Bad news in the world of publishing.

[Zastrow.cuirassier]

The editor of the French magazine "FIGURINES" has just announced on its Facebook page, the stop of this publication.
https://www.facebook.com/Figurines.mag/photos/a.408301502566319/1951732694889851/?type=3&theater
No. 121 will be the last issue out.

The end of an era for some, for others like me, a huge void.
Even if I did not like the new versions, too focused on the fantastic, with few historical figures, a bad presentation of novelties, reports on exhibitions a little "light".
I admit that I bought it as soon as it was published, sometimes just for an article and especially to support one of the few magazines on the subject.
The group owning this title of press, announces also the passage in bimonthly, of two other titles "WINGMASTERS" and "STEELMASTERS" ... Perhaps other dispartions in sight.
A year 2019 that starts badly, but some are there to make us hope for beautiful publications magazines or figurines!
Let's stay positive!

 

[Martin Antonenko]

Let's be honest: It is up to us and our buying behavior, that one magazine after the other disappears from the Marekt!

Who of us has subscribed to the "figurines" until the end?

I think: Not too many.

Indeed very sad news!

Cheers

 

[Tommi]

Sad news and was always one of the best magazines out there although my French reading was no so good. Its a changing world and lots of developments in technology and the internet have a part in this and other aspects of the hobby, this will become quite common especially with the PDF magazine down load market for fraction of the cost.

Tommi

 

[Babelfish]

Sad but no surprise. It's already had one stay of execution.

I'm old school, you can't beat the feel of a real book or mag in your hands, but everything's going "online" now. Music & movies/TV as well, I saw on the news this morning that CD and DVD sales are now just a fraction of what they were a decade ago. Everything's becoming digitised and reduced to just gigabytes of data floating around in the ether.

- Steve

 

[gerryj199]

To be honest, I'm not sure that the magazine concept has that long to live anyway. Look at Music, TV, Movies and YouTube content online. Most people now buy a song or two rather than a full album, or they subscribe to a service. Content is delivered in units or in complete series so that you can get something very specific or binge on a show. The future of the hobby will be very varied for sure. Likely more 3D sculpts existing alongside tradition sculpts, and even 3D sculpts where the buyer has some control over the pose. (For example, maybe 30 or so horse poses to choose from and then the buyer selects the horse furniture for the period that they want.)

But this kind of content doesn't need to come all at once. Articles can be delivered as they are ready, and can include some interactive material for more complex issues - even if that is just links to Youtube videos. It's an interesting future for the hobby I think, and hopefully at least some of our grandchildren will be painting teaching their grandchildren how to pose and paint models.

 

[grasshopper]

I am one of the subscribers..the FB post was a week or so back and there has been some fulsome chatter on another forum. There is no denying the cost and shipping times for print, and digital,offerings such as Illustrated historical artist artist are knocking em dead with content and value for money, and are Produced by actual hobbiests..ending era...but not end of the pastime at all

 

[Zastrow.cuirassier]

I agree with all your remarks, but however, look at the music, 5 years ago you can not find a single vinyl record, now even in department store, the stock becomes more and more important.
Cinema, while we have some giants like Netflix, Amazon or even Apple soon, people are still many to go to the movie theaters.
In France for books, especially the comic strips, digital systems have flopped;
People prefer, even young people a real book.
We are in a phase of communication and marketing, for magazines, you need to know how to innovate and adapt the actual content to a digital media (eg the French magazine COCARDES) or some daily newspapers.

I am going to be very hard with the editors of "FIGURINES", but I sincerely think that this magazine does not interest them. They just pragged his life time to find subscribers for their other magazines.
In any case, their editorial team, including Dominique BREFFORT was gone, editorial misunderstanding .....
Moreover it seems that the new kid, namely "SOLDIER", is doing well, as his alter ego for aircraft "AVIONS DE COMBAT".

For these magazines, often composed of former well-known journal editors, the choice to mix the documentation / quality historical articles with articles on the figurine or the model has been judicious!

 

[grasshopper]

I agree with your asses ent of Figurines...sensed what was happening. Vinyl and repertory movie theatres are same as books...reserved for some different purpose than once .i much prefer my kobo to paper books, for ease, immediacy, reduced clutter and carbon footprint..hardcovers can’t even be recycled.

 

[gforceman]

Should they have sent my "free" figure the first time, I would have renewed my subscription without a doubt. But if they have tricked many others in buying a subscription this way, it's no wonder they don't renew and have to shut bussiness. Maybe some client friendly would have helped them too, they didn't even answered one of my many e-mails I've snet them.

Cheers,

Gino

 

[Zastrow.cuirassier]

Should they have sent my "free" figure the first time, I would have renewed my subscription without a doubt. But if they have tricked many others in buying a subscription this way, it's no wonder they don't renew and have to shut bussiness. Maybe some client friendly would have helped them too, they didn't even answered one of my many e-mails I've snet them.

Cheers,

Gino

Try by facebook to contact them !
https://www.facebook.com/Figurines.mag/
or
https://www.facebook.com/Wingmasters.Magazine/
or
https://www.facebook.com/Steelmasters/
or
https://www.facebook.com/histoireco...twloLL1XDBLXg21F5NFChYCNkBgJcEwG0AhiiULw92m4R

 

[clrsgt]

I was a subscriber to Figurines and although I agree with many of the above comments, it is still sad to see the demise of one of the last magazines devoted to figures. I am also no fan of Facebook and do not subscribe because of their policies, so I am not happy to see many manufacturers and modelers shifting to Facebook, but c'est la vie.

 

[Jean_paul]

In any case, their editorial team, including Dominique BREFFORT was gone, editorial misunderstanding .....

And Dominique Breffort switch to "SOLDAT"

 

[Babelfish]

I was a subscriber to Figurines and although I agree with many of the above comments, it is still sad to see the demise of one of the last magazines devoted to figures. I am also no fan of Facebook and do not subscribe because of their policies, so I am not happy to see many manufacturers and modelers shifting to Facebook, but c'est la vie.

There are some decent modelling groups on Facebook, but trying to bookmark content for future reference is nigh on impossible as there is no search or archiving function of any use.

There's been issues regarding their policies but one way round it is not to reveal any personal details. I use my real name, but pretty much all my other personal info (DoB, place of birth, place of residence, occupation etc.) is bogus, I've got a "throwaway" e-mail account that I use only for Facebook, and despite prompting every time I log on, I've never given them a phone number. People moan about privacy violations, but they can only use what you give them in the first place. It has its uses, you just need to be a bit circumspect about what you share on there.

- Steve

 

[Zastrow.cuirassier]

There are some decent modelling groups on Facebook, but trying to bookmark content for future reference is nigh on impossible as there is no search or archiving function of any use.

There's been issues regarding their policies but one way round it is not to reveal any personal details. I use my real name, but pretty much all my other personal info (DoB, place of birth, place of residence, occupation etc.) is bogus, I've got a "throwaway" e-mail account that I use only for Facebook, and despite prompting every time I log on, I've never given them a phone number. People moan about privacy violations, but they can only use what you give them in the first place. It has its uses, you just need to be a bit circumspect about what you share on there.

- Steve

Quite right, I am myself on facebook but private account and closed (open invitation), it allows me to stay informed, but you really have to go in search of what we like.
Anyway, I prefer FP, simpler, more concise and especially grouping normally that true fans of figurines, or history.

 

[Zastrow.cuirassier]

And Dominique Breffort switch to "SOLDAT"

Quite right, but it's not the only one to have left "FIGURINES" and H & C!