Yesterday I paid a flying visit to the Skirmish Toy Soldier and Wargames Show that is held twice-yearly in Sidcup, Kent.
Besides having just enough time to take a quick look around and to talk to a few wargamers that I know (including Lee Hadley, Postie, and Alan Abbey), I did manage to find and buy a few things. One trader was selling individual Del Prado pre-painted 25/28mm-scale Napoleonic figures for just 50p each(!) ... so I bought enough to complete a couple more units of Prussian infantry and to add another unit of infantry to each of the as yet unvarnished and based French and British armies. (I know that I wasn't going to buy any more figures, but these were just too good a bargain to turn down!)
I also bought both volumes of the Funcken books about the Napoleonic Wars for less than I had seen them on sale for on the Internet.
All-in-all this was an excellent little show, and I am pleased that I was able to go, even though I failed to resist the temptation to buy more figures!
Besides having just enough time to take a quick look around and to talk to a few wargamers that I know (including Lee Hadley, Postie, and Alan Abbey), I did manage to find and buy a few things. One trader was selling individual Del Prado pre-painted 25/28mm-scale Napoleonic figures for just 50p each(!) ... so I bought enough to complete a couple more units of Prussian infantry and to add another unit of infantry to each of the as yet unvarnished and based French and British armies. (I know that I wasn't going to buy any more figures, but these were just too good a bargain to turn down!)
I also bought both volumes of the Funcken books about the Napoleonic Wars for less than I had seen them on sale for on the Internet.
All-in-all this was an excellent little show, and I am pleased that I was able to go, even though I failed to resist the temptation to buy more figures!
Robert- You certainly found the Bargains- Figures and Books -all Napoleonic- certainly like to see Your Prussians, French & British. Regards. KEV.
ReplyDeleteKev,
ReplyDeleteI wasn't going to go to this wargames show, but my wife persuaded me to go ... and mighty please I am that I went.
I hope to complete my Prussian army within the next week or so, along with my Dutch-Belgians and Brunswick armies. I then intend to start on the British army.
All the best,
Bob
It always amazes me how cheaply you can get reasonably painted second hand wargames figures. Unless they are modern 28mm they just don't cost as much as they should.
ReplyDeleteXaltotun of Python,
ReplyDeleteThe figures that I bought were much cheaper than I would have expected, and had I not had some degree of self-control, I would probably have bought a lot more than I did.
The price of painted figures does seem to be extremely variable, and very prone to fad and fancy. I suspect that as we get closer to the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo, prices will rise ... and the quality will drop!
All the best,
Bob
A bargain always cheers you up!
ReplyDeleteLegatus Hedlius,
ReplyDeleteIt certainly does!
All the best,
Bob
Splendid purchases ,well done!
ReplyDeleteTradgardmastare,
ReplyDeleteThanks.
I was very pleased with what I bought ... and have spent quite a bit of today reading the two books.
All the best,
Bob
A bargain is a bargain Bob
ReplyDeleteJohntheone,
ReplyDeleteIt must have been a really good bargain as my wife thought I had done well to get so much for so little.
All the best,
Bob
Those Funken volumes (in French) were one of the foundations of my start in the hobby. hey aren't perfect but for all but a serious uniformologist, they give you the vast majority of what you need. They especially tend to show the horse furniture, which some sources (OPSPREY!!!) often lack adequate coverage of.
ReplyDelete50p a piece for painted figures - hard to pass that up!
Gonsalvo,
ReplyDeleteThe Funcken uniform books might not be 100% perfect reference books, but they are more than good enough for my needs.
As to the figures ... at that price it would have been really stupid not to buy them.
All the best,
Bob
My mom bought me the French editions of the Funken books back in 1971, and I wore them out from constant use. I hope you derive as much enjoyment from them as I did mine. BTW, the plates were a great inspiration for making buildings and town layouts for my games.
ReplyDeleteThe two Funcken books were my inspiration in getting seriously into this period. The Waterloo movie was the catalyst and the Airfix figures the building material.
ReplyDeleteMine are in French and it is personal failing that I failed to really use them to motivate me to pay attention in class when I had the chance to learn the language when I was at school.
Steven Page,
ReplyDeleteWhat you have written in your comment is yet another resounding recommendation for these books!
You are right about the backgrounds to the plates; some of them are excellent sources of ideas for buildings ... and I would not have noticed that without your prompting, for which I offer you my grateful thanks.
All the best,
Bob
Sun of York,
ReplyDeleteWell-illustrated books, a decent film, and some relevant figures ... probably one of the most common causes for wargamers to delve into a new period!
Like you my desire to learn French was less than enthusiastic ... with the result that I can just about order a coffee and ask directions ... and not always with a great degree of success in either case!
All the best,
Bob
I remember when you could borrow the Funken books from the local library. very hard to find books on wargaming in the library these days
ReplyDeleteJohntheone,
ReplyDeleteNowadays you would be hard-pressed to find a public library in some areas ... and when you do, trying to find any books can be a challenge!
All the best,
Bob
An excellent haul!
ReplyDeletePrufrock,
ReplyDeleteI thought so ... and I am already varnishing and basing some of the figures.
All the best,
Bob