Beware this is a long post!
Yesterday some of the Rejects visited the Excel Centre in London to attend Salute 2021.
It was a strange event if I'm totally honest, we arrived early and got into the show before it opened thanks to our Press Passes!
We were all quite stunned as there were loads of holes were both traders and club games were missing.
After speaking to a few traders we were told that some big names pulled out right at the last minute. Personally I had no plans to buy anything from Gripping Beast, 4Ground and Hasslefree, but I'm sure there were loads of people who were miffed at these big guys not turning up.
I'm not sure why these and other traders didn't attend, perhaps it was Covid, Brexit or just plain politics, but they were missed.
Now this pic really amazed me, the queue to get into the show 15 minutes before opening time!!!!
I normally take a photo when the doors open and nearly get squashed in the stampede?
I did here that number were down and only half the normal tickets had been pre bought?
This was going to be a strange day??
Taking up a lot of room were a Spitfire!
and a Hurricane
Magnificent!
10 minutes to go and there's still gaps everywhere.
Martin & Glen
Paula & Trevor
Pre order No1 picked up!
Polish Winged Hussars!
I've been eying up some of there 25mm building for some time now?
One day!
That's a long drive from windy Orkney!
I met Barry in the food court to pick up some clandestine figures!
Yes more Donnybrook stuff!!
Charles looking very grumpy, (this was the best pic I'm afraid!) and Stephen M Carter
the author of Fighting For Liberty, Argyll & Monmouth's Military Campaigns against the Government of King James, 1685.(In his hand)
Both me and BigLee succumbed and bought a cloth mat.
And finally we come to the games, like I previously said, there wasn't as many as normal at Salute, probably more than 50% down infact!
Wyvern Wargames - Imjin War 1592
Japan's invasion of Korea. 12mm
Gentlemen's Wargame Parlour - 28mmVBCW Chain Reaction Air Assault
Wings of Glory Aerodrome
Random Platypus - Carnage City Chronicles
PCS - Divisions of Steel
Plastic Soldier Company - Divisions of Steel
Launch of the new rules by Simon Hall (MeG) and Mark Bevis (MicroMark)
Plastic Soldier Company - Rome
Bumped into Kyle Cruikshank
Frothers Unite UK
Fake News - Escape from Brexit
Fake News - Escape to Mexico
Loughton Strike Force - Fire on the Volga
In my opinion THE absolute game of the show!
This great looking games is bases in the white rectangle in the pic above!
Twilight Miniatures - World of Twilight
Socirty of Ancients - The Battle of Paraitakene 317BC
Eumenes v Antigonus
GCT Studios - Bushido, Rising Sun
Maidstone Wargames Society - Biggles and the Island at the Top of the World
Teal Time Wargamers - The Year of Liberty 1798
Battle of Britain
Warlords - Wellington in India
A Tribute to Stuart Askwith
Grimsby Wargames Society - Retreat to the Dneiper
Wigmore Warriors - Raid on Piddling Down
German Paras attempt to destroy a UK radar station in 1940
Also at the Excel centre was a Star Trek convention. Here are just 3 of the well dressed individuals attending their show.
In the wonderful world of Geekdom, was it only me who felt slightly superior to the Star Trek guys?
The Continental Wars Society - Fight at Bronnzell
Prussia and Bavaria come to blows over rights to use roads through the neutral
state of Hesse, central Germany.
Leicester Phat Cats - On the Palins of Panama
The Officers Mess - XCOM Classic
Not sure who this luvvly looking game belongs to?
The Conclave - By the Will of the Saint
40K
Essex Warriors Wargames Club - Space Hulk
Little Wars Revisited - The Relief of Fort Pippin
Trumpton!
Alastair was helping them out,
?
Royal Air Force Wargaming Association - WWI Trench Football
Anschluss Wargames - Panzer Lehr Counter Attacks July1944
?
Wyre Forest Wargames - The Battle of Poltava 1709
Skirmish Wargames - Viva Mexico 1915
Naval Wargames Society - Saga at Sea
Pagan Raiders C11th Century
Caseshot Publishing - Wellington at Bay, The Battle of Villamuriel 1812
Posties big buy. Lots of painted ACW figures from Grubby Tanks, I can't say how much they all cost, just incase Mrs Postie reads this!
Numbers were down on Traders, Games and Visitors but I still enjoyed the show, I picked up 2 pre-orders and bought want I planned to, with a few other bits and bobs thrown in the mix.