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Sunday 26 September 2010

I have been to ... Skirmish in Sidcup

'Skirmish' is a twice-yearly Wargames and Toy Soldier show held in Sidcup, Kent, and as it is less than fifteen minutes drive from my house, I like to go if it is at all possible.

This time I spent almost as much time talking to old friends including David Crook, Professor Phil Sabin, Alan Abbey, and Ken Smith as I did looking at the traders stands and the wargames.

The following photographs give a flavour of the show:


Inside the entrance there were several trader stands that specialised in model military vehicle and aircraft kits and toy soldiers.
Also in the entrance were the 'Firepower' Museum's Royal Artillery re-enactors. They had a large display of Second World War military equipment on show, and were both knowledgeable and very welcoming to anyone who showed an interest.
The main hall contained the rest of the trader stands.
One of my old friends - David Crook (AKA Orgefencer with whom I wargamed many, many years ago in the basement wargame room under Eric Knowles's shop, 'New Model Army' in East London.)
The Old Guard Wargame Club fighting a battle from the Crusades using the 'Command and Colours' wargames rules.
A close-up on the second Crusades battle fought by the Old Guard Wargame Club. They corners of the hexes have been marked on the tabletop and can just be seen.
The Orwell Wargamers staged a wonderful 6mm-scale recreation of the fighting around Hougoumont during the Battle of Waterloo. Alan Abbey is watching events unfold ... when he is not making rude comments about me! (What else would you expect from an old friend?)
A close-up of Hougoumont with the fighting in full swing.
An American Civil War battle in progress.
What at first looked like a conventional Napoleonic battle turned out to be far more interesting ... it was a battle from the South American Wars of Liberation!
A large-scale skirmish between German and Russian troops in Stalingrad.
The Russian defenders.
As usual this was a nice, friendly, local show ... just like so many others that now - alas - no longer take place.

PS. Apologies to those wargames clubs whose games I have photographed but whom I have not credited by naming them in my captions. My excuse is that I forgot to ask ... and I will try to do better next time.

6 comments:

  1. I really wanted to go to this show but have had to give it a miss because I've got a stinker of a cold.

    Nice pictures though. Make me wish I'd crawled out my sick bed (or armchair) to get there.

    ReplyDelete
  2. BigLee,

    It was a very nice small show; perhaps you will be able to make it next time (which should be sometime in March 2011 ... I think).

    All the best,

    Bob

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi,

    Very nice picture report. Any idea of the 6mm napo rule used ?

    Thanks for sharing.

    Benoit

    ReplyDelete
  4. Benoit,

    I am glad that you enjoyed my report.

    Unfortunately I did not make a note of the rules being used for the 6mm game, but I am sure that Orwell Wargamers might be able to tell you.

    All the best,

    Bob

    ReplyDelete
  5. Bob,

    Thanks for your reply. I have googeled but not find their website. Do you know if they have any ?

    Kind regards,

    Benoit

    ReplyDelete
  6. Benoit,

    I am afraid that I don't have any further information about them or their game.

    If I find out more, I will let you know.

    All the best,

    Bob

    ReplyDelete

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