Border Reiver 2016 – Gateshead Stadium

I haven’t done a show report for a while, mainly because I’ve managed fewer shows this year! However, I was granted a pass for today and so set off for what is my local show – Border Reiver. Gateshead Stadium is a good venue. Decent size and quite light but suffering from the usual sports venue yellow light which effectively ruins all the photos. I took a few anyway but you’ll see what I mean… This year the entry was via a large access way directly into the hall rather than winding through the corridors from the main entrance. This seemed to work well, apart from getting wet when going for coffee or toilets. Not sure if this will be a permanent change or was just down to there being an event in the main building.There was a good spread of traders but seemed to be fewer games on display. Good to see a couple of participation games as well. No Bring and Buy but the now common flea market. I’m still not sure on the idea and think they work better at the bigger shows but there seemed to be 3-5 tables active most of the time I was there so hopefully those concerned did well.

The games… Not all had clear info on who was running them and I was negligent in finding out as I just did a quick run to take pics.

Tyneside Wargames Club presented Cannae using their own Great Captain rules. A LOT of figures! Sharp Practice seems to (justifiably) put in an appearance at most shows. A nice FIW participation game. A nice Napoleonic game Sword and Spear rules put in an appearance

And 40K, Blood Bowl 7s, Wild West and Wings of whatever it is this month…

Vietnam game and Kings of War And finally some big viking things! I usually get chance to chat to people on the games but that didn’t really happen other than at the Sword and Spear game, a set of rules I have but have yet to try!

So there we are. The games were fine but nothing really grabbed me as outstanding.

So. On to the haul!First off, no lead! Nothing! So no new scales or periods which is a big relief! 🙂 I had order a load more Fire and Fury size bases from Minibits so had those to pick up along with some 45mm bases for the possible re-base of my 28mm ImagiNation stuff… I also grabbed a load of round bases for various uses. Probably more than I needed but you can never have too much MDF! And as I seek a suitable blue to match the Union I have I grabbed  some ACW appropriate paints. I was tempted by quite a few books (of which more anon) but in the end only grabbed Sear’s book on the Peninsular Campaign. And finally, after a chat with Colonel Bill I bought some 15mm MDF fences suitable for ACW. There batter be easy to make or I’ll be having words with him at Battleground! 🙂

And on the way home I grabbed some brown paint for the ongoing basing fest and the latest Wargames Illustrated.

Only down part of the day was at the end. As I perused one of the book stalls I noticed a copy of Don Troiani’s Regiments of the American Civil War. I’d placed a copy of this in my Amazon basket a few days ago. £14. When I returned the next day to add another book and buy the price had gone up to £25!! Too steep for me. This one was £12. Bargain!! But it was the end of the show. I checked wallet. Bare. But in my ‘purse’ I had a lot of pound coins and started counting them to see if I had enough. As I did so a chap picked up the book, flicked through, and then bought it! I was gutted… However I did only have £10 so would have had to haggle! Next time. I’ll find a copy soon…

So a nice day out and good to chat to assorted people from the local clubs. Shame it rained for the walk home. Thank to the chaps for organising it all.