Inspirational if only in terms of getting me to want to push forwards with a few stagnant projects once more.Really only one truly BIG game on show... a very impressive 40 foot + version of the Arnhem push by XXX Corps. Done in 54mm it was rather a treat although I did witness a bit of willy-counter willy waving but two guys vying to have it as THE biggest game ever seen in wargames. Actually neither of them were correct with their choices as I had seen an even bigger one at Historicon three years ago!!!
40mm & 54mm are growing in popularity at least as demo-ing scales, don't know about actual club gaming though. Their was a very nice Waterloo section ( east of the Charleroi road) done by the same guys who did the extract west of that road last year. Some very nice WW2 games in general. A 6mm version of The Alma with beautiful terrain sculpted as the heights. That was the most like a real battle overview of the day. Lots of very average semi-club games not worthy of such a big show I don't think.. mostly ancients. A very innovative 1949 type scenario with yeti/monsters/zombies etc and a submarine frozen in the arctic ice... liked that! Nice LOTR 54mm game with losts of single figures.
On the product front the Perry's plastics were stirring up most dust although the reaction from punters was to my ears very mixed. The table looked lovely (as you would expect) and the units very attractive, linear and painted in that style where it all just 'goes together beautifully'. The talk however from those who had see, bought, painted was a little different: poor manufacture (not sculpting of course!!), hats that were too small for heads, arms that didn't fit properly, little detail to paint, bland, small, skinny etc. For me it was difficult to say as I have never actually painted one and to be frank I thought they looked beautiful en masse but I was genuinely surprised at the mixed press they seemed to attract. At roughly 33p a figure it is an obvious choice for those who don't want to spend x3 or x4 on one lead man. The biggest longer term disadvantage I could see was their fragility. The bayonets are thin, slight and brittle. They will break easily and there is no 'yield' in hard plastic.Metal figures dunted can be bent back, these wont be.
As for non wargaming attractions, the organisers had learned from last year and I didn't spot any Nazis
but I did spot a Star Wars Imperial stromtrooper who was wider than he was tall 
, three or four Roman legionnaries who were marching around and tripping over the floor like the cartoon Romans in Asterix, A group of reasonably together ACW Rebs although some had ttouble marching in time to the drum 
, a nicely dressed Polish Napoleonic Lancer and a bunch of guys who obviously wished they'd been picked as extras for PLATOON or Hamburger Hill 
This Vietnam re enactment group ( do we really need such a thing???) stood about chewing gum, looking mean and saying 'der's Gooks in da gress', "don't leave nuthin' fur tha Dinks" and "Charlie don't surf". I was underwhelmed You had to watch your back all day as motorised Tiger,Panther IS-IIs, T34's ,flak tractors and armoured cars were being propelled round the hall but the 'wireless' gang.. actually I enjoyed these big boys toys very much.
Trade seemed brisk. BLB did very well and I think Ray/Rob & Mark, Bill and Julian were fairly content with sales overall.
I met many friends and acquaintances. Great to see me LoGW buddies Black Angus and Dave '24 hours from Tulsa' well Dundee actually, Tulloch
, Big Deano and Andy.. now that was a pleasure , Mark Allen, Gary Chalk, Duncan & Dan, Lorenzo from Dadi & Piombo, John & David from WSS, John Wray and nice to meet the informative Ian Stainsford.Oddest sight of the day the old, well dressed guy with the extreme case of Tourettes, opening up a path like the Red Sea through the hall!
£10 to get in, not worth it!
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