CRISIS 2012 is over

Saturday november 3rd: Crisis 2012. A new place to go with our 15mm Napoleonic demo after years in Metropolis.
We thought it a great place, better then Metropolis and, as we were early to built up the demo, we had no problem in finding a parking space. We understood that other had, thanks to the city of Antwerp, more problems in finding some space.
There were some hick-ups at the bar facilities and at one time a looooong queue existed but we had no problems to get our needed drinks. But it was the first time in a new venue so TSoA will sort this out for next year (remember how they fixed the bad lightning in Metropolis?)

So, congratulations of the whole Alde Garde to all who were involved in planning and realising this great show and of course seeing you next year.

Of course we took some pictures (who also will appear on our website-yes we will update this in the near future) but we found that we had too little time to browse around and take pictures, talk to people and do shopping. Must plan better next year.

Worean: Rokes drift

1793: Vendee in 15mm

De achterhoede: Indonesia 1941

Napoleonic 25mm by Stipzisc Huzaren

                              
Lla Grande Armee: siege of Haarlem

Barry Hiltons' Warfare miniatures and table

And of course, some pictures of our 1812 demo:
We used Black Powder as rulesset and the figures were 15mm Minifigs, Essex, Warmodelling and various other makers.

Spanish village

Emloyment of the French; the British are waiting

crossing the mountain

Overview of the table

Hick up: there is only one road and when the dice are bad for the first unit you have a problem!

Crisis 2012

As Crisis draws nearer, of course the Alde Garde is preparing for a game there. We wouldn't like to miss it; a new and bigger venue, more stands for selling stuff and probably more wargames demos.
We will be there.
As we couldn't find the time to present something completely new, we will present a 1812 Napoleonic/Peninsular demo in 15mm with Black Powder rules.
As our shako battalions wer only about 12 or 16 figures we have to expand them to at least 24 figures (but a lot will be in the 30/36 figure range so painting it is).
Also the terrain will be added.

Wereldfestival august 2012

Peter (which in fact is you know, half of our "club") presented on the Wereldfestival in August our 15mm India table as part of the history of India.
As this festival was meant to raise money for various projects in third world countries, our table was just  a fill-up of some empty space but it give some added information about the rich history of India.
Some photo's, and yes Peter has at last finished a new ship for the 7YW period.

Landmachtdagen

On may 13th and 14th, the Alde Garde participated, together with about ten other wargamesclubs in the open day of the Dutch Army at Oirschot .
Various tables showed the history of, mostly, the history of warfare in the Netherlands or of the Dutch army. Starting with a Roman battle near Maestricht and ending with modern warfare, as Alde Garde we were in the middle period with our 1690 demo.
A lot of different visitors, from families to the commander of the Duthc army discoverd for the first time that something as wargaming (with figures I must add) exists so a promotion of the hobby it was.
Sadly, through a crash of the computer, our photos are disappeared so the first picture is of the THS site (German cavalry attacking Romans near Maestricht, the second from the Ministry of Defence.

Udate

Well, one way or the other,as you have noticed, blogging has been lagging behind. Hopefully we will pick up the pace as autumn and winter time gives longer evenings to type some inormation about the things we do. And also problems with the computer is hopefully solved so our website will be updated.

So some backlog of information.

Salute was great, seeing a lot of beautiful games and talking to other members of the wargames community is always rewarding. So thanks to the organisers.
As a lot of pictures have published since that time, just only one of the table we (and with us as lot of other wargames) liked the most, it was of course the 25mm Peninsular table; absolutely stunning.

We had our 1690 demo at FIGZ.
FIGZ was held in another (and in our opinion good) venue then last year but there were only a few visitors which is a shame.
Don't know exactly what the cause of that was (another wargames show reasonably closeby is probably one of them) but I think the organisers will to think what to do for next year.  They did a good job but a show simply need enough visitors to continue.

Busy weekend

It will be a busy weekend for the Alde Garde.
This evening (Friday) we will be preparing two tables for the reenactment meeting of "Gelres Overkwartier" in Horst, Netherlands which we will attend on Sunday. We will bring our 25mm Medieval demo and our 15mil 7YW Inda demo.

Saturday morning we will depart for Londons'Salute show. Just a trip on one day (almost 1000 km on one day!) but it is for our hobby (it's keep you off the street, our wives say).

Hopefully we will see some old friends attending and some good presentations and maybe will buy some stuff although we have (as all good wargamers) already a bulk of metal lying around in boxes.

Hope to see you at both occasions
 


For Gelres Overkwartier go to
http://www.gelresoverkwartier.nl/index.html

Action, 1690 Demo

As said earlier, the British Forces wargames show at GHC Rheindahlen had its last run "again". But now it was announced that it really was the last show. Its name changed to RE-Action, it was a nice day (we only could attend Saturday). Nice atmosphere, good games and a lot of talking to fellow wargames and public. Traders offered a lot of prices for the raffle but again we didn't won anything.
Here are some photo's of our game:

Some photos of other presented games:
10mm looks very good in mass (although too small for the eyes of the Alde Garde !!)

Napoleonic in 28mm (La Grande Armee)

Action, GHQ Rheindahlen

Although we said earlier, that we couldn't participate in the Action Show at Rheindahlen, we now can (yes, we can!) alhough it will not be the whole show but only on Saturday 17th of March. For more information about the show goto  http://www.rheindahlen-wargames.com/action/overview_e.htm

We are bringing with us our 1690 Demo as presented earlier at Crisis in November last year.
We will be using Beneath the Lily Banners.
Hope to see you there.

Shows

Well, it looks like we cannot participate in some shows which we normally visit frequently.
Both the Gentbrugge show and the Action Show in Rheindahlen are off due to work commitments or holidays.

We will visit (without demo I add) Salute in April but with our 1690 demo we will be present at the open day of the Dutch Army in Oirschot on the 12th and 13th of May so maybe we will see you there.
Other shows we will try to visit or be present with a demo will be Figz (date not know yet), Crusade of Light (Wilsele-Putkapel Belgium on sepember 10th) and of course Crisis (Antwerp, november 3rd).

New Idea

As said earlier, as we are just the two of us, we have to plan ahead what our next demo will be. After heavy debates we have come to the conclusion (we both agree) that the 1500 period in 25mm was a little bit difficult regarding our tight professional schedule; it would cost too much time to have a decent demo for Crisis 2012.
So back to the design table.
Strangly one way or the other, Spain/Peninsular War in 15mm emerged as a solution but with bigger battalions then we hav used before. Using Black Powder as rules our 15mm Shako battalions wil grow to appr. 30 figures each.
A long time wish to give 15mm again attention but giving more substance to the individuel battalion is realised. The only thing is needed is info about a good Peninsular battle in 1812 or we have to fall back on the wargames solution, a what if cenario. 
We even have spoken about using Black Powder for more periods so maybe one day our cherished 15 mm Seven Years War again will be presented  in bigger units on the demo-tabel.

We are also interested to see if the Black Powder amendment for the Peninsular War will give extra infomation about using the rules for this great wargame period.

 The 1500 period, and of course the French Revolution will not be forgotten but will just be put one year earlier. Maybe we already can start on that in 2012.