crap Lighting

[Ronaldo]

As figure painters we like to to show off our work in the best possible light.
This will be controversial

A lot of the shows I have attended in the uk have very poor lighting , Scale Scotland was particularly bad, not the organisers fault just lack of experience .
When it comes to it the European shows have us beat hands down in all aspects .

It is no use providing flat tables to show off figures ; what is required is a two level system and a dedicated area per modeller IE about 300 to 400 mm on two levels .

Your thoughts on this guys

 

[Blind Pew]

Ronaldo is 100% spot on. Lighting is absolutely crucial in showing off our stuff in it's best light. It can make or break the final result of a piece if work. I've worked out that frankly, any completed piece will spend 99%+ of it's time in a display cabinet of some kind. That being in mind I paint with the same light as far as I can. It can sometimes be very surprising just how different things can look when the light changes.

And yes, our European cousins seem to do things much better. I've been to a couple of shows on the continent I do concur - they're just better at it.

 

[Mirofsoft]

I try to pass the same idea about pictures of figurines

 

[NigelR]

The UK doesn't have many figure shows and we don't seem to be that interested in competitions over here. In the US and Europe there are more dedicated figure shows and much more of a competition culture, where lighting is taken seriously.

Most model shows in the UK are rooms full of club displays where lighting is not that important. Even at Telford there is no tiering of the competition entries, although TBH there aren't many figure entries. It seems to me that figure painting is less popular in the UK compared to some other countries. Compare SMC to Telford - the balance appears to be more figure oriented at SMC whereas figures are in the minority at Telford (although the International Military Modelling Club put on a great display at Telford last year).

 

[DEL]

As figure painters we like to to show off our work in the best possible light.
This will be controversial

Scale Scotland was particularly bad, not the organisers fault just lack of experience .

It is no use providing flat tables to show off figures ; what is required is a two level system and a dedicated area per modeller IE about 300 to 400 mm on two levels .

Your thoughts on this guys

Made exactly the same points in a pm reply on the Scale Scotland site.
The main problem other than overcrowding on the figure tables was the natural light.
Basically the full length of the west wall of the competition room is a window with no curtaining.
The low sun as it moved west (yes Scotland does get some) flooded the room and those models near this were effectively silhouettes.
Derek

 

[Ronaldo]

The UK doesn't have many figure shows and we don't seem to be that interested in competitions over here. In the US and Europe there are more dedicated figure shows and much more of a competition culture, where lighting is taken seriously.

Most model shows in the UK are rooms full of club displays where lighting is not that important. Even at Telford there is no tiering of the competition entries, although TBH there aren't many figure entries. It seems to me that figure painting is less popular in the UK compared to some other countries. Compare SMC to Telford - the balance appears to be more figure oriented at SMC whereas figures are in the minority at Telford (although the International Military Modelling Club put on a great display at Telford last year).

Never been to the Telford show but suspect it is along the IPMS lines and not really a figure show , there are plenty of above average figure painters in the uk but not as many as Europe combined
. Only been to Herzog von Bayern in Ingolstadt and it was a superb show well organised and figure specific and sadly missed .

If its tanks and AFV's then flat tables will work well as so with aircraft .
To be honest they should be kept separate from the figure stuff

 

[Ronaldo]

Made exactly the same points in a pm reply on the Scale Scotland site.
The main problem other than overcrowding on the figure tables was the natural light.
Basically the full length of the west wall of the competition room is a window with no curtaining.
The low sun as it moved west (yes Scotland does get some) flooded the room and those models near this were effectively silhouettes.
Derek

You are right Del I walked away from Mitches stuff as I couldn't see anything but silhouettes and sure there would have been stuff I would have bought

 

[Mark S]

The same thing happens occasionally in shows down here in Australia as well.
Organizers will put tables against windows facing west and all the pieces on display are unfortunately backlit.
The simple answer is to have the tables pulled four feet out from the walls allowing the public with their backs to the windows to view the pieces fully lit.....it's not fuken rocket science.
One of the factors which seems to contribute to these lighting problems is the fact that the combined electrical brain pulses of your average show organizers aren't usually enough to power a cheap hair dryer.

 

[Ronaldo]

The same thing happens occasionally in shows down here in Australia as well.
Organizers will put tables against windows facing west and all the pieces on display are unfortunately backlit.
The simple answer is to have the tables pulled four feet out from the walls allowing the public with their backs to the windows to view the pieces fully lit.....it's not fuken rocket science.
One of the factors which seems to contribute to these lighting problems is the fact that the combined electrical brain pulses of your average show organizers aren't usually enough to power a cheap hair dryer.