The York Show

Fresh back from the York show,I feel inspired and keen to press on with the resolutions that I have made.
I always manage to get to the show by a different route,but it was worth it. There was a definite buzz about the place,with some nice games,and loads of wargames products.Although my intention was to curb my spending I still managed to empty my wallet. The best buy being some more Minatur [TM] flocks, this time some summer flowers and new grass clumps, and best of all 25 copies of the old SYW journal including the first years releases.
 I particulary liked the do it yourself bring and buy,which was a good way to barter with the actual owner of the figures, much better than the normal scrum. All I need now is to be allowed to stage a game at the show, at the last count I was eleventh reserve. The best game for me was the Tobruk game in 15mm, excellent painted Italian tanks.

 On another topic, I have been gradually completing my OSW library,book by book. The idea was to obtain every book that has been released when I started wargaming in the year dot. It really was a daft idea,as some of the books when revisited aren't as good as I remembered, a bit like Dandelion and Burdoch [ a British thing]
 Still some hold their magic. The latest purchase was John Tunstill's Discovering Wargames, which was part of a series which also included, Rules for Wargaming by Arthur Taylor.

I have quite a few of John Tunstills magazine Miniature Warfare, which wasnt a bad wargames magazine in the early seventies. The actiual book is naturally dated,but still has its place in my growing library. As regards my wargames room [ sorry house ] building project, my builders hope to kick off in March. Its still difficult to get excited after all the troubles I have experienced over the last few years with the planners etc, but I can say I am excited about my room. If things go to plan my table will be larger than expected, with lots of shelf space. I still cant decide wether to scrap all my terrain boards,and build new ones, especially after talking to Alan from Games of War who reckons he now has a machine that can cut contours in insulation board, thus allowing me to create proper rolling terrain.

I had to include this photograph from the Discovering Wargames book, just to show how gamers looked 

in 1969. They certainly looked to me,more intelligent,and smarter in their dress.You cant beat a bit of cord.