I've just read on the Basement that Military Modelling's Figure Special is no more, has anyone else heard this, or is it just rumour?
Carl.
Carl.
Mil Mod Figure special.
- Thread starter housecarl
- Start date
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everton
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Carl it is true the editor told me! due to lack of articles apparently.
Mike.
Mike.
Thanks Mike, another fiver saved.
Carl.
Carl.
DEL
A Fixture
Pity it wasn't bad and the only MM I was buying now.
D
D
megroot
A Fixture
Sad to here. It was the only MilMod beside the Eurospecial i whas buying.
marc
marc
- Joined
- Aug 13, 2009
- Messages
- 5,929
Bit of a shame as it was always a decent read, but I'm not surprised.
Unscientific and all very anecdotal I know, but even as an armour modeller I buy far fewer modelling mags these days, and other modellers I've talked to about it say the same. That tells me that magazine sales are definitely on the slide.
Time was as recently as two or three years ago that I'd easily spend about £20 a month on modelling mags. But with prices going up, mag quality going down (in a couple of cases markedly so) and so many great modelling sites completely free on the Internet, why spend money you don't need to spend?
- Steve
Unscientific and all very anecdotal I know, but even as an armour modeller I buy far fewer modelling mags these days, and other modellers I've talked to about it say the same. That tells me that magazine sales are definitely on the slide.
Time was as recently as two or three years ago that I'd easily spend about £20 a month on modelling mags. But with prices going up, mag quality going down (in a couple of cases markedly so) and so many great modelling sites completely free on the Internet, why spend money you don't need to spend?
- Steve
Thanks for taking the time to comment. I know what you mean about the internet Steve, but it's still nice to thumb through a magazine now and again.
Although there hasn't been much of interest in Mil Mod for a while. I thought it was time to end my subscription a bit ago.
At least there's the Euro special to look forwards to.
Cheers,
Carl.
Although there hasn't been much of interest in Mil Mod for a while. I thought it was time to end my subscription a bit ago.
At least there's the Euro special to look forwards to.
Cheers,
Carl.
Hi Guys,
Very sad to see this news and it would appear no Euro Special either.
I have cancelled my subscription after 30 years of buying MM.
The recent changes - aircraft etc have not done anything for the mag and when compared with the rival mags MM just does not deliver on the photo front - compare to Tamiya for instance.
Regards.
Callum.
Very sad to see this news and it would appear no Euro Special either.
I have cancelled my subscription after 30 years of buying MM.
The recent changes - aircraft etc have not done anything for the mag and when compared with the rival mags MM just does not deliver on the photo front - compare to Tamiya for instance.
Regards.
Callum.
Colin_Fraser
PlanetFigure Supporter
I don't even pick it up in the store to glance through the monthly anymore. This site fulfills all my needs. Too bad as I have good memories of MM. I got the 2011 Euro Special for old times sake. Not really worth the money. Better than last year but even that had a large how to tankie article in the middle - weird!
colin
colin
Carlos69
A Fixture
- Joined
- Sep 6, 2009
- Messages
- 912
Mil Mod goes from bad to worse ! if there was a shortage of material why hasnt the new editor put out some commissions or e mailed guys on here or over at the Mil Mod forum where I post also ?!
Is it cutbacks do you think ? as lack of material is not a good move in my book... a more pro active ed would ensure there is material I would of thought ?
I dont have a good word for that new ed im affraid : (
Is it cutbacks do you think ? as lack of material is not a good move in my book... a more pro active ed would ensure there is material I would of thought ?
I dont have a good word for that new ed im affraid : (
A few people have submitted figure related articles, so I don't think it's down to a shortage of material. I think it's just a drive to get the magazine to be a modelling one stop shop, covering every genre. Not wishing to denigrate anyone that's into them, but submarine article was the final straw for me.
Lets hope there's a swing back to the way it used to be,
Carl.
Lets hope there's a swing back to the way it used to be,
Carl.
Redcap
PlanetFigure Supporter
Mil Mod magazine - my views
I pretty much agree with most of the sentiments expressed here. For reasons best known to the editing staff, they have turned a specialised magazine aimed primarily at figure painters and AFV modellers into a "jack of all trades ....and master of none" publication. I picked it up yesterday at my local 'Hobbycraft' branch, scanned through it and put it back after about 30 seconds. I would not have walked out with the M.M. magazine had it cost a quid; much less the best part of a fiver they now ask.
It seems like years ago when I used to await it's arrival and sit at my bench trying (and failing!) to replicate the effects and techniques on the latest Pegaso "must have" by the usual masters. Coupled to this of course were regular tips on metals, paint effects, faces, replicating battle damage etc and all manner of useful stuff. Now, they have model aircraft articles (why? - are there not enough mags for model aircraft fans already?), tiny wargaming figures and associated 'stuff' and even the occassional 12" DML 'wardolls' or whatever they are called - they used to be called "Action Man" when I was a kid - with some paint spalshed on them to try and package it as a figure painting article. The main bugbear however is that it seems like it's bulk comprises of page upon page of adverts and irrelevant "Do you remember when...." articles with a few uninspiring figure topics thrown in almost as an afterthought.
I do hope someone gets a grip and restores the old M.M. we all remember and seem collectively to miss, back to it's former glories. That said, I guess that sales will dictate policy and future direction; perhaps they sell MORE copies now? If however the views expressed here on PF are representative throughout of it's core readership, it will most likely cease publication as numerous others have as we enter dire economic uncertainty in the coming months and years ahead.
Gary
I pretty much agree with most of the sentiments expressed here. For reasons best known to the editing staff, they have turned a specialised magazine aimed primarily at figure painters and AFV modellers into a "jack of all trades ....and master of none" publication. I picked it up yesterday at my local 'Hobbycraft' branch, scanned through it and put it back after about 30 seconds. I would not have walked out with the M.M. magazine had it cost a quid; much less the best part of a fiver they now ask.
It seems like years ago when I used to await it's arrival and sit at my bench trying (and failing!) to replicate the effects and techniques on the latest Pegaso "must have" by the usual masters. Coupled to this of course were regular tips on metals, paint effects, faces, replicating battle damage etc and all manner of useful stuff. Now, they have model aircraft articles (why? - are there not enough mags for model aircraft fans already?), tiny wargaming figures and associated 'stuff' and even the occassional 12" DML 'wardolls' or whatever they are called - they used to be called "Action Man" when I was a kid - with some paint spalshed on them to try and package it as a figure painting article. The main bugbear however is that it seems like it's bulk comprises of page upon page of adverts and irrelevant "Do you remember when...." articles with a few uninspiring figure topics thrown in almost as an afterthought.
I do hope someone gets a grip and restores the old M.M. we all remember and seem collectively to miss, back to it's former glories. That said, I guess that sales will dictate policy and future direction; perhaps they sell MORE copies now? If however the views expressed here on PF are representative throughout of it's core readership, it will most likely cease publication as numerous others have as we enter dire economic uncertainty in the coming months and years ahead.
Gary
Carlos69
A Fixture
- Joined
- Sep 6, 2009
- Messages
- 912
Gary I cant see the mag selling more copies now to be honest as they have axed the figure special due to cut backs ... so you would think they are selling less. I dont think they have gained more aircraft modellers than they have lost figure/old subscribers etc ..
I painted up a "wardoll" for the fig special one year ..
I painted up a "wardoll" for the fig special one year ..
Redcap
PlanetFigure Supporter
Reply to Carl
I painted up a "wardoll" for the fig special one year ..
I painted up a "wardoll" for the fig special one year ..
valiant
A Fixture
Hi guys,
I should like to enter the fray by echoing the sentiments expressed here - only last year I offered two of my resin busts for review to MM only to be passed on to another editor at another mag - im still waiting for the review! It seems to me that there is far more for us figure modellers on this site, here!
As for MM, it seems to be a poor imitation of the publication it used to be!
Steve
I should like to enter the fray by echoing the sentiments expressed here - only last year I offered two of my resin busts for review to MM only to be passed on to another editor at another mag - im still waiting for the review! It seems to me that there is far more for us figure modellers on this site, here!
As for MM, it seems to be a poor imitation of the publication it used to be!
Steve
smudger1960
PlanetFigure Supporter
I'd like to start by saying i did'nt realise carl had already posted so i apologise for that.
I dont want to list all my frustrations on this post but as i already stated in my post i feel very sad after 27years that i'm calling it a day on this mag,the magazine is mostly devoted to AFVs and your lucky eack month if you get more than 5 pages devoted to figures.
I've just been looking back over my old copies as i kept and filed them all and i can honestly say the older copies are better than the new editions,ken jones retiring probably has'nt helped,as Series 7 has pointed out i'm not impressed with the new editor,ken will be a hard act to follow.
Looking back i supose the writing was on the wall,i've just been reading articles by Raul Lattore,Adrian Bay,Bill Horan,Max Longhurst,Mike Good,Greg Di-Franco,Francois Verlinden,Shep Paine,Ray Lamb,Adrian Hopwood,Trevor Morgan,Derek Hansen,Marijn van Gills and the list goes on and on,where did it all go wrong,i've found articles on Uniforms,Weapons,Battle's,articles on Groundwork techniques,Painting with Acrylics,Oils,Pastels,Diorama Assembly Techniques,Scratchbuilding,Sculpting,Museums,i cannot believe we dont have people contributing to these subjects and figures are not popular anymore,just cant get my head round this at all,70% of it now is all Armour and before anyone quotes me on this,i do have an interest in german armour but lets be fair about this i'm s--k of seeing 1 or possibly 2 if your'e lucky figure articles and sometimes upto 5 armour articles.
I'm going to stop and again i apologise,my emotions are running away with me,ENOUGH SAID
Brian
I dont want to list all my frustrations on this post but as i already stated in my post i feel very sad after 27years that i'm calling it a day on this mag,the magazine is mostly devoted to AFVs and your lucky eack month if you get more than 5 pages devoted to figures.
I've just been looking back over my old copies as i kept and filed them all and i can honestly say the older copies are better than the new editions,ken jones retiring probably has'nt helped,as Series 7 has pointed out i'm not impressed with the new editor,ken will be a hard act to follow.
Looking back i supose the writing was on the wall,i've just been reading articles by Raul Lattore,Adrian Bay,Bill Horan,Max Longhurst,Mike Good,Greg Di-Franco,Francois Verlinden,Shep Paine,Ray Lamb,Adrian Hopwood,Trevor Morgan,Derek Hansen,Marijn van Gills and the list goes on and on,where did it all go wrong
,i've found articles on Uniforms,Weapons,Battle's,articles on Groundwork techniques,Painting with Acrylics,Oils,Pastels,Diorama Assembly Techniques,Scratchbuilding,Sculpting,Museums,i cannot believe we dont have people contributing to these subjects and figures are not popular anymore,just cant get my head round this at all,70% of it now is all Armour and before anyone quotes me on this,i do have an interest in german armour but lets be fair about this i'm s--k of seeing 1 or possibly 2 if your'e lucky figure articles and sometimes upto 5 armour articles.I'm going to stop and again i apologise,my emotions are running away with me,ENOUGH SAID
Brian
Tecumsea
PlanetFigure Supporter
In fairness I don't think MM has ever really been a very figure friendly magazine-I've just cut up the first 25 years and kept the articles of interest-even in the early days it was full of AFVs. What kept me buying was the information on new releases and great series on Painting by the likes of Graham Dixey and Uniforms by the Fostens and others-all this prior to the Internet. In the last 20 years the figure interest has been kept alive by Show Reports and some great painting articles by the names previously mentioned and in recent years by the addition of, to name a few, Gino Pope, Dave Maddox, Paul Blaber. My feeling has always been that figures were just hanging in for what ever reason. A look at the MM website will tell you where the magazine has been headed for a long time now so it is no surprise that the new editor has continued in the same vein. I have a friend who works for an organisation that distributes MM-he tells me that there has been a colossal increase in returns-perhaps its course has run and the new technologies will overtake this area of the Media-Personally I find this site has given me more in 4 years than MM ever did in 35.
