How the hobby has moved on

[ChaosCossack]

I think I had some of those big plastic soldiers... one Japanese throwing a grenade, another charging with bayonet, an officer with katana, a couple of GIs and a couple of Germans. There was a wild west set too... cowboys and indians.

What I really remember were the 100s of Airfix vinyl 1/35 soldiers I had... drove my mom nuts, she was always finding them in her rockery garden and in amongst the couch cushions... after battle MIAs

I do miss the old hobby stores... there used to be a bunch in Toronto but I think we are down to maybe two or three. I particularly miss the Sentry... closed almost two years now. Was my Lunchtime hangout as I work about a half mile from its former location. Now I'm stuck having lunch with the yahoos I work with.

Colin

 

[brian]

You're all sounding like a bunch of old farts.The internet has put these type of shops out of business.Now stop your whinging,as i'm away to play with my soldiers and listen to the 60's music

 

[peedee]

Brian, here's my fave songs from the 6o's




P

 

[brian]

I don't remember Lego in the 60's,but i did dabble with my Meccano set

 

[theBaron]

...The internet has put these type of shops out of business...

Only those shops whose owners chose for whatever reasons not to adapt. The LHS I visited as a boy (Penn Valley Hobbies, Lansdale, PA), made the transition by making use of a website and an eBay store. The bricks-and-mortar store is still open, albeit just on Saturdays, and otherwise, it serves as the warehouse for their stock.

Prost!
Brad

 

[TD2802]

I live in the Seattle area which has a large techie, gamer community. Most of the hobbyists of late come from this niche and more focused on fantasy or other fictional themes. Many of the traditional hobby shops have closed and restricted to soul less national chains that seem to be short of the things I need. That being said, the few historical fig shows I've attended were largely older gents and retirees. I agree the genre has evolved in that what interests younger people doesn't always appeal to more traditional hobbyists.

 

[peedee]

I live in the Seattle area which has a large techie, gamer community. Most of the hobbyists of late come from this niche and more focused on fantasy or other fictional themes. Many of the traditional hobby shops have closed and restricted to soul less national chains that seem to be short of the things I need. That being said, the few historical fig shows I've attended were largely older gents and retirees. I agree the genre has evolved in that what interests younger people doesn't always appeal to more traditional hobbyists.

I was convinced until a short while ago that the reason most younger 'uns didn't get involved was simply that there are very few 'pocket priced 'starter figures for them to begin with, and our hobby could become elitist due to the prices of figures.
Then I realised that those who do paint where spending more than we do on fantasy, action heroes comic books and games..
So I don't know if there is a means of getting new blood into our side of the painting hobbies unless we encourage larger junior classes in comps and encoruage them to paint all the orcs and elves and mini minis possible.
I live in hope that they may paint historical pieces once they find 'em at shows.
Fingers crossed for the future.
P

 

[DEL]

I don't remember Lego in the 60's,but i did dabble with my Meccano set

That's 'cos you was a' fichten them pesky Rebs.

 

[peedee]

That's 'cos you was a' fichten them pesky Rebs.

P

 

[brian]

That's 'cos you was a' fichten them pesky Rebs.

Your a bad man Derek.Pay back will be swift,mark my words

 

[brian]

I remember the question of new blood coming into the hobby being a problem 20 years ago,but i've personally seen a big change over the last 2- 3 years when the fantasy boys started infiltrating our hobby.A very big plus in my opinion,and bodes well for the future of our hobby.There's plenty of young blood about,relatively speaking.(put that wee last bit in just to keep you happy Derek,and to stop any pre emptive strikes.

 

[DEL]

I agree with Brian in that the rise of Fantasy has provided a much needed boost to the wider figure painting community.
I've mentioned this before that there has been a growing and IMO welcome trend to establish a new genre of models, namely those that fall within what I call Histo- Fantasy. No one can have failed to notice the surge of figures based on the characters from Game of Thrones and the much earlier Lord of the Rings figures.
In each case there is ample opportunity for the historical painter to use established techniques and for those fantasy painters to apply some of their groundbreaking skills.
More and more manufacturers are taking the opportunity to design specifically for this market with two early examples being Castle's Tales of the North and Young's La Hire bust.

The purely historical painter remains very well catered for within the hobby with plenty of new releases covering all scales and periods.
One other development that may well owe a considerable debt to the fantasy community is the rapid increase in quantity and quality of acrylic paints, including inks and the most welcome appearance of water soluble metallics like Molten Metals from Darkstar.
I find that nowadays at shows my first port of call is the fantasy displays. Not because I'm in anyway a fantasy painter but because I genuinely believe that this is where I'm likely to see something completely new and very often breathtaking.
It would be too easy to post an image of Kirril Kanaev's multiple award winning Space Marine / Trooper here but what I'd like to show is how other young generation Fantasy painters take often stock models and turn them into spectacular pieces of art.
Giu's Robot Repairs by Raffa of Massive Voodoo and some of the brilliant works by Nicole Eppinger-Siepmann

These add the dimension that is often lacking in the best painted historical pieces ...... imagination.
So in conclusion the rise of fantasy is to be welcomed.
Cheers
Derek
Just a thought, 20 years ago if you'd seen these guys you'd have thought they were straight out of Star Wars.

 

[Tubby-Nuts2]

Del.

Was not 'La Hire', an actual personage? .. Joan of Arc, era .. Rather than a Histo- Fantasy piece.

I need to check!

Mark.

 

[DEL]

Del.

Was not 'La Hire', an actual personage? .. Joan of Arc, era .. Rather than a Histo- Fantasy piece.

I need to check!

Mark.

Yes he was ........ but he sure as hell didn't wear armour like that
That's the point I was making, the 'bridge' between historical and fantasy .
D

 

[Tubby-Nuts2]

, A fair point. ... Spikes on the elbow yes! ... the rest, is as you say! poetic licence.

Regards,

Mark.

 

[peedee]

Great points well reasoned Del,
I find myself looking more and more at both hist and fantasy now.
The quality of the figures, sometimes the whimsey of a piece is more attractive to me
than what used to be "the need" to stick with my beloved napoleonics.
I have two grey armies now.
The usual and the Mini 28mms, I really admire Figone for mixing history and fantasy I n the same catalogue.
Their 90mm athena is one of the items on my wish list.

There shouldn't be hobby boundaries IMHO. If I use railway modelling scenery techniques and Dolls house spares with
Larger figures that's all good both for our own creativity and the hobby in general.
Here's to a blended future of style and inclusion of all.
Paul

 

[Tubby-Nuts2]

Paul! Exactly right, use whatever is available and fitting to whatever piece! ... Cross scaling is a real boon when you think about it.

Now someone sculpt this please.!



Perhaps not, .. one buyer ... Meeeeeee!

 

[peedee]

Yes i

Paul! Exactly right, use whatever is available and fitting to whatever piece! ... Cross scaling is a real boon when you think about it.

Now someone sculpt this please.!

View attachment 206928

Perhaps not, .. one buyer ... Meeeeeee!

Mark I'm keen to do a 120mm napoleonic figure with
a little boy playing with wooden cut out soldiers in front of him
That means a boy 75mm high.
Cool cross scaling, just find the right donor kits.

I'd buy a jousting squizzie, so that's two anyway!
P

 

[Tubby-Nuts2]

Yes i


Mark I'm keen to do a 120mm napoleonic figure with
a little boy playing with wooden cut out soldiers in front of him
That means a boy 75mm high.
Cool cross scaling, just find the right donor kits.

I'd buy a jousting squizzie, so that's two anyway!
P

A nice idea! .. but as you say 'Cross Scaling is never simplistic. It's finding the right piece for the job! which can be frustrating at times! This aspect as you have said is far easier with 'Background Material', rather than actual figures.

Mark.

 

[Ron Tamburrini]

I don't remember Lego in the 60's,but i did dabble with my Meccano set

There was a system called : bako building set Brian , steel rods with bricks that slid between them . That sealed my fate