CLAYMORE '94 Attendance was down by all accounts and certainly traders were complaining of sales being below the norm. The fact that I arrived less than 20 minutes after the show opened, could park almost directly outside the venue and walk straight in without queueing is evidence to this. Organising the show has been down to Paul Duncan in the post, but this year I believe that the Chairman of the South East Scotland Wargames Club took things Into his own hands. One trader complained that they had been given Just two weeks notice and only half the table space they had previously enjoyed. The majority of the trade stands are crammed in on the ground floor, with a few more sharing floor space on the third floor with a scattering of games. Practically the whole of the first floor Is taken up with probably THE BIGGEST 'Bring and Buy' In the country (50 ft of books and games and a further 50 ft of figures). The second floor has a dozen very well spaced out gaming tables. I know that there's a big waiting flat for traders to get Into Claymore, Including B&B Miniatures, SOD and Britannic. Came on fellas I A bit more judicious spacing of the tables on the second floor and you could get In a further 4-5 trade stands. Increasing your revenue and making the show more attractive to those living some distance away but still within a reasonable Journey time. Traders I paid a special visit to the effervescent Steve Show of the under appreciated Feudal Castings (19 Brechin Road, Kirremuir, Angus, D08 4BX). I bought some 15mm Highland lsleamen who looked as though they hod just stepped off the gravestones that litter the Western Isles of Scotland. I Intend to build up armies of Feudal Soots, Picts, Irish and Vikings from his ranges. By the way, the Norman cavalry come with separate arms for greater variation I Steve also does ACW, Dark Ages, Austrians for the Italian War of Independence (Italians will be available soon), Sikh Wars and War of the Roses. Possibly the best figure he has designed so far is a ECW trooper in lobster pot with a separate sword arm. Hovels displayed their new 20mm C20th ruined building / street fighting modules. They appeared on page 20 of Wargames Illustrated No. 79 and are a well designed and excellent Idea. Andy Copestoke of Old Glory was saying that they were increasing their 25mm Marlburion range and bringing out 'early Martburians'. i.e. Lots C17th League of Augsburg / 'Good King Billy' figures for the Boyne, Steenkirk, Nomur etc. I look forward to these myself, but am not holding my breath. Hot off the press is that Old Glory want to produce 25mm Mexican-American War figures next year, to be released in stages. They will also be selling Hundred Years War range and banners shortly to compliment their medieval range. I couldn't help but give the American War of Independence range a second look before convincing myself that I already have too many projects on the go. Still on AWI, I was disappointed by Polly Oliver's new 15mm range designed by Michael Percy. They were very much true to scale and therefore very slender, with weapons that were possibly too delicate for much tabletop use. Michael's work for SHO has been similarly 'faulted' in the past by both wargamers and the honest review column of The Journal of The Society of Twentieth Century Wargamers. He has bags of talent, but needs to drop his perfectionism. One of my pet hates are figures who lose bayonets, muzzles etc. There's no excuse for this nowadays, particularly when figures are 15p /15mm, or 65p / 25mm. I deliberately missed out much of the Irregular Miniatures stand. Whenever I'm within 20 paces, I seem to roll a double 6 and go into an uncontrollable spend for two moves! However, I do recommend their 20mm WW2 British Infantry and civilians, the 'working girt' was a particularly fetching casting! The 6mm Boxers are very good and will probably be my Christmas present, as Admiral Seymour's attempts to relieve Peking make excellent solo gaming ('1,500 Second Class 3 day returns please'). Cameron Robinson (Freikorps / Platoon 20 et al) is now stocking the complete range of RAFM miniatures, Including some very, very nice 25mm French/Indion Wars figures. Ancients and Medlevals wargamers might like to get details from Cameron of the RAFM stage equipment which Is very well priced. Recent 20mm metal vehicle releases include a French Lorraine APC. These models compete well with other manufacturer's products and pricing. The Universal Carrier is a MUST for any 20mm British WW2 garners and only £3.50. Wargames Foundry put in an appearance in the guise of Dave Allen. He told me that the Perry twins were planning new 25mm WWI Belgians, and extending their French. On display was a an incredibly detailed WW1 GS Wagon. I bought lots of Roman Empire / Dark Age Franks and Sub-Roman (Arthurian) British. Recommended! Originally I had been intending to pick up Old Glory French and Indian Wars figures, but with Wargomes Foundry very likely to win the race to have the first 70p wargames figures (thought to be Oct/Nov so they can blame it on the Autumn Budget), I decided to buy now. Huns have been on the cards since March, but apparently the twins hove just had too much on their plate, what with the Late Kingdom Egyptians, Gauls, Germans and Dodans that may be out by November? In fact, spears and shields for the Egyptians will have to be purchased separately, so maybe you could say they were 70p now after all. I find cast spears a real pain and would prefer manufacturers to copy Ral Partha who produce spear tips that can be slotted and glued firmly onto pins or brass wire. More realistic and more robust. I've been using both DBM and Simon McDowell's Wargaming in History: Goths, Huns and Romans (Argus Books) for my Late Roman vs the barbarians games. However, the small stands of figures don't look right. I've tried tinkering but so far to no avail. I'm intrigued by the article in October's issue of Wargomes Illustrated about utilising Warhammer fantasy battle rules. I'm looking forward to the army lists that are being presented in the November Issue. Wild Geese have new 10mm ECW and have added a MkV tank to their First World War British. This has been deliberately not made to scale. V's big and chunky and looks right with the figures. Trench mortars and artillery are to follow as the range picks up in popularity. Dixon's new 25mm Custer figures look more human than most of their previous offerings and I'll be ordering some for skirmish games. In fact seeing them prompted me to watch 'Son of The Morning Star' again on video. There's more to the Plains Wars than Little Big Horn and Wounded Knee. It's a fascinating period, as S.L.A. Marshall states "It was an era of military regression wherein the fundamentals were almost forgot.... Commanders hunted the Sioux with brass bands whilst not bothering to get their scouts out." Definitely a project for the future. The WW2 range has hod some new Desert Rats added including an SAS raiding party and an NCO with two advancing riflemen different designer to previous figures. A general observation about the second hand dealers that were there. WHY? One selling figures basically had a couple of deep boxes which looked as if someone had tipped in sweepings from a factory floor, lots of small bits of partly pointed, broken shards of metal. On closer inspection, 'My god those are wargame figures!' Not one historical figure designed since 1977 in sight and with major competition from the Bring and Buy I hope it was worth it all. The Bring and Buy was MOBBED. I found that several of those jockeying for position at the B&B tables had cleverly decided to use B.O. an a tactical ruse in order to clear a path. I bought half a dozen obviously new Osprey Men at Arms titles for under £4 each. Figures were the standard fare, with large amounts of SF / Fantasy and 1/300 micro armour dominating. It was the usual story of figures that looked as if they'd been dipped in a tin of Dulux at prices that would have made the Tate Gallery think twice about opening the cheque book. The Games Very often, it's seeing a well produced wargame of a convention that's the spur to get me into a new period or just get on with a project that has been waylaid. As there on the table Is a physical embodiment of what you could achieve. All the colour and spectacle that you have won in your mind's eye whilst your figures still sit unpainted In on old shoebox. There were no less than 10 public participation games out of 23 presented. The most well received was Slim Mumford & Co.'s 25mm Last of the Mohicans skirmish, where everyone seemed to have heaps of fun. The Ben Hur chariot racing game from S.E.S.W.C. had been brought back by public demand but did look a bit sod this year. Aberdeen Roleplaying Club had a very creditable Middle Earth War, whose scenery was stunning despite being a very uniform Humbrol panzer grey. Of the main games the best by for was put on by 'The League of Augsburg' an Informal group whose primary interest Is from 1670-1720, the Pike and Bayonet Period. The gregarious Rev. Alan Gruber was once again harassing unsuspecting members of the public trying to build Interest In this fascinating and very wargameable era. In fact, there was a good mix of games on with air and naval games well represented, as were both skirmish and big battle. Paul and I had a very nice pub lunch in the Greyfriar's Bobby, which I thoroughly recommend for anyone day tripping to Edinburgh. A satisfying and very reasonable lunch for under a fiver. This proved a welcome break to the day and I must admit that I would probably have left for home about 1pm without it. So that was Claymore for me, but please I'd like to hear your views.... Habitants and Highlanders At last I picked up a copy of these wargames rules from Canada, and I have to kick myself for waiting so long before doing so I In fad this is more than a set of rules, it is a complete package which contains everything you need to get you wargaming on the tabletop. From a basic history and geography lesson, through organising and painting your model soldiers, to providing a variety of scenarios and even campaigns (with maps and counters too). The battle rules themselves take up just five pages including charts, with a further page of additions which allow you to fight individual skirmishes using the some systems. A concept which works very well indeed and mirrors William B Protz Jr.'s 'Drums of War Along The Mohawk'. One figure represents 50 men and 1 Inch = 100 yards, so on average battalion would be of 30 figures. The standard of layout and presentation is very high and really sets a standard that nothing that I can think of produced in this country over the past ten years can reach. Believe me, It's £9 well spent, V.P.P. (Value Per Page ) is excellent and even If the C18th isn't your thing, I would recommend Habitants and Highlanders just to plunder the scenarios and campaign systems. You won't be disappointed! 20mm Spanish Civil War Typical. Just as I declare that I'll concentrate on wargaming the Spanish Civil War in 15mm in future, utilising Martin Goddard's excellent Peter Pig range of figures, there's more news on the 20mm front. Rolf Hedges (106 Rydene Road, Walton on Thames, Surrey KT12 3DS) sent me some very nice 20mm samples (30p each including p&p) which he's commissioned to accompany a new set of SCW rules he intends to have ready for next Spring. Roll produces the masters of the SCW vehicles sold by 8.D.D., and Is author of Lou Tlznaos : Armoured Can and Lorries of the Spanish Civil War 1036-39, £4.95 . MLR will have a new Spanish Civil War range out in the spring of '95. Allegedly, several designers Including Michael Percy were tried before John Barnes was satisfied, and why not. 30 packs are rumored including cavalry, and all with separate heads. For the first time Chlndits have appeared In any scale, and a welcome addition I'm sure. There's even a mule supply column. Anyone interested in Chindit operations should read Prisoners of Hope: With the Chlndits In Burma 1944 by Mike Calvert (Corgi Books) and The Rood Past Mandalay by John Masters, for an appreciation of what their operations were about. Also from the MLR stable are enough Soviet support elements to put more than a platoon on the tabletop. At last, Soviet scouts! The scout platoon leader has a captured MP40. US para company weapons are also available. Tony Quickenden Gauntlet Contributory Editor, Tony Quickenden is a wargames figure designer of some talent, whose work will be appearing on the trade stands of several major manufacturers in the near future. He's at home working in any scale, the 20mm German Paratrooper below and the 10mm British Seven Years War figures found on page 35 testify to this. If there's a particular figure you've always wanted but found nobody produces, then Tony will be happy to accept a commission as a service to Gauntlet subscribers. For more information and costs, contact Tony at 336 Slanstead Rood, Colford, London SE6 4UE. Back to The Gauntlet No. 3 Table of Contents Back to The Gauntlet List of Issues Back to Master Magazine List © Copyright 1995 by Craig Martelle Publications This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com