Rather than continue the round of job applications, I accepted Ian's invitation to go the War Museum North in Salford.
He picked me up (as I am currently sans automobile) and drove us there and back. He's still getting used to his new car and managed to stall it and just avoid crunching a lampost in the museum car park!
The car park itself was crammed full (bit strange for a Wednesday morning) but I think the secret was soon revealed. Parking in the museum is just £4 a day - and the new BBC offices in Salford Quays are just over the water and linked by a footbridge.
So onto the museum. Outside is an Iraqi T-55 (probably the only one that survived the American invasion!).
Inside is quite a suprise. They have been very selective in the exhibits and the museum is more about the effect of war than war itself. We wathced two impressive multimedia shows in the amphitheatre - one about the effect of war on children through the ages and one about remembrance. Both were very impressive and left a genuine impression on me.
 |
| The museum exterior. Turn your head 90 degrees to get the proper view! |
 |
Mussolini's head - the same from any direction!
|
There was plenty of food for discussion relating to wargames as we were given so much inspiration. West Africans fighting in Burma (awesome troops, happy in the jungle, could carry tons of supllies and still fight and the Japanese were terrified of them!). Spanish Civil War. WW1 in the middle east. Not to mention ACW, ECW, more 18C India...as I said to Ian "So many options, so little time!"
We also thought that we needed to look at the WW1 armies and get them finished off (including building up Russ' other German options like trench mortars and medium gun).
The bookshop was stuffed with copies of original books from the war years and some very interesting background reading for wargaming. There was an excellent book on the inter war years which would be great for a Very British Civil War campaign. There was also the German information booklet developed for the invasion of Britain - ideal for an Operation Sealion campaign. I'm definitely poppingh back when I can just to look at the books.
 |
| A brilliant poster! |
 |
| Thompson MG. |
 |
| T34 (85). |
 |
| British nuclear bomb - 10x more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb |
 |
Iraqi Guard helmet - designed to intimidate rather than add protection. Based on Dart Vader's helmet!
|
 |
Metal window frame from the Twin Towers. This is about 20 feet tall.
|
 |
| Harrier jump jet - US Marines markings |
 |
| I have taken this advice to heart. I left mine in a field in Cheshire. |
 |
| Aircraft recognition - I got about 25% right. Terrible! |
I have to say that time flew - we came out after 2pm. It was a fantastic day and thanks again to Ian for making the effort to pick me up and take me there.
