Phalanx 2024

 As I was in Lancashire on Friday evening, it would have been rude not to go to the Phalanx show in St Helens on Saturday. I haven't been since 2009 when we went down with a GDWS display game loosely based on Calcutta 1757. The show is held in a local leisure centre with a large sports hall and a smaller one, used for the bring and buy. The car park is tight but there is a railway station over the road. A burger van is brought in for catering.

The bring and buy was big and popular. St Helens is a rugby town, and they could have taken scrum lessons from the bring and buy. 

I picked up a sci-fi vehicle for Xenos Rampant, and most of the items also seemed to sell at realistic prices. There were about 25 traders, many of the usual names but also a few I hadn't seen before, which was good. Tiger Miniatures are not often at the big shows, and although I resisted adding to my 28mm Balkan Wars armies, I love their figures. Great character, particularly faces. I did buy several scenery items, as well as brushes, paint and bases. 

There was a good variety of games, most of which I hadn't seen before. Here is a selection that caught my eye.

54mm Napoleonics always look stunning, although fewer figures might make for a more interesting game.

Xenos Rampant from the host club.

Dak Attack is a set of rules I am not familiar with, but the SAS raid looked fun.

Rapid Fire is making a comeback with a revised set of rules. I used to play this a lot, so I must take another look.

Talavera in 6mm using Blucher. This is an excellent example of how good these rules are at doing big battles.

Another Sam Mustafa rule set, Nimitz. Liverpool (I think) has adapted them for WW1 with this Battle of Scarborough game. Fictional, but the Huns did bombard the Yorkshire resort.

A very impressive Omaha Beach participation game, which must have taken some managing.

The World Transformed is a WW1 fantasy game. 

In this large 28mm battle, the Russians looked Crimean, even though their British opponent looked Napoleonic.

Several games could have done with a handout or at least some display. I was confused with some, so I am unsure what a newby punter would have made of them. There was a good turnout in the morning, although it had quietened down when I was leaving at lunchtime. It was not a huge show; three hours was probably enough for most folks. Thanks to St Helens Spartans for organising it. It finished off a pleasant trip very well.