Battleground 2016

Today I hired a little car and took myself down to Stockton-on-Tees for Battleground 2016, organised by Pendraken Miniatures.  This is the last show of the year for me and always a nice little event. The venue is easy to get to, lots of parking, cafe nearby, and a good size hall with good lighting. It’s a well organised and well publicised event with a good selection of traders, a good few participation games and some nice demo games. There is the now common TableTop sale area which seems to work well, although you have to grab the bargains when you see them because if you nip for a coffee and then pop back there’s a chance the guy will have finished his slot and taken his stuff away! Missed a couple books that way today…

So, before we get to the purchases (which were few) here’s some pics of some of the games. A plus point for the show is that each table has a large clear sign saying who is playing what on each table. Other shows take note! 

First up were Stafford and District Wargamers with a 10mm take on part of the battle of Ramilles. Nicely put together. Then we had a long game of the Battle of Skalitz from the 1866 Austro-Prussian War. Some very nice figures on the table but I felt the cloth shade of green was a little too green, though I admit it was probably the easiest solution for what was a big area to cover. By Durham Wargames.  And again my local club, Tyneside Wargamers, had their big take (with little figures) on Cannae. Lots and lots of 10mm.  The Border Reivers put on their usual excellent display with a WW2 ‘Cross of Iron’ game. Along from them was some excellent WW1 terrain from Generals and Kings. Very nice… There were a good few participation games which seemed to attract attention throughout the day.And I still have no idea what the cup cake game was about!Simon Miller’s To The Strongest rules put in an appearance via the Old Guard Wargames Group. Very nicely presented 28mm figures. This was one of the more interesting games. Iacta Alea Est presented Jutland using the old Avalon Hill game of the same name. Had a nice and well informed chat with one of the guys running it. Meant to pop back to see how it turned out but never got chance.  Redcar Ironbeards presented a Rapid Fire East Front game, Capture the Port. Rather nice little 10mm Sudan game from Independent Wargames Group – Blood on the Nile. I really must make a start on my 10mm Sudan! Then we had a very good looking Black Powder ACW game again from the Independent Wargames chaps. Really nice figures. And in my current favoured period. And finally the Brompton Bankers had their excellent Toy Town Wars. Really cute stuff!

There were a number of other particpation games I didn’t manager to snap but the full details are on the show website here.

I thoroughly enjoyed the day. Met up with Simon T (Goat Major) who was looking slightly battered! And chatted with various people thoughout the day. Yet again the Pendraken chaps are to be congratulated on a well presented show. I trust the number and trade made it all worthwhile for all concerned.

I have to be honest and say I didn’t REALLY need to buy anything at the show. Have plenty of recent odds and ends to keep me busy! I did spot a couple of books on Ironclads in the Table Top Sale but missed them. So I grabbed a couple of packs of MDF round bases and was happy to call it a day. Then Graham at Crann Tara dug out the boxes of 6mm SF he wanted to sell. So I grabbed the painted chaps for a good price and am negotiating for the big pile of unpainted! It’s all Dark Realm stuff which fits with lots of what I already have. Needless to say it needs rebasing!

This might encourage me to finally finish and USE my 6mm SF!

A good day…