Friday 20 April 2012

Off to Salute!!!

 
  

Right like many of you British / European based gamers I'm  off to London tomorrow to attend Salute. Salute is arguably the largest independent wargames show in Europe, and this year it celebrates its 40th anniversary. So it's been going on longer than I've actually been alive! No doubt it'll still be going on long after I'm dead. Or I hope it is. So what is Salute all about then? Well primarily toy soldiers and the mass pimping of toy soldiers. It's a trade show mainly, this year there are roughly 140 traders, there are of course a plethora of games been run throughout the show nearly a hundred, so there is gaming going on. But, for me and most people I know it is a chance to have a smooch around a product they've yet to see in the flesh and maybe purchase a thing or two... as I say it's one big toy soldier pimping session.


So what am I looking forward to having a look at this year and what stands am I going to be spending my time at? Well here's a list of stands, in no particular order, I'll be trying to get round:

  • Ainsty Castings - Pirate ships, do I really need to say anymore? Thought not.
  • Antenocitis Workshop - Just want to say hello to Jed and have a look at a few terrain pieces I'm coveting in the flesh.
  • Battlefoam UK - Well I already own a silly amount of Battlefoam stuff, but I'm interested in the Spartan Games, Heavy Gear Blitz and new Privateer Press bags.
  • Black Library - They're not the best novels in the world, but they're good trashy novels about a universe I like... plus it's always good to see who is hanging around.
  • Black Scorpion Miniatures - They produce the game Cutlass, which is a game that intrigues me... I need to do some more research!
  • Bushido the Game - Well it's a game that intrigued me enough to buy the mini's but honestly I've not dabbled with it much. Perhaps a visit to their stand could reinvigorate me again!
  • Critical Mass Games - I've been looking to do an article on 15mm sci-fi games. Seems like a good place to pick up some info.
  • Crooked Dice - A friend of mine Drew over at Pulp City Planet has been going mad about this for months so I'd like to see what the fuss is about myself.
  • Field Works - another terrain producer some Flames of War gamers have asked me to look into.
  • Figures in Comfort - Well they're not Battlefoam, but they are cheaper and a few of you have asked me to review some cheaper products... so I'll take a look for you.
  • Fire Forge Games - I want to have a look at their plastic knights in the flesh because they genuinely look really quite nice. Plus I've always wanted to do a knight army!
  • Freebooter Miniatures - Just to say hello to Christian, Hendrik and Werner really and see what's new for Freebooter's Fate as it's been keeping me entertained of late.
  • Grand Manner - Some top quality terrain by the looks of it, and I'm keen to see what it's like up close and personal.
  • Help for Heroes - Whatever your thoughts on the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan those who have been injured in service to their country deserve our support. That is all.
  • Jacques-Alexandre Gillois - he's a bit of a personal hero of mine! I'm really hoping I can convince him to give me an interview for this Blog. Wish me luck.
  • Kerr and King - Manufacturers of resin terrain and bases, and I've been told I should have a look at what they produce. So I will.
  • KR Multicase -As with Figures in Comfort, I want to take a look at this stand and maybe note some products for future review.
  • Maelstrom Games - Mainly to say hello to Rob and whoever else is there, but also to look at the lovely BaneLegions mini's... again!
  • Mantic Games - Mainly to annoy Jake Thornton while he tries to run demo games, and also to look at the Corporation and Veer-myn in the flesh.
  • Micro Art Studios - Mainly to see what this Polish outfit has on display. I love their Designed for Infinity range and I'd like to see more of it.
  • Model Mates - These guys have produced some interesting weathering effects I'd like to see, and also some primers that have been getting rave reviews from painting friends of mine.
  • Mongoose Publishing - Simply put I want to have a look at A Call to Arms.
  • Ninjabread - Because I think they're funny.
  • Oshiro Model Terrain - Yet more lovely looking terrain that I want to see.
  • Pulp City - It's a game that intrigues me, and I'd like to get a chance to do some more research on it. I mean it's superheroes in wargames format, should be a home-run for me.
  • Renedra - OK so some of you will be thinking why, BUT these guys make a lot of the plastic mini's we use. That makes them interesting to me so I'll be hoping for a chat.
  • Sarissa Precision - Yeah so I already know what their stuff is like, still it can't hurt to have another look and get a whiff of burnt wood!
  • Smart Max - I love their 54mm miniatures. I only own the one at the moment and I'd like to see what else they have in store for us all.
  • Studio McVey - I want to have a look at a few of their new mini's and also see people playing Sedition Wars. Oh yeah and say thanks to Mike for my Salute 2012 badge!
  • Victrix - Right I've been pondering doing some articles on Napoleonic wargaming, so I have to see these guys right?
  • Warlord Games - And in the same vein as above I want an easy jumping in point if I do start looking at historical wargaming, and quite frankly these guys are probably the place to start!
  • West Wind Productions - I've seen Secrets of the Third Reich and it's not for me. Still fancy a look at their new game Empire of the Dead though.

That's not all I'll be doing though. I'll be on the look out for Palm Trees and suitable foiliage for Jungle terrain at both 28mm and 15mm sizes or thereabouts. Mainly because I'm on the look out for stuff for Freebooter's Fate, Heavy Gear Blitz and I want to do a desert type board for Infinity. I'll also be checking out Gruntz, the 15mm sci-fi wargame from Robin Fitton because again, I want to do an article on 15mm sci-fi wargames and Gruntz looks good. I'm also going to be on the look out for Taban Miniatures because they're apparently attending, but I can't find out where their stall is, and I want to take a look at Eden as it is yet another game that intrigues me. I'll still be keeping my eye out for any shiny shinies I've not seen before, but I'm going round Salute this year totally broke, so it's not likely I'll be coming back with much. If I get enough info I might do some articles on the show. Peace out!

EDIT: I've had a fair few people ask me what I look like so they can come up and say hello to me and Dr Brainiac. I'm still concerned about this as I'm not so sure they don't want my image for purposes of arranging a hit, but here I am...

Here I am looking ill while holding Princess Dinah Bear

 and if you don't spot me, here's Dr Brainiac...

Dr Brainiac (love of my life)

There you go, that's your lot. No more pictures of us!

28 comments:

  1. That's a good list and plan, have a good one!

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    1. I'll try!!! Be nice to actually have a look around Salute for a change.

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  2. Damn you. There's no way I could justify the cost of a trip to London right now, but I'm still full of jealousy.

    Have a great time :D

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    1. I'll try Ant, but these things tend to be upsetting if you're wandering around with no cash in your back pocket... so many shinies and no cash to buy the pretties!!! :(

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    2. I know what you mean. I used to head down to the Excel for the London MCM Expo, and refused to go without about £200 stuffed into the wallet.

      It'll be good for you. It builds character. That's the lie they usually tell to justify not LETTING US HAVE THE PRETTIES.

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    3. Yes the lack of pennies to buy nice stuffs at shows is either character building or soul destroying. I can never quite work out which it is.

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  3. Smart list and there are a few on it I will also be making a b-line for. I'm after 15mm painted buildings this year for my Normandy FOW table. I also have my eye on a few special pieces (not just 15mm) just for painting. Plus there will no doubt be a few 'impulse' purchases...

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    1. There's actually some really good looking FoW scale terrain out there now, and the selection is getting better all the time.

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  4. That's a fine list. That should keep you very busy! I hope to see you around, because I very much like your blog, and in particular the Sunday Sermons. I'd love to say "hi" and thank you.

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    1. Yeah if you spot me feel free to come and say hi. I'm not a shy and retiring type so I'm more than willing to have a chat.

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  5. Jolly good list, way more organised then me. Hopefully see you there.

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    1. As above if you do spot me feel free to stop and have a chat.

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  6. My first trip i'll be running around like an headless chicken. 15mm stuff and Dust. I'll deffo be at the gruntz table alot.

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    1. I think I'll be making a beeline to the Gruntz table too. Maybe see you there. :)

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    2. Pancake, we finished up the boards for the Gruntz games earlier tonight...was a bit of a mad rush! Robin has three gaming boards in total each offering a different game :)

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  7. Have fun at the show, wish I had the cash to head down there myself but alas, I do not, LOL.

    Are you allowed to take photo's at this event? I've been to some shows in the past where photograhy was forbidden... Dun dun dun.

    -Voidsign-

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    1. Yeah it's normally to do with taking pictures of kids, etc. so as long as you're just taking shots of mini's like we'll be doing it's fine, already checked. ;)

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  8. Now I can layer your head on top of Marneus Calgar's! Muahahahahaahahahahahahaaaa!
    On a slightly more serious note, I didn't know that this thing existed, hope you enjoy yourself like a Boss.

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    1. I'll consider talking to corporate like a boss!!! :P

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  9. Have fun at Salute! I look forward to reading your thoughts on what you saw.

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    1. I'll probably do a series of articles over the following week... depending on how much crap I actually get to see.

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  10. Gosh, you're well organised. Have fun!

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    1. Yes sadly I'm a bit like Monica from friends, I believe the rules are there to control the fun and that careful and meticulous planning is fun in and of itself... I'm not a boring person, honestly but if I'm going somewhere I'm going to have a plan! :P

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  11. I am so envious - have a great time!!!!

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    1. I'll try!!!

      Just off to catch the train at 6:30 in the morning. Ungodly hour that it is. :(

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  12. Robin and I finished up the boards for the Gruntz games today so should be looking pretty good at Salute! I'll be there with him....or off shopping :) So please say hi mate!

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    1. Good, good. Look forward to seeing you there buddy.

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  13. So that's the man we're looking for... Mmyes...myesss *rubs hands together*

    ahem... Very good, I look forward to seeing what you find at Salute, I wish I could attend, but that would have to be a planned vacation in the coming year(s)... :( I really can't wait to see what pretties you have to share with us though, cause we all know you're gonna just gonna pimp out those pretties as well. :P

    "Shut up and take my money!" lol

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