Saturday 19 April 2014

Salute 2014, Loki hard at work, Judge Dredd search, Ray's likeness in a model and my feet and patience are getting too old for these.......

..........shenanigans!

Made my way to Salute this year with some of the Rejects (Postie and Ray) and still another year without purchasing out tickets beforehand (1 hour and 5 minutes in the fecking queue, my feet never recovered), very unprofessional security shouting and herding us like cattle and security supervisor shouting about Salute crew being inefficient and that they should take over the whole thing, the stormtroopers should have taken charge and no Darth Vader this year?

Finally got in and met my friend and work colleague Vinnie (fellow blogger) and everybody split up and would meet again at 1 o'clock for the blogger meet up, not a lot on the list this year some (15mm modern stuff), a bit from Peter Pig and Old Glory (Old Glory had brought their modern range but just not the 2 packs I wanted to buy, no pictures on the site?)

Salute was in a bigger space this year, muggy hot and the lighting of a mad scientists lab (just missing the lightning flashes), no Bring and Buy this year after a heated dispute last year? Some good looking games, some grumpy gamers, camera not working right which I discovered when I got home (most pictures were discarded), muggy hot (I know I mentioned it already but it really was), good people, good fellow bloggers especially Loki who worked like a drunken donkey on the Warbases stand (kind offer too), Mark who presented me with an unpainted unit of 28mm British Legion figures from Orinoco Miniatures from their Wars of Liberation range 1810-1830.

Some of us also got fudge from Clint (very professionally and fairly handed out, nearly as well as I did), we remained until about half four (Ray was afraid he might have missed something or an autograph hunter), all in all not a bad day but easily done on line but we do like to see figures in the flesh sometimes before buying, thanks Old Glory, two other online companies have annoyed me lately too!

Apologies for the pictures,not very good either but the best of a bad bunch, not in any order, some explanations about them from what I could remember........

The free figure is on it's way to Stefan........

The blogger meet up ........
What you see is the fecking other queue with tickets, Salute explained that Excel wouldn't let two queues move at once, Ray spent the whole time talking to a possible new Reject.........

Loki had at work, the tall iron grey haired gentlemen in the middle.......



Finally found Judge Dredd, my mate Vinnie who left around two and had been searching for him too asked me to find him and get a picture, I found him around 4!!!!!.......

Dropzone Commander cityscape..........

Some pictures from the painting competition......



One of Kyle's entries.......




Excellent 54mm scale elephant......

Carlist war game........

Lovely lancers or the only picture worth salvaging....

Great Roman game........

Shot down in flames.......

Loved the action of the rocket launchers......



Even better action shot.........

Another of Kyle's works, I must find out how he did......

Modelled on Ray..........


What a true monster spaceship from  Hawk Wargames.....


Really excellent.......

My favourite game, WW2 Sword Beach assault........















These actually downloaded in order........

Frank Herberts "Dune" or The Spice will flow........

Strange red lighting effect inside........



Is that Sting with the red hair......

Great looking Gripping Beast game.......



An Allan Quartermain game........

Lastly some more Oshiro terrain but the figures have long gone......


Yet again apologies about the quality and lack of pictures, so many games missing but.......


119 comments:

  1. I love the Judge Dredd guy! What a great costume.

    I think standing online for that long was well worth it for you. It sounds like you had a blast and saw lots of cool stuff and met great people. I really liked the black and white shields. What is that from??

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  2. "Modelled on Ray" - nah, far too handsome! :)

    Nice pics Fran :)

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  3. No apologies necessary Fran - a great round-up. I especially like the annotated group shot to start, and glad you were included! - as well as Ray!

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  4. Great photos Mr L! That Sword Beach game looked amazing and I love the model based on Ray!

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  5. Good AAR Fran.

    Sounds like a bust this year. Shame.

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  6. Cool pics Fran,
    So much in there I didn't see on my travels. I can't believe I totally missed the painting comp stuff!

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  7. You should enjoy those Orinoco figures - they're lovely!

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  8. Brilliant Fran, apart from the crapy queues, poor lights and muggy temp. . . The games and figures look excellent and the meet sounds good fun.

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  9. Great pics of some great tables! That is a helluva long time to stand in line.

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  10. Good complement of pics AL.

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  11. Did you really get fudge or is fudge code for something else?

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    Replies
    1. No Code I gave most of the bloggers some of my home made fudge (According to Tamsin, I was packing fudge Cheeky mare). I soon ran out though.

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    2. Damn good fudge indeed.

      Clint - well, it was fudge and you did pack it ;)

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    3. Clint: That is very cool, Clint. That's something I would do if I was ever to show up there. I don't paint but I'd hand out treats. Love that you did that. Very very cool.

      Lurker: Last year I was jealous that Tamsin got to meet you and Rayolla. But now that I talk to her more, I'm jealous that you two goobers got to meet her.

      Tamsin: What I said to Fran is true. This year I was jealous that those two goobers got to meet you. I'm enjoying your blog and getting to know you.

      Cheers to all three, and boogie boogie.

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    4. Oh my gosh. If we could afford it, Tim and I would so come to one of those salutes just to meet you guys. And I would also bring fudge, and cookies, and pizzelles and ...

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    5. lolololololol.

      Hope you're having a good weekend. Tim is watching Ghost Adventures and I just finished making some dough. Pups just ate. Now they are ready for another nap.

      Cheers and boogie boogie.

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    6. Working I'm afraid but you two have a good one!

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  12. Great looking stuff - kept wondering when I would see you post from salute!

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  13. Few issues with Salute this year myself but nice write up overall mate.

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  14. If that's discarding most of the photos because they were bad... You got some good ones, Fran!
    Sorry about the queue from hell and the heat. Guess those go together, huh?
    The Dropzone Commander cityscape was cool. So were the figures. Looks like it was worth it.

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  15. Great photos mate. Blow it off next year and come to Leviathan in Sydney. Queues certainly won't be an issue!

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  16. Wow that cityscape is huge, that had to take a lot of work, and some good shots indeed. Looks like a grand time, for the most part

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  17. Very nice After-Salute-Report, Fran. Thank you a lot! Your comments are very interesting too.
    Looking for those British Legion figures painted!

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  18. That beach assault looks nice and I like the Dropzone Command Cityscape as well. And thanks for taking some pics of the painting competition, that's what I'd be most interested in seeing.

    Have a Happy Easter and hope you have a nice dinner!

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    Replies
    1. That's absolutely shitty. I made a ham, noodles, taters, bread and a cheesecake. I even let the Hubby eat off my bare arse, it being Easter and all.

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    2. Now that's a meal and a picture!

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    3. The Hubby loved it so much he licked the plate clean :0)

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    4. Francis, I'm so bad I'm good :0)

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  19. Excellent report. Many thanks for sharing.

    Happy Easter
    Stefan

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  20. Very nice Mate. That model does not look like Ray, he has more hair. Give it a "syrup" and then maybe!

    Mental note to self take a few pics of painting comp for Anne next year!

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  21. Hello.
    Oh my goodness.
    Is that true.
    When I look at the first picture I see...
    there is are a lot of men like me, and all mostly to nice, handsome, and happy
    Happy Easter

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  22. I love these pics Fran (especially the elephant and the Roman coast), thanks for sharing!

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  23. Nice pics mate....still gutted I couldn't make it.

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  24. Great pics and very nice models Francis .
    Cheers .

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  25. Great pics Fran. It makes me realise how many games I missed on the day. Glad you like the figures and looking forward to seeing how you paint them up.

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  26. Great report, Fran; have to agree with you on the admin points; I was a little underwhelmed this year, still enjoyed it though.

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  27. Nice photos Fran.. and thanks for taking photos of some of the pieces in the painting comp ;)
    As far as mine went.. no winners but a few finalists from what I understand! Great meeting you at Salute!

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  28. Nice set of pics Fran. These posts are great for us who couldn't attend. I know what you mean about your feet, it happens to us older and less svelte gentleman;-)

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  29. Happy Easter Fran you still managed some good pics mate!

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  30. The elephant figurine wins my heart and vote!

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  31. Great Pics Thanks for the pic of Judge Dredd he looked great

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    Replies
    1. Not a problem but he was an elusive fecker to find.

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  32. Great post Fran! Sorry to have missed the blogger meet-up, but the games on display were great. Really leased you got the chance to take some great photos of the Sword Beach game!

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  33. Some great pics, thanks for sharing

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  34. Thanks for sharing the pics. It was nice to see you again and having a little chat. Yep you are right. Temperature was way up the only thing missing was the amazonas flair.

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    Replies
    1. Stifling my friend and a pleasure to meet you sir.

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  35. Great [pictures of the show mate and nice to meet up, pity didnt talk longer

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  36. Great photos of great looking games - the Sword Beach one is a museum piece!

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  37. You found Judge Dredd? I love that guy. At least you know the place would have been pretty safe with him around.

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    Replies
    1. I too am a Dredd fan but he was a fecker to find.

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  38. Only a few minor complaints, hm?

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  39. Looks like lot of fun. The figurines look lovely. The horses and the men not the bad guys. They cost me my lunch. Darn they are scary.

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  40. Wow, I can't remember the last time I stood in line an hour for anything. Looks like the patience lead to a pretty fun time, though. I love the Judge Dredd costume and that elephant mini is probably my favorite of the group. My only regret in this life is that I have not yet ridden an elephant...

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  41. Looks you had a fun day out, Lurker. You're lucky you keep meeting normal folk from the interwebs. Only time I tried it was a disaster.

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  42. Thanks for sharing Fran, well done for finding Dredd... Can you find us a sequel now please! :)

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  43. Ray is always a fantastic model for a miniature... :-D

    Marzio.

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  44. My brother would totally love this shite :)

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  45. Good group photo. Reminds me a lot of Da Vinci's 'The Last Supper".

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  46. It's time for you to post again!

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  47. Great Salute AAR Fran ! Thanks for sharing some pictures for us that didn´t get there, very appreciated !

    Best regards Michael

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