Bournemouth Beachhead Show 12/13 Feb 2022

[Stewart 46A]

Any one take any pictures?

Stewart

[Colonel Kilgore]

Yes, I have quite a few of our game (your aircraft looked great, thanks Stewart!).
I forgot to take any of others' games though...
I'll try to post mine tomorrow.
Simon

[Smiley Miley 66]

We had a good first game, with all the scenery in place etc.
I the Commonwealth's soldiers Won. Just goes to show, If the incompetent commanders had done their job they could have saved the Airport ! 
Good looking show, didnt look around too Saturday as it was about playing the Airfield game.
Tournament side of things looked very Busy indeed, this is the part that pays for the rest of the show.
Hopefully now things are getting back to a "normality" this show can take its rightful place up there as one of the Better shows in the UK ?
Back to the game here is a couple of pictures I took at the start of play, I know Simon took a big bunch of them.
Also included is some pre show pictures, some courtesy of Entoyment to show you the size of the show.
Miles

[Leslie BT]

I hope thats my ANZAC units made a good show at the show.

[Colonel Kilgore]

To add to Miles's postings, here are a few more photos.

The start of the game with the Allies in place and before the Germans have landed. The parachutes were used to add (literal and figurative) colour, and indicated partial cover:



A view from the dry river bed highlights Stewart's very nice gliders as well as showing the first landed Germans. The individual men indicated that a square had not yet found its weapons canisters and so the troops therein were effectively unarmed. A turn or two in I remembered that the first wave was actually glider-borne, with the troops emerging fully kitted up and so those markers got removed, but they were used for the subsequent two parahute drops:



A view from the airfield. Miles had unsportingly decided to dig in there, which made things a little tricker for the Germans. The plane is from Stewart, and the fire engine scratch-built by Miles.



Miles detailed and painted up a nice Skytrex bridge to span his custom river bed:



Raising the playing surface by a couple of inches allowed a natural fall to the river bed, as well as keeping all our playing paraphernalia out of the way of the action.

Hill 107 was the key to the Allied postion. While it was held, the Germans on the runway were whittled down by HE, spotted by the Allies on the hill's forward slopes. Stewart's Bofors gun was there purely for decoration, but looked very nice:



The last shot is from the end of the battle. The Germans largely got mown down and, despite some initial successes, failed to take hold any of the objectives.



A big win to Miles - congratulations!

This scenario was very much a team effort featuring:
- figures by Martin
- paras painted by yours truly
- Aussies painted by Les
- Stewart's plane, gliders and Bofors
- Mike's vineyards
- various terrain bits and pieces by Miles and myself, including 3D-printed buildings all the way from Bob in Canada

Miles skilfully played the Allies, with Mike and I being somewhat less successful as the aggressors. It was great to see Colin, who played a very effective and welcome role as teaboy, keeping the troops suitably refreshed.

Simon

[Colonel Kilgore]

I hope thats my ANZAC units made a good show at the show.

They did indeed, Les. It was very kind of you to lend them to us despite your not being able to come over to join in.

Next time, maybe a bit less caffeine for breakfast for them, as they proved a little too effective?

Simon

[John Watson]

It was a very good weekend. Well done everybody. Special thanks to Miles who did all the driving for Colin and I. I heard that Peter had said that this was the best attended Beachhead so far, so more power to his elbow. Here's to next year's show.
John

[Colonel Kilgore]

Here's to next year's show.

And to more catering facilities - Saturday was abysmal, with long queues all day for the one outlet that the centre had opened.

Luckily there is a range of options not far outside the front door!

Simon

[Smiley Miley 66]

I think next year Peter and Entoyment will probably have better arrangements in place ? As it did feel that this was a get back into it again ? rather than go from where we left off ? So hopefully better facilities will be in place for the next one ?
Miles

[John Watson]

Sadly I doubt it, Miles.  Simon didn't mention that the food/drink area did not open until about 10 on Saturday, whilst a large number of traders, demonstrators and competitors had been in the hall for a couple of hours by then. Also they ran out of a lot of things. I think they either seriously underestimated the number that attended or they didn't care.
John

[Colonel Kilgore]

John,
I suspect the latter.
One of his staff told me about lunchtime (as I saw the queue for the dozen remaining sandwiches and gave up) that Peter was in terse negotiations with BIC management.
I'm guessing that BIC didn't feel it worthwhile putting the staff on.
A big loss for them, seeing the hordes who walked out the front door to shop elsewhere.
I for one will either bring my own food or venture across the road next year for something far more appetising than BIC could offer.
Simon

[Smiley Miley 66]

Peter knows that people weren't happy about the catering, there was some better arrangements Sunday. I think he will be in talks with them, especially as he has another Tournament day at the BiC in July.
Miles

[Stewart 46A]

From experience and a reminder from Martin I took by own sarnies and coffee and coke and macaroon's,
Enjoyed my picnic, even managed to play two games.


Stewart

[Big Mike]

Despite the catering issues, Beachhead was a success and confirmed that wargamers want to get back shows!
Special thanks to Simon, Miles, and Colin for the two PBI Crete games - you win some, you lose some... 

Mike 

[Colonel Kilgore]

- you win some, you lose some...   

So Sunday went rather better than Saturday, Mike?

Do you or Miles have any photos?

Simon