Category Archives: Modern

Historical, Modern, Salute 2019

Salute 2019 – Modern Warfare

April 11, 2019 Subedai 6 Comments

All the cool kids are gaming modern warfare right now and accordingly there were a number of choices at Salute 2019.

I was very tempted to pick up the rules for Spectre and some figures to recreate scenarios from Narcos but in the end decided to postpone such a project. Any wargame that can justify the use of a swimming pool and sun chairs is a winner for me however.

Modern warfare skirmish using the Spectre Operations rules — Spectre Operations at Salute 2019

Another favourite of mine in terms of setting is Wild in the Streets, which I bought the Straight Edge crew for previously. The lack of terrain is holding me back but I might go for a less authentic approach and use the figures with my cyberpunk Infinity terrain.

Skirmish game of youth subcultures fighting — Wild in the Streets by Slow Death Games at Salute 2019

A few years earlier in the same streets of downtown NYC, gangs clashed to disco beats courtesy of Funky Skull Games.

A New York gang find themselves in hostile territory — Escape from the Bronx by Funky Skull Games at Salute 2019

The more dusty and deadly setting of Helmand province was the scene for ‘The Panther’s Claw’ by Whitehall Warlords.

Recreation of British operations in Helmand in April 2009 — The Panther’s Claw by Whitehall Warlords at Salute 2019

Scimitar Wargames Group recreated old town Jerusalem during the Six Day War, playing with the Fate of a Nation rules set.

Thor’s Hammer Gaming Club built a historical location in popular culture for the Batman to rid of rogues and villains.

Axis Chemicals plant in Gotham city — Batman the Miniatures Game by Thor’s Hammer Gaming Group at Salute 2019

The Joker's crew at the Axis Chemicals plant in Gotham city — Batman the Miniatures Game by Thor’s Hammer Gaming Group at Salute 2019

Batman and a SWAT team at the Axis Chemicals plant in Gotham city — Batman the Miniatures Game by Thor’s Hammer Gaming Group at Salute 2019

Historical, Modern, Salute 2018

Salute 2018 – Modern Warfare

April 22, 2018 Subedai 4 Comments

The category of Modern Warfare at Salute 2018 featured rather fewer conventional theatres, and an unexpected surge of gangland conflicts. Also, zombies taking over the Salute exhibition hall and not-Lego tanks duking it out on a bedroom floor – can’t get more modern than those in my view.

Outskirts of a city close to the beach occupied by groups of tanks — Invasion of Copenhagen by Chelmsford Bunker

Dozens of tanks rolling up the beach — Invasion of Copenhagen by Chelmsford Bunker

Street fighting in contemporary urban environments ranged from youth gang bust ups to gangland shoot outs and zombie/monster invasions.

Urban streets and building with small gangs of miniatures — Wild in the Streets by Random Platypus

City buildings including a donut shop — Wild in the Streets by Random Platypus

Inside view of a 70s record store — Purgatory by Underestimated Games

A children's playground in a ghetto urban environment — Purgatory by Underestimated Games

Street scene with piles of garbage, some cars and groups of gang members — Rumble in the Bronx by Funky Skull Games

Multi storey brick buildings with a cigarette advert board and subway train in the foreground — Rumble in the Bronx by Funky Skull Games

City street flanked by brick buildings with improvised barricades — Turf War Z by Studio Miniatures

The most original and also perfectly executed participation game was ‘Dead Show’ by Bexley Reapers Wargaming Club. The Salute hall had been painstakingly recreated in 28mm scale, including trade stands and gaming tables.

Small scale models of gaming tables and miniature trading stands in a large exhibition hall — Dead Show by Bexley Reapers Wargaming Club

Several scale models of gaming tables with a mix of settings — Dead Show by Bexley Reapers Wargaming Club

Close up of miniature gaming tables with desert and beach settings populated by tiny tanks and troops — Dead Show by Bexley Reapers Wargaming Club

Entrance area of the exhibition hall model being swamped by zombies — Dead Show by Bexley Reapers Wargaming Club

The Royal Air Force Wargaming Association brought a new family friendly and original game to the show with ‘A Brick Too Far’.

Toy floor play mat scattered with games boxes and plastic brick tanks — A Brick Too Far by Royal Air Force Wargaming Association

Modern, Salute 2016, Vietnam War, WW2

Salute 2016 – World War 2 & Modern Warfare

April 17, 2016 Subedai 2 Comments

Salute 2016 at the ExCeL organised by the South London Warlords brought its usual variety of wargaming across many eras and scales. Getting to see all the amazing tables in-between browsing and shopping is always a challenge. At the end of the day I managed to snap at least a selection to provide an overview of what was on display, starting off with the historical late modern era.

The Loughton Strike Force put on a battle during the Russo-Finnish War of 1940 over a frozen lake using the Chain of Command rules.

Background materials for Loughton Strike Force's Russo-Finnish War 1940 game — Loughton Strike Force – Russo-Finnish War 1940

Large World War 2 themed wargaming table with winter scenery in 28mm scale — Loughton Strike Force – Russo-Finnish War 1940

Small winter scene with a staff car, a field gun and crew standing by a barrel fire — Loughton Strike Force – Russo-Finnish War 1940

The Tet Offensive was the backdrop to the Essex Gamester’s Vietnam War mega game.

View of a large wargaming table in multiple sections with a river through jungle and military camp in the foreground — Essex Gamesters – The Tet Offensive

A helicopter hovering over jungle trees next to a river with several patrol boats — Essex Gamesters – The Tet Offensive

Two artillery emplacements on a river bank with a watchtower and parked APC — Essex Gamesters – The Tet Offensive

Cold War gone hot in 6mm scale was the topic for Heroic and Ros’ 1986 Gyros Teller Goes Small in a Large Way which saw Soviet forces assault across a river defended by NATO.

A large wargaming table in 6mm scale with a village and open countryside in the background — Heroics and Ros – 1986 Gyros Teller Goes Small in a Large Way

Leicester Phat Cats were gaming in the same era using Team Yankee rules and 15mm models. The setting saw a US Combat Team face off against a Russian Motor Rifle Regiment.

A wargaming table with fields, a crossroads with houses and tanks advancing from both ends — Leicester Phat Cats – Team Yankee: First Contact

Jet Warfare of the 1980s was the theme for White Hart Wargamers’ Sidewinder game.

Three fighter aircraft models over a terrain mat depicting a coastline — White Hart Wargamers – Sidewinder: Modern Jet Warfare

The Crawley Wargames Club hosted the D-Day: Operation Overlord participation game.

A boardgames style set up showing the Normandy coastline and army tokens occupying sections of the terrain — Crawley Wargames Club – D-Day: Operation Overlord

The Road to Homs was the title of an alternative scenario for the Invasion of Lebanon 1982. Maidstone Wargames Society created this epic conflict in 3mm scale.

Large wargaming table with mountainous desert terrain and mechanised armies in 3mm scale — Maidstone Wargames Society – The Road to Homs

Modern, Salute 2015

Salute 2015 – Modern Warfare

April 30, 2015 Subedai 2 Comments

Wargames Illustrated hosted “Cold War Gone Hot”, the largest modern era participation game at Salute 2015. It made use of Nick Ayres’ 3rd Generation Warfare rules and featured models from the Leicester Phat Cats on winter terrain built by Nick Ayres and Philip Lewis.

It’s the 1980s and the Cold War has turned into World War 3! Take charge of a unit of Warsaw Pact or NATO troops and battle for one of the main autobahns into West Germany.

Another scenario based on the Cold War erupting into open conflict was MDK’s “Operation Broadsword – The Cold War Went Wet”. A force of SBS and Royal Marine Commandos have been tasked to carry out a raid on a Russian frigate in the Baltic Sea to capture the Russian Communications code book.

Wargames Soldiers & Strategy Magazine ran a game to preview Osprey’s upcoming rules “Black Ops”. The assignment is to control a team of trained operatives and undertake espionage missions against the clock. Will your fellow players help or hinder you?

One of the most iconic chase scenes in James Bond’s history was reimagined by the Maidstone Wargames Society in “Spy to a Kill: Snowfalls”. Can Bond and Dr Snow Falls evade capture in an Alaskan ski chase?

Modern, Salute 2014, Vietnam War

Salute 2014 – Modern Warfare

April 13, 2014 Subedai Leave a comment

The most recent battle recreated at Salute 2014 was from the Five Day War between Georgian and Russian forces in South Ossetia. Leicester Phat Cats displayed Turmoil in Tskhinvali on an impressive board with mountains, cityscape and air support.

Whitehall Warlords staged a US combined operations attack on a North Vietnamese bunker complex in the 15mm scale Iron Butterflies in the Killer Jungle.

The Battle of Dien Bien Phu was the backdrop for Brussels based Chemins de Feu wargaming club. In this scenario set in 1953, French paratroopers were leading a raid to destroy a Viet Minh weapons cache.