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My Visit to Triples 2007 by Jason Neilsen (click on photos to enlarge)

Not having been to Triples for approximately 5 years, I was really looking forward to it. I still remember the first time I had gone to it, including the layout of the university and show. There had been plans to go to the show with others from our club but had to unexpectedly change them due to car problems so went on the train instead. It was a really pleasant though gloomy, trip to Sheffield. I had even printed out some information about how to get to the university from the train station including a map. Last time I had come, with Mal Taylor and others from our club, it had been by car. It was easy to get there, with a short 10 minute tram ride from the station followed by a 5 minute stroll to the uni and was relieved to finally recognise the Octagon building (left). I had decided to go on the Saturday as most of the others were going on the same day. After paying the admission fee I headed into the lower level of the uni. First thing I did was scout all the rooms in the lower level. The room that really caught my eye was where the Lance and Longbow Society were displaying their Mongol v Samurai game: The Mongol Invasion of Japan 1274. The scenery and figures were just so good, I had to take some photos (below):








The Figures were by Curteys Miniatures and 1st Corps. They were painted by Simon and Michael Curtis. Buildings by John Jenkins designs of Hong Kong, supplied and painted by TM Terrain. I picked up an application form to join the Lance and Longbow Society while there. Eager to visit the Octagon itself by this time, my first port of call was Vendel Miniatures. It had been suggested by Paul Robinson from our club that I should buy either Charlton or Robsons Border Reivers. I decided on the spot to buy some Charltons. Over a week earlier I had been in Vendel's forum discussing our Border Reiver game on March 12th along with photos. View the forum here. Conveniently, the next stall I had planned to visit was next door: Chiltern Miniatures. At the Chiltern Miniatures stall I came across another grimsby gamer: Colin Rumford. Colin Rumford and Richard Marsh were both Grimsby Wargames Society members. We still have the pleasure of Colin's company on occasion when he comes to join in games, usually World War 2 unsurprisingly. I had known before I left Grimsby that Colin would be there anyway. Chiltern Miniatures, apart from selling their usual range, including Rapid Fire! were also selling Valiant Miniatures products. Colin is holding one of the Valiant Miniatures products in the photo I took of him: WW2 British Tommies (left). Had a nice chat with Colin as I had not seen him in person in ages, including asking him if he had come across any more of us from Grimsby. Which he had. A few hours before. I still had not seen any of our club members since I arrived. I said goodbye to Colin and headed into the depths of the university. Roughly an hour later after scouting the show for wargaming items of interest, I headed back to the Octagon. There I bought an Osprey book on the American Civil War out of general interest as I have a 15mm ACW Union Army which I bought off another member Dave Tuck. Looking round the centre of the Octagon at the games, a game that caught my eye was a 10mm World War 2 display game by the Falkirk District Wargames Club. They were using the Rapid Fire! 2nd Edition rules, which seemed unusual to me for such a small scale. I asked some information about the game and was provided with a pamphlet about it. Their scenario was Operation Jupiter, Hill 112, Normandy 1944. I found them friendly and more than happy to ask questions. They did not mind that I wanted to take photos. Here they are below:







To my surprise, not long after that I bumped into 2 of our members: Tony Walmsley and Andy Hamilton. It was nice to see some more familiar faces. They were, of course, eager to talk to Colin and look round. I decided to have a look round some of the display games as Andy Hamilton was. One of the first games we came across was a display game by the Derby Wargames Society. I was that impressed by their figures as well as their scenery that I took some photos again. Derby Wargames Society were displaying a World War 1 French Counter-Offensive with the period set in September 1915 approx. The Photos are below:







Andy talked to them while I took photos of the game. Before I left Triples, apart from grabbing a bite to eat, I dropped by the Miniature Wargames stall and picked up a copy of the Magazine. I looked at the name on the name badge of the person who was serving me. His name was instantly recognisable to me having at one time subscribed to the magazine. I had been served by none other than Iain Dickie, the editor of Miniature Wargames. I spoke to him about the magazine. I also said that it was finally nice to meet him and left.

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed my first trip to Triples in years. It did not escape my notice however that a lot of the traders who had been there on my last trip were there again in probably the same locations. The Lighting in the Octagon was not conducive to taking photos. The photos of the Derby Wargames Society and Falkirk Wargames Society display games had to be enhanced when I got home to remove the "Orange glow" of the Octagon, to try to "restore" the greenness of the scenery and other colours in the photos. Whether I will go again each year is still undecided. It was also good to meet Colin again. A nice day out where I could indulge myself in all things wargaming. All photos were taken with permission.

Article Text and Photos © Copyright Jason Neilsen 2007

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