New member but old painter and collector

[yellowcat]

Hello all,
I am new to this forum. I have a few posts. Let me introduce my self.
I started collecting and painting military figures back in the late ‘70s. My favorite figure companies were Post Militraie, Almond Sculptures, D.F. Grieve Models, Tiny Troopers, Chota Sahib, Series 77, Le Cimier, Le Hussard Du Maris, Phoenix, Barton, Ceremonial Studio and Invicta just to name a few. I mostly mailed order from Histroex Agents, The Red Lancers, The Solider Centre, The Military Shop, Cush, Excalibur Hobbies and the Black Watch. I subscribed to Campaign Magazine and Grendel’s Cave Figure Review. I studied graphic design and illustration and worked as an art director for advertising company. Money is no object to me. I wore designer clothing to work. Every month I spent two to three hundred dollars on my figures. I painted my figures mainly with enamel and artist oil. Acrylic is not really a stable medium. I even wrote stack of notes on how to mix and paint with artist oil and I mix my own painting medium.
In the early ‘90s I bought a house, got married and had two kids. Then the recession came and I lost my job. Money was tight. I stopped painting and buying figures for about 12 years.
Several years ago I paid off my house mortgage. I started painting my figures again. I have boxes and boxes of grey army hidden under my staircase storage area. It is like opening a time capsule. What a joy just to look at my collection. My wife thinks I am a bit nutty. It will take at least two to three lifetimes to paint my collection.
I am a bit shock when comparing the figure prices of today’s with the late eighties and early nineties. In the late eighties a 90mm white metal single foot figure cost about $20 to $28 and a mounted one cost about $60. Nowadays a single foot figure cost about $70 and a mounted one $200. What a big differences. I am glad I still have all my grey armies to paint.
I am just wondering how many members are just like me and what happen to all the old figure producers and mail order companies.

 

[megroot]

Welcome back to the hobby.
Well, it's not only the figures that cost more money but everything. My house was in the early 90's when i bought it € 85.000,-. Now it is € 185.000,- . Well thats alot of money that i can't make with saving money on the bank. My first house cost € 55.000,- and it's sold by the new owner last year for €167.000,-
If i see my salery from the 90's i earn the same but now in Euro's. That's not rising so fast as the price's for food, cars, gas, house energie etc.
But still i'm buying figures, brushes and paint.
Looking back there is not much changes....so crises is for the bank.

I hope we can see alot of oldies painted here on the forum. I hope the first maybe a Poste Militaire figure.

Marc

 

[housecarl]

Welcome back Felix, looking forwards to see some of your works.
Carl.

 

[John Bowery]

Felix,
Welcome back and look forward to seeing the golden oldies painted.
Cheers
John

 

[Guy]

Welcome back to the hobby Felix. I've been painting figures and collecting kits since the early 70's and I know what its like to accumulate some of the old classics. My wife says (and I agree with her) I have 2 hobbies.......painting figures.......and collecting kits. I guess they kind of go hand in hand. I just picked up over 30 Poste Militaire kits from a longtime friend who is moving into an assisted living home and can no longer paint. Even though they are old kits they still set the standard as far as quality and casting. Another quality line was Almond which I still find occassionally and pick up a kit once in awhile. Its all part of the hobby. I spent a couple of hours today boxing up into storage, kits that were stacked everywhere. My wife said it was to make room for more......lol.......she knows.

Last year I took the time to do a complete inventory on my computer of what I actually have. You don't really realize how many until you list them.

I look forward to seeing some of your painted figures on planetfigure in the future.

 

[ralpht]

I feel your story

Hi Felix,
I started painting Imrie Risley figures in the early sixties and then phoenix, barton earl series 77 in the seventies. I too have collected more than I will ever paint. Starting to cull and reap the inflation on ebay. I have seen a lot of changes in our hobby some better some worse. I guess that would hold true for you as well.

 

[yellowcat]

Hi Marc,
You are right about the salary. I am making a whole lot less now than I was making in the eighties. (about 1/3 less). Back then a brand new Honda Civic costed less than $2000 but now it costs $16000. I must confess that other than military figures, I also collect and paint garage kits. Those resin and vinyl figures. I also collect paintings, art stuff, samurai swords and lately collecting and restoring samurai dolls. I am glad that I am not alone and there are other members like me have all the grey armies but not having enough time to finish painting it. I am also trying to do an inventory list on all my collections. So one day when I pass away my wife and my sons know how much my collection worth and not throwing into the garbage.

 

[Wlas]

Tho' I'm not an old fogey in the hobby ( just started 3 months ago ) still let me welcome you back.
Yes things are expensive nowadays but if you started in to it like I have the prices seem about right....

Ok. Ok. The above is a lie.
I started the same time Guy did....
Welcome back!

 

[Jeff]

Welcome back. I have to say most of the figures you collected are the figures that stand the test of time quality wise. So it will be nice to see some of those old figures again. Happy painting

 

[yellowcat]

Thanks you all! I have posted some pictures of my figures in the painting forum.