Tuesday 14 April 2015

A Bit of Nostalgia [ well for me it is ]

I was sifting through some stuff last night and came across my old wargame photograph collection of games that I had put on over the years. I thought Id start with a couple from my re fight of the Battle of Blenheim, which was fought in 6mm and featured in Practical Wargamer many years ago.
Also because it was Colin Ashton's birthday yesterday [happy birthday again Colin] I thought he might like to see what he looked like way back.
                                     Charlie Wesencraft acting as Eugene, starting his attack.
Sorry about the lopsided image, my scanner is crap. Anyway me talking to members of the Imperiale Garde Band in the 1980's at a Napoleonic show at Lumley Castle. The battle I put on was the Battle of Hanau in 25mm. The show was a huge success over two days, with several thousand people attending to watch the band and other re enactors. The show was also the only time I had a group of painted figures stolen. 



 I think this was the first ever game that we ever put on, and was the Durham Wargames Show in the early 1980's although I would need John to consult his war diary to get the exact date.
The guy sat down looking pensive was Jim Hargreave, a former member of the group.The battle was a Renaissance Italian wars game.

This badly taken photograph was the refight of Aspern Essling in 6mm, there's John standing looking like he's going to make a really good move. The guy sitting is Steve, a wargamer who decided to leave the hobby overnight.  
These images were from my refight of Wagram, again in 6mm. I still have all the terrain from this battle, and I have managed to not sell the armies either. In fact I expanded the armies in order to re fight Leipzig, but never made the terrain. 




                         These two were our refight of the Battle of Eylau, again in 6mm. [1998]


Me in a dodgy shirt [it was my Magnum PI days] with everyone who attended a refight of the Battle of Austerlitz. Dave Jarvis, looking decidedly dodgy in a white sports shirt. The year was 1987!

A close up of the Austerlitz set up.

Part of the set up for my refight of the Battle of Waterloo. [1999]

So anyway, a fair dollop of self indulgent nostalgia, which are only a very small part of the refights that I have been involved with. My favourite?, I think Austerlitz was the most interesting to fight.

15 comments:

  1. Thanks for publishing those - I really enjoyed them. I don't know the guys (apart from Mr Wesencraft), but the pics capture the spirit of wargaming as I have known it, and they are well worth sharing. The Wagram pics are especially good.

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    1. Also included in the photographs is Ian Kay of Irregular Miniatures, and Paul Stevenson of ACW etc fame, good wargamers.

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  2. Love old wargaming photos , amazing how old fashioned things look only 30 odd years ago ! , Tony

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  3. Robbie,
    Brilliant stuff. Nothing wrong with a bit ( or a lot) of nastalgia. I remember all of these games and yes I think you're 6mm demos were and most probably still are at the forefront.
    Your other games are pretty damn good to.
    Nice to see you haven't changed much (Magnum ! :) )

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    1. I still have my 1980's detective suit somewher although I could never get into it now.

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  4. My God- I'm glad THOSE days are gone- the Mullets!!! the Mulletts Noooooooooooooooooooo!!
    However once you get past the sartorial inelegance
    I'm amazed how similar it all looks- not surprising when you think about it - same Dudes same games just younger.
    Nostalgia ain't what it used to be !
    any how Robbie you were NEVER that young ....

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  5. and I've not changed a bit.....

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    1. Thats funny because I was thinking I hadnt changed much either, give or take 3 stone or so, and less hair, and less teeth.

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    2. Yeah, same here. Still got hair but different colour, still got cheek bones, a bit heavier and more worn out round the edges, etc....

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    3. And all this to an orchestra of weeping violins ....... I think I have more hair - and a bit less weight. though there is a bit if grey- but I put that down to running a wargmes business rather than to mere age .....

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  6. Great looking games and I can see that Austerlitz was your favourite by the fantastic shirt!

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My 6mm Napoleonic set up.

My 6mm Napoleonic set up.
Austria 1809.

Austrian Hussars

Austrian Hussars
Hinchliffe figures

Austrian Grenzer

Austrian Grenzer
Austrian Grenzer

Smoggycon 2013

Smoggycon 2013
Smoggycon 2013

Smoggycon 2012

Smoggycon 2012
Smoggycon 2012

Smoogycon 2009

Smoogycon 2009
My French getting another beating