Monday 11 November 2019

General Jumbo.

When I was young, before the hormones kicked in I used to dream of being General Jumbo Johnson. He was a child who had command of a radio controlled army and air force. He was able to use his force to help people out and right wrongs including kicking the backsides of all bullies he came across.
 I was watching Channel Five's final of the Great Railway Challenge last night and General Jumbo came back to me as I enviously watched the competing teams of train builders attempting to out do each other with action models.
 Smoke, real flames, moving monsters, moving scratch built merry go rounds, windmills etc etc were all on show. Add a load of moving trains and people being flung from the said trains and you can see why I was reminded of Jumbo Johnson.
 Naturally this lead onto wargaming and wargaming shows. I think the only moving piece I ever saw at a wargames show was the lovely windmill created by Phil Olley. Wouldnt it be wonderful if animation and digital electronics could be used to enhance wargames, especially at shows.
 I know its superficial but after watching the train challenge I can understand why children etc find train exhibitions interesting.
 Whats not to like? Things move, there is sound and sometimes flashing lights and smoke.
 Many years ago John and I used a DVD of Austerlitz to enhance our display. I think it was used at Gateshead although I may be wrong. The reception was mixed. I remember getting into a bit of a discussion with a fellow exhibitor who complained about the glare? from the tv and the noise of cannons etc.
 Perhaps its time wargamers took up the challenge to enhance their games by introducing gimmicks to catch would be wargamers eyes.
 I was particularly impressed with the use of 'flash paper' in the train challenge. Imagine model houses bursting into flames ??
 Obviously Im joking, especially given the HSE mania wargaming shows have adopted.
 Anyway I think I will re watch the train challenge final to see if I can blag any ideas.

14 comments:

  1. You almost got there, many moons ago with your Warhammer space ship with solenoid activated doors (and lift iirc).

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    1. Joe, that wasn't Robbie. It was the Durham Old Boys, Paul Thompson, John ingleby and me. In the 80s. Space Hulk iirc.

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    2. Thanks Colin, I missed that active wargame display. Like I say the nearest Ive ever seen was Phil Olleys windmill.

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  2. I quite like those burning markers that people do with a flickering plastic tea-light candle placed inside a clump of teased out of coloured cotton wool / polyester.

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    1. So do I Norm, I used to scatter a few around the table at shows and then gave up on them, I dont know why. I must admit I did find the Train Challenge inspirational as regards the live models they used.

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  3. Back in the day when I put on some US-Mexican war displays we used a cassette of Mexican mariachi cantina band music which also received very mixed feedback from boring luddites!

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    1. You should have played the Gypsy Kings, more mainstream.
      I did use a cassette once of Imperial Garde music, sadly the tape is now gone. The noise was inspirational, well for me it was but others didnt enjoy the sound. The trouble is it can make wargamers look even more 'different'than they already are if you start shoving hats on and making sounds of explosions etc. I always think of the New Tricks episode where Alan Armstrong ended up at a wargames show, not a good image.

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  4. Our ACW displays used to be accompanied by the soundtrack from Burns' ACW series. Again to mixed reactions, especially from the Curtey twins!!?

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    1. Perhaps its the noise thing David. On the train challenge it was more, smoke, lights and moving little dioramas. Time to get the saw and glue out I think.

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  5. You can't help but be impressed with the model train builders. I've watched a few episodes and feel totally inadequate!

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    1. It was a good advertisement in the main for train modelers, I think the two presenters helped. Mind there was a few odd train modelers in the teams who you would avoid on the bus home and one of them claimed he was ALSO a wargamer.It takes all sorts I suppose.

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  6. Robbie,couldn't agree more-we do our bit by using LED T-lights when indicating artillery fire,but I'm sure we could do more-thinking caps on I think!!
    johnc.

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    Replies
    1. Exploding fuzzy wuzzies would look good John.

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    2. Robbie,my "fuzzie wuzzies" exploded a long time ago!!
      johnc

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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