SKIRMISH IN SIDCUP

This is the first time that I have ever submitted a show report to MiniatureWargamesor, indeed, any wargaming magazine, and do so after having organised a demonstration game for the South East London Wargames Group - my club’s first ever Secretsofthe ThirdReich game on the show circuit.

This is the third time I have been to Skirmish; the first two occasions were as a member of the public. Skirmish is run by Harfields Military Figures and SRP Toy Fairs. It first appeared in 2002 under a different name and was originally held in Dartford, Kent. A redevelopment of the venue resulted in the show being relocated to the excellent facilities afforded by the Chislehurst & Sidcup Grammar School and relaunched as Skirmish in 2009. The show is a very good combination of trade stands, demonstration and participation games, re-enactors and Bring & Buy. Andy Harfield says: “Skirmishisquiteauniqueeventasit combineswargaming,toysoldiers andmilitarymodellinginonevenue. WearealsokeentouseSkirmishto promotethehobbiesinvolvedandto makespaceavailableforlocal clubs.”This year’s show featured about 20 traders including Second City, Frontline Wargames, Armourfast and Taylor & Smith as well as Harfields. One was assailed by a comprehensive range of wares with many bargains to be had.

The guest re-enactors were the Firepower Museum Living History Team of the Royal Artillery Museum in Woolwich with British WWII uniforms. As one of the band of Firepower wargamers who put on games at Firepower, it was great to see familiar faces from the museum in their superb uniforms. Then one encounters the wellorganised Bring & Buy run by Gravesend Gamers Guild with their helpful staff and all items clearly laid out for sale (yours truly furnished them with 38 items for sale and only had to pick up nine unsold items at close of play. Passing on from the B&B and moving to the wargames themselves, the following games all attracted considerable interest from the public.

The British Model Soldier Society (BMSS) staged a WWII skirmish set in Sicily in 1943. Graham Sutch and Malcolm Mayes who, like the author, are also members of the Welling Model Club, put on another of their 54mm masterpieces including some stunning Sicilian scenery to fight over. Meanwhile, the Diamond Geezers’ ‘Dungeon Geezers’ proved a very good game for the kids. Will Power and his enthusiastic lads from Old Guard Wargames Club ran a Medieval skirmish; Whitstable & Herne Bay Wargame

4

Club ran a 20mm WWI game; Rainham Wargame Club staged ‘The Game With No Name’ - a Wild West gunfight in 28mm - and Southend Wargames Club put on the First Bull Run/Manassas in 10mm. On the sci-fi & fantasy front, Medway Wargames Club staged a 28mm Dalek v Cyberman fight, Southbourne Tabletop and Boardgamers came with SpaceVixensfromMars; there was a 1:2400 ‘Space Wars’ from H&B Gaming plus a couple of 40Ks too.

Skirmish enjoys a strong attendance level (Andy Harfield informed me that, despite the economic climate, visitor numbers were up). With its modern, spacious venue, large free car park, easy access from the A2 and A20, (let alone close proximity to the M25), 10 minutes walk from Sidcup railway station and a well appointed cafeteria, the show has something for everyone and has struck me as standing well alongside the larger shows in the wargames calendar. It is so enjoyable that one wishes it could run longer than its 10am-

3pm slot, say till 4pm or 4.30pm. All in all, a show to note in your diaries. We will be back again at the next Skirmish show in the year - on Sunday, 25th September - to put on a historical game. For more information or trade or game bookings, please contact Andy Harfield on harfields@btinternet.com or see the Skirmish webpage, www.harfields.com/Skirmish.html Steve Earl

TheSELWGSecretsoftheThirdReichgame ‘DriveonDubrinsk!’atSkirmish withSELWGmemberRhysasCommissarofthe SovietSurvivorsendeavouringtomaintaina fearlesscalmdespitethesizeoftheopposing Germanforce.

KING OF THE BATTLEFIELD

A revised second edition of popular 18th wargames rules KingoftheBattlefieldhas now been published by author Ian Godwin. The updated rules feature the new 600pt competition rules that will be used at shows including Campaign in Milton Keynes and Rampage in Dagenham. Ian tells MW: “Kingofthe Battlefieldletsyoufightan18thcenturybattlefieldinan evening.Itlooksrightonthetabletopandhasaperiodfeelto it.Thegameisfastandsimpletoplay.Allofthekeyrulesare ontwopagesandinmostboundsyouwillnotneedtolookany further.”Ian adds that the rules “giveyougoodreasontouse historicaltacticsinyourgamesbecausetheywork.Youwill quicklyrealisetheneedforasecondlineandappreciatethe typicaldeploymentofthisperiodoflinearwarfare”. Kingofthe Battlefieldis available now from www.wargamesfever.com