Too rich for me

[RobH]

You raise some interesting points, John.

I personally still buy and enjoy MM for the most part, but then I'm fascinated in all aspects of the miniature hobby - all except maybe toy soldiers. I think MM is fairly good value for money as long as you are interested in the broader spectrum of modelling. I know I'm in the minority in that opinion (but hey, I make tanks, paint 28mm sci-fi and fantasy miniatures as well)

The problem in the UK is there is not the interest or passion in the figure side of the miniature hobby that we see on the continent, where there are at least 4 dedicated magazines to the subject, in languages that are not as wide spread as english. The english speaking world has HM bi-monthly only (to my knowledge).

Maybe we need someone to publish a figure only english language magazine to the quality of AFV Modeller mag (superbly produced with the best modellers in their field in it). But then I would guess the figure side of the hobby has fewer people directy interested in it.

I know Hardy does send his articles elsewhere - Euro Modelismo for example, published the Templar article. I guess it depends on if the other mags care to publish it.

phew! once I'd started that I couldn't stop!

:lol:

Rob

 

[RobH]

Hi John

Yes, Marcus Nicholls. Fantastic stuff! And he turns them out so quickly!

As to enjoyment < price, as you say, there are certainly 'dodgy' issues. In fact, I couldn't be bothered to do my mini-summary of a recent issue because there was little or nothing to interest this community!

I'd love to know how to change attitudes in this country (UK) regarding miniatures. I'm in my mid-thirties now and am finally proud of this hobby and think what we do is very creative. However, it seems there are a lot of younger guys over the channel who are painting/sculpting and are respected as artists. We've mentioned before the lack of any high end figure companies in the UK, and the majority of British sculptors work for overseas companies.

Oh Well

 

[megroot]

He Guys,

Here some words from the continent (The Netherlands).
I'am also reading AFV modelling. The best magazine in tank modelling.
The only magazine for figures is the one that Andrea Miniatures make's, (it is the end off a very busy day, at the moment the brain is dead and i cannot remember the name).
It is in English as well, and cost almost € 9,- that is about 3 pond.
Is AFV modelling so cheap. No, it costs € 12,50 that is about 4 pound. But it is worth it.
The best figure magazine on the continent i ever seen is Figurine. But it is only in the French language.
I hope that someday the french make it possible with a inlay in the English language. Then we have a magazine here in Europe just as the American's have Figure Magazine.
I hope that it is not a dream.

Marc.

 

[vince wai]

Rob,

Agreed with John, chances are very slim with the present situation. I know the circulation of one of the English figure mag is just a couple of thousand copies ( this is no secret as one will know if he need to ask for advertising rate from the publisher ). It's hardly a good venture when compare to lots of other business. It's all supply and demand, just as MM has shift their content to more AFVs:-( Until there is an increase interest in figure painting, I can hardly see this will happen.

just my 2 Canadian Peso

vince

 

[amherbert]

HI

MM retails in the US for $12.95 these days. I'm afraid it is priced out of my range now!
That's a lot to pay for one or two decent figure articles and some masterwork by Zaloga. And a lot of the content is available online in preliminary stages at sites like this!

I'd love to see an English version of Figurines - I read French so it's no problem as is, but it would increase the readership I'm sure.

Andy

 

[Robin]

Hi All

I ahve to agree with John, its just not worth it anymore, we see most of teh stuff here and all we see is it getting slated.

Money is better spent elsewhere me thinks

Robin

 

[johnbrewer]

Just a thought to ponder over. AFV's are a very new thing, so to speak in history and cover a very small time span. The wonderful world of figures covers a big time scale and I would guess that most painters "settle" into a period that they feel happy in. As examples, Hardy with his Medrom work and Juame with his WW2 German figures. That does not even cover those that can sculpt as well, (these people I am very jealous of). We then have all of the different painting mediums that we like to use.

So perhaps if a piece does not cover your own period, or style you would not read it?. So a magazine that would interest all figure modellers would be a very difficult thing to produce. Then as Vince pointed out, we all what a nice glossey magazine to read. Full colour and on a good quality paper with plenty of adverts to help with running costs and maximise profit and then plenty of subsriptions as well. A very difficult thing to all put together.

This I suspect this may be well off the target, but just a thought.

 

[vince wai]

Originally posted by johnbrewer@Aug 10 2004, 12:56 PM
So perhaps if a piece does not cover your own period, or style you would not read it?. So a magazine that would interest all figure modellers would be a very difficult thing to produce. Then as Vince pointed out, we all what a nice glossey magazine to read. Full colour and on a good quality paper with plenty of adverts to help with running costs and maximise profit and then plenty of subsriptions as well. A very difficult thing to all put together.

Hi John,

It's really a dilemma. As a producer myself, I would feel very uncomfortable if these magazines are going away ( or change editorial directions ) one by one. But the cruel reality is that they don't make their decision with no reasons.

vince

 

[johnbrewer]

Very true, perhaps one way is to write to the editors and say more figure pieces please or even better still send some articles in to be published. Hopefully they get printed it starts to snowball and the AFV guys are moaning it is all about figures. Ok it just a dream

 

[Robin]

Geoff
HM is dead easy to get here Geoff phone Dave Freeman at Bonapartes he will sort you out.

He might even do figurines too

Robin