No picture (yet). The back room held the winner of the Best Display, the Battle of the Alamo and two other great displays; Napoleonics 1813 and the fort attack of Lake Cayuga.

Left. The upper room held Warmachine, Necromunda, D&D Miniatures, Bloodbowl and an impromptu game of Warhammer Fantasy.

Right. The stage held Spanish Armada Skirmish, Battle of France 1940 and Ticonderoga.

BATTLE OF THE ALAMO - voted 1st in BEST DISPLAY

Greg Blake came all the way from Bendigo to put on his fantastic display of the Battle of the Alamo.

Not only a pleasure to look at, reg has come up with a simple, yet effective, game that makes it easy to join in.

The masses of Mexicans attacking a handful of brave defenders is the stuff legends are made of.

The famous Battle of the Alamo was part of the Texas War of Independence. At dawn on 6 March 1836, after 13 days of siege, an army of more than 3,000 Mexican troops under the command of General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna attacked a crumbling old Spanish Mission called the Alamo just outside the town of San Antonio de Bexar. Texas was then a province of Mexico and was in open rebellion against the Mexican central government. About 200 armed rebel Texians, as they called themselves, had garrisoned the Alamo, including Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie.

Overwhelmed by numbers the Texian garrison died to the last man, but in the process inflicted terrible casualties on the attackers. The Alamo was truly a battle for heroes and has deservedly gone down as one of history's legendary conflicts.

The Alamo display game is staged by Cannon Fodder Miniatures, which is an Australian wargames figure manufacturer based in Bendigo, Victoria.

The game uses Cannon Fodder figures exclusively and a simple set of rules designed to give a fast and harsh game typical of the bloody struggle of that morning in 1836.

Above. The commander directs the attack of just one part of the huge Mexican army.

Above. Sharpshooters ready to defend the Alamo.

Above. Just a few cannon and a small number of doughty defenders stand between the Mexicans and victory.

Above. The walls have been reached, but the attackers have paid a fearful cost from the defensive fire of the cannons.

Above. Attacking in the face of the guns (Photo by Richard Bradley).

Above. The attackers have so far fared better on this side, but the cannons are about to fire again. 

Above. Flags unfurled and ready to inspire the Mexican troops.

Above. To the walls!

Above. Overview of the wonderful Alamo scenery. Made from cast resin, it was imported (probably at great cost) from the U.S.A. and wonderfully painted by Greg. Photo by Neil Hughes.

NAPOLEONICS 1813

Following his disastrous retreat from Russia, 1813 saw a huge number of battles between the French and all those closing in on her.

A huge number of 25mm Napoleonic troops were on display. With that weight of lead I am glad that we reinforced the tables with extra trestles.

Napoleon is fighting in Germany to save his empire against his many enemies. In the lead up to the great battle of Leipzig (the Battle of Nations) Napoleon fought many engagements against the armies of Prussia, Russia & Austria.

The demonstration game used the Cold Steel rules to represent one of those battles. Thanks to Tim, Andrew & friends.

Above. Reinforcing the position across the river.

Above. Cavalry on parade before the battle commences.

Above. Austrians getting ready for the battle.

Above. Austrians resplendent in battle array.

Above. Lancers were greatly feared in Napoleonic times.

Above. Attacking through the forest. It may provide cover, but it plays hell with formations. 

Above. The attack is about to get up close and personal.

Above. Austrians form square to stave of the charge of the French cavalry.

Above. The Lancers charge in.

Above. The battle for the village hots up.

Above. The attackers are slow to emerge from the forest.

Above. Defensive wall (Photo by Richard Bradley).

Above. Just part of the fearsome French grand battery.

Above. Overview of the battlefield (Photo by Neil Hughes).

FORT CAYUGA - American War of Independance

Charles Csabi and Michael Goldyn put on an entertaining and well presented display. It was set at Lake Cayuga, on the Canadian-American border during the American War of Independance.

The Indians performed well and won all 4 games on the day, despite not doing so well in the lead up matches.

The start of the American Revolution set off a new period of border warfare. The Indian tribes of six nations were divided by this new war with some staying neutral and others siding with the British.

Urged by British agents under Sir John Johnson the Indians rose up to attack the settlers who had broken all their previous peace treaties. Now supplied with arms and co-ordinated by Sir John operating out of his main base of Fort Niagara, the Indians raided frontier settlements along the Canadian border.

This game depicts a band of Mohawk warriors attempting to destroy the frontier fort on Lake Cayuga.

Above. The Mohawk Indians arrived by canoe to attack the fort.

Above. Ladders at the ready, they charge forward.

Above. The defenders hold the high ground (but not for long). . . .

Above. Michael enjoying another game.

Above. Charles put on another well thought out display and went to the trouble of dressing the part (Photo by Neil Hughes).

Above. The defenders have been overrun in a hard fought battle.

SPANISH ARMADA SKIRMISH

Des (our well travelled Treasurer) and Mark Chandler put on an entertaining naval skirmish game between Spanish and English ships at the time of the Spanish Armada..

Left. The HMS Victory and the easy to use maneouvre template.

Right. Colourful sails of the HMS Victory add a splash of colour to the high seas.

BATTLE OF FRANCE 1940 - World War 2

The Germans didn't have it all their own way during the Battle of France but their superiority in equipment and tactics were a distinct advantage.

The co-ordinated blitzkrieg tactics of the Germans came as a surprise to the Allies.

Chris, Paul and Alan demonstrated the challenges facing the French in 1940.

Above. Riding the crest of a wave (or in this case a hill) the Germans emerge to attack.

Above. French tanks take up the challenge.

Above. Pause for thought at the water's edge. River crossings are always a dangerous undertaking.

Above. The French heroically charge forward.

Above. Being a tanker is a dangerous game.

Above. How many Germans did you say were coming to dinner? 

Above. The Germans take some casualties. 

Above. A French chateau makes a good defensive position.

Above. Cresting the hill to wreak some more havoc on the French (Photo by Richard Bradley).

Above. Overview of the battle as the Germans advance (Photo by Neil Hughes).

TICONDEROGA (Mulgrave Wargames Club)

Not just a ship, but a whole wargame.

Beautifully presented by Mulgrave Wargames Club, this is a "what if" battle that might have been, if the Americans had not so easily given up on Fort Ticonderoga.

Above. Defending the fort.

Above. The lines of battle are joined.

Above. If you look past the ship, you can see the battle for the fort.

On 6th of July 1777 during the American War of Independence a British army forced the abandonment of the American held Fort Ticonderoga. The Fort built during the French and Indian Wars had been poorly sited tactically, but strategically it sat astride an important invasion route between British held Quebec and the American Colonies.

For the want of a more determined and astute American commander the course of the American War of Independence may have taken a different course. Could the Colonists have held Fort Ticonderoga and prevented the British invasion? Presented with the same tactical challenges of over 228 years ago can modern day commanders change history?

Demonstration Game presented by Mulgrave Wargames Club who meet in Dandenong on the alternate Friday nights to NWA (so join both clubs).

Contact Wal Bristowe on (03) 9707 0390 for more information.

Above. Obviously, this is the point of the battle (Photo by Neil Hughes).

WAR MACHINE

A recently released set of rules for futuristic combat, that has captured the imagination of quite a few club members. I am sure now that some well painted figures are starting to appear, that they will gain some more converts to this game.

Thanks to Brendan, Ash and Alan. 

Above. One group of War Machines . . .

Above. . . . advancing to contact the other in a fight for supremacy.

NECROMUNDA

Necromunda is the game of Gang skirmish warfare set in the futuristic Warhammer 40,000 universe. Groups of ten or more Gangers battle for supremacy in the dog-eat-dog Underhive, trying to survive the harsh conditions, deadly wildlife & the constant hail of bullets. Scraps of lost technology are fought over in bloody conflicts involving many gangs.

This demonstration game involved several gangs battling for supremacy. Put on by James Wright, Adam & friends.

Above. A sniper takes up a good position on a high gantry..

Above. Not sure whether to steal the car or just use it as cover. Decisions, decisions.

Above. Cute, but dangerous.

D&D MINIATURES

D&D Miniatures is an offshoot of the popular role playing game. You don't have to play the latter to enjoy this miniatures game. Great thing is that the collectible figures come pre-painted.

Craig Wyton often runs fun tournaments at Croydon and is happy to teach you how to play.

Above. The creatures cluster for combat.

Above. Fearsome dinosaur.

Above. Will the dragon win against shield and club wielded by great strength?

BLOODBOWL

Bloodbowl is where Fantasy meets American Football.

Craig Wyton put together a fantastic display using the club moulds purchased from Hirst Models.

These silicone rubber moulds allow construction in plaster of a huge range of scenery for use with Fantasy, Science Fiction and Historical games.

Above. The fantastic Bloodbowl arena constructed by Craig Wyton.

Above. The team lines up, ready to play.

Above. You would not want to get on the wrong side of this cheer squad.