Military Modelling Magazine.

[mick3272]

Having un-subscribed to MMM over a year ago as I was fed up with Trucks, Tanks , etc, I don't know why but they still email me when every issue is about to be published. Below is the opening paragraphs for the 16th Jan 2016 issue.

I bring your attention to Para 2 The Front Cover.

I ask WHY is it something different.

a) Not a truck or a tank on the cover,
b)Not a figure in WW2 tank uniform,
c) Its a figure of a person loosely related to military history , all be it the year dot.


Packed full of skills, techniques and projects, we also have 14 pages of reviews and news on all the latest must-have books, kits and modelling products.
On the front cover is something a little different as Adrian Hopwood presents his version of what Boudicca's daughter might have looked like. In our lead feature he describes how he painted an Origen Art 1:9 scale bust to represent the famous Iceni Queen's daughter.
Are things changing at MMM ??????????????????
Mick

 

[Tubby-Nuts2]

I stopped this subscription about 10yrs ago. The only one I get is the 'Euro Militaire Special'.

Mark.

 

[badger]

I have got it since 1972, and I find it a bit boring,as the articles in it go on too long. three or four pages about one thing,i think is too much. I would rather see three or four pages about different models/dioramas?,but I will still stick with it and see if it improves./badger

 

[Huw63]

I started with it in 1975 and have every issue since January 1976 to June 2013 (which ironically had a cover article called "the last in line") and now just get the iPad copy as it's much cheaper and the magazine isn't what it used to be. The latest issue and the Waterloo special issue surprised me a bit though Figurines and Figure Painter magazine are the two magazines which I I read the most today.

Cheers

Huw

 

[peedee]

Hi Mick I now do what I did as a kid and couldn't afford every issue, I go into WH Smiths and see what's in it first.

They removed the letters page so no-one could voice dissent with the publication and started puting trains ships and aircraft in it.

If a guy called Emmanuelle Noualier had been doing unbeleivably good articles on the subject of making superdetauled buildings I would have hardly bought any copies over the lat what...ten years.

Adrian was telling me that it is difficult for them to attract regular contributions from really good painters, but they do want more painters in.

Planet figure's been represented well but only by one or two people.

So I guess any of us could put some original work their way.

I just don't know if they would print all that we would like to see.

In addition.
The new products page is not representative of our part of the hobby at all.
We see new releases on these pages every day, this month they announced one.
If Historex, Nuts Planet, and El Greco stopped advertising there would be little trace of figures apart from the Vectris auction notices.

Apart from Hoppies article this month there is a rather nivcrdiorama being built in 1/43rd scale of a landsknecht style scene.

So they are having a go to some extent but apparently it's our fault for not contributing articles

Paul

 

[valiant]

I offered two of my busts to them for review when I first started to go commercial - the response was underwhelming to say the least! So much so that I walked away from the guy mid conversation - rude, I know, but so was his attitude!!

 

[Ferris]

What I don't understand is how it can be hard to attract painters.... Go on any of the figure sites and contact the painter of choice.. Or am I missing something?

Adrian

 

[Tubby-Nuts2]

Adrian,

Donald Trump, and /or, 'Murdoch', have the rights to 'MMM'. .

So strange hair-styles and , wrinkly skin.

Mark.

 

[Tubby-Nuts2]

Roger,
.
If he can 'Rodger', Jerry Hall', at his age , then fair play to him. That would be impressive. .. Hmm, I think not! ..

Do not get me started on this '****'. ..

Mark.

 

[peedee]

This will be husband Number three, ans they have 10 'kids' between them, whoeever bores the other one to death first it's gonna be fun seeing them fight over all the loot isn't it.

Still she won't have to do Pantomime again next xmas ; she's in one that will run a while now.

Pàul

 

[Huw63]

Same as me eh Huw.....
..my daughter's always after money too.
paul.

I have two of them to fend off...

 

[smudger1960]

I remember how sad I felt back in 2010 when I stopped buying it,I'd been collecting it since 1984,I only buy it now if there's something I really enjoy in it,as Paul says,I have a quick look in WH Smiths to see what's in it before I buy it.
I would'nt be fooled by this issue,the 12 page AFV articles will soon return

 

[Range Rat]

As above, used to pull out anything to do with figures when purchased, file it and bin the rest.

 

[MalcC]

What I don't understand is how it can be hard to attract painters.... Go on any of the figure sites and contact the painter of choice.. Or am I missing something?

Adrian

I placed a thread here some time back to see if we could attract some interest in getting some articles submitted, to help boost the amount of figure articles being printed in MM.
The response was practically zilch.
There are only three or four of us writing articles at the moment with Adrian doing more than his fair share to keep it going.
It's impossible for us enough to even out the balance between AFV articles and figures without help.
As I said before, there's a wealth of talent on this forum, but no one seems interested in writing articles and in turn promoting the hobby.

Malc

 

[Ferris]

Hey Malc,

I don't remember seeing that thread, so maybe others missed it as well.
What I meant with my remark is that it is very easy on a forum such as PF to directly contact a painter. A direct request e.g. via PM will be far more effective than a generic post.

As a matter of fact, I would be ok writing an article occasionally, and would have responded to your call had I noticed it.
Feel free to PM... ;-)

Cheers,
Adrian

 

[peedee]

Malc I can not but take polite issue with the phrase
"no-one seems interested in writing articles and in turn promoting the hobby".

I understand why you may think it, but it is my conviction that the magazine should be promoting the hobby.
Their income derives completely from afvertising and sales of each issue.
Should they promote it properly and effectively they would increase circulation and thrive.

This is not a chicken and egg situation. The current editor has in my opinion taken the magazine backwards in terms of figurists in replacing 'our' content with a push towards aircraft rail and cars in his early years of tenure, removed the letters page so the only means of protest or complaint was through the forum, which I joined and found, again to be dominated by Tobin Buckland's armour making chums interests.
No-one replied to any figure poss unless of course they were more GI or SS.
No-one says how much they pay for an article/per page and I am no way working for them as an intern, supplying content for free for them to profit from.

Anyone can browse this and other forums and contact the work that appeals to them for publication.
...they have marketing staff who should be looking at us as a pool of contributers, none of us have ever stopped an approach being made.

This is in no way any form of attack or reflection on you, Ian C, Adrian, Gino Poppe and others.
Sincere thanks for your great articles, all of you, my comments are aimed directly to the editorial staff.

Best wishes mate
Paul.

 

[Tubby-Nuts2]

 

[MalcC]

Adrian

Will send you a pm.

Malc

 

[MalcC]

Hi Peedee

Perhaps I could have worded it better. I completely agree with what you are saying.
will send you a pm.

Malc

 

[Ron Tamburrini]

Got to think the days of magazines are almost gone , even the total figure ones have trouble now and they are a pretty hefty price also , just about everything you need to look at is on the net be it modelling , trade related and so on ( oh and I can just see that old father Jacks ears prick up ready to drive the thin edge of the wedge in here )
I know it is nice to have a bundle of mags to look back at; but what happens is the articles go out of date as technique gets better this happens with DVD's re the hobby which I have a couple , stuff in them is just to old , one relating entirely to horses ; what a wast of cash that was showed two different horse colours a brown and another brown , what about all those roan's and multiple greys .
I am only back at this hobby 4 years now with a very long break of some 25 years while brining up a family and trying to earn enough to retire at the age of 70
Some well known modeller friends on this site gave me a whole bunch of mags maybe 3 of 4 years worth , the further back I went the less readable they became as the hobby had moved technically so fast , thats why they probably gave them away in the first place.
Another point is someone can do an SBS here on PF and go into real depth from start to finish; whereas it would need to be edited for a mag .

So like the high street I fear the magazine trade is doomed .

Malc what have you to do with the mag in question : forgive my ignorance here :

Ron