Salute purchasing

Given I'm off to Triples on Sunday I didn't plan to buy a lot at Salute, but as usual I picked up some bargains on the B&B and items from other traders. So what did I get?

• Airfix/Waterloo WW2 Italian Infantry - a number of part boxes that will provide me with the few spare figures I need to complete my existing forces
• Caesar H056 WWII Partisans in Europe- a nice boost for my existing partisans
• Hat Zulu Wars: Natal Native Horse - really the one unit that I'm missing from my Zulu Wars army.
• Italeri Cannone da 90/53 - two packets of the Italian equivalent of the 88mm, but not that common.
• Italeri German Motorcycles - the beginnings of a DAK MG battalion
• Liberation Cannone da 75/27 mod. 11 - a little oddity for my Italians and will equip my Australians for the big game.
• Matchbox Panzer III - a great find on the B&B
• Reiver WW1 Pilots - at last someone has spotted a gap in the market since model aircraft don't seem to include pilots anymore
• SHQ rocket frames for the Sdkfz 251 - I'll be adding them to the re-released Matchbox/Revell kit.
• SHQ Australian Infantry - I need mortars and other figures, and the Revell Australians seem to have disappeared, so I'm going so see how these fit in and then buy more as necessary at Triples.
• Skytrex Arm of service signs/Guards Armoured decals - I've given up painting them on.
• Strelets Early French Carabiniers - these will be getting bicorne head swaps and then off to join my French Revolutionaries.

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Late addition, I forgot I bought a copy of Sharp Practice from the Too Fat Lardies

Soviet Fokker D VII

Working my way through the cheap Revell biplanes from Modelzone, the Fokker DVII was the most obvious model to use for the Reds.

The information came from the Fokker DVII profile and Wings Palette. Fokker sold 50 D.VII's to the Soviet Union in 1920 and it is believed that they have been used until 1930. The model is based upon the 1 OIAE based in Petrograd in 1923.

Early Panzer IIIs

I picked up a couple of what might be Frontline Panzer IIIs (probably an Ausf E) at the B&B at South Cheshire Militaire at Crewe.

Given I haven't any 37mm armed versions they are a useful addition. The only problem I found was separating the turrets as they were already stuck on, as I prefer mine to rotate and then discovered that although the hull had the hole for the turret plug, the turrets didn't have them. Very strange. I cut a couple of rings off some 15mm copper pipe and fitted them as centrally as I could.

Desert Panzer IIIs

Although I generally keep to 1/76 models I bought the new Italeri fast build Panzer III J to see how well they compared scale wise, especially as it is difficult to find the Matchbox version now
The kits assemble quickly and produce a lovely pair of models with options for a long or short 50mm gun. They are quite a bit larger than 1/76 so I'm still wondering how to progress with my DAK forces.

Salute 2009

OK, where to start with what turned out to be a truly excellent day, an trip down memory lane via the Metropolitan line to Aldgate then the DLR to Excel. I used to live in Harrow not far from the famous Harrow model shop.


The real highlight of the day was the number of people (too many to list) that I ran into on the day, the net result of all this was when I reviewed some other reviews of the show I realised how much I'd missed (and enjoyed) by talking to other kindred spirits.

Of special mention:

• The Two Fat Lardies from the St Albans Wargames club and still meeting in the same venue (and paintwork I remember), great to see you guys and a big apology to Rich for not finding a gap in his flow to have a few words" Then there were the other Harpenden and North London gamers. Great to see Nick and Darren


• The southern chapter of the Society of Gentlemen Gamers dragged me off for a pint, great to see you guys


• Steve the Wargamer and DG - nice to meet you after all the years of correspondence over my AWI/SYW rules

As for the show, It is certainly bigger, better, and more expensive than when I was last there, but still a great showcase for the hobby (and yes, I did get most of the way to London before remembering I'd left my advance ticket behind)

A few notable games I spotted, (others have better cameras , skill and time to get the good pictures I should have taken)


Tenochtitlan (by La Grande Armee) an excellent demo, but looking closely it showed how easily dramatic effects can be produced from simple materials
Barry Hilton's excellent Napoleonic terrain, it looks far better on his website than my picture, very inspiring.

This must be an ultimate piece of terrain modelling, snow covered forest/swamp with a road/railway crossing it

Totally exhausted after the weekend so I'm off to get some kip, I'll add my acquisitions later

Will

Off to salute

Yes, I'll be back to London shortly. At the show I'm planning to spend more time perusing the goods rather than buying as I can catch up on any buying at Triples the next weekend. An essential part of the day will be catching up with various southern wargamers. In particular Steve-the-wargamer the Two Fat Lardies (first stop after I get through the door) and the southern capter of the Society of Gentlemen Gamers.

As is typical I have various items nearly finished, but you'll have to wait till after the weekend.

If you are at Salute please say Hi, I'll be wearing a back Deeside Defenders polo shirt.

Neat casualty marker

Just spotted this over on the General de Brigade forum. It's a really neat idea made with washers and punched card, full details here