Didn’t we have a lovely day at Vapnartak

Vapnartak 2023 York Wargames show held in the grandstand of York race course.  There is plenty of free parking and it is easy to get to as it is just off the York ring road.  Public transport links are good (when they aren't on strike) and York is a great tourist city in it's own right.

I like Vapnartak it’s fairly local and it’s the first big show of the year.  Plus all my favourite traders are usually present.  I haven’t been able to attend for the last two years due to various issues, so I was ready to shop.  It seemed to be much busier this year with a huge queue when I arrived about twenty minutes after the doors opened.  The host team from York Wargames Club kept things moving though and I was inside within a few minutes.  Still the queue was long enough for the two blokes in front of me were wondering if the traders would still have stock when they got in!

More lead was purchased of course - Empress and Galloping Major

Inside was the usual mix of traders, demo and participation games.  I’m on a bit of an Americana theme at the moment so my first stop was Empress Miniatures for some of their excellent Wild West figures from the 'Wild Bunch' range.  These are lovely sculpts depicting characters from well known Western Movies.  I plumped for the 'Baxter Boys' set aka the bad guys from 'Open Range', The 'Unforgiven Cast' a hitching post set and 'Stumpy' because who wouldn't want Walter Brennan armed with a shotgun in his town?

From Warbases what will become a saloon

Then it was across the aisle to Warbases for one of their MDF buildings.  In this case “Annabelle’s Hotel” which in De Lancy will become a saloon with accommodation for traders in negotiable affection!  While I was on a building theme I hunted down Sarissa Precision where I acquired a Blacksmith’s Forge and a wagon.  Well I say hunted down it was really just around the corner.  Lastly it was up the stairs to the Galloping Major stand for more Wild West figures.  I took a long lingering look at some of the Foundry packs but decided that the bank account had suffered enough for one day (and I had to explain my spending to Mrs E when I got home) so I decided to leave that for another day.

Every town needs a Smithy so here is one

Last from Sarissa a wagon for local colour

Shopping done it was time to check out the games.  These were up to the usual high standards of Vapnartak.  First stop was the League of Extraordinary Kreigspeilers game set in the 1920's with Russian Bolsheviks battling Chinese and White Russian exiles in what was described as a Dien Bien Phu situation for the Bolsheviks.  Early casualties came not from enemy action but a tray of cavalry being knocked off the table.  No fatalities but probably a need for some tea and sympathy when they get home!  I had to get a close up of the train just for Trebian who I know likes this period and has a soft spot for an armoured train.

Who doesn't love an armoured train

Sited in the warmest spot of the stands but great for shadows

The next thing to catch my eye was a western shoot out participation game run by Harrogate Wargames Club (which I would have loved a go at but missed out on).  Using the new Two Fat Lardies rules 'What a Cowboy' and a really nice looking table.  From what I could see the rules use card activation (or maybe the cards described traits?) and the roll to hit and roll to defend mechanism.  People seemed to be dodging a lot of flying lead while I was watching.

I hope my eventual table looks a tenth as good

Next to this was a very nice ACW game covering the 1863 Siege of Vicksburg run by Grimsby Wargames club.   Iron clads and mortar barges a plenty on the mighty Mississippi including one which was burning furiously!

Vicksburg under fire from the river

Next up is a display game that has been doing the rounds for a few months; Charles Rowntree’s Korean War set up of the last stand of the Glosters on the Imjin River.  This shows what can be done with terrain modelling in small scales and it was a real pleasure to see it in in the flesh.

Last Stand of the Glorious Glosters - Imjin River 1951

Next up were the three tables presented as participation games by the Wings of Glory Forums.  These covered World War One, The Battle of Britain and a Star Wars space battle.  I only got shots of the first two set ups.  I have to say that the Battle of Britain really took my fancy.  If I was to start a new air combat period that would be the one for me.

Looked like a bombing Raid across the Front 

Handley Page's finest heading sausage side

Meanwhile on the next table Jerry Fighters are over the channel

But the plucky RAF are up to stop them

York Wargames club put on this great looking dungeon crawl game.

York Wargames Club Dungeon Adventure

The team from The Bunker were hunting The Predator, or maybe that was vice versa on this huge jungle table.  There was lots of detail to spot here.

 

The Bunker - Predator Game

Brompton Bankers put on this Battle on the Ice 1242 game using Lion Rampant rules.  It was a fictional skirmish set the day before the historic battle on the frozen lake.

Teutonic Knights v  Alexander Nevsky Russians

There is always a huge number of things to see (and buy) at Vapnartak and I cannot do the show full justice in a blog post.  I missed getting decent pictures of Sally Fourth's Viking raid game and the giant Space Hulk participation game.  There was also a 40K game of some sort going on all day.  

The best suggestion I can make is that next year you should try to go along and take a look for yourself, it is well worth it.