What got you started into figure modelling/making

[Colin_Fraser]

My first model shop was John Tunstill's "Soldiers" on Lambeth Road, London.....found on an expedition to the Imperial War Museum on a visit from Canada. I thought i had died and landed in heaven. I still dream about that first nirvana find. Other London shops included a small hole in the wall under Charing Cross Bridge (I think), Seagull, Under Two Flags, Tradition, and a place that sold 30mm Crimean figs over by Chelsea somewhere. The figs may be better now but nothing will replace the hook of finding one of those iconic shops for the first time in the 70's.

Colin

 

[Adrian Cowdry]

Elsewhere on the net and here I think on Planet Figure I lament the sad decline of the model shop - the convenience of buying from the net has out done the buzz of going to a model shop - where I live now is not far from where I grew up - I had the choice of ELS Models at the bottom of Sutton in Surrey, Gamely's (had a very well stocked model section and were the first to be doing Citadel figures in my area), Model Time in Croydon, Beatties in Croydon, Mil Slides in Croydon then Streatham, BMW Models in Wimbledon and Toffee King (well stocked model shop in a newsagents) in Merton.

All sadly no more. My nearest model shop is Dorking and then LSA in Brighton - soon one of them will be gone. Model Zone in Smiths is pretty pointless.

The buzz of a model shop is for me only attainable at a Model Show - as you may have seen I had a pop at Euro this year - I didn't get that buzz at Euro - For me this year it was Milton Keynes, Hornchurch, Figure World and I must say my local show in Sutton. I am looking forward to Telford - there is such a buzz there and also an eclectic mix - not as defined for figures I will add but extreme value for money.

When I frequented the model shops I list above it was a club atmosphere - you met up with friends and acquaintances who all had something in common - for that I have my local model club of which I am now chairman for my sins.

But I do so miss the buzz of a good model shop.

 

[Adrian Cowdry]

CRF

what a wonderful picture.

 

[peedee]

I have to endorse that sentiment completely in all respects. Because the shops slowly vanished one by one I prefer to shop at shows all over the north and central England plus Fig World and Telford please pop by the IPMS uk. Kitmaker Bulldogs stand for a chinwag mate. It will be good to chat. It's nice to chat in person to people with a love of minis,Friendship models,victory miniatures, Mdc, Mdp, Milmart, SK minis, Mitches, Bonapartes, I'm sure I will have omitted someone, it's not an advert, but the guys love to speak to us they remember you and are llooking for familiar friendly faces.
The regional shows are a great network of friendliness and that's why I don't miss any within reach.
Chat about nonsense, take the mick of each other, eat cake/bacon butties/other peoples butties/ their cake/ and a bargain or two.
Lovely that once a month.

 

[Adrian Cowdry]

It is such a sad state of affairs about the lack of model shops. But in fairness the cost of running a shop on line is much more cost effective than paying rent, business rates and all elsethat the government takes. But I sorely miss my weekly fix at a model shop.

I go to my club once a month and do exactly what you say take the mick and have the mick taken, talk nonsense or even get serious when a fellow modeller needs advice etc.

Model making is a very healthy hobby and it's tough getting young blood involved. But I found I learned so much with art, history, mechanics etc. all from model making.

 

[peedee]

You missed something though.
As Chairrman you learn a higher level of diplomacy quick !

When you get to telford we are also next to SE London IPMS and Lucky is one of our kitmaker bulldog members.
Chances are there's faces you know.
Also I was a Milton keynes regular until this year.
Sadly I couldn't get there this year but remember fondly when the snow came down a year or two back and I got down from Liverpool with a pal from Wigan and lads couldn't get there from warwickdhire and northampton.
Man that was mad.
Great venue though.
Paul

 

[garyhiggins]

Milton Keynes was my first IPMS show, and it was an eye opener compared with BMSS shows. Hopefully I will be going to Telford next month and I will make sure to wear my Planet Figure Badge, so if any of you see me, please say hello.
Best wishes, Gary.

 

[garyhiggins]

Back on thread, we still have a proper model shop in Northampton, and last year they celebrated their 75th anniversary.

 

[Adrian Cowdry]

Jealous about the Northampton Model Shop...where do I get a Planet Figure Badge.

As Chairman the diplomacy is more like - lets go for a pint!

I will look you boys out at Telford.

 

[peedee]

As I just said to gary off line.
You'd better, our cake won't eat itself !
Ha ha
See you there Ade

Paul

 

[Adrian Cowdry]

Ha ha....I'll be there.

 

[Gra30]

My dad, I was given the extra spares from the airfix kits. We then joined a club, I was 12 which was run in a mans kitchen, it was John Reagan and the Faversham club started of which many a top modeller joined to the point we had to leave that kitchen.
My roots are Faversham

 

[Nap]

Hi Guys ,

My roots ....12" dolls ...no not Sindy but an Action Man collection God how much do I not like my first wife for "disposing"of them ,
In my youth (about25 years ago ....honest!!)bought loads of Airfix 1/72nd and nearly burnt down my grans house after trying to kill them off with a old blowtorch ..not a good idea , did lots of the collectors series , and some Tamiya figures ..even built some tanks (sacrilige mention this on PF).....

Did lots of wargaming with 15mm stuff .....Heroic's etc

.... then found the lady's ..really successful in that department ...NOT!

Bought lots of figure kits from Various company's including Andrea , Clydecast etc still have full figure's ...somewhere.....now hid so as not to scare my busts!

Left the hobby for a long time ...drifted back after another divorce ..........then got married again to Carole ..oh little did she realise .....she bought me some stuff ....

Found Modelling forums joined a couple ......came away from them and painted on a small table muttering to myself .........

Found PF ......and the rest as they say is history

Rather partial to painting busts as you might notice now surrounded by lots of reference books and boxes hidden in a tidy manner .........

Blimey I love this hobby

Nap

 

[peedee]

I built a tank once,

a fish tank to stand my figures in.
No water, no divers, no treasure chests just sand and a glass lid.
I cringe a bit now, but it looked good, but there again, so did my first girlfriend and first figure,
For a while.

 

[garyhiggins]

Nap's full life story can be found hidden away in a little travelled backwater of Amazon . co . uk, to ask directions you have to start with "Psssstttt, Buddy". seriously though, this thread is developing into a full scale nostalgia fest, isn't it GREAT?
Best wishes, Gary.
P.S. Paul, when I had almost the full range of Aroura horror models, I mounted them in the shell of an old TV set.

 

[peedee]

I have to say first Gary, brilliant idea.
It brings to mind
One evening a pal and I visited the home of an ex-classmate to take him to the pub.
His dad had installed a fish tank into the chimney breast.
There were the usual fish etc in it, but there was enough room behind the tank for an
under water city scape that looked post apocolyptic and with subdued blue lighting, a
wrecked school bus, overturned nyc taxi, street lamps and kelp plants
It perspective and depth of field view was fantastic.

 

[badger]

i have a dream, no i am not m.l.king, but the dream is real, that a local model shop will open and stock all that i am looking for, and that they will have a workshop area where staff will show and encourage young people to get the best results, painting etc, and they will have regular sales. oh damn it , i woke up / badger

 

[Nap]

i have a dream, no i am not m.l.king, but the dream is real, that a local model shop will open and stock all that i am looking for, and that they will have a workshop area where staff will show and encourage young people to get the best results, painting etc, and they will have regular sales. oh damn it , i woke up / badger

Hey Badger ...we can but hope

Nap

 

[garyhiggins]

i have a dream, no i am not m.l.king, but the dream is real, that a local model shop will open and stock all that i am looking for, and that they will have a workshop area where staff will show and encourage young people to get the best results, painting etc, and they will have regular sales. oh damn it , i woke up / badger

I know we're very tolerant of fantasy, but this one's going a bit far! LOL

 

[polyphemus]

Just noticed over on a few wargame blogs that GW are trialling a new name & branding on 3 of their stores; now they're to be called Warhammer!
Bet that'll soften the price rises.

Geoff