Partizan 2021

 Well after what seems an eternity the time has come to venture out and attend a Wargames show. Partizan has always been my favourite show and attending this year as a punter with no time pressure was going to be different. I treat myself to an overnight stay in the Premier Inn about a mile and half away from the venue. 

The evening meal in the adjoining beefeater was novel in that you were presented with a list of food not available due to food shortages and supply problems! So if quorn sausages, truffle burgers, lasagne and fillet steaks are your thing then you better stock up. But the staff were friendly and I got fed and watered, later in the evening I met Stuart Insch and Graham Hilditch for a couple of drinks, they’d set up Graham’s 40mm SYW game which as you will see later was most impressive.

Refreshed and relaxed I arrived at the show ground about 9.45am and a pretty long queue was already formed. The weather was nice and a fresh breeze made the queuing ok and the Partizan organisers had asked people to wear masks whilst moving around and to be fair on going in most people put their masks on but by lunch time it was apparent most people had chosen not to wear them. I found that a little unsettling and so I left at 1.30 and did a small detour by Marston Moor.

Before posting the photos I have to say it was good to meet up with people I haven’t seen for two years and catch up, of course Duncan was missing and at noon a number of others gathered to offer up a toast to him drinking the Port ‘Tricks’ had bought for Duncan’s birthday but which he never had chance to deliver.

The show itself was busy and the guys had opened the two large doors at the end of the Hall to allow air to circulate and it was greatly appreciated.

The quality of the games did not disappoint and in my humble opinion if you want top quality demo and participation games this show can not be beaten. As always I didn’t get photos of every game and just because I didn’t take a,photo doesn’t mean it didn’t warrant it so for example I owe David Imrie an apology for not taking photos of his game for some reason!

A 60mm To the Strongest participation game with Simon Millar and friend a most impressive looking game

Durham Wargames with their Dark Age Battle

Graham Hilditch with his absolutely stunning 40mm Seven Years game 

The Perry Twins attended and of course put a display on of their Paraguayan range

A 28mm conversion of Command and Colours Borodino

Shrewsbury Wargames put on a 28mm Seven Years war battle

And a cornucopia f images of just some of the other games that caught my eye

So a return to proper Wargaming with a bang and if I only attended one show a year this would be it.

The lack of mask wearing most probably means I won’t attend the York show in February unless the situation improves dramatically as I always find that show to be very overcrowded and uncomfortable

I will do a short part 2 re purchases other thoughts etc shortly

In anticipation of Partizan.

2. .
   
   

This Sunday sees the return of the excellent Partizan Show at Newark. This is the first show for many many years that I will be attending as a customer! First as a Redcar Rebel I have been putting on demo games at this show for as long as I can remember, certainly our first demo games took place at a school hall/ gymnasium! 

There were three of us when we started - Gordon the terrain man,me and Lee and I. For whatever reason that I never fully understood Gordon drifted away and for those that follow this blog will know Lee died of MND eight years ago this November.

Since then I have sought to continue the tradition of putting on a game at one of the Partizan shows most years. But this year I’m taking a break and hope to be back next year with a game.

I attach a random selection of some of the games we put on over the years including a couple of the more recent games. So many games, so many figures the majority of which have moved on to pastures new!

The pictures are in no set order and hopefully are self explanatory - a summary of many a happy memory. 

In addition it’s worth a visit to the Partizan groups Flicker page 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/188419990@N02/albums/with/72157716351114328

I doubt you will find a better collection of outstanding games anywhere else.pity they couldn’t publish an album 😁, so enjoy the pics and hopefully may see some of you on Sunday

Hodges Scout

 I have previously mentioned this book before

It’s extremely well written and a thoroughly enjoyable read, giving a great insight into the lives these men had on the campaigns in Canada and how they fought. The examination of the Scout is really good and is a bit of detective story piecing together the differing accounts and trying to tie that in with the evidence is engaging.

So much so that I decided to turn this into a solo game and write it up for submission to the forthcoming Wargames Annual.

Using Musket and Tomahawks second edition I made up some simple rules for the arrival of the natives and Canadian militia, together with a simple mechanism for their actions.

The game played well and even though on this occasion the result was pretty historical there are opportunities ( albeit slim 😁) for Hodges to win.

Anyway here’s a few photos of the game. 

The miniatures are mainly Crann Tara with a few Minden. The mat is from Geek Villain, lake, lake shore and forest floor from barrage miniatures, trees Last Valley.

A private enterprise

 The sale of Crann Tara has given me the opportunity to review and consider what I want to do with my 18th century collection. The 30mm flat project gains pace and is focused solely on the Austrians and Prussians but I think I would like those armies to add to my collection.

Hence I have commissioned Bob Souter (eBob miniatures) to make me some Prussians and Austrians the first few figures can be seen below. Some of the pieces have separate hats in order that I can make different pieces.

First up is the line up of Prussian and Austrians standard bearers and drummers all have separate hats so don’t take too much notice of who is wearing what

The first pair of Grenzers - an Officer and skirmishers are under way

Austrian musketeer

Hungarians

Prussian Grenadier

The figures will not be for general retail I’m afraid, however I would consider one or two private partners if anyone else wanted to help invest in getting more figures sculpted and bought at cost. But again that would be on the understanding anything made would not be for general sale.  I currently have a list of what else  I want doing - artillery crews ( waistcoated working crews?) and the Dragoons/Cuirassiers . Other bits and pieces I’m not contemplating at present as it’s most probably cheaper to buy them from elsewhere.