Category Archives: Salute 2018

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

American Civil War, Historical, Salute 2018

Salute 2018 – ACW & Wild West

April 21, 2018 Subedai 2 Comments

One of the finest display tables at Salute 2018 was ‘Glory! From the Halls of Montezuma’ by Ian Smith & Friends. Set in the American Civil War, it portrayed Union forces attempting to take Charleston with an assault by land and sea.

Gunboat in foreground firing cannon towards a fort — Glory! From the Halls of Montezuma by Ian Smith & Friends

Lines of soldiers on the beach firing towards a fort — Glory! From the Halls of Montezuma by Ian Smith & Friends

Top down view of fort and inner courtyard with soldiers and cannon on the battlements — Glory! From the Halls of Montezuma by Ian Smith & Friends

Opposing armies marching towards a farm situated between them — Glory! From the Halls of Montezuma by Ian Smith & Friends

Regiments of infantry and skirmishers clashing amongst corn fields — Glory! From the Halls of Montezuma by Ian Smith & Friends

A column of soldiers marching past a hillside — Glory! From the Halls of Montezuma by Ian Smith & Friends

View from inland of a small town with church and regiments of soldiers clashing — Glory! From the Halls of Montezuma by Ian Smith & Friends

Stand To Games demonstrated the Forager rules set for a skirmish level engagement.

Two ranks of soldiers on open grassland — Forager by Stand To Games

Cannon emplaced next to a wagon covering advancing infantry — Forager by Stand To Games

The Hornchurch Wargames Club set up a fast play Wild West shoot out in ‘The 2:15 to Hornchurch’.

View from above into a Wild West town — The 2:15 to Hornchurch by Hornchurch Wargames Club

Train at the station of a western town — The 2:15 to Hornchurch by Hornchurch Wargames Club

Saloon and general store with horses and a wagon — The 2:15 to Hornchurch by Hornchurch Wargames Club

Peter Pig ran participation battles for the new Western wargame, utilising his 15mm range.

Open plain with rocky outcrops, cavalry, infantry and wagons — Western by Peter Pig

Opposing cavalry and infantry meeting between two buildings — Western by Peter Pig

A group of Native American tents — Western by Peter Pig

Colonial, Historical, Horse & Musket, Napoleonic, Salute 2018

Salute 2018 – Horse & Musket to Colonial

April 20, 2018 Subedai 5 Comments

One of the outstanding gaming tables at Salute 2018 was built by Bill Gaskin & Friends – another highlight following 2016’s Battle of Wilhelmstadt. ‘Raid at Gaskin’s Plantation’ was set in 1761 and portrayed a fictional Spanish incursion into Florida.

Wooden ships in an estuary in tropical climate — Raid at Gaskin’s Plantation by Bill Gaskin & Friends

Soldiers lining up after having landed in row boats — Raid at Gaskin’s Plantation by Bill Gaskin & Friends

Units of soldiers marching inland under their banners from the river bank — Raid at Gaskin’s Plantation by Bill Gaskin & Friends

A cart and wagon outside a colonial house — Raid at Gaskin’s Plantation by Bill Gaskin & Friends

Red coated soldiers and irregulars marching through fields — Raid at Gaskin’s Plantation by Bill Gaskin & Friends

View from behind a watchtower over open woodland with scattered troops — Raid at Gaskin’s Plantation by Bill Gaskin & Friends

Some more atmospheric close up shots (no pun intended) by undeadhighelf.

Soldiers in blue uniforms shooting at soldiers in red behind a fence — Raid at Gaskin’s Plantation by Bill Gaskin & Friends

Three cannons belching smoke — Raid at Gaskin’s Plantation by Bill Gaskin & Friends

The League of Gentlemen Anti-Alchemists sent Garibaldi’s Redshirts to rescue a beautifully constructed convent in the year 1860.

Convent with courtyard and church tower overlooking a village — The Biscotti War by The League of Gentlemen Anti-Alchemists

Troops in mostly red uniform jackets advancing towards small buildings — The Biscotti War by The League of Gentlemen Anti-Alchemists

View into the convent's courtyard garden from above — The Biscotti War by The League of Gentlemen Anti-Alchemists

A rustic house with red roof tiles — The Biscotti War by The League of Gentlemen Anti-Alchemists

Dalauppror presented the Battle of Stäket, which took place on 13th August 1719 during the Great Northern War and pitched Russians versus Swedes. The scenario was played out using The Pikeman’s Lament set of rules.

Costal landscape with wooden ships on shore — Battle of Stäket by Dalauppror

A small settlement and tents set up along the shore — Battle of Stäket by Dalauppror

Troops amongst blazing buildings and firing from prepared positions on either side of a river — Battle of Stäket by Dalauppror

The hypothetical ‘Battle of Freeman’s Farm’ during the American War of Independence in 1777 was staged by the Essex Warriors.

Column of troops with a cannon passing by a farmhouse — Battle of Freeman’s Farm by Essex Warriors

Lines of troops advancing over green fields — Battle of Freeman’s Farm by Essex Warriors

Further games within the wider era ranged from Napoleonic to British colonials in India.

Units of soldiers on hex terrain surrounding a small town — Battle of Aspern-Essling 1809 by The Old Guard

Massed units of troops marching towards a house — Battle of Aspern-Essling 1809 by The Old Guard

An army storming over a hill — A Napoleonic battle fought using General d’Armee rules

City walls in arid terrain manned by soldiers — Indian Mutiny Escape by The Sons of Simon de Montford

English Civil War, Historical, Salute 2018

Salute 2018 – ECW & Age of Piracy

April 20, 2018 Subedai Leave a comment

It seems like the Golden Age of Piracy is upon us thanks to Blood & Plunder, a game I am very keen to get involved in. At Salute 2018, the Leicester Phat Cats did a marvellous job of showcasing the system on a board filled with ships and a coastal settlement.

Five sailing ships close to a beach with a rustic settlement — Blood & Plunder by Leicester Phat Cats

Boarding action between two sailing ships — Blood & Plunder by Leicester Phat Cats

Two boats filled with pirates landing on a beach — Blood & Plunder by Leicester Phat Cats

Early colonial settlement with a market square — Blood & Plunder by Leicester Phat Cats

Maps and documents relating to pirates in the 17th century — Blood & Plunder by Leicester Phat Cats

The Tin Soldiers of Antwerp ran a family friendly participation game in which ‘The Swiss Family Robinson’ had to defend their tree house against waves of attacking pirates.

Beach with marked up movement squares leading up to a jungle settlement — The Swiss Family Robinson by Tin Soldiers of Antwerp

Groups of pirates moving up the beach towards a treehouse — The Swiss Family Robinson by Tin Soldiers of Antwerp

TGCM had brought an imposing pirate vessel to show off their miniatures range.

Pirate ship model with three masts and purple sails — Fantasy pirate vessel by TGCM

A few years earlier and back on dry land, Simon Miller & Friends staged a fictional English Civil War battle in the Borsetshire hamlet of Soggy Bottom. Not being content with just one engagement, this was played in two different scales, using the ‘To the Strongest! For King and Parliament’ set of rules.

Cavalry units charging at each other over open ground — Battle of Soggy Bottom 1643 by Simon Miller & Friends

Blocks of infantry defending houses surrounded by low walls — Battle of Soggy Bottom 1643 by Simon Miller & Friends

Musket armed soldiers in a field with sheep — Battle of Soggy Bottom 1643 by Simon Miller & Friends

Infantry with pikes and muskets advancing towards a wood — Battle of Soggy Bottom 1643 by Simon Miller & Friends

Birds eye view of a large battlefield with ranks of soldiers approaching each other — Battle of Soggy Bottom 1643 by Simon Miller & Friends

Small settlement occupied by large bodies of troops — Battle of Soggy Bottom 1643 by Simon Miller & Friends

Two cavalry units attacking each other — Battle of Soggy Bottom 1643 by Simon Miller & Friends

Historical, Salute 2018, WW2

Salute 2018 – World War 2

April 19, 2018 Subedai Leave a comment

World War 2 with its plethora of rules systems and miniatures ranges was a popular topic again at Salute 2018.

‘The Battle of Foy’ and its portrayal in Band of Brothers was the setting for a winter engagement using Bolt Action rules.

View over a snow covered forest towards a small town — The Battle of Foy for Bolt Action

Infantry advancing from woods into open fields covered in snow — The Battle of Foy for Bolt Action

Outskirts of a town in winter with tanks on the streets — The Battle of Foy for Bolt Action

Tanks on a street outside a church — The Battle of Foy for Bolt Action

Infantry in winter gear occupying a house ruin and trench — The Battle of Foy for Bolt Action

A Few Brits and the Hobby built an impressive table for ‘Operation Taifun – The Battle for Leros 1943’. The game was played using Battlegroup rules with the Torch supplement.

Coastline with a warship, fighter plane and infantry making landfall — Operation Taifun by A Few Brits and the Hobby

Warship moored at a small jetty with infantry disembarking — Operation Taifun by A Few Brits and the Hobby

Infantry advancing over rough ground with scattered bombed out buildings — Operation Taifun by A Few Brits and the Hobby

Also using Battlegroup Torch were Ironfist Publishing themselves with their battle in Tunisia of 1943 to take Kasserine Pass. Thanks to undeadhighelf for the additional photography.