“Salute" Showcase 2026

The doors apparently opened fifteen minutes early - Something I was very grateful for

As I hadn't been able to attend "Europe’s largest wargaming convention" for the past few years, I figured that it was about time to once again travel up to the London ExCel, and once again savour the delights of the South London Warlords' annual show. Indeed, I was so determined to make the event that I actually arrived there with plenty of time to spare (and queue), so spent the first half an hour there rifling through their "legendary and exclusive Goodie Bag" whilst I waited for the venue's doors to open.

Ordinarily, I tackle shows as huge as this one by simply turning right at the door and making my way along the vendors situated up against the building's wall. However, such was the excitement of my travelling companion that I was immediately dragged to the "Archon Studio" stand right near the centre of the hall, and unwittingly exposed to their overwhelming stock of "Starcraft" and "Trench Crusade" miniatures.

Two of the chaps at the "Star Lion Forge" stall

Now having watched numerous "YouTube" videos on both rule systems and their ranges I had a little idea of what to expect whilst perusing the absolutely crammed shelves. Yet I still felt somewhat helplessly compelled to pick up the Polish company's "Starcraft" Two Player Starter Set Founders Edition and take it to the till, even though it was a whopping twenty quid more than I had previously been told it sold for. In fact, perhaps the biggest disappointment of the show was that all of the different boxed sets and expansions for this game that I could see them selling were more than the full-price advertised on their webstore - e.g. I also almost picked up the Protoss Starter Set, which is currently on pre-order for £79 with a Recommended Retail Price (RRP) of £99. At the show "Archon Studio" were charging £100 per box.

The large "Konflikt '47" table at the "Warlord Games" stall

Admittedly, I was ultimately able to walk away from Salute with a big box of miniatures in my hand, as well as not pay international postage and packaging. But frankly this added expense put a bit of a dampener on things for me, and gave me a bit of a mind-funk for the rest of the show - especially as Swedish-based "Free League Publishing" also appeared to be doing a similar sort of thing by disappointingly charging a fiver more for their Alien Role-Playing Game Starter Set than if I ordered it online.

Some of the "Dropzone" franchise goodies on show by "TTCombat"

Happily, despite this quibble there was plenty to see and enjoy at Salute 53, with a number of new manufacturers (at least to me) cropping up all over the place. Furthermore, when I could make my way through the sometimes almost suffocating crowd and physically step up to the front of a stall it was clear just how excited many of these small businesses were to actually be at the event - such as "Star Lion Forge" who enthusiastically showed me all their miniatures for "Aether Punk 28" and "Hypespace".

A few of the goodies on display by "Mammoth Factory" and "Anvil Industry"

Of course, the show's stalwarts were also out in force, with "Warlord Games" showing off some of their fantastic models for "Konflikt '47". Their display table featuring all manner of mechs and zombies was a real treat for the eyes, and certainly seemed to be generating quite a buzz. Likewise, "TTCombat" brought back a lot of memories of when "Dropzone Commander" was first launched at the London ExCel several years ago. This game's universe appears to have been greatly expanded, and I was particularly intrigued by a 28mm incarnation of it sitting upon a tiny tabletop.

Just some of the models on sale by "Tabletop 3D Printing Services"

Similarly as tempting were the number of companies I ordinarily associate with producing STL (Standard Triangle Language) files on "My Mini Factory" actually selling physical products. I own a fair few figures sculpted by both "Mammoth Factory" and "Anvil Industry" (or rather "Anvil Digital Forge"), so was rather surprised to see both manufacturers present with lots to models boxed up ready for customers to just pick up and walk away with.

Some of the figures on show by "Warp Miniatures" and "Crow Industries"

Ultimately though, I simply didn't spend as much as I was anticipating (and had saved up for). Yes, I did succumb to "Archon Studio" and their rather hefty "StarCraft: Two Player Starter Set Founders Edition". But such a large (and frankly heavy) purchase right at the very start of the show meant I had little cash for much else, and so nibbled away at stalls such as "Diehard Miniatures" and "Sarissa Precision" until I decided in the early afternoon that enough was enough...

“Warfare" Showcase 2025

"Warfare is one of the largest [annual wargames show] in the country."

Having regretfully missed "Colours" a couple of months ago due to an unforgivable double-booking in my social calendar, I was thoroughly looking forward to visiting this year's annual "Warfare" wargaming show at the Farnborough International Exhibition Centre, and - apart from my SatNav inexplicably deciding to divert me off of the motorway and through central Basingstoke only to put me straight back onto the motorway I had just left (!?!) - I got to the venue with plenty of time before the event actually opened.

Indeed, the directions supplied on the Wargames Association of Reading (WAR) website were absolutely spot on, and I was quickly able to park, purchase a coffee and sit down in the warm without any stress of queuing. One thing which did irk me though was the incredibly short wrist band I was told I had to wear at all times. The damn thing barely fitted, and I noticed a few more corpulent comrades-in-arms having to have it stuck to their coats like a lengthy medal ribbon. Perhaps unsurprisingly mine soon started falling off my hand too, so eventually I just plonked it in my jacket's top pocket for safekeeping.

Some of the tempting figures and vehicles on display by "Spectre Miniatures" 

This year my plan was to most definitely have a thorough walk around before making any impulse buys, so after exchanging some pleasantries with Karl ("Crooked Dice Game Design Studio") and Leon ("Pendraken Miniatures"), I began making my way along the Main Hall. These days I always try to ensure I visit everyone by double-checking with the floorplan that you get upon entry. However, for some reason WAR weren't handing out these terribly useful pamphlets this year, so I simply kept walking around and around until I was absolutely certain I had seen everything - as well as double-checking the extremely colourful layout on their website.

One of the first traders to really catch my attention was "Spectre Miniatures", who had a couple of marvellous displays at their booth. I had been hoping that they had brought some "Lunar" blisters by "Black Site Studios" with them, as they're the U.K. stockist for the American company. But sadly they hadn't, so instead I ended up chatting to them about how many of the metal figures from their first "Kickstarter" in May 2014 were now highly sought after as the moulds had long gone - time for me to dig out my untouched sets from somewhere in the loft methinks.!!

The fantastic looking Dungeon Builder by "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio"

I also spent some time contemplating the "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" Dungeon Builder - which frankly looked absolutely superb on their display stand. The big conundrum for me was whether to pick up some of the actual physical sets, or buy the STL (Standard Triangle Language) files from "My Mini Factory" for my 3D printer. In the end I plumbed for the second option as the ever prodigious Mister Perrotton explained he'd used both resin and PLA (Polylactic Acid) to produce the well-painted pieces before me.

Having promised myself no sudden purchases, I did wilt when it came to "The Dice Miners" who were selling an incredibly useful set of dice for "Magic The Gathering". Now admittedly, these aren't really dice you roll during the game. However, they are designed to remind players as to status changes to their Creatures attack/defence statistics when affected by an Enchantment or Instant cards, and seemed a little more eye-catching than the tiny cardboard tokens I ordinarily use.

"Tribal Conquest" by "Nervosa Games", and some MTG dice by "The Dice Miners"

One of the trends which was definitely noticeable was the number of 3D printers selling their wares across the two vendor halls. Whether it be an absolute ton of different Daleks from "Doctor Who", a plethora of prehistoric monsters or numerous armoured vehicles at all different scales, this production method is clearly fast becoming the 'in-thing' for many a wargamer. In fact, one of the hottest products I saw others carrying around were various bits of post-apocalyptic terrain for "Trench Crusade".

The biggest highlight of the show though, for me at least, was getting a quick game in of "Tribal Conquest" by "Nervosa Games" just before I departed. Now I really don't need to start learning a new skirmish game, or begin painting an entire fresh range of miniatures, so I was sort of hoping I wouldn't get too sucked into the fight. Unfortunately, that simply was not the case, as I quickly fell for the quirky mechanics employed during my fast-paced clash of Stone Age tribes, and delighted in whittling down my opponents with a flaming coconut or lightning bolt...

“Warlord Games" Showcase 2025

"Our HQ deep in the heart of wargaming’s spiritual home, Nottingham."

Having missed the last couple of Open Days at "Warlord Games" Headquarters in Nottingham, I thought a basic trip up to the manufacturer's store in Finch Close, Lenton was probably a bit overdue - especially as they've recently released their (new) Konflikt '47 Starter Set and I was curious to see what this latest edition contained. Happily, there was plenty of miniatures, as well as a fantastic tabletop featuring "the tabletop wargame of heroes, horrors, monsters, and mechs" on display in the shop, so I soon busied myself looking at all the different sculpts and factions.

Some of the models on display by Paul Sawyer and Craig Butler

The first thing to catch my eye though was the late great Paul Sawyer's British Airborne force. This purely historical army for "Bolt Action" was incredibly well painted, and packed full of some great looking characters - most notably a flamethrower who was clearly not taking any prisoners whatsoever. In addition, I was rather taken with the way Paul's prone soldiers appeared, as rather than just lying flat upon their stomachs, these guys still maintained the illusion of motion by wriggling about with their heads (and in some cases hands) up.

Next up was a truly terrifying collection of Axis men and monstrosities by Craig Butler. Admittedly, I first thought these gas-mask wearing soldiers and werewolves were Soviets due to the bright red palette colour choice used on their lapels, gloves and stockings. But it quickly became clear that they were all under the thrall of the mysterious Green Vault. I've previously pigmented a pack of "West Wind Productions" Secrets Of The Reich Jager Werewolves, so was incredibly taken with the sheer bulky size of three Schreckwulfen which were surrounding Sturmbannfuhrer Grauler.

"Konflikt '47 is the tabletop wargame of heroes, horrors, monsters, and mechs, putting you in command of the nightmarish struggle for supremacy."

My attention was also drawn to how well the new sculpts for Konflikt '47 tied in with the range's older units. I'm pretty sure I own an assortment of unpainted Schwertruppen troopers and Nachtjager myself, so was delighted to see "Warlord Games" showcasing such units too. Furthermore, a trio of Spinne Light Panzermechs reminded me that my 'pile of potential' probably housed a few more old vehicle kits than I cared to recollect - which should almost certainly be either opened or dusted down before I embark on any new purchases.

Some of the Winter Campaign American Forces on show at "Warlord Games" HQ

The last couple of collections to inspire me were a pair of winter U.S. armies. Snow-covered armour and support vehicles hold a strange place in my hobby-heart, as I really enjoy seeing the stark contrast between the bright white snow and the much more drab, darker colours of the soldiers' uniforms etc. Alongside Connor Hind's historical force, was a much more bloody affair featuring some US Firefly Jump Infantry, and a truly gore-splattered Kodiak Close Assault Walker.

"Warlord Games" Konflikt '47 display table

Finally, I had a good mooch at the store's aforementioned awesome Konflikt '47 display table. I was particularly keen to examine the Firefly Airborne Infantry on show as I have recently managed to pick up a copy of "Wargames Illustrated" #454, and it came with a sprue of the fast-flying Yanks. The layout really captured my imagination, and significantly fuelled my enthusiasm for the alternative universe World War Two game. Indeed, I hope to dig out a fair few of my older models from the loft to paint with my Americans once I have assembled them from the 28mm plastic sprue...

“Beachhead" Showcase 2025

"It feels like this exciting weekend sneaks up on us every year."

Seeing as this "ninth annual Beachhead event" was my first wargaming show of the new year, I found myself surprisingly excited as I drove down to the Bournemouth International Centre (BIC) in Dorset. I'd actually missed the previous one, and had therefore largely forgotten my past disappointment with its lack of new vendors. Indeed, this time round I already knew some of the stores that were going to be attending, and was very eager to reacquaint myself with "Athena Miniatures" excellent range of Apocalypse Survivors.

What I hadn't forgotten though was the tabletop games expo's entry fee, especially as I paid for my ticket in advance, so I was quite keen to ensure that I obtained significantly more 'value for money' with this trip than I had twenty-four months earlier. Sadly, I must confess that I did not; albeit I did manage to stick around for more than a couple of hours - which is twice as long as I did last time.

A few of the Exhibition/Participation Games in the Main Hall

To be fair, the problem I encountered this time round though wasn't really the lack of 'fresh-faced' manufacturers trying to tempt me with their new wares. But rather surprisingly, a distinct lack of vendors full stop. According to their website, Beachhead didn't even house fifty vendors - a third less than that at Warfare 2024, so after approximately thirty minutes of walking around I'd actually toured the entire Main Hall, and began pouring through the colourful event guide looking for a non-existent second sales area.

Now obviously there is so much more to "Beachhead" these days than its vendor room, with the weekend also containing boardgames, tournaments, demonstration/participation games, workshops, card games and role-playing. In fact, its organiser Pete Valinski waxes quite lyrically about how the event has evolved "from a wargaming show into the tabletop extravaganza" I experienced, and I think therein lies the problem. I'm no longer its target audience, as I'm simply not interested in the majority of the services it now offers.

The stalls of Shiver by "Parable Games" and Zoontalis: Battle Royale by "Dice Heads"

However, having got the 'doom and gloom' out of my system, I'm pleased to say that there were still a number of things I did enjoy at the show - most notably picking up some more 28mm metal Post Apocalyptic Survivors, British Armed Forces and Russian NBC Troopers from John Caboche's aforementioned "Athena Miniatures". I've already been slowly painting up a number of this range's hand-sculpted figures since first encountering the company late last year, so it took quite a bit of will-power not to go completely mad and purchase the remaining figure sets I don't currently own.

Likewise, I was rather enthused when I suddenly spotted the fantastic looking Dead Man's Hand figures Butch And Sundance by "Great Escape Games". This pair of 28mm metal gunslingers completely caught me off-guard, and as a huge fan of George Roy Hill's 1969 American Western film "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid", they went straight into my 'shopping trolley'. Now admittedly, I've yet to buy the skirmish game which sees "bands of tough and wily Cowboys, stoic Lawmen, ruthless Outlaws and crazy Desperados fight for fame and respect in the Old West." But as these figures come with their statistic cards supplied, I thought they roguish outlaws would make a nice starter for ten if I do.

Some of the fully-painted "Age Of Sigmar" armies on display in the Tournament Area

My last purchase was definitely not what I was expecting, and was an owl-shaped incense burner from the "Into The Realm" Candle Company. This vendor appeared completely 'out of the blue' amidst a rather 'odd' collection of different entrepreneurs selling everything from canvas artwork through to Pokemon collectible cards, and caught my eye due to their creativeness in cleverly naming their wax melts to fit in with Fantasy RPG locations. Nonetheless, it was a somewhat strange place to find a craft stall, and frankly summed up how eclectic the range of goods for sale were at Beachhead overall...

“Warfare" Showcase 2024

"Warfare, is one of the largest [wargaming shows] in the country."

With "Warfare" traditionally being the last of my local wargaming shows for the year, I decided to once again make the hour-long trip to the Farnborough International Exhibition Centre and see what goodies were on display. This year I was particularly excited by the Wargames Association of Reading's claim that the organisers were "welcoming several first time traders", as this is precisely why I like to physically attend such events as opposed to just ordering online.

Some of the models on show by "Full Metal Miniatures" which caught my attention

Furthermore, I hoped some potential 'new stuff' might help lessen my unease at the rise in entry price to an initially off-putting £12 - something which has not gone without criticism from other hobbyists I know. I totally get that the Conference Centre is a rather splendid venue with plenty of facilities, and resultantly comes with a significantly high cost. However, a good two-thirds of the Main Hall was rather disappointingly unused, and that was despite the fact that the majority of the Tournaments were also being held there. Indeed, I ultimately left the building with an uneasy feeling that my entry fee was probably funding the twenty-two competitions taking place more than anything else.

The small Novus Mallum tabletop by "Enviro Games", and part of "Rapier Miniatures" Ancients display

To make matters worse though, parking at the venue was arguably a bit of a disaster, due to joining a long, slow-moving queue for a space. In the end I gave up waiting, and simply drove further along the access road to another turning where there were plenty of spaces. I was admittedly already a bit grumpy from the drive, as despite entering the recommended postcode into my satellite navigation, the route provided took me to one closed-off gate after another, and it was only after spotting a tiny rectangular Warfare sign attached to a lamp-post that I finally saw Gate A. Later on, I was therefore not surprised to overhear one of the club members talking about how poor the parking had become, and when I left I couldn't help but spot many a car precariously positioned at all sorts of odd angles on a variety of grass verges and escarpments.

This "Crossover Miniatures" display formed part of the "Pendraken Miniatures" booth

Setting such quibbles aside, the show itself was a bit of a triumph, with several of the promised 'fresh faces' taking a heavy toll upon my wallet. There were also some rather splendid displays by some of the show's usual stalwarts - such as "Pendraken Miniatures" showing off all the splendid-looking super-heroes and villains from "Crossover Miniatures", and "Baccus 6mm" almost tempting me with plenty of wonderfully painted World War Two armour and infantry.

Part of the "Baccus 6mm" stall, and a glimpse of Shepway Wargamers' participation tabletop

I was also taken by several of the participation games, and spent quite a while chatting to a chap from the Shepway Wargamers about his awesome scratch-built "Warhammer 40k" lite tabletop. This impressive Imperial Guard verses Chaos conflict had been specifically set-up to help get new players into the rather hefty "Games Workshop" rule-set, and resultantly had had its numerous stipulations stripped right down to their basics to encourage attendees to simply throw some dice.

A rather splendid-looking Battle of Alexandria 1801 game using the General d'Armee rule-set

Perhaps unsurprisingly, considering my spending at "Colours" 2024, I splurged most of my meagre funds at the "Sarissa Precision" stall on "The Silver Bayonet" - coming away with both the Spanish Unit and the Egyptian Unit boxed sets. I was going to leave it at that. However, I then saw a blister of Army Deserter Bandits, and thought it would be rude not to pick them up too, especially as I could always incorporate the unscrupulous soldiers into my other warbands as a Veteran Hunter or plain Infantryman, should the fancy take me.

"Athena Miniatures" range of Franco-Prussian War and Post Apocalyptic figures

Easily this show's biggest surprise for me was stumbling upon "Athena Miniatures" and their characterful range of Apocalypse Survivors. I was initially attracted to their stand in the Discover Hall by their fantastic Franco-Prussian War figures, and was thinking about picking up a small sample to test paint prior to visiting the company again at next year's "Beachhead" 2025. But then its fiendish owner directed my attention to a number of British civilians "dressed in cold weather gear armed with a variety of weapons" who were apparently "ready to do battle with Zombies or Aliens or whatever has brought about the apocalypse!"

Some of the models by "Conquest Games", "Parkfield Miniatures", and "Disdain Studio"

Coupled with a number of hand-sculpted "heroic British squaddies", some additional riflemen wearing NBC suits, as well as a ton of Russian Spetsnaz Special Forces (to act as the obligatory bad guys), and I simply found this all too much to resist. So ended up leaving what I thought was overall a very successful show with twice as much metal in my shopping bag as I had originally intended. Now I just need to paint all this stuff up before February next year, when I start attending wargaming events again...

“Colours" Showcase 2024

The entrance to Newbury Racecourse/"Colours" and view of the First Floor upon going inside

Due to the Newbury & Reading Wargames Society proudly announcing that "Colours" was once again happening this year, and that the entry price was still a "bargain five pound cash", I felt it would be rude not to make my annual pilgrimage up to Newbury Racecourse in Berkshire. Delightfully, I was far from being the only one to think so too, so having arrived at the venue a little earlier than I anticipated, and certainly well before the show opened, I joined a rather impressive looking queue outside in the sun.

Some of the marvellous, pre-painted miniatures on sale by "Pirate Rich Paints"

Just as I had last time, I thought I'd venture straight upstairs to the First Floor and for a short while enjoyed some relative calm and quiet with various stalls such as "Ironclad Miniatures", "Baccus 6mm", "Black Scorpion Miniatures", "Peter Pig" and "Tablescape". Of particular interest though was "Culverin Models", whose 3D printed science-fiction vehicles have always interested me ever since I first laid eyes on them. Indeed, I already own a few of the company's filament-produced transport carriers, as well as a handful of their STL (Standard Triangle Language) files too - many of which they have very generously sent me for free to test out on my Mars 3 Pro 3D Printer.

Three views of the Ground Floor

Having just about resisted 'pulling the trigger' within mere minutes of entering the building, I made my way back downstairs to face the general bedlam of a popular wargaming show already in full swing. As usual the likes of "Pendraken Miniatures" and "Westwind Productions" already looked rather busy, so I momentarily stopped at the "Warlord Games" area to have a look at their "Black Seas" range. Few followers of this blog will be surprised to know that I'm currently obsessed with the Napoleonic Wars, and resultantly have actually been watching a fair few documentaries about the period's naval battles, as well as Bonaparte's conquests on land.

Just a few of the impressive Napoleonic ranges on display by "Eagle Figures"

Despite knowing very little about the Nottingham-based manufacturer's selection of Age Of Sail era models, apart from the Terrors Of The Deep box which I once bought many moons ago on impulse, I've always felt their Master & Commander Starter Set looked rather good - especially as it contains nine vessels. Somewhat disappointingly though, I then saw the price of one of the larger ships, a Royal Navy 1st Rate, and frankly that was a costly investment I wasn't prepared to make at a time when I have little understanding of attaching laminated card sails, acetate ratlines and bobbins of thread to a 1/700th miniature ship. Definitely a project for the future though...

A smattering of the wares produced by "Mammoth Miniatures", Culverin Models and "Void Scar Miniatures"

Another stall which most definitely caught my attention, and almost my wallet, was "Perry Miniatures", which alongside selling “Let’s Fight Leipzig! Wargaming The Battle Of The Nations” by Steve Shann, were also stocking plenty of Napoleonic soldiers sculpted by the Perry Twins. Now having watched many a comparison video between "Wargames Foundry" figures and the more recent sculpts by Alan and Michael I'm well aware that my older models are a bit shorter and fatter than their latest stuff. But that didn't stop me mulling over their marvellous Brunswick range and thinking about whether my OCD could cope with the difference.

The Fantasy range by "Bifrost Miniatures", and "The Silver Bayonet" display of "Sarissa Precision"

Having now managed to survive a fair few close shaves when it came to splurging my limited funds, including a superb demonstration game of "Dead Man's Hand Redux" at the "Great Escape Games" booth, which had me very close to getting their new starter set for ninety quid. I finally wilted whilst visiting "Sarissa Precision", and picked up both the United States Unit for "The Silver Bayonet" by "Osprey Games", as well as a pair of the game's expansion rulebooks.

The Japan-Korean War by Newbury & Reading Wargames

I always find the show's Second Floor a bit 'hit & miss' to be honest, as it contains both the Bring & Buy, and a number of exhibition/participation games. This year I didn't see anything second-hand which I was even remotely interested in, with the total absence of any "Wargames Foundry" Napoleonics proving particularly disappointing. But I did enjoy finding inspiration in a number of large-scale battles - such as The Leggetts' Salamanca 1812 "Black Powder" fracas, and Shepway Wargames' Russo-Finnish Winter War.

Salamanca 1812 by The Leggetts

A final tour of the Ground Floor traders saw me make a few obligatory purchases at "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio", and pick up a couple of extras from "Magnetic Displays" and "Gringo 40's". In addition, whilst hunting around for some specifically coloured dice I realised that two show stalwarts, "EM-4 Miniatures" and "Two Fat Lardies" weren't at the event. I actually thought the "Lard Zone" from last year's wargaming spectacle was one of its highlights, so left Newbury Racecourse somewhat bemused that there hadn't been a repeat performance...

“Warfare" Showcase 2023

Warfare 2023 - Trade stands, Tournaments, Demonstration and Participation games, and Bring and Buy.' 

Having rather enjoyed my trip to the Farnborough International Exhibition Centre last year, it seemed rude not to make the hour-long journey back to the venue for "Warfare" 2023 - especially as for once I had actually made something of a mental list as to what I specifically wanted to purchase. In addition, I took the time to read the Wargames Association of Reading's entry information beforehand, so quite easily found myself approaching Farnborough airport's Gate F without too much hassle from my iPhone's sometimes senile satellite navigation service.

The stalls for "Red3 Miniatures" and "Void Scar Miniatures"

One thing which did perplex me though was the sudden trend by my local wargaming shows to charge a tenner for entry to their events. I suppose many will argue this is a perfectly reasonable price considering the current financial climate. However, I always compare the increasing costs of a show (including petrol, time and food/drinks) with postage costs, and couldn't help but give a slight frown as I handed over my dosh. Having quibbled about the toll though, I must say that entry was very smooth, even if I was somewhat disorientated by the club's decision to push all foot traffic straight through to the Main Hall, as opposed to last year where I'm pretty sure direct access to the Discover Hall was also permitted.

Some of the demonstration and participation games in the Main Hall

After a short(ish) stop in the refreshment's area, where I was able to exchange a few pleasantries with the always amiable Karl Perrotton of "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio", I quite methodically starting making my way along the different vendors - starting with "Tiger Miniatures" and the aforementioned co-creator of "7TV" - who had fortuitously managed to relocate his incredible range of film/telly inspired figures into the space set aside for the sadly absent "Plastic Soldier Company" at the very last minute. I was also able to quickly visit the "Warlord Games" stall, which frankly was far too cramped for my liking, and had little room for more than a couple of potential punters to peruse their wares.

"Rok Miniatures" incredible range of small scale science-fiction and fantasy models

Quite frustratingly, I had made a particular beeline for this booth as online the Nottingham-based manufacturer had a 50% off sale on their entire "Mythic Americas" range and I was planning to pick up some reinforcements for my Aztecs force. However, the pricing on the boxes was set at their normal full price, and it was only after I had left the show that I discovered "Warlord Games" were matching all their offer prices on the web. At the time I had contemplated asking whether this the case with the company's staff at their till. But due to my impatience at the queue I decided to leave it until later, and then, like a complete muppet, I never managed to make my way back to raise the question - an unsuccessful return trip which also caused me to forget to pick up some additions to my Epic Battles: American Civil War project too.

Cloudships of Mars Revisited, Operation Barbarossa and the Battle of Domstadtl

One of the benefits of scoping out the vendors in the Main Hall first though was that once finished, I was immediately confronted by a number of truly inspirational demonstration and participation games. Several of these caught my attention, such as the South London Warlords' "Cloudships of Mars Revisited", Bread & Beef's "Battle of Domstadtl (which used flat miniatures) and an Operation Barbarossa pitched battle. Such projects really got me enthused for all sorts of future scales/genres/campaigns, and doubtless encouraged me to spend a tad more than I had anticipated at "Pendraken Miniatures" - having decided to branch out my collection of 10mm World War Two models into British and Soviet Modern War (1980's) too.

"Pendraken Miniatures" took the lion's share of my money this year, courtesy of some Modern War Army Packs

Quite possibly my favourite purchase of the day however, was a bargain find on the Bring and Buy stall, which consisted of a complete Rural Fields and Fences boxed set by "Gale Force Nine" for "Flames Of War". I already own one such pre-painted kit and can now double the amount of farming terrain on my Epic Scale American Civil War battlefield. There were a few other train-related pieces from this scenic range avaliable on the giant gathering of second-hand tables. But none seemed to offer the value for money I thought this particular sale did.

Tribal Conquest by "Nervosa Games" and some of the 3D Prints by "Culverin Models"

My final buy came with "Culverin Models", who sell some cracking 3D prints of armoured vehicles, fortifications and giant robots. I'm particularly indebted to their owner, who in the past has very kindly supplied me with a few free STL (Standard Triangle Language) files to see whether they can be readily produced using "Elegoo" Water Washable Resin on a Mars 3 Pro 3D Printer rather than PLA (Polylactic Acid) filament. I couldn't help but notice a wonderful looking Iron Pig Utility Tractor on his stall, so scooped one up to go with another variation of the Boar Troop Carrier model I'm currently painting up for a Weird War One project.

“Warhammer World" Showcase 2023

"Browse the retail stores, including an extensive range of Forge World and Black Library."

Recently I had the opportunity to once again visit "the home of the Warhammer hobby" in Nottingham, having not been to Games Workshop's global headquarters and visitor centre since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. In addition, with the exception of the odd "Lord of the Rings" and "Horus Heresy" miniature, I haven't really found myself doing much with their model ranges, so was rather hoping that their 'free-to-view' displays, dioramas and exhibits would inspire me to dip my toe back into the worlds of Age of Sigmar and/or Warhammer 40,000.

The giant cuddly Nurgling and large posters found in the lobby

Disconcertingly, my first impression concerning the self-proclaimed "haven for collectors and gamers from across the globe" wasn't great as a massive early morning queue stood between me and the main doors. A couple of people around me were vocally moaning about having to wait in line, with some even complaining that those at the head of the queue were clearly having to pay in order to go in. This seemed incredibly odd, as no event had been advertised, and the website clearly stated that "the ultimate destination for Warhammer fans" didn't charge for entry.

The displays showcasing the Warhammer 40k, Age of Sigmar and Lord of the Rings systems

Having impatiently shuffled further forward it seemed clear that the hold up was due to a till being placed close to the entranceway, and those needing to pay for either an unknown event or perhaps entry into the Exhibition Centre, were blocking anyone else from getting past them. To make matters worse, the chap at the counter was having a right old natter with each customer instead of simply taking their money and moving them on. So in the end, a number of us simply pressed forward and eventually squeezed past the line requiring a ticket who were completely filling up the double doorway.

A smattering of the incredibly well-painted displays next to the Store

Happily however, once inside, the lobby was almost completely empty - apart from a large cuddly Nurgling, which seriously looked like a lot of fun to punch smack in the mush. Resultantly, I was able to take my time pouring over an astonishingly good diorama of a Kharadron Overlords sky-city , an incredible clash between the Ultramarines and Necrons, and the cataclysmic Battle of the Pelennor Fields, as well as enjoy the plethora of giant illustrations running the length of the adjoining stairway up to the store.

Some of the painted figures found on the incredibly enticing Warhammer 40K Starter Set table.

Perhaps the biggest disappointment of the day though, besides some of the truly outrageous pricing, was the lack of stock on show in the Warhammer World Store. I had fully expected to see "the full range of Warhammer Age of Sigmar, Warhammer 40,000 and Middle-earth models" on their shelves. But instead saw just a smattering of boxes for each game system which frustratingly resembled the stock displays you'll see at countless second-party stores on numerous high streets.

A handful of the insanely expensive Forge World models

Instead, a great deal of shop space had clearly been allocated to the company's "Leviathan" launch box, and the various Warhammer 40k 10th Edition starter sets. These different options to play Games Workshop's "complete revision of the game you know and love" seemed to be everywhere, and definitely produced an almost palpable pressure on any visitor to at least buy the "Getting Started With Warhammer 40000" magazine. Indeed, I spent a good portion of my time ogling at the game's Ultimate Starter Set, whose wonderfully-painted contents had been placed upon a tempting tabletop, and actually came incredibly close to buying one.

Some more of the marvellously pigmented miniatures in the store

Equally as encouraging to leap into the Warhammer hobby with both feet, were the floor's terrific cabinets absolutely packed full of beautifully pigmented miniatures. I seemed to stand for an eternity looking at all the various models, and strangely started to feel almost morally obliged to purchase at least a small box of figures in recognition of the mouth-watering sculpts on show. Luckily, the idea of paying the full recommended retail price (RRP) on anything to hand, including the Warhammer World exclusives, was enough to keep my wallet firmly in my pocket.

Even more of the marvellously pigmented miniatures in the store

Lastly, I strayed over to the Forge World Store, with the intention of picking up a trio of Ruinstorm Daemon Brutes to 'aid' my traitorous Sons Of Horus Space Marines. All of the "highly detailed resin" kits on show were truly jaw-dropping, especially the huge vehicles. But none were as impressive as some of the staggering prices being asked for these models. In particular, my daemons were a whopping thirty quid each, which coupled with Samus - Daemon Prince of the Ruinstorm, wouldn't see me receive much change from two hundred pounds. This meant that the only place in Warhammer World which would eventually see me part with any money would be Bugman's Bar...