Euro-survey

[vergilius]

good point Luis.
Maybe we have to live with the fact that Vincent/Torrent/Kulmbach/tinseltown is the place to be now.
One sad thing; you can't be sure to meet everybody anymore if you visit one big show a year

 

[tonydawe]

Bullseye

Touche' Louis

I think your two cents have hit the bullseye!!!

If your theory is true over the next decade the "centre of gravity" will continue its easterly trajectory towards Poland and Russia, where most of the "affordable" kits are being produced today.

At this rate, Perth will be the centre of the world's figure modelling by 2060. I hope I'm alive to see that!

Cheers
Tony

 

[Chevalier de Malte]

Tony,

I was thinking it is coming down to the mediterranean and as we are in the centre thaught that Malta will become the fulcrum of modelling ... we have everything, sun all year round, distance the furthest is 17km, history from 5000BC till today, Euro currency next January, a club that meets every week and affordable hotels all around our isle ... can be created as island sanctuary for modellers then : )

But my dream went off as the trajectory is going upwards and would be around 3000AD that would do the full cycle and reach us : )

Guys isn't it better then grumbling and coming up with ideas that we start painting again ...

Cheers
Ivan

 

[brian]

I would agree with you Tony if Euro was the only thing that the company does, which tbh it isn't its a tiny amount of what they do and in fact its been inherited with the magazine, which again is a small part of what they bought.

I get the feeling that if they suddenly have to start addressing the mattresses in the local hotels and other things the small amount they make from the weekend will far be out weighed by the trouble it causes them and they will step away from it sharpish, we need and do have people there that do care about Euro but they can only do so much for the show. The powers that be do not care about the modeller they care about keeping the business going and quite right too which is what you and many other businesses are doing.

Many things said above are way beyond the control of the company and to think that they can influence them is naive, they can look at a lot of things but much of what's been said is not down to them.

I do know that already, the powers that be are looking at the weekend and seeing what they can do, but you have to remember that no matter what we say or do, they are business men first and in most cases NOT modellers, some are modellers and some champions of our hobby are there fighting for Euro, but as in ALL Business the bottom line will decide whether it changes or not.

And that the same for your business too, you don't run to break even do you, and we shouldn't ask them too, we all work or run businesses to make a profit and as much profit as we can, though we often forget this when its applied to others rather than ourselves.

Robin

Hi Robin
I can see your point ,but it sums up todays society regards business.They're in it for the profit, fair enough,but surely when your profit drops ,which it most certainly must have done this year,wouldn't the powers like some feedback from their customers to see where they might be going wrong and could consider where they could recover some of their downward trend profits in the coming years.
If everybody sat back and did nothing the powers to be could just shut the shop and where would that leave us,or in our naivety we could at least let them know of our side of the coin,at least they'll know where we're coming from.Remember their profits will be down because modellers like us are not going in our numbers we used to do .No Customer = No Profits.
Could yo let me know who the powers that be are,as you say that they are looking at the Euro weekend and i don't know who to contact regarding the points put by my fellow modellers on this thread.
Brian

 

[gorgosaurus]

You all talk of "Euro", but you mean "Militaire"...

If you took the military out, by which I mean allowed the others in, you would have "EuroModellaire".

But it seems ships, horses, dinosaurs, paper houses, horror models don´t sell as well over here as they do in the USA, where business is good enough for shows like Wonderfest to attract modellers from all over.

I´m not seriously asking that "EuroMilitaire" should have doollies and dinosaurs, horses and houses... it would become too big and unmanageable.
Just pointing out that there has been enough BUSINESS in the military side of modelling for a show like EuroMilitaire to establish itself.
Perhaps the next phase is making itself felt, now, where other shows grow up and begin to compete for attention/ a loyal following. It´s survival of the fittest.

So, both Robin and Luis have made very valid points.

Spike.

 

[tonydawe]

Guys
This thread has touched on a number of very interesting issues affecting the world of figure modelling, and Euro Militaire is a good example of the tension between amatuer figure modellers and those who are semi/fully professional figure modellers/ businessmen.

In short, there are those people who spend money to enjoy figure modelling, and those people who make money from figure modelling.

Both groups are equally important to the other and depend on each other, but they are motivated in different ways.

I'm not being critical or judgmental, I can only share with you guys how I see it from my perspective.

As an amatuer/ hobbyist, I am insanely jealous of people who are so talented and artistic that someone will pay them to spend their days modelling. I wish I could do that!!!

I happily pay high prices for outstanding quality models, and I buy magazines to see quality photos of master painters because I don't have the talent to sculpt my own figures and it inspires me and lifts me to a higher level when I sit down at my workbench.

As an amatuer/ hobbyist, I don't like paying high prices, but I do if there are no other options, or if I think its good value for money.

I hope one of the messages that the organisers of Euro Militaire get from this thread is that some modellers resent paying high prices when there are now plenty of other large model shows they can attend at a lower cost, and they feel Euro Militaire doesn't represent the same value for money it once did.

They should also hear the message that everyone wants Euro Militaire to stay, and would be very sad if it was to disappear for lack of profitability or interest.

The challenge is out there for the organisers to listen, plan and act accordingly. If they don't, then they aren't very good businessmen, in my opinion.
Cheers
Tony

 

[Don]

Tony
Another good point raised, one of many in this interesting subject. Go to Euro every year and like a lot of us will still go despite any problems that arise. Travel on the friday and go home on the monday so we make a good weekend out of it. This year however quite a few well know faces were missing, traders as well as modellers and it was certainly easier to get about the stands.
What about the traders, how did they fare in all this, with fewer punters through the door was their trade down? That must surely be an important point in that if trade is down does the trader keep coming back year after year?
Run a small business but have had a bad year due to health so pennies were tight this Euro. Wanted a figure I had seen on the net but was quite shocked by the price asked for it, result it stayed on the stand and I bought another new figure from a new exhibitor. Even spoke to the sculptor about the price knowing he can do nothing about it. Point here is that I wonder how often people went to the show with something in mind but didnt want to pay the ever increasing prices for them.
All of this wont put me off going and next years accomodation is already booked.
Don

 

[Barke02]

Let me take you back......
I'm 13 years old. My dad and I have been queing in the snow for what seems like hours, even though we have advance tickets. January 1983, Wembly north London. It's the modelling highlight of the year - the Model Engineer Exhibition. My stomach is in knots at what I might see this year. The latest releases from Verlinden on the Historex agents stand, the new WW1 Germans from scalelink! Hinchcliffe, All the Queens Men, Barton. Oh I am in HEAVEN!!!
OK, back to now. What's my point? I didn't buy anything back in 1983 - couldn't afford the prices. Euromilitaire last weekend - didn't buy anything - couldn't afford the prices. I just drooled. The best figures were expensie then, and are expensive now.They have always been expensive!
Am I disappointed? Hell no! I got to meet Maurice Corry, Pete Morton even the legendary illustrator Gerry Embleton! Once upon a time the MEE was the place to be, then it was Euro, but the glory days are over.

STAND UP THE NEXT CONTENDER!!

 

[brian]

Hi All
Just to let all you guys know that this survey has been made aware of to the relevant Euro authorities .It's now in the lap of the Gods,so lets hope they take notice of whats been said.
I thank everbody who contributed to the thread.
Brian