Still going through boxes of pictures, wait no that was old school, now I’m going through a 750gig hard drive of pictures, sorting, filing, laughing, and just remembering all the good time we have all had. I’m just going to quickly toss up a few to keep content flowing and for us all to enjoy. These pictures are from the HMGS/PSW “Spring Con” held back when HMGS/PSW had them at the boy scout hall. I sure do miss them, good times! Eventually I will have all the con pictures sorted, labeled, and under their own convention “tab” some are currently under the “bits and Pieces” tab but that will change. For now, just enjoy the trip down memory lane! Please if you have anything to add let me know in the comments so I may update info and photos!
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The “Boy Scouts” hall was sometimes crowded, hot, noisy, and occasionally smelled of old Pizza, but it always felt like home! I truly miss it!
I think we held conventions in the BS hall for around nearly ten years but others can correct me on that. It was a great spot we should never have let go. We nearly always made money at those cons, not always, but it was such a good deal that it allowed us to make money one time and lose some another time, but never go into the red!
Doug Kendricks, Robert Boyens (picture right of Doug), and Jesse Boyens (back to camera) and I play in a game of 15mm Samurai battles using the “Battles in the Age of War” by Peter Pig.
15mm “Two Dragons” samurai figure I painted as “Ii” cavalry.
My 15mm samurai “Battles in the AGE of War” game.
Unfortunate the first thing you saw upon arriving was me! Back when I was President of HMGS/PSW
the “Dogs of War” convention regulars who put on many of the most spectacular “mega” games HMGS/PSW conventions ever saw pull of another one with “Shanghai” many games are considered impressive with just on or two 28mm ships…the “Dogs” bring a fleet!
The “Shanghai” game had an enormous waterfront area full of dastardly no goods that had to be defeated! The small shore boat has my party in it!
All Dogs of War games were geared for fun, had plenty of “eye candy”, and many encouraged the participation of new or younger players. For the Dogs the reward of the game was the satisfaction of the players. Few players ever forgot playing in a game put on by the “Dogs of War”
A young John Denny guides another younger gamer in the back streets of Shanghai! A smiling Steve Phenow can be see in the background.
Pretty sure the “Dogs of War” took home the “Best of Convention” award this time!
I had brought back the awards for excellence in gaming and found some really nice awards to be used to recognize those gamers and groups but I think they discontinued this, or at least this style of award. To bad because it was starting to become a tradition!
One of the “Dogs” Chris Snell (on right) explains a few point to players. Behind him Galen Yee and at the far end of the table Chris Vivo, both long time “Dog of War”
HMGS/PSW member Mark Deliduka move figures into position on a rooftop! The central “pagoda temple” building was scratch built by Dave Dandridge yet another “Dog”!
Speaking of Dave, here he is playing in a later game of 15mm American Civil War. Simple yet elegant terrain makes for a good looking game!
Take during one of Michael Veritys massive ancients games! Tim Kennan (4th from left, black shirt) and Harold Hillderbrand (to Tim’s right blue shirt) Sadly both these gentlemen are no longer with us. Foreground in blue shirt is David Komatz assisting Michael in running the game.
Another view of Harold’s massive game.
Conventions are some of the last places to get “your feet wet” as a new wargamer since shops are now few and far between!
Steve Phenow long time HMGS/PSW member, past HMGS/PSW President, and Game Master running one of his popular American civil War games using his “Mr Lincolns War” rules. I believe next to him is the “War Gamer Rabbit” Michael Verity.
Another of northern LA’s gaming groups that I have been a part of the “Bengal Club” another great group of guys her represented by Jerry Kegley on the left and Dan Munsion on the right. The nice lady in the middle was someones girlfriend who just came and fell in to helping at the kitchen!
Jerry and Dan played in a Full Thrust game, one of the games I ran (Bill Witthans) its a fun game not to complicated but still plenty of depth. This was an assault/defense of an asteroid mining complex. The base was built in a strange rock I had kicking around for 20 years! It was at my parents house in their garden, my mom thought it was a meteor! It then went wih me years later into my saltwater aquarium, then into my garden, and now is piece of wargaming terrain! I actually think its a piece of lava….if it could only talk!
Rick Abbo (Dog of War), Adam Hammer, and Skip Gardella in a 28mm colonial battle.
Old gamers never die the just get permanent bends in their back from leaning over to many tables!
Two more members of the Bengal Club, Doug K and Jerry K around the vendors tables. The white and clear set of drawers to the left of Doug now sits under the table at my house!
Future wargamers of America! I may be wrong but I think that is a young Clark Dandridge in the Red ball cap!
Jose Mendiola, Robert Boyens, Harmon Ward, and I, in happier times!
Good days!
Bill, thanks for the stroll down memory lane. Those BSA Hall conventions were great. I do miss them and the good times to be had. I’ll look forward to whatever else is on your 750 gig hard drive
Hi Bill,
Some photo update…. the large ancients game, labeled as Harold’s game, with the river galleys was one of my Invasion of Britain games using the WAB/Clash of Empires game. David Komatz (blue t shirt standing) was my co-game master joined by Tim and Harold for the game play along with others in the photo. Still have all the miniatures and the hand made galley boats in the warren collection.
As for the mystery lady….. She is Kathy and was my girlfriend back then and dancing partner for many years. She is still around and we going dancing locally in So Calif along with a larger group of ballroom dancers.
Michael aka Wargamerabbit in the Valley (Northridge)
Michael,
Thanks for the update on the names, the notes I took on this convention are long gone and back then between running the convention, games, and being dead tired from work in those days my recollections after ten years are a bit sketchy! I will be posting other pictures of conventions and events and the help of others in identifying folks is always helpful!
Take care!
Bill W
Great to remember days past. Great to see “Shanghi” again. Probably the best game we ever put together. Great seeing the old gang again. Stay safe everyone. Hope we will all be back to some sort of normal soon. thanks for keeping it alive Bill!!!