Partizan 2025

Last Sunday was Partizan at the Newark Showground. I managed a flying visit arriving just after 12 and leaving around 3.30. It was very busy and towards the end the main hall got quite warm. This year they had a marquee at the entrance with a few traders and games and a section where people could rent a table to sell their unwanted items.

When I did realise what the marquee was for, I have to say the sellers were few and far between with nothing of interest, it was however nice and cool!

I only picked up stuff from about 3 traders and tried to photograph as many games as I could. By the time I'd got to the end of the "demonstration zone" I was flagging; a combination of struggling to get near tables or through narrow gaps between tables with lots of people about. Although I ended up with over 60 photos, many were only sections of the table. I have thus limited to what I think are the most photogenic = there are plenty of blogs and videos out there.

Operation Battleaxe Gordon's Gophers

League of Augsburg "Dutch Courage" - Dutch raid on French Caribbean island

Chesterfield Old Boys WW2 Eastern Front

Westbury Wargamers Reconquista

Yarkshire Gamer Germantown AWI

6MM Wagram

League Gentlemen Anti-Alchemists Wake Island 192? Pulp US v Japan

Bill Gaskin SYW

Billhooks

Paperboys ACW

Bodkins WotR

Rome v Persia

ACW nice building and backdrop

TtS Simon Millar Marlburian

Shout out to James Morris who not only spoke to me but found me a spot to take pics - Midgard Mount Badon Arthur v Saxons

French v Dutch Louis XIV period (nice notice board)

Boondock Sayntes Aiwal Anglo -Sikh War

Nice Mexican Western terrain

Perry Twins - Spain - Peninsula Nappy game (difficult to get close enough to take pics)

French Revolution - Fleurus? Nice Hexon terrain - lots to make those hills!

Some impressive 3D printed ancients - Blitzkrieg Miniatures - the ones in the foreground were 60mm!

Purchases were limited - assorted Italian / British and French from EWM and some Blue Moon 15mm Mexican Revolution from Old Glory. I also picked up a copy of Strength & Honour.

Socialising was limited to a chat with the talented Andy MacMaster (Another Slight Diversion blog https://blog.belisarius.org.uk/) and an eventual rendezvous with David Barnes (Ragged Soldier blog https://russetcoatcpt.blogspot.com/2025/05/partizan-show-gang-was-all-there.html) accompanied by his friend Dave (St Cyr on Wheels blog https://stcyronwheels.blogspot.com/). Edit - I had forgotten I'd spoken to Martin Rapier (The Games we play blog https://tgamesweplay.blogspot.com/) it probably shows how frazzled I was!

I had almost given up looking for David but managed to spot him just before I gave up and left - being a bit worn and hot by then - I was able to pass on a book he expressed an interest in.

All in all a good day but I wonder if Partizan is outgrowing the current hall - a bigger marquee would not be a bad idea!

Charity shop bargains and the perils of Fimo

I popped into a new charity book shop that's opened in the village and was surprised to find some titles of interest.

While I have copies of the Blandford books, my SYW title is looking a bit worn and the other two are in different paperback editions - at £6.99 each I couldn't leave them on the shelves.....

The Panhard book is an interesting history of use; the Napoleonic N&Q had articles on the British invasion of S America....these were all £1.99 each!

Progress on the wargames front has been limited by lack of enthusiasm. I did manage to get the small army of Sinistria ready for painting, converting, washing, priming and undercoating.

This prompted me to look at my campaign notes - lists of rules and family trees etc. I realised I had neglected to create characters for the females in the Imperial states, so set about dicing a few up. The results were some real characters - I also realised that the Earl of Dupanen lacks a male heir, but does have a daughter - her character generation created someone worthy of a figure, hence out with the Fimo.

I have created a pair of mounted females previously, one of which was unspoken for - the new list of characters found her a role. The two new figures are an attempt at reflecting the characters created. Alas while mucking about with the Sinistrian army, I left the figures in a little too long (or had the temp too high) and only just managed to catch them before disaster struck.....

After a black undercoat 

It's Partizan tomorrow - hopefully will be able to attend.