Sunday 17 April 2016

Salute 2016, Part One.

Well, I'm back from Salute, after a very long weekend, and its fair to say I'm knackered.
 Salute is a beast of a show and I have learned one needs to pace oneself before during and after the show. Needless to say I forgot that advice, and hence my feet and back hurt, and my wallet has been strangled dry.
 So overall impression, I thought it was a huge success, especially given this years theme of Steam Punk? which I confess I know nothing about. Anyway I will start at the beginning.
 London has excellent public transport and I was able to get from North London to the Docklands in record time,ie 08.15, to find there was already a queue, to get into the show!
 I managed to blag a chair off a kind Salute worker, and ensconced myself in the waiting excited masses. [ Can you tell I'm taking Creative Writing lessons]
 I found it interesting to listen to the people, mainly men aged 25- 35 talking in a language I didnt know, about all things sci fi, fantasy, skirmish game, etc etc. I couldn't fault their enthusiasm or excitement, so great really. Once the place opened the masses were handled really professionally and the South London team should be applauded.
 Right, minor quibble, where was the seating area so punters could get a break and talk a bit? There was nowhere to sit in the hall, and when I tried to rest against a wall, I was told that I was blocking a fire exit? I got the impression, more traders were in the hall this year, so can only assume the seating had to go, however I still think there was enough space to create some areas.
 Right onto the show.
As I am a historical wargamer, I will start with these games, and I was pleased to see Dave Brown of General de Brigade fame? staging an ACW with his new rules due in the summer. I have to confess that I have ribbed him a lot since we first met, which he has taken in a great spirit, but I confess I do like his new rule systems and find them fun with a fair degree of accuracy thrown in.

 I can only apologise now, for some of the images, but the figures were great and it was a lovely game to look at and watch.




 It seemed that a lot of the historical games were in one area of the show, deliberate, I dont know, but I was very keen to see Ian Smiths 40mm Napoleonic, I was not disappointed, as it was a beautiful work of art, and I dont think that is an exaggeration. He is a lucky so and so.
I thought the cliffs were brilliantly rendered and must be about the best Ive seen at any show.




 One of my favourite regiments, the Neuchatel batallion, Ian painted the officer.



  The three daft lads who presented the game, Tony and Shaun, showing just how close they have become during the weekend.

Ian Smith showing the audience how to wear a smaller than average tee shirt correctly. Well done Ian.

I will provide hopefully in part two, some better qualitity images of other games that caught my eye.


17 comments:

  1. Robbie,
    Glad you had a cracking weekend. I was lucky in that both Ian's and Bills game were in the aisle opposite my stand so in the brief lulls I was able to run over and get a good luck. I thought it was a good show this year

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    Replies
    1. I thought likewise Graham. I also thought it was even busier than last year.

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  2. Cracking photographs of some wonderful figures and terrain. Wishing I was there gents.

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    1. Carlo,
      It is an experience in so many ways. I have attended many wargames shows, but Salute seems to pull something out of the hat each time.

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  3. Good photos Robbie - except for the one reminding me that I need to spend more time at the gym !

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    1. Ian,
      I thought you'd lost some weight.

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    2. Methinks the Quartermaster should be taken to task for ordering the wrong sizes for his regiment. :)

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    3. Jim,
      I think Ian was wishful thinking.

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  4. I'm reading the Salute reports in reverse order since #3 is at the top of the page and am only just seeing Ian's game for the first time. My reaction? WOW! It has everything from great terrain, well painted figures and creative composition to the table top story. I can't see how Ian could do any better than this. I am impressed. It makes me want to go home and start painting The Canaries.

    Jim

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    Replies
    1. Jim,
      Mr Smith really did pull the stops out, mind he did have a bit of help from some very talented helpers who did all the block painting on his figures.

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  5. Thanks Jim
    I appreciate the comments from someone who knows the difference - I actually won best in show as well as best scenery and given that Bill got best painting in a game , we set out to improve the standard of display game from last year and hopefully we achieved that and inspired a few more to try and outdo us - I loved Bills game and thought it should have won but in the end the girls were right after all - size is everything !

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    1. Ian,
      I hadnt realised that you won best of show, which is pretty impressive, I'm not certain that it can be outdone. I also loved Bill Gaskin's game and I am pleased he got an award as well. Pity about Tony getting nowhere in the painting competition?

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    2. Ian- Heard about that Best in Show Congrats mate. Didn't get to see the game- as usual saw bugger all except a lot of portraits of her Maj and the Gents a couple of times. Nothing new there .....

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    3. Gents,
      Salute has an award called best "realised" game. I think it would have been a disaster if you had not won this or best game. I thought the ensemble was fantastic. I had a couple of glimpses from my own club's display. I thought the whole visage was wonderful. I'll admit I love 7YW and am biased - so what.
      Scott

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  6. You're right there Robbie - I've got the two best block painters available to help me ;-)

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  7. Lovely to see Ian's game after build-up on AMG Forum, thanks Robbie (and Ian)

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  8. Thanks Andy
    It'll be interesting to see if it leads to renewed interest in the scale - but I'm not holding my breath !

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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