Salute round up

It's a week late, but I thought I should talk about my day out at Salute. Regular readers know this yearly day out in London is always on my social calendar so I am an old pro at navigating the backpacks and trolley suitcases.

Distinguished Opponent and I set out super early from home (Although not as early as previous years due to the new convenience of the Elizabeth Line.) We got to the Excel at around half eight, so managed to join the queue before it got too long. Just before opening I managed to get this photo of everyone behind us:

So many backpacks

When the show opened we decided to head immediately to the opposite end of the hall and work our way backwards. A great tactic to avoid the crowds at the beginning of the show (maybe I shouldn't be telling you all this for next year.) This choice did mean that we hit up Rogue Hobbies stand at the start of the show so I got to have a chat with Louise (Savage Orc Guy) who is on one of my favourite YouTube casts, Jugz. 

	Yes, I am bending my knees and Louise is in her big heels

The Rogue Hobbies Rascal Town range

 

 

Sadly I missed Rob (who was somewhere around) and Peachy missed the show entirely due to terrible traffic on the day. I did sit down though for the Hobbies round-up panel later in the day which Rob seemed to be the unofficial moderator of.

A great panel, I even got to ask a question

Next up a visit to TTCombat was in order. Every year I am tempted to look at their Rumbleslam range so I felt I should finally investigate and I had a go at the demo game.

Concentrating

The basic set has a mousemat ring

"So, I throw you out of the ring"

I apologise that I cannot remember the chaps name, but he did his job well, as despite losing the game I opted to go all in and buy the core game and a couple of extra wrestlers.  I also upgraded to an mdf ring and had it built the day after Salute:

Just needs a lick of paint

I have managed to make a start on my wrestlers

It's a quick fun game and I am already eyeing up some more of the characters.

I had to make a visit to Realms of Tiberium. I had to apologise as the purchase I made from them last year is still on my to do pile. It's a great sculpt, so good that I am finding it a little intimidating to finish. Come back to me this time next year and I might have it done.

Love that middle sculpt

I am looking forward to the release of the new model in the middle of this shot which I am sure will also intimidate me for a while once purchased.

Obviously we had to make a visit to see Annie at Bad Squiddo, whilst the Distinguished Opponent shopped, I sat at the colouring in table and chatted to Annie and Lil. It was a welcome rest for my weary legs at that point.

My best art work this year

Love these vignettes

 

 

Even if my photography is terrible

 

 

The new biker gang

Another new idea at Salute was the kitbash corner. A whole group of artists displaying their work using wargaming supplies (or inspired by) that was showing some unusual pieces of work in miniature.  It was quite busy so I couldn't get many photos but I did get this of work done by Laurence known as "Baharroth the cry of old paint" which was inspiring:

I really wanted to get loads of close up shots of this, but they all came out terrible

I managed to briefly say hello to some online friends from the blogsphere (very briefly as i wanted to get to the next panel) and we did also manage to meet up with the Illustrious Opponent as well. I had great fun even though as per usual it was an unseasonably warm day. I have heard on the internet grapevine that the day was a massive success for most folks, attendance numbers were in the post 7 thousands and close to maxing out the venue capacity, the South London Warlords should be proud of their efforts.

Thanks to the Distinguished Opponent for photography assistance, he is always willing to join me for such an early start on this day out with very minimal grumbling. (Making sure he gets caffeine on arrival at Excel is a must.) 

Salute 51 recovery phase

 As I write this it is the day after Salute 51. What a day. It was definitely a successful day, traders are reporting they have had successful takings, the Warlords ran out of freebie miniatures for their goodie bags, demonstration gamers report having spent the entire day talking themselves hoarse chatting to visitors. The Distinguished Opponent and I spent most of the day there, I think we didn't leave until gone 4pm and I know there are things I didn't get to see. (We were both flagging however at this point and needed to head home to soak our poor feet.) I am sure the show is certainly wildly different from previous years back in the heady days of pipe smoking, suit wearing wargamers but it certainly is not diminishing. I give credit to South London Warlords for allowing these changes to occur, the show is more family friendly with certainly a more diverse crowd of people in attendance. If anything I think the show would be failing if it didn't change with the times. The inclusion of things like panel talks and the showing of the film "Art in Miniature" are a welcome change to the format. On the subject of the film, Distinguished Opponent and I did buy tickets to watch said film. (Only a pound so hardly breaking the bank.) The film did ask some interesting questions and there were some excellent personalities involved, I did find it a bit vexing that towards the end though as the focus seemed to mostly be on the theory that 3D printing is the future of the hobby and Heroforge are the best way to do this. A conjecture I do not agree with when there are still plenty of thriving companies dealing in casting metal, resin and plastic. Apart from that though it was enjoyable.

Look, my goblin in a cabinet! (One of five people to paint the same model!)

Once again we had fun at the ten minute painting challenge. A great ten minutes well spent, trying desperately to put some kind of shade and highlight on a tiny little halfling. It didn't help that I also seemed to have the shakes in my hands from carrying my shopping loot around for the day. I did try something that resembled tartan on the model, but I'm not sure it comes across as such.

My other entry safe at home on display in the printer tray, next to my ten minute halfling.

I entered two models in the main painting competition this year. A competition that I am sure had twice as many entries as last year. I didn't have any success, not even a compensatory "you've made the cut" card, but that was hardly surprising considering the extremely high standard of entrants this year. I blame GW for not hosting their Golden Demon competition in the UK this year, all the good painters needed somewhere to flex their skills.(Certainly not the fact that I probably just don't paint as well.) Well, if it exposes more people to the hobby outside of the monopoly GW have, it can only be a good thing. 

There were a ridiculous number of entries in the "paint last years free model" category.

I, unfortunately missed meeting up with fellow bloggers at lunchtime, due to my ticket for the film clashing with the time, but I did manage to catch up and chat with a few people at the show that I normally only chat with online. I did see a couple of Youtubers out and about too (once again only a good thing to give the show exposure) but decided they didn't need me interrupting their day. (Especially the one that I spotted in the queue at the beginning that I suspect wasn't properly awake yet.) I will mention one Youtuber though, if you want to see photos of all the gaming tables at the show (I genuinely just ran out of time to get around them all) I can recommend once again a visit to Big Lee's Youtube channel here.

My own version of Rogue Hobby's Fishing Goblin, back home.

Overall for myself, a successful day out, for the Warlords I suspect, a successful show that has moved with the times to continue to thrive. It can only be a good thing to boost this hobby and ensure we continue to be able to enjoy this excellent pastime.