Does your collection/grey army have a focus?

[Filipe]

Megroot, T-34, Mirofsoft, Richie, Tony, Mark, Graham, Ralph, Mark, Ron, Babelfish, Valiant, Range Rat, Billy, Funky, waterloo

Thank you all for your answers and contributions. It's nice to see that some of you have a focus, like Marc Megroot, and some of you are also adept of the "sallad".

I am a little more calm now, I thank you all. But I'm still considering to sell some of the gray army and try to get some focus, maybe busts. This idea is too absurd? Someone already done that?

Regards to all, this is a great place

 

[valiant]

Ron,
No, Stoke's not in Yorkshire, but we, like others, are hardly awash with cash!!
Steve

 

[Tommys War]

I'm probably the worst type of modeller, I wouldn't describe myself as 'eclectic' - more like 'chaotic'

I'm like a magpie, I just love figures, military and history. I do mainly collect 1/32 scale figures but I've got loads of larger scale figures as well an I've been buying busts over the last 12 months, simply because they are so good, even though I've only ever painted 1 figure bigger than 1/32 scale.

I like historical figures, fantasy, science fiction and steampunk, anything really. I've got figures, kits, bases, scenery, even a 1/32 scale Spitfire kit and my finger hovers over the Wingnut Wings site every single day! I've even got 28mm wargaming stuff, a Bolt Action British WW2 army, Perry Miniatures Napoleonics and Sudan 1885.

Then there is my book collection which would rival the national archives, and my magazine collection must be made of half a forest!

But the one focus I do have is that I collect all the work from my friend Nino Pizzichemi, I've got nearly 100 of the figures that he has cast for other manufacturers as well as Tommy's War and one of my most prized possessions is the box that contains all the original masters that Nino sculpted for Tommy's War, this contains all 28 of the figures cast so far in the series. A second box contains the Christmas Truce scene and the Lancer. These really are the 'jewel in the crown' for me.

Oh, I also collect medals to the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, but that's for another post.

I just hope my wife doesn't read this

 

[TADATSUGU]

Dare I say there is a generation thing going on here? When old gits like me started 30+ years ago, the emphasis was on modelling and usually focused on a particular period, as there just wasn't the same wide variety of figures coming out every month as there is now. I feel that the emphasis has more recently moved towards the painting side, and from that standpoint, the wealth of new figures is just too tempting.
I have always been a Napoleonic and Samurai nut. There is such a diverse spread of styles and colours in the uniforms\armours of those periods I could model for three lifetimes without exhausting all the projects in my head and without getting bored. It is therefore relatively easy for me to focus on those areas, and, as I am constantly reading about those periods, I am constantly inspired to do so.
Yes, there are some lapses. I also love Sci-Fi\historical\war films, Horror fiction and Comics but rather than model them, I prefer to buy high range statues or busts to satisfy that need. I also collect di-cast WWII aircraft which avoids me having a loft full of kits that I would never get round to making.
I'm not saying I don't have some fantasy kits (I love the Nocturna girls) and I occasionally buy a figure that reflects general interest in other periods, but these remain mainly untouched impulse buys.
In this hobby anything goes. I don't share the mind set of a "painter" who might be attracted to a figure purely for the challenge painting it may have, but there is nothing wrong with doing that. I do however think that there is a distinct difference in these two approaches to modelling and that we should all be aware and accommodating of each others preferences and approaches to the hobby.

 

[Gra30]

Dare I say there is a generation thing going on here? When old gits like me started 30+ years ago, the emphasis was on modelling and usually focused on a particular period, as there just wasn't the same wide variety of figures coming out every month as there is now. I feel that the emphasis has more recently moved towards the painting side, and from that standpoint, the wealth of new figures is just too tempting.
I have always been a Napoleonic and Samurai nut. There is such a diverse spread of styles and colours in the uniforms\armours of those periods I could model for three lifetimes without exhausting all the projects in my head and without getting bored. It is therefore relatively easy for me to focus on those areas, and, as I am constantly reading about those periods, I am constantly inspired to do so.
Yes, there are some lapses. I also love Sci-Fi\historical\war films, Horror fiction and Comics but rather than model them, I prefer to buy high range statues or busts to satisfy that need. I also collect di-cast WWII aircraft which avoids me having a loft full of kits that I would never get round to making.
I'm not saying I don't have some fantasy kits (I love the Nocturna girls) and I occasionally buy a figure that reflects general interest in other periods, but these remain mainly untouched impulse buys.
In this hobby anything goes. I don't share the mind set of a "painter" who might be attracted to a figure purely for the challenge painting it may have, but there is nothing wrong with doing that. I do however think that there is a distinct difference in these two approaches to modelling and that we should all be aware and accommodating of each others preferences and approaches to the hobby.

I have been modelling for over 30 years, I don't think it has anything to do with generations themselves approaching differently, we are just luckier today. I sculpt which I suppose is modelling from nothing and paint to the best of my ability as the bench mark by others is set so high these days. Both disciplines carry over the same mindset. Some of the best sculpts being produced today are from relatively young guys and gals so their skill set is modelling.

No longer is it a collection of figures to represent uniforms, the concentration amongst many now is for the piece to stand on its own and to hold up in its own right. This is reflected in the way sculpts have moved on from the static Rose, Lassett figures etc that really just represented a uniform on a mannequin.

The diversity of subjects is due to the capabilities of modellers, there are more sculptors today, to be able to do it well and with the Internet share globally.
I am thankful that is has moved on so much, I also still have a stash of figures from the 1970s handed down from my dad, they are a true wake up call to how things have moved on.

 

[Tubby-Nuts2]

I totally agree with Graham. (who! is older than me),. The difference to what, was the given standard (almost static, posture) of yesteryear, to what is available now! are poll's apart. So the choice of today is wide and varied.. which is fantastic ! ... I for one, could not limit myself to a fixed genre, or a set time period,.. there is far too much choice out there which gets the, 'Auld, Grey-Matter', working overtime! especially those with a story behind them. Rather than just a head and uniform, with a bit of kit.

Regards,

Mark

 

[Ray Stout]

About 30 years ago, I could justify my expanding Grey Army as an Investment for when I retire, and can't afford to buy many figures, well, I have retired------ and I'm STILL buying, so, "force of habit", OR WHAT? When I started out, I was given some sound advice, that went like this" The better the sculpt, and the casting, then the easier you will find it to do a good job of painting it. As a consequence, my Gre Army covers all periods. Ray

 

[ChaosCossack]

For me I have a rather mixed bag of figures... but I tend to stay bracketed within a roughly 200 year period, 1700 to 1900. What I would generally label the "Horse and Musket" period. Of course this includes the late 19th century's upturn in technology of rifles, metal cartridges, breech load cannon, primative machine guns etc so I use "Musket" very loosely.

Within the 200 year period, Napoleonics have always been the core, but, I also dig Franco-Prussian, Crimean, American Civil War, 7 Years War/French Indian War and the 18th century wars of succession.

I have two interests outside of the above... Cossacks and Vikings. When ever one of these two types show themselves I scoop them up.

Scale wise... 54mm, 75mm and the occasional 28mm. I have a grand total of FIVE busts... one complete and four in the GA.

All that being said, if something outside those genres caught my eye or an idea for a scene developed in my head... I'm not averse to trying something outside my comfort zone.

Interesting thread

Colin