I attended Salute for the first ever on Saturday with a long time friend of mine. We both went with the express intention of looking for a brand new wargames project (independent of each other). My friend went with a pre-planned shopping list for Team Yankee, I went with a list of traders and various historical ranges that I definitely wanted to look at but decide on the day with my heart.
First of all I have to say, the venue was excellent, the staff were excellent, the facilities were excellent and the organisation was excellent. Me and my friend enjoyed looking at everything, and I mean everything immensely. It was fantastic.
Now, even though I had a very good look at almost everything twice, I had a really, really good look at this ranges/companies that I had in my head to look at – various scales and different historical period. A favourite period of mine is the latter half of the 19th century, From America, to Europe and to India. I was also considering Dien Bien Phu for which Pendraken make a great line in 10mm and Empress carry the FNG 28mm line. But considering we were queuing and got in at 10am, I still hadn't made any purchases at all by about 2pm (apart from lunch).
I then came across the guys at Shellhole Scenics and their Mexican Civil War range in 20mm/ 1/72. And to be fair I think I felt inspired on the spot. The guys from Shellhole Scenics were fantastic, helpful, happy chatty and engaging and informative and the figures and models for this fascinating period (which I knew very little about indeed) are fantastic. Couple this with the guys running the demo game backed by rules (official Crush The Kaiser expansion) as well as fantastic Scenics from Shellhole as well to support their large and quickly growing range, meant I was becoming excited and inspired by the period and their figures, models and scenery. However, I had another walk round Salute to mull it over but an hour later I was back and making my largish order.
Shellhole Scenics also did me a great deal which included two armies, a couple of buildings, walls, and Cacti set as well as the specially re-printed (Osprey being kind enough to put this book back in print at the request of Shellhole Scenics) Osprey Elite book on the forces of The Mexican Revolution 1910-1920.
Shellhole Scenics did me a great deal and were so helpful and friendly. I can't thank them enough or recommend them highly enough. If you aren't aware of the period but want to know more give Shellhole a call or send them an email, I know from experience they will be happy help you and chat.
Overall a fantastic day spent with my mate in like minded company, playing games, looking at sooo so many shinies and feeling very inspired. We were exhausted by the end and our feet ached like crazy but it was totally worth it!
