and Tooting "Spanish Ulcers"

The show did not seem very busy when I was there and some of the traders started to pack up at 3pm. I left the show about 3.30pm after another walk around the hall again and joined the many queues of cars going home.

The show was not as good as the old ones, so I feel that unless it starts to pick up, I’ll leave the show off my list for now. I understand that HaT are not making any new figures and that the Ukraine and Russia war is still on going, so I am very limited to what is available right now. I have enough terrain at the moment, although you can never have enough of that.

Next year I hope to go to Salute 51 and Broadside again. Might even look at finding new shows to go too.

Broadside Games Show 2023

It was the hottest day of the year, well it was in London, when I made the half hour trip down the A2 to Gillingham, Kent for the Broadside Games Show run by the Milton Hundred Wargames Club. Yes my second show of the year, but I thought that I should try other shows and see what they can offer. When I reached the Medway Park Sports Centre the car park was full as there was an college Sports day on as well, but I managed to find a parking spot and it was free.

The venue was right at the back of the sports centre and it was easy to find your way there. Paid my £4 entry fee, which I must say is a really good deal, I entered the hall. This was around 11.30am and it seemed busy.

So first thing was to look around the trade stands and there was plenty to offer buyers. After there were no 20mm plastic soldiers on sale at Salute I found a stand that sold mostly plastic figures, called 1-72 Model Figures, so out came my short shopping list and brought myself three boxes of Hat 1/72^nd figures. They are the French in Greatcoats, Brunswick  Avantgarde and Prussian Volunteer Jaegers.

As it was a lovely day, I went outside to have my lunch.  Now the thing here is that there are no facilities for you to sit down and eat/drink which on such a large building seemed funny. But I went outside and watched the athletics while having lunch. Once finished I went back into the hall and boy was it hot in there, but I started to look at the tables layout. There were a hand full of demonstration games and a nice area where people were selling their second hand goods. There were 12 wargaming tables, some really small and some very large. This is where I meet the Posties, Ray and Big Lee. Lovely to see and talk to them again. 

They had a game on called a “Skirmish at St Frances Cove 1784” The game went well for the smugglers I believe.  Here are a couple of pictures.

 

I left the show about 1.30pm and I was so glad that I went and to finally spent some coppers. I shall go back again next year all being well.

Retired Wargamers Reloaded "Eagle & Lions at Carenten"