Partizan

It has been two weeks in the making, but I have now decided to write up my thoughts on the Partizan show held at Newark (UK, not New Jersey) on 2nd June.

What has taken so long?

Well, I know these particular shows are very well regarded, but...........

The venue looks superb, being held in an old theological college (I think), but these things were not meant for wargames shows and credit card machines. The very useful map was just that though, very useful, so I do not think I missed much if anything (though I did have to go round twice before I found the League of Augsburg game I wanted to catch).

I felt a little sorry for the likes of Baccus and Caliver Books who were shoe-horned into a couple of rooms away from the main events, but that is one of the "issues" with the venue.

The range of traders was pretty decent, but, alas, it struck a discordant note to find that even some major names would not take cards!!!!! Do they think royalty such as I carry money??????? They were probably onto something, however, as both Old Glory and 1st Corps took an age to take my details due to the serious delays in reception throughout the venue. Business well done in the end though.

Then there were the cramped conditions. I found myself tip-toeing around some of the games for fear of a random nudge depositing half a dozen well-painted, unsuspecting 28mm infantry onto the carpet. Note to self: do NOT wear knitwear to this event and do NOT bend closely over any of the tables.

Then there are the usual bio-hazard wargamers for whom deodorant is the symbol of the Anti-Christ.

Finally, Newark (UK still, I have not gone trans-Atlantic mid-post) is not the easiest of places to access from sunny Staffordshire, at least not after the A38 is left behind in favour of single carriageway slowness.

But that's the "bad".

The games were often good-looking affairs and some people even spoke.
There were some unusual subjects on offer.
The range of traders was decent and encompassed many I had neither seen nor heard of before. (Sorry to Lancer Miniatures - I was looking to get some WW1 armoured cars, but spent out too soon).
The atmosphere was one of fun and fevered activity, with many wargames top brass chatting away with sundry individuals - Henry Hyde, Guy Bowers, James Morris, various GW officionadoes (name dropper, I know).

Will I return? Probably, but I suspect I will not become a regular.
Did I get what I was after? Largely. Old Glory did some business on the Anglo-Scots front, 1st Corps the same, Caliver did not have the latest "Wargaming in History" in stock, but I did get some RCW rules I had my eye on. Last but not least, I got to sample some of the gorgeous flag sheets by Clarence Harrison on sale with Warfare Miniatures. The highlight of the show was obtaining the Nassau-Saarbrucken-Ottweiler flag, or at least a very creditable conjecture on what it may have looked like.

Now for some pics.

The Venue - Kelham Hall

Three shots of the Carlist War game staged by the Lincoln club

Sneaky Japanese hiding an HMG in their dug out. Very naughty.

Top lads from 14th army. Hurrah!

Those dastardly Japanese taking some well-aimed shell fire.

Raphia, 217BC.

More Raphia. Not sure who put some of these games on....

A very tasty Victorian sci-fi affair. League of Gentlemen Anti-Alchemists???

And a detail shot of the same.

Korean War in 28mm - very different.

MASH helicopters!!!

Dastardly and sneaky Chinese.

Very nice looking sci-fi game using Ainsty Casting bits and pieces. I always liked their "pipe farms".

Indian Mutiny skirmish.

 I have loads more photos, but I think you have an idea.

One thing I will do is publish the League of Augsburg ones separately, as I took loads. It might just kick-start my own collection.

G