Open Book New Magazine - Fantasy Figures International from Guideline Publications

[Nap]

Hi everyone

At a show recently I saw something not often seen ...no ....N0 !!! it wasn't the opening of my wallet !!!

A launch of a new magazine namely FANTASY FIGURES INTERNATIONAL

My initial thoughts were ......."Oh that's a fantasy modelling mag" looking at the title and the pics on the cover ...but I perservered and began browsing through ...

...It wasn't just fantasy but had all types of modelling in ...a pleasant surprise to be honest

Personally I do like to handle a paper magazine ...just something about it ...even though there are some great on line magazines as well of course

so who is responsible for the publication : GUIDELINE PUBLICATIONS

...they are also responsible for other hobby magazines including Scale Aircraft Modelling and Military Modelcraft International

This will he mostly picture based look through the magazine ....

General thoughts

• 84 pages in this issue
• A4 size format
• Good range of subject ..this issue not just figures but also but AFV , Fantasy etc
• A large pull out poster ( fantasy based figure )
• For me a lot of adverts
• New Kit releases , Photography and other articles

As a 1st issue this is I think a good start and one which I am sure the Editor and Guideline will build upon ...but I am still confused as to the magazine title ...but thats me ...sure there is a reason for the choice!!!
Lets meet the people involved in this

​

Lets browse

Whats in the magazine

Meeting the Maker

Hot off the Press

Photography

New Kit releases

The world of Maschinen Krieger

Something for the AFV modellers

A Napoleonic Figure from Eric Coulon

A Chivalry model from our own Sergey

A Star War based build

A SAFS figure from Jose Brito

A post Apocalyptic Diorams from Luca Pierrs

Article on The Red Devil Awards

A look at a UK Master Modeller ...Mark Taylor ( an artist I have admired and know )

A bust from US modeller Brett Avants

A excellent diorama from US Modeller Dave Youngquist using JSM products

I have shown my actual magazine so apologies if pics not best due to light ..but it gives you all a good insight into the contents of the magazine itself

Final thoughts
It is good to see a magazine on the shelves and I found it enjoyable to read the articles , not all my taste yes but still interesting to read , colour production is fairly good and the magazine provides a happy introduction to all modellers ...no matter what you model

Will I buy again ...YES I WILL and do say go on give it a look

The editor DAVID GRUMMITT also welcomes articles from other contributors as well so if you fancy doing just that he would welcome the article ( don't forget the aid in the magazine on photography as well )

What is the next issue due out 19 December 2019
well here is the cover ....

Thanks for looking in

Nap

 

[clrsgt]

This looks interesting. Thanks for the review Nap.

 

[Forté]

I picked this up from WH Smith's and was looking forward to a fantastic and sci-fi based mag that wasn't Games Workshop based. Lucky I don't mind a bit of historical.

It did feel very scale model based. Even the adverts too. With barely a sniff of the companies many of us know creating figures and busts being represented I found.

And my biggest issue with the mag... photos.

Considering there is a page about taking photos of miniatures (which is okay but not the best advise I've seen), which recommends JPEG photos for submissions for some odd reason (should really be using RAW or at least PNG). I found many photos to be lacking in quality. The ones in the Mark Taylor article in particular are washed out, blurry in places, and lacking.

It's good to see something actually in print but the quality at the price for me isn't high enough. I hope issue 2 is better.

 

[Nap]

Hi Steve

Good comments there ,it's always going to be a challenge starting something like this , photos aren't the very best in like we see in sone of the European Magazines when they were published .

Hopefully # 2 will improve in these areas

Nap

 

[Forté]

Fingers firmly crossed.

I did toy with reviewing this on the blog but decided not to. Some things need a bit of time to pick up steam and my initial reaction has been a bit disappointing, which is fine with a miniature but so many have contributed to this mag that I didn't want to put anyone off picking it up.

 

[Nap]

Fingers firmly crossed.

I did toy with reviewing this on the blog but decided not to. Some things need a bit of time to pick up steam and my initial reaction has been a bit disappointing, which is fine with a miniature but so many have contributed to this mag that I didn't want to put anyone off picking it up.

As you say Steve some things need time ..but it's good to be able to see what's inside a new venture

It's definately well worth a look at

Nap

 

[Steve Brodie]

For a 1st effort I was quite happy with it. Makes a change from the hoards of aircraft and military model magazines. But for some reason, and I can probably guess why, it was on the bottom shelf hidden behind copies if white dwarf. Looking forward to the next magazine.

 

[gforceman]

I bought an issue at the SMC show, thinking I had bought a fantasy-SF magazine. I was quite disappointed there was so much Historical articles in it. Now, I don't have problems with articles concerning historical subject, but when I buy a magazine entitled "Fantasy figures international", I expect to find a content about just that : fantasy figures. I was thinking of taking out a subscription, but now I will first wait for a couple of issue's and see what kind of content they keep offering.

Cheers,

Gino

 

[Nap]

Hi Folks

I have been going through the articles looking for "Trade Secrets" article of Making a WW1 Trench as on the cover ....it's not in my copy at least

Perhaps a oversight in my version ?

Nap

 

[Nap]

I bought an issue at the SMC show, thinking I had bought a fantasy-SF magazine. I was quite disappointed there was so much Historical articles in it. Now, I don't have problems with articles concerning historical subject, but when I buy a magazine entitled "Fantasy figures international", I expect to find a content about just that : fantasy figures. I was thinking of taking out a subscription, but now I will first wait for a couple of issue's and see what kind of content they keep offering.

Cheers,

Gino

As I said in review the title is a little confusing ...perhaps a name change might be thought about ...." Fantastic Figures International" ...

Nap

 

[Forté]

Hi Folks

I have been going through the articles looking for "Trade Secrets" article of Making a WW1 Trench as on the cover ....it's not in my copy at least

Perhaps a oversight in my version ?

Nap

Page 78-81.

 

[Nap]

Page 78-81.

Cheers

Aha!! ...the Back from the Wire ..no reference to Trade Secrets ...that's what confused me!! ...

Nap