Border Reiver Show, Saturday 17 September at Gateshead International Stadium

Today we (my glamorous driver and wife Katherine and I) nipped up to Gateshead for a quick visit to this local show which is a regular event in the convention diary. This event is more of an excuse to catch up with the wargaming diaspora over a coffee, cake and/or bacon buttie, and support a local club, so in that respect objectives were achieved. 

Here’s some photos of the games that didn’t involve giant robots, vampires or spaceships which are not my thing. So, in no particular order ……

WW2 Western Desert. British v Italians and Germans. 28mm by Westerhope Wargames Club.

                                                                                    

Ancient naval in what appears to be 6mm.

North Shields’ 3D Wargamers put on this Jacobite rebellion game which was quite appealing. Some nicely painted highlanders in their plaid.

When I got close enough I could see that this was Egyptians v  Hittites. I think.

Dark Ages Viking Raid

All I bought were some MDF bases and a cup of weak coffee. I did not succumb to the voices in my head telling me to buy a piece of carrot cake or a bacon sandwich so I reckon I deserve a pat on the back for my restraint. I also didn’t buy any paints or washes, or any figures, books, terrain or brushes. I did get to catch up with the lads and other mates and acquaintances I’ve not seen for ages.

We only stayed for about an hour and a half and then home. I must thank the boss for insisting on taking me; we were planning on going into Durham afterwards but she’s not well and awaiting surgery in less than two weeks time as her colorectal cancer has returned, which is emotionally a strain for her but also for us both. She’ll be fine as her faith is strong  and although it is a scary thing to contend with we have to be positive.

A game is planned for next Saturday so I’m looking forward to that.

Border Reiver Gateshead

 

Border Reiver Gateshead 7 September

John the Red and I took ourselves (actually John took me)  up to Gateshead yesterday. It was the 25th anniversary of Border Reiver so it is a shame that the organisers of the Colours show in Reading decided to move their event from the Sunday of the first weekend in September to the Saturday, hence the clash. Allegedly this change was due to someone’s birthday and/or a beer festival. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong. Whatever the truth the immediate impact was to draw many previously loyal traders away from Gateshead down to Reading where business would perhaps be brisker. However, Warbases, Pendragon and Warlord are to be commended for honouring their commitments and splitting their efforts in order to maintain their presence at both events.

So, the trade at Border Reiver wasn’t outstanding but it wasn’t too bad either, although there were several empty spaces where traders might have been seen in previous years. In fact the hall didn’t feel that full in terms of traders and games, but up until around 12 noon it did still somehow seem pretty busy and quite full of punters, so hopefully the traders were happy. The tabletop sale looked pretty busy too even if most of the stuff on sale seemed to be Warhammer related. Meh!

If I were to be completely frank, the games were generally ok but nothing special, and while none were particularly bad, and all contained some nicely painted minis (even the Barbarossa game in 6mm) none were jaw-droppingly good. There weren’t very many of them either. I know from years of personal experience just how much physical and mental effort goes into putting on even a half decent demo game, so those that continue to do so and support the show are to be commended, especially those from slightly further afield. The one show I put a game on at (Battleground in Stockton, 30 November) leaves me a complete wreck even though it’s barely 10 minutes from my front door.

As is usual these days the best bit about these events is the chance to speak to friends and
acquaintances and swap war stories, ideas, discuss the hobby in general and drink too much average but palatable coffee. I picked up a few odd and ends, such as some plastic Landsknecht shot for my next project, a commander figure off Warlord for my TYW Swedes, and a set of WW1 rules as they piques my interest. I was also kindly given some free figures from Rob of Reiver Castings/Northumbria Painting Services and sprees of plastic Russian Crimean infantry off Robbie and a John the Red so on balance not a bad trip out. Oh, and on an impulse I bought an assembled and nicely painted large ship in 28mm to add to the fleet. Here are some photos of the games on show this year.

Pirate mayhem from the very talented Capt. Jack.

Isandlewhana by the Westerhope lads.

Napoleonic I think by chaps from Scarborough. 

D'Erlons attack at Waterloo. Wall to wall figures!

Operation Barbarossa. All of it in 6mm.

Border Reiver, Gateshead

Yesterday I made a short visit to this year’s Border Reiver Wargames show at the Gateshead International Athletics Stadium (the irony of this when one sees the vast numbers of, er, vast wargamers in attendance shovelling bacon and sausage butties and burger and chips into their mouths  is never lost on me, in a smiley sort of way).

I have a few photos of some/most of the games, most of which were ok but not outstanding. The exception in my eyes were the Westerhope Napoleonic game which was the sort of game I like, I.e. a Big game. The star of the show was Captain Jacks Ghost Archipelago/pirate game. It was big, 18’ x 6’ I think and the figures were great and terrain and ships were simply superb. I didn’t take pictures of all the games, either because I missed them or they weren’t my thing but here are the ones I did:

Westerhope's 1813 Napoleonic

Whitley Bay's Greek trireme game. Beautiful ships but the bases are a bit urgh!

A WW2 caper involving the Guards Armoured Division if I overheard  one of the players correctly.

Captain Jack's Locker and a massive Ghost Archipelago game. This IS Stuart's shed in his back garden. There's Stuart on the floor. Ghost Archipelago/Frostgrave doesn't really float my boat (sorry) but the table was gorgeous.

I want one of these. A bit lower, with a ditch and glacis though.

Warhammer 40k stuff. 

Samurai game about to kick off.

The trade was well represented and I managed to buy everything on my shopping list, e.g. some more poplar trees from Last Valley, a few MDF bits and bobs off Warbases (limbers) and two units of 1670’s foot off  Northumbrian Painting ex Reiver. The latter are sold as Brandenburgers for the Scanian War but I just fancied a couple more generic units with exchangeable flags so they represent troops from The Bishopric of Munster, Savoy, Venice or the Empire. Or anyone else for that matter, although I plan to do them in brownish coats which kingdom of restricts them the Munster and the Empire. We shall see.  They're nicer figures than some the earlier Reiver castings in this range. I passed on a unit of horse for the time being though as I wasn't sure of exactly what I wanted. Apart from some paints that was it. As always, the best part of the day was bumping into lots of friends and acquaintances from all over the NE and Scotland. I was glad to see my old mate Joe was still with us, and more glad to hear that my mate Jim has been given the all clear.

Big thanks to John the Red for giving me a lift. The next show I am planning to be at is Battleground in Stockton on 24 November, where I shall be putting on a large French Revolutionary Wars game.