SELWG 2013

I managed to brave the torrential rain to make my way to the SELWG show at Crystal Palace yesterday.  As with the other shows I attend it was more social than anything else, although more so this year as I realised that adding to the lead mountain now or at Salute next year was going to make precious little difference!

We made a bit of a weekend of it with Lenin popping over and meeting up with a couple of old friends to play a couple of games (which will be the subject of a couple of separate posts - once I get the photos organised).

I bumped into a couple of other bloggers - Ray from Don't Throw a 1 and Fran The Angry Lurker himself - both splendid chaps!  I also caught up with a few club friends.  I didn't actually buy much though - a couple of supplements (The scenario book for Regimental Fire & Fury and Myths & Monsters for 7th Voyage) and a few bits of scenery.

The games were interesting but nothing inspired me to embark on an ill advised spending spree though.  And I didn't like the trade stand layout which created a rather crowed alleyway on the ground floor level.  But other than that it was worth the slightly scary drive up the motorway (I was, at one point, wondering whether I should have brought a boat rather than the car).

SELWG 2012

So SELWG has come and gone for another year.  Once again I travelled across to Crystal Palace, although this time more than ever to catch up with people rather than to fill my shopping list.

Overall it was very similar to previous years, perhaps a little less well attended (that's just a guess though) but still quite a few there.  Unfortunately a couple of the traders I would have bought from dropped out late on but there was still a decent selection there.

It was quite hot - especially in the cafe area which was like a greenhouse - but I shouldn't really complain given we haven't seen too much of the sun recently.

I managed to catch up with some old friends, plus those legends of the blogosphere Ray from Don't Throw a One and The Angry Lurker who once again showed tremendous forbearance with a cheeky blighter and amateur blogger like me (although I would have liked to have seen the poolside reaction to their manly frames in speedos - all those young ladies swooning!)

I also managed to catch up with game designer, regular celebrity guest on Meeples & Miniatures and all round top chap, Rich Jones - it was great to be able to a face to the name!

There were some nice looking games at the show, although I did recognise a couple from Broadside.  No pictures unfortunately as the wife went off with both our cameras by mistake.

I didn't pick up to much in the way of toys but did get a couple of the 15mm 4Ground buildings - so I'll be seeing how assembling them compares to the larger 28mm ones and then posting my experiences.   I also picked up another squad of Bolt Action 28mm US Airborne from Warlord and another book to add to my Marlburian collection.   Hopefully it will help me keep up the focus I need to actually get the project to the table.

Overall another worthwhile outing and I look forward to next year's show.  I suspect SELWG will be my last show for 2012 - so roll on Cavalier 2013 (assuming it's on - as TWWS haven't posted anything yet).

SELWG is back!

It looks like the SELWG show at Crystal Palace will be back on this year on the 18th of October. It has always been one of my favourites with a good range of traders, games and not too crowded. Unfortunately the leisure centre in which they have traditionally held it hasn't been available for the last couple of years (due to asbestos or something) and I have really missed the show.

There's not much on the SELWG site, other than the announcement that the show is back on, at the moment but it will be worth keeping an eye on if you're interested.

No SELWG Again!

One thing I did notice at Salute was the notice the chaps from SELWG had posted next to the bring and buy (they run it for the Warlords). It said that the refurbishment works at Crystal Palace are significantly behind programme and so the venue wouldn't be ready for the SELWG 08 show they had planned - so it's cancelled.

It's a damned shame as SELWG has always been one of my favourite shows - a good selection of traders, not too busy, ample parking (and cheap compared to Salute!), a good selection of games and a nice atmosphere overall. Oh well, just have to wait until next year...