Going to the 'Skirmish' Toy Soldier Show in Sidcup has become part of my wargaming routine. This local twice-yearly show is held at Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School in March and September, and it always provides me with an opportunity to meet and talk to people I know, spend time looking at the wide range of toy soldiers, models, and wargames stuff that is on sale, and to see some interesting wargames.
Amongst the people I saw this time were:
... as well as two other regular wargaming bloggers The Angry Lurker and Big Lee, and the leader of the 'gang', the famous Postie. It was nice to put faces and voices to these gentlemen ... and I hope to see them again soon.
There were a number of different wargames on view at the show. There were one or two participation games but most were demonstration games.
'Crush the Kaiser': A demonstration game of these new rules
The game used a very impressive trench system, as can be seen from the following photographs:
Skirmish Wargames: 'The Battle On Snowshoes (14th March 1758') using 54mm-scale figures
I don't know what they used to simulate the snow, but whatever method they used, it was very effective. The figures were exquisite and were yet another reason why wargaming in 54mm is so attractive.
The Privateers of London: 'The Battle of the Java Sea'
The Old Guard: 'Let the Dominoes Decide' Gladiatorial combat participation game
The game used area movement (on some very nicely modified Heroscape™ terrain tiles) and simple rules to simulate gladiatorial combat.
South East London Wargames Group (SELWG): A 'Very British Civil War' battle using 28mm-scale figures
As I have come to expect, this was an excellent show. There were lots of traders, and from what I saw they seemed to be quite a good trade. I really enjoyed my visit to 'Skirmish' and I am already looking forward to the next show, which will be held in September.
Amongst the people I saw this time were:
- Kenny Smith (a member of the 'Old Guard Wargames Club')
- Alan Abbey (one of my ex-pupils from a long time ago and now a leading member of the 'Milton Hundred Wargames Club')
- Professor Phil Sabin (who is a senior member of staff in the War Studies Department at King's College, London, and who has recently had an excellent wargames book, SIMULATING WAR, published)
... as well as two other regular wargaming bloggers The Angry Lurker and Big Lee, and the leader of the 'gang', the famous Postie. It was nice to put faces and voices to these gentlemen ... and I hope to see them again soon.
There were a number of different wargames on view at the show. There were one or two participation games but most were demonstration games.
'Crush the Kaiser': A demonstration game of these new rules
The game used a very impressive trench system, as can be seen from the following photographs:
Skirmish Wargames: 'The Battle On Snowshoes (14th March 1758') using 54mm-scale figures
I don't know what they used to simulate the snow, but whatever method they used, it was very effective. The figures were exquisite and were yet another reason why wargaming in 54mm is so attractive.
The Privateers of London: 'The Battle of the Java Sea'
The Old Guard: 'Let the Dominoes Decide' Gladiatorial combat participation game
The game used area movement (on some very nicely modified Heroscape™ terrain tiles) and simple rules to simulate gladiatorial combat.
South East London Wargames Group (SELWG): A 'Very British Civil War' battle using 28mm-scale figures
As I have come to expect, this was an excellent show. There were lots of traders, and from what I saw they seemed to be quite a good trade. I really enjoyed my visit to 'Skirmish' and I am already looking forward to the next show, which will be held in September.
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It was a pleasure to meet you (and David) at last. It is a nice little show with a small but wide range of stuff to see and buy. I always enjoy the informal atmosphere which is why I have taken my daughter along the last couple of years. She had a great time and by the end of the day had spent more money than I did!
ReplyDeleteLee Hadley (Big Lee),
ReplyDeleteIt was also a pleasure for me to meet you, the Angry Lurker, and Postie.
'Skirmish' is what I remember wargames shows being like before clubs like the South London Warlords and SELWG started to make them into big commerical operations. Big venues and slick advertising is not what I am looking for; what I want is a nice informal, relaxed atmosphere where one can see what is on show and where one can meet and talk to new and old friends.
All the best (and here's looking forward to the next time we meet),
Bob
PS. Is your daughter a 'historical' or a 'fantasy' wargamer?
Hi Bob,
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more about the smaller show - the big commercial events are just too darned 'full on' for my taste. I prefer coming home inspired rather than battered!
Great to meet up again Bob and for sure we will need to sort out a game in the not too distant future.
All the best,
DC
David Crook,
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to wargames shows, small is very definitely better!
I would hope to arrange a wargame some time before Easter. I will send you some possible dates in a couple of day's time.
All the best,
Bob
Thanks to you and David for giving me a glimpse of a nice smaller British show. It reads like it was a very positive place to be.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed seeing the photos of you two . . . and you sort of look like a younger, slimmer version of me, Bob.
-- Jeff
Bluebear Jeff,
ReplyDelete'Skirmish' is - in my opinion - one of the best small shows In the UK. It is mainly a toy soldier show, but has enough wargames stuff to make it worth going to just for that.
So I look like a younger, slimmer version of you? Well you must be a very good looking chap then!
All the best,
Bob
Looks like a good time was had by all.
ReplyDeleteConrad Kinch,
ReplyDeleteIt was a great (half) day out!
All the best,
Bob
It was great to meet the legend in person Bob......
ReplyDeleteThe Angry Lurker,
ReplyDeleteIt was nice to meet yourself and the rest of Postie's Rejects, and I hope that next time I will have a bit longer time available to have a chat.
All the best,
Bob
That trench table looks amazing.
ReplyDeleteCheers
The Kiwi,
ReplyDeleteIt was even more impressive 'in the flesh' than it appears in the photographs.
All the best,
Bob
So not a bad day - apart from falling into bad company? Oddly enough, a similar problem seems to have affected DC...
ReplyDeleteTim Gow,
ReplyDeleteIt was a great day ... as was the company!
All the best,
Bob
Great report, Bob ... I was looking for more pics of that battle of the Snowshoes game - and then I see the Participation Game using Let the Dominoes Decide. An unexpected surprise.
ReplyDeleteCan I post your photo (+ a link here, of course) on the Society of Ancients forum?
Great to see it - it is, of course, an offshoot of Graham Hockley's Anno Domino Chestnut Lodge game (as recycled by Trebian and I in the Domino Double Header games seen at CoW over the last couple of years ...)...
SoA Shows North,
ReplyDeleteThanks very much for your kind remarks ... and please feel free to both use the photograph on the SOA forum and to link it to my blog.
I thought that the game had a familiar look to it ... but I never got around to asking about the rules as I was distracted by a conversation I was having with several of the members of 'The Old Guard' whom I know from years ago.
All the best,
Bob