Books

[Hannibal]

Exactly PJ, excellent source of information....

[PJDeluhery]

Well, like the rest of humanity, we never learn!
I guess we will keep buying books and figures and enjoying them and our friends because we can!
Michel, the show sounds wonderful! I too have the Funken books, and they are my "bibles" on costumes.

[shogun]

This 2 books are in my hands too. And I love the books by Peter Conolly! There are any figures in my collection designt after this great illustrations. For example Odysseus at boar-hunt, death of Achilles or Hanibal in Capua. All sets by Lampert. I don`t miss this!

[Hannibal]

But I came back with two books of Lilian and Fred Funken on the costumes and weapons of soldiers of all times, and several magazines about past wars, acquired as second or third hands ...


I am infected too, I am not sure than Human being is even searching for an antidote, because in many countries he is making too much money from wars to even think of eradicate them for ever ! (like cigarettes)

[Hannibal]

Oh ! PJ ! I wish you are right ..... Then .... I can conti nue to buy more !!!!!  ah! ah!


I went today (and tomorrow), to my first show post Covid, in a small town of 10,000 inhab. in the North of France, close to Belgian border, called "Vieux Condé. It is the 17-th show of figurines, flats and models, in a large sport room.
It was so warm and pleasant to see many unkown friends sharing the same passion together, a smile on their face ...

Let's hope we an attend many more and for a long time, with the positive feelings detected, although, unhappily so many works are dealing with tanks, warships, soldiers and death on the tables ... How can we love war so much to be so tightened up to it!0   And it is not for a célébration or reminding, too many weapons are still used daily in our countries so-coalled 'in peace', that it is insane !

We should destroy them all instead of venerating them...  Is human being really fitted for peace?  Shall we never become wise and mature enough to get rid of all of this one day?  .Apparently no!  (and it generates so much money and profit for some).

[PJDeluhery]

I'm glad to see that I'm not alone! Most of my figure friends are in the same boat. I have Ospreys, etc. from 25 years ago. Great for uniforms and general updates on eras I don't know.  Kinda high end comic books for me.

Marco - I too used to tear out articles from magazines and file them. Great minds!!!     Just got rid of them about 5 years ago when it became space for books vs articles.

Willie - lugging all these books to shows is probably not an option - its all I can do to get myself to a show, let alone a  bunch of books.
Michel - don't you know? You cant die until you paint all your grey army!  You're going to be around for a long time, Amigo. Maybe "purgatory" is remaining alive (ghost?) until all the figures are painted - which makes it "work" not "fun".  OTOH, maybe that's heaven!  We'll see.

[Ed Humphreys]

When asked why I buy so many books, I reply that bookshelves are the best possible insulation a room can have.
Ed

[willie]

 I think that all you guys have good ideas on this subject.  The internet has a lot to offer and so do ebooks. I have been thinking about that myself    my major problem is space . The second problem would be having to many of the same thing    its what sells and makes money for the publishers.  Also we are a special group   we have been at this a long time. Are interest range from ancient to modern. I myself is the uniforms and some centuries drive me to to drink only when I painting   PJ I  would try going to shows  and taking the books to sell. Willie

[marko]

Good question Hannibal and the answer from all collectors is we all intend to paint them, read them etc. , i.e. we started out with good intentions...despite require a 300 year life span to complete.

For my library I have a pretty good track record in that 70 - 80% have been read - and it is a large library.  Fortunately I can read quickly but, am finding I have little patience these days with poorly written books.  (I just finished reading NAM Rodgers first two volumes on the British Navy for the second time with the third supposedly due any day now.  What a wonderful writer...)

With flats I am doing pretty good and a finish a fair number but, far more to paint than painted.  (I used to do aircraft and still do the occasional WWI but, donated most of them due to the paltry completion rate.  Similar case with rounds.  However, all were purchased with good intentions.)  My issues with all of them is I have tendency to start a lot of things based on mood but, then finish far less.

I have become much more choosy and careful in recent times but, there are still so many shiny objects.  With books if I am going to read it once and then get rid of it I tend not to purchase and with flats I have a set of rules now which have slowed the pace.  (I also have talked myself out of some WWI 1/32 bomber kits based on massive wingspans - what does one do with a model 2 feet wide?)

Perhaps this site needs some type of a support group similar to Alcoholics Anonymous?

mark

[Hannibal]

Same for me too, All Osprey are digital, French maganzine "Figurines" wsa scanned to be on a hadr drive.
Only two collections of books are paper when I bought them young, but indeed, electeronic access and storage are much better.


But another question to all of you,:  When had you the time to read all the books you have in your houses !!!! in your busy life, and if not read, why to you bought them all?  Decoration?


(I've the same quesion on myself, why did I bought a grey army of 10,000 flats if not for painting them ?  (but on my age !!!)


Ah! Ah!

[marko]

Hey PJ me as well. 

I adore books and have a room in my house that is a library with floor to ceiling book cases.  Separate from that I have a hobby room with its collection of books as well - including hundred's of Osprey's, Windsock magazine, as well a complete collection of Historical Miniature etc, etc.  Fortunately I used to tear apart magazines and file articles by subject or I would have had several thousand other magazines.  (That collection which once resided in a 36 inch four drawer file cabinet has since been disposed off.)  I love them all but, use most of them hardly at all with the internet slowly taking precedence.  (Osprey I now buy digitally as most of them I purchase because they are interesting but, have no reason to keep a publication on Victorian Gunboats for example - I will never model from it.)

Beyond a shame but, tastes change.  (It also one of the reasons I enjoy the BFFS Journal so much as it covers a fair amount of ground on the history of our craft not to mention requiring no shelf space!

Good luck let me know if you crack it?

mark

[PJDeluhery]

Willie, I'm glad to see you're still buying books. I'm at the other end of the spectrum -I've got a lot of books I want to sell or dispose of in a emotionally satisfying way. Any suggestions?
Our stuff is not the kind of material you can donate to the local senior center, and kids don't read books anymore - or at least not our kind.

I have to say I'm using books less and less. The internet is a quick and free way to do research. The argument for hard copy books is diminishing from year to year. Don't misunderstand - I love a good book and holding it in my hands. But the world seems to be moving in a different direction.
Hope all is well with you.
Anyone else in the same place?

PJ

[willie]

 So in about 4 more days it well be November. and before you know it the year will be over   I don't have to tell you how its been just feel your pocketbook   i have canceled more orders then I care about. The postal Services lost a book from Italy     Still weighting for The Danish Army in the Napoleonic Wars Vol 3 Wars and Soldiers in the Early Regine of Louis XIV Vol #6 the Italian States1660-1690 . Volume #7 The German States will be out in 2023. All these are printed by Helion & Company Next well be Osprey Men At Arms 1. Armies of the First Sino War.1884-1895 . just out . In 2023 we will have  The Dacians and Getae at war  4th century BC 2nd Century AD  The Dutch Indonesian war 1945-1949  The Elite Series will be Post Roman Dark Ages Gaul & Britain  AD450-800 The US Marines Corps 1775-1859 Also out this year the Gladiators 4th 1st centuries  BC  Willie

[Brian]

]Have not been buying many books the supply system is a bet missed up


A bit like everywhere me old mate  

[willie]

 So just received the second Man At Arms series The Roman Army Units in the Eastern Provinces  2  It is a nice book and the plates are very good.  Have not been buying many books    the supply system is a bet missed up   Willie