How many figures do you buy in one year, and please tell us your favorite manufacture

[bucsfan21]

Favorite Vendors

I buy anywhere from 4-7 figures a year. My main periods of interest are Colonial Era in America 1660-1780, the American Civil War 1861-65, Westward Expansion, Napoleonic Era, France's 2nd Empire, anything on French Foreign Legion and WWI and WWII.

My favorite manufacturers/vendors...

#1 Michael Roberts...one of the few manufacturers who do subjects on Civil War and Rev War. Mike is a good guy to deal with!

#2 Metal Models...Bruno Lebovitz and company turn out the best Napeolonic pieces on the market in 54mm. I like all their ranges from Napoleonic to 2nd Empire to WWI and their busts range.

#3 United Empire Miniatures...John Lea has a unique range. I have recently painted a few of their American War of Independence figures sculpted by Alan Ball and enjoyed them greatly. Also loved the FFL range of busts done by UEM.

#5 Forlorn Hope Miniatures... I painted their Iron Brigade bust last year and can't wait to see their new busts which are in progress. David Ridley is the sculptor of this line. Stay tuned to Military Miniatures Warehouse for details. They do American Civil War subjects. And are expanding to other periods of history.

#6 any manufacturer who does a well detailed kit from my favorite periods which is well sculpted and is affordable.

Neat poll.

Best of Everything, Terry Martin-Atlanta Miniature Figure Society

 

[GARD9]

Far too many to finish in a year.

(Is my wife watching?)
8 - 10 is my answer.
My favorites are:
Alpine
Michael Roberts
United Empire
Jimmy Flintstone (an unsung hero for sure)
G9

 

[Roc]

Gard 9, I know what you mean about the wife watching. when I entered my response to the poll, I made sure my wife as at the super market.


Cheers
Roc

 

[Guy]

I would say my yearly purchase of figures is over the 10 mark. Its nice to no longer have to look over the shoulder when bringing a figure home. I had an ex who complained for days over me buying a figure. Those days are gone as my wife now fully supports and trusts whatever I buy........thank you lord

 

[theseeker]

Well as some of you know, I have recently come back to the hobby. I have a tendency to go overboard and I have. Since joining in June I have purchased;
8 Pegaso's from 75-90mm
3 Andrea's, 1 bust and two 90mm
2 Young's both busts
1 Model Cellar Bust
2 LeCimier 1/10 mounted!
8 Verlindens in various scales
3 Bonaparte bust
3 1/6 that I cannot remember!
Yes, I am crazy, but this does not include the aircraft and the cars!!!!

 

[Taiko]

I would say between 10-15.

My favorit manufacturers are:
Pegaso is the "numero una". Sometimes I buy bust form Young Miniatures, 2-3 figures from Andrea, Latorre, Metal Models.

My favorit sculptors are:
Maurizio Bruno. He has a gold hands...unbelievably...I really enjoy painting figure from him. Then Andrea Jula, Adriano Laruccia, Young B Song, Latorre....

 

[Black Army]

I had financial problems in this year so I have boght only one, usually I buy 3-4 figures. But I love sculpting, so it make me better fun as painting figures from manufacturers (but certanly the famoust sculptors and their manufacturers make better figures ).
I think the best firms are Pegaso, Alpine, Young, PiliPili, Andrea and so on, but I'm not a great consumer.

 

[thegoodsgt]

My figure painting is in hiatus while I enjoy building aircraft again, but I generally buy about three figures a year. Favs are Art Girona and Latorre.

 

[Roc]

From what I can see from this poll so far, It appears that the majority of Planet figure members buy four to seven figures per year.

Pegaso seems to be our favorite manufacturer followed by Andrea,a close second.

Cheers
Roc

 

[gorgosaurus]

I´m probably in the 4 - 7 club, too.
Different manufacturers, though, Cretaceous Creations of America, Paleocraft, Krentzpresentz.

I finish 0 (some years aren´t conducive to model-making) to 5 models a year, so a few years with no purchases shouldn´t hurt!

Spike.

 

[paulomartino]

Buying Figures - to make or collect??

I'm sure many of you will identify with the various buying patterns we have probably all gone through over the years. I've been making figures since the late sixties (I'm showing my age now) and back then, and up until the mid 80's it was very difficult, not only to get a hold of figures, but to even know what was available. There were only a few basic model magazines featuring figures, and as it was always considered a minority interest aspect of the hobby, (compared to Aircraft or Armour) very few hobby retailers stocked them. So the only option was to use the Mail Order approach - expensive back then and often a very dissapointing experience. Foreign travel for holidays or indeed business was always a great opportunity to make "invented detours" in order to visit the manufacturers or a specialist outlet and actually get your hands on real kits. This usually (in my experience anyway) resulted in an absolute frenzy of shopping - based on the total illogical belief that I would never have an opportunity like this again!! That was then, and now nearly 30 years later I still have many of these kits still in their boxes unmade!! Following a recent career change I have a lot more time on my hands and I've spent the last number of months weeding out my stock (with the help of Ebay etc) and getting some badly needed organisation on my model making process. Am I still buying figures? - ABSOLUTELY!!- it's part of the hobby - it provides fantastic pleasure - (my wife calls it therapy!!) and indeed satisfaction. Indeed with the advent of the internet, it's easier than ever to find out whats available and have it shipped before the modelling magazines even do a feature on it! My own experience has thought me that the act of buying the figure is a very discreet process in and of itself, and indeed it should be enjoyed as such. Removing any expectation or pressure to actually make the figure (from th acquiring process), really sweetens the act of buying the figure in the first place. Once acquired, the figure can be taken out from time to time and savoured just as a part of ones "unmade collection" - and over time it may find its way onto the work bench, and ultimately it may be completed as a single figure or part of a diorama - sheer pleasure without the pressure! I would buy 8 to 10 figures a year - mainly Andrea, Elite, Pegaso, but following on from this, I am really interested to know how many figures the average modelmaker completes each year. My current rate is mabey 6 or 7 and on the way up. On this basis, and at current production levels, I'm always going to have a healthy "unmade collection". So while I'm interested in how may figures people buy, I think the topic becomes even more interesting when combined with the question of how many actually get produced. Sorry to ramble on - this is my first posting on PF as a new member so I'm not sure if I'm breaking any protocols with the length of the article.
Continue to enjoy every minute of your modelmaking,
Regards, Paul

 

[Guy]

Welcome to the planet Paul. I started in figures right after you did. It was in the early 70's and back before the internet you had only the rare magazine or a printed Red Lancer catalog to buy from between shows. Another aspect we had back then was alot of new companies who introduced a new figure might be gone after only a couple of months. So you come to find out that if you like the figure you'd better buy it now because it may not be available for long. This started the "collecting" side of the hobby for me. Several times I have "unloaded" part of my collection of kits and always manage to build the collection back up again. Now the collection tops over 400 figures and with retirement this gives me several lifetimes to get them painted .

When a box arrives in the mail my wife always asks me if this is for the painting hobby or the collecting hobby. I always answer her "both" as they go hand in hand.

Buying those Bartons and Almond kits now pays off as they are no longer available and the ones I prize sit up on my shelfs waiting patiently for the brush god to select them for painting.

When I first retired I was able to paint about 12 to 15 figures a year and now due to health issues have slowed down to 5 to 8 per year. Hopefully after further recovery from major back surgery I will bring my average back up and maybe even surpass the old average. I have always concluded that its not how many figures you paint a year but how many you paint "well". I slowed down my production rate years ago and found my quality vastly increasing.

As for the protocol to legnth of postings......yours is rather short compared to others..........post away.......we'll read it.

 

[paulomartino]

Buying and Collecting

Thanks Guy, best wishes for a speedy recovery - and by the way, your on-line gallery looks splendid - you have some beauties in there - indeed one or two which I have myself and after a long wait, they might now receive a visit from, as you say yourself "the brush god"!! -
Many thanks for the inspiration,
Regards, Paul

 

[ian]

To many

Hi, my name is Ian and I am new to the forums. I have always built models, but really got into figures about three years ago. The work I see on this website is truly amazing. I have already learned a lot from what I have seen and hope to improve upon my skills. As far as buying figures, I buy about 5-8 a year and the manufactures are all over. I look to see if its an interesting subject and if its a clean casting with good detail. Other than that there are no limitations.

 

[Guy]

Hello Ian and welcome to the planet. If there is anything we can do to help you feel free to post a question. Would love to see some photos of your work when you are ready to post them.

 

[pylgrym]

Other "Planets"

I brought my first built, painted figure to the AMFS meeting today, and I have been a member since 1989!
With me, it was always toy soldiers - armymen.... since 1955!
I had actually attempted the club 'bust' projects over the past three years
(German paratrooper and matt Springer's Native American), but had never attempted building a metal kit with the idea of decorating it and mounting it. Well, thanks to the club's patience and understanding and good-natured needling about my ''toy soldiering'' over these past eighteen years, I have come to accept that buying and building figure kits will be for the rest of my life.
I have bought several 54mm Tamiya and Verlinden figure kits over the past two years, with the idea of recreating a scene or two from my tour of duty in Vietnam.
Very happy to be here.... will be catching up on old posts for quite some time!
'
'pylgrym' paul

 

[Roc]

It's good having you here, we are looking forward to seeing your work.

Cheers
Roc

 

[btavis]

I don't buy many figures but mostly parts (heads, hands). If I do buy a figure it is not so much to paint it but because I like the sculpting and want it is a reference.

 

[Bluesking]

I am in the 10 or more league. I'll buy any GOOD figure no matter how produces it but I am a loyal fan of Pilipili and have got nearly all their range.