Spoils of War

My raid on Salute 2013 realised:

• A long wait in the cash queue as I had forgotten to buy an advance ticket.
• 1 box of Hexon (two-tone green & brown), some hills and some matching flock for possible use on model bases.
• Some Pendraken/Minibits 100mm MDF bases for making 'SBUAs' (significant BUAs) and woods for my 1940 3mm/Hexon/Hexblitz project.
• Brigade Models 2mm terraced houses & English village packs for same.
• 1 Magister Militum blue felt cloth with 2" hexes (for naval wargaming).
• Some O Scale conical milk-churns (Skytrex) to add period flavour to my IWI games. I'm told I should buff them with steel wool to make them look well-used.
• A cappuccino and an almond croissant (nice but rather expensive compensation for queuing).
• Half-time beer (extortionately expensive and not even real ale).

Also on the Magister Militum stall, I caught a look at the Figurehead 1/6000 WW2 ships. The castings are fine indeed, but very small, and that has left me wondering whether to go 1/3000 instead.

Noted for future reference were the ready-made, ready-painted Napoleonic ship prototypes for the forthcoming Sails of Glory game. I don't know if I'd want to play the game or not, but accumulating some ready-to-use 1/1200 Napoleonic ships would be tempting if the price is acceptable.

Inconveniently absent were Irregular Miniatures as I had wanted to see their new 15mm Chaco War range. I did, however, pick up English's book on the war from Caliver.

Finally I had a pleasant chat with someone on the Continental Wars Society stand who turned out to be Charles Grant who I'd never met before.

Overall a very busy show with loads of impressive scenery and interesting trade stands.