Just wondering what the verdict on Salute was?
I noticed Leon was back posting ;)
Literally just got back mate, Dave dropped me off at the in-laws in time for Sunday lunch, so just got back home. Gonna grab a shower, then head round to Pendraken HQ to get a takeaway with the folks. I left the camera in the van, so I'll get the pics up sometime tonight/tomorrow with a short report!
It seemed a mixed Salute to me.
Got pretty much what I wanted (and a few things more), but I missed a lot of people who didn't attend or didn't have a stand (or I completely missed wandering around)
Several traders didn't show up and some gaming tables were very conspicuously empty. I'm done with speculating, but Salute may be dipping a bit.
Had a great time otherwise.
We got back from Salute this afternoon, after a thoroughly enjoyable weekend away. It was my very first time at this show, although Dave has obviously been going for years now. My first impressions were that it is tremendously well-planned. The organisation fom start to finish was excellent and it gave the show a different 'feel' in my opinion. Nothing against the other shows we go to, but Salute has a 'Big Day' feel to it?
We travelled down Thursday night, and stayed over with a friend of Dave's and headed over to the Excel at lunchtime Friday to set up. All of the traders are put into lanes, so that when the venue opens for unloading, everyone goes in in the order they arrived. We arrived quite early and had a good 45 minutes outside in the sun, chatting with Brian from Mutineer Mini's, 'dab' from the Forum, and (eventually!) Marco from RifRaf. Setting up was quick and easy, driving the van right in and up to the stand, so we were out again within 45 minutes.
Saturday morning we arrived just before 8 and it was madness, people everywhere, vans coming and going, etc. So we got set up, got our usual bacon butty (which came in a bagel, just as a reminder you were in an expensive venue :D) then I set off with the camera to grab some pics before the doors opened. There was a sizeable queue outside as I wandered round, with an army of Warlords quickly preparing the opening. Unfortunately I didn't get as many pics as I would have liked, I simply didn't get chance, so if anyone else has any please add them to this thread.
Once the doors opened, as hectic as it was, it was actually good fun. The stand was busy, we had various people coming up for a chat (including some of the guys from the Forum), and we were taking pics of people in 'The Hat' (see below), in amongst actually selling some stuff! I managed to get away from the stand for half an hour towards the end of the day and had a wander around to get some more pics and chat with the other traders. The general consensus was good, although a couple of people weren't sure on the numbers throught the door compared to last year. Maybe the flights/ash situation had an affect on the continental visitors?
The show closed promply at 5pm, with 15 minutes for people to make their way out of the venue. We got packed up quickly, Dave brought the van it at 5:45, avoided running over any chairs ;), and we were on the road by 6:15, heading back to Dave's friends house for a nice cold beer (actually, cider for Dave and Coke for me!) after a busy but enjoyable day at Salute. Pete and Igor from Baccus met us there, alcohol was consumed and various important/worthless debates ensued, from the complexities of 20th Century aircraft design, to the prospect of another series of Red Dwarf. :D
All in all, I had a great day, although I'd have liked more time to look about. There was the odd empty table, as Patrick R mentioned above, but these seemed to get used by people looking for somewhere to sit, so it wasn't that noticeable. I had a bit of trouble finding some of the traders, but I'd forgotten my map, and I was in a rush, so that was my own fault really. Only real bugbear was the price of the food on offer, but it is London and I am a tight Northerner...
So, I'll get on with the pics, but please add any comments/reviews/photo's of your own.
View of the hall from our corner:
(http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1001/4552886790_dd928f953e.jpg)
The Pendraken Stand:
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4046/4552883462_5f1ca67bc7.jpg)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3008/4552233255_5e1efe3ab7.jpg)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4046/4552879810_6090c33ef5.jpg)
Some of our South Pacific War display figures:
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3432/4552237243_afe526de7a.jpg)
The Giant Tank's were there, which I found greatly impressive. Some of the other people didn't have the same appreciation, as they are quite loud! They drove these around the hall at regular intervals.
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4030/4552251299_14a9e46b0f.jpg)
(http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1030/4552893386_2e60e0aeac.jpg)
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(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3532/4552270199_7e5c50fb42.jpg)
They had some smaller tanks set up with lasers/sensors for the (big)kids to chase each other around. This looked like fun, but I didn't get chance to play. :'(
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4037/4552912364_ea89e3b55a.jpg)
I personally thought this was genius, Subbuteo, WW1 Xmas Day style!
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3450/4552903238_e05671a277.jpg)
Like I said, the organisation was fantastic, but I thought the security was a bit excessive:
(http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1356/4552905956_51b7a24ae3.jpg)
The AWI display game:
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3019/4552963152_28323567cf.jpg)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4069/4552299631_b059be412b.jpg)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3320/4552940998_ec4cb9f243.jpg)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3392/4552305179_e42f9f96c0.jpg)
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(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3384/4552317255_eaf1f3f37b.jpg)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3150/4552959146_bcea8e6a0c.jpg)
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A quick shot of a nice Fantasy game:
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4058/4552967032_738cf8736d.jpg)
One of our customers popped by with some of our newly released FPW Brunswickers:
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2481/4552428997_d12a97b769.jpg)
(http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1039/4553071104_b0b13e1795.jpg)
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(http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1077/4553080090_cc81936349.jpg)
And the 'Cat in the Hat' photo's! Although some of the people felt more like something that sounds like 'Cat'... ;D Now I know that it should be 'Cat in the Helmet', but that doesn't rhyme at all. If this proves popular, we might pick up a couple of other ones for some variety.
I'll start a separate thread purely for these pics, but for now, here you go!
Firstly, The Hat:
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3340/4553100278_3803e0e2ed.jpg)
Marco from RifRaf, a Forum member:
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4058/4552457829_6e4a8a13fe.jpg)
Our Spanish friends from Club Landwehr:
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3352/4553103526_5b3677f9ec.jpg)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3116/4553106622_ac633ee2da.jpg)
(http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1068/4552471609_575a15b96d.jpg)
Some more show visitors:
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3627/4553112686_d92b0b6d58.jpg)
(http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1293/4552477021_d3f83a7d42.jpg)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3283/4552483525_a74f760885.jpg)
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(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4016/4552489579_a29de22c8b.jpg)
Another three of our Forum members (I'll leave them to identify themselves if they want to!)
(http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1300/4552480181_2e34c39bcb.jpg)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4061/4552492907_166c77f923.jpg)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3638/4553425788_4f25db8936.jpg)
My first time at Salute and i really enjoyed it - not sure i would do it every year though because its a long journey. It certainly has a special feel though. Bernie's 10mm AWI game was very nice and he managed to persuade me to buy some rules as well :)
Its the first time i've seen the new style Pendraken trade stand and i was very impressed guys - looked very professional and stood out nicely. There were quite a few traders that i struggled to find in the hall but your banner stood out very visibly.
Quote from: Leon on 26 April 2010, 12:17:50 AM
usual bacon butty (which came in a bagel,
OK, I get bacon and bagel, what the devil is "butty" - butter? But most sandwiches have butter ???
Great looking show. I really like the Brunswickers.
Enjoyed the show and got everything I planned to get and a few bargains to boot too!
Oh yes, just to add, I've got a small review up on my blog, which can view by clicking on the link below my signature line.
Some really nicely painted figures. And those South Pacific War miniatures certainly are tempting. I guess I will have to learn something about the period and events...
They AWI demo game looks really nice. Are they Pendraken figures? Did you do the masters Clibinarium?
Steve i think they were nearly all Pendraken except for some bits and bobs of equipment from Irregular. It did look nice didnt it
Oh and the commanders were SYW figures i think because we dont have them for AWI yet..... (hint)
Quote from: goat major on 26 April 2010, 05:42:25 AM
My first time at Salute and i really enjoyed it - not sure i would do it every year though because its a long journey. It certainly has a special feel though. Bernie's 10mm AWI game was very nice and he managed to persuade me to buy some rules as well :)
Its the first time i've seen the new style Pendraken trade stand and i was very impressed guys - looked very professional and stood out nicely. There were quite a few traders that i struggled to find in the hall but your banner stood out very visibly.
Cheers for the compliments, the new look stand took up a lot of my time over the winter months, but it all seems to have been worth the effort.
Quote from: lentulus on 26 April 2010, 10:25:17 AM
OK, I get bacon and bagel, what the devil is "butty" - butter? But most sandwiches have butter ???
Great looking show. I really like the Brunswickers.
Bacon butty = slang for a bacon sandwich! Regular show fodder, but usually served in good old bread, none of this fancy bagel business!
Quote from: Jagger on 26 April 2010, 01:49:56 PM
Some really nicely painted figures. And those South Pacific War miniatures certainly are tempting. I guess I will have to learn something about the period and events...
It was a range Dave decided to do for interest sake, more than financial, as it is slightly off the beaten track. But it has had a surprising amount of interest since we released it. Some of the figures can also be used for Maximilian.
Quote from: Steve J on 26 April 2010, 02:15:42 PM
They AWI demo game looks really nice. Are they Pendraken figures? Did you do the masters Clibinarium?
Yep, our figures, all sculpted by Clibinarium.
Quote from: goat major on 26 April 2010, 02:18:55 PM
Oh and the commanders were SYW figures i think because we dont have them for AWI yet..... (hint)
They're on the requests list, with a lot of votes, so they will be getting done. I'll let Clib confirm?
Quote from: Paint it Pink on 26 April 2010, 01:21:41 PM
Enjoyed the show and got everything I planned to get and a few bargains to boot too!
Oh yes, just to add, I've got a small review up on my blog, which can view by clicking on the link below my signature line.
Nice review, sounds like you got some bargains there! Hope you like the MkV*'s as well.
Quote from: Leon on 26 April 2010, 02:35:00 PM
Yep, our figures, all sculpted by Clibinarium.
They're on the requests list, with a lot of votes, so they will be getting done. I'll let Clib confirm?
Its possible that a few of the votes are mine.... but i thought it would be rude to let the opportunity to mention it pass again :)
Quote from: goat major on 26 April 2010, 02:48:36 PM
Its possible that a few of the votes are mine.... but i thought it would be rude to let the opportunity to mention it pass again :)
:D
Nice pics Leon 8)
I'm still waiting for forum members to identify themselves though in the "Cat in the Hat" series ;)
Are those the Pacific figures I painted up - looks like they've 'furred' a bit - or the pic's grainy - if they've furred (I probably packed them too soon after varnishing), give them a quick brush with Klear (acrylic floor polish) undiluted & it'll sort...
Quote from: nikharwood on 26 April 2010, 07:37:03 PM
Nice pics Leon 8)
I'm still waiting for forum members to identify themselves though in the "Cat in the Hat" series ;)
Are those the Pacific figures I painted up - looks like they've 'furred' a bit - or the pic's grainy - if they've furred (I probably packed them too soon after varnishing), give them a quick brush with Klear (acrylic floor polish) undiluted & it'll sort...
It's more likely the picture. They're inside a plastic display case, and I was trying to get a good photo without any glare, and that one was the best of the bunch.
I'll give the guys chance to identify themselves, it's probably fairer that way!
Coolio - glad they're OK
You're very fair re the naming etc: I vote you give people 24 hrs to come forward - and then start with the naming... :P
Quote from: nikharwood on 26 April 2010, 11:27:18 PM
Coolio - glad they're OK
You're very fair re the naming etc: I vote you give people 24 hrs to come forward - and then start with the naming... :P
I'll see what happens, I don't know if they've even seen the thread yet, we've got to give them a couple of days at least! :D
Thanks for the comments about Salute, we at the bottom of the world sometime look with envy on the European and North American shows, so its good to see and here about what is happening, I liked the Brunswickers (hoping mine will arrive soon). thanks David