International Flat Figure Society - British Flat Figure Society
Flat Figures Painters Forum => General Discussion => Topic started by: PaintbrushNightmares on May 06, 2025, 06:55:25 PM
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Greetings one and all!
I bought my first flat from a kind man at the recent Perth Scale Model Show and I was hoping that someone here could put me in touch.
I am a long term miniature painter, and have been painting 3D models for over two decades. I have never tried Flats, but always fancied it.
I have realised that I would very much like to learn more about this world, and buy many more little projects.
Can anyone help?
Thanks,
Lewis.
Paintbrush Nightmares.
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Hi Lewis,
There is much help to be had but, it is unclear what type of aid you are looking for? Could you be more specific and then I think you will received a great deal of advice.
mark
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as you are alredy mastering figurine painting,
A first article to start: [size=78%]Painting a Carthagian War Elephant - Mario Ocana (https://www.intflatfigures.org/index.php?topic=122.0)[/size]
After the article of Greg DiFranco
of course the book of Mike Taylor, bible of Flat painting
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Hi folks,
Thank you all for the responses.
Firstly, could someone tell me the best place to buy new flats?
Secondly, are there any videos of people painting flats? I’m enjoying the one video on YouTube I can find of it. (Maybe I’m looking for the wrong keywords)
Thank you.
Lewis.
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Hi, you can watch this video too
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAkciZJjjOM
and there are more vids on Figurines-TV on Youtube.
The best place to buy flats is Kulmbach. It is for the first time something overwhelming, but a great experience. Next is August 2026.
To buy figures online you can have a look at Ebay.de or some of the bigger sellers, like Berliner Zinnfiguren or Zinnfiguren Fleesensee. There are a few more where you can buy online.
It is the question which kind of Figures you seek. 3o mm or bigger ones, a special historic topic??
Feel free to ask, someone in this forum will (hopefully) know an answer.
Erich
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Great, you live in Scotland, I love so much !!!
Less good, I don't know seller of flat figures in Scotland...
But let us kànow what kind of figures you are looking for .. size (30mm, 54mm, larger, up to 120mm..., subject (fantasy, fiction, historical, what period(s), bust or full character, horsemen, footmen,...)
There are 20,000 pictures on this site, in the galleries, sorted by shows, indivisual painters, posted works, .... If yu give us some ideas we can tell you where to find them, buy them, which vendors, ùost f them are on the continent however !!!
I am posting '000's of pictures on shows (contests,à and in the information indicated on the bottom of the figures, I list the vendor, or éditor of the figure and when known its name or reference, also its size, in addition to the painter and name. Go through the contests, given by location and year of the event, and look at the choices you are pleased with so that we can orient you quicker.
We can then orient yu much quicker to catalogues, web sites or contacts.
One site is indeed Berliner Zinnfiguren : https://www.zinnfigur.com/ with mostly tin metal figuren (the traditionnal "zinnfiguren")
You can fin also in France plastic flat and half-round figures (demi-ronde bosse), called Centurion Miniatures : [size=78%]Plats d'étain / Plats de résine (https://centurionminiatures.com/fr/5-plats-d-etain-plats-de-resine)[/size] https://centurionminiatures.com/fr/5-plats-d-etain-plats-de-resine
Figurines (https://centurionminiatures.com/fr/3-figurines?q=Cat%C3%A9gories-Plats+d%27%C3%A9tain+%5C/+Plats+de+r%C3%A9sine) or [size=78%]Figurines (https://centurionminiatures.com/fr/3-figurines?q=Cat%C3%A9gories-Plats+d%27%C3%A9tain+%5C/+Plats+de+r%C3%A9sine)[/size] or https://centurionminiatures.com/fr/3-figurines?q=Cat%C3%A9gories-Plats+d%27%C3%A9tain+%5C/+Plats+de+r%C3%A9sine
There are figures on EBay:
in Germany : [size=78%]Flachfiguren Zinnfiguren online kaufen | eBay (https://www.ebay.de/sch/i.html?_from=R40&LH_TitleDesc=1&_fosrp=1&_ipg=200&_nkw=flachfiguren+zinnfiguren&_sop=10)[/size] or https://www.ebay.de/sch/i.html?_from=R40&LH_TitleDesc=1&_fosrp=1&_ipg=200&_nkw=flachfiguren+zinnfiguren&_sop=10
in German, search for zinnfiguren (all in metal) and flachfiguren (flat) at same time
in French, search for "plat d'étain' on Ebay.fr :
Plat d'étain en vente - Jouets et jeux | eBay (https://www.ebay.fr/sch/i.html?_dmd=1&_from=R40&_nkw=plat+d%27%C3%A9tain&_sacat=220&LH_TitleDesc=1&_sop=10&_oac=1&_fcid=3) or https://www.ebay.fr/sch/i.html?_dmd=1&_from=R40&_nkw=plat+d%27%C3%A9tain&_sacat=220&LH_TitleDesc=1&_sop=10&_oac=1&_fcid=3
Another is from the editor Detlef Belaschk , site called Zinllinge.com [size=78%]Zinnlinge.com (https://www.zinnlinge.com/)[/size] or https://www.zinnlinge.com/
and there are many more in various crouontries, most in Germany, but also Italy, France, USA,
Some members of the Committee or from Scotland or England can probably help you for local sourcing in Great Britain....
Let us know more on your centres of interest...
Michel
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I would advise you to purchase an on-line membership to the IFFS/BFFS. This allows you access to all 156 issues of the BFFS Journal - a total of 1,000s of pages published over nearly forty years. (It is a real bargain and by far the best resource in English.) In these journals you will find dozens of articles by many of the finest painters of flats allowing insight into their various styles. The articles run the gamut from beginners to more experienced painters with how-to and step-by-step information on painting armor, horses, faces, and so forth.
Also the Journals include much information on where to buy figures.
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Hello Lewis, it was good to meet you at Perth and I'm glad to see that you didn't waste any time in getting started.
Your start looks good I'm guessing that you are using acrylic paint I always find them a bit more difficult to use than oils but if it's your preference stick with it.
I'm in Aberdeen if you need to contact me I'm on Aberdeen 790680. I can help with you buying other flats or any other queries.
Regards
John R
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Thank you everyone for your kind responses.
I have almost completed my first flat - it has been a joy to paint and I am keen to collect more for little projects.
John, thank you for reaching out to me - I will be in touch soon to organise a few bits and bobs.
I shall attach a photo of my progress now.
Lewis.
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Super for a first attempt, and not finished... Keep in mind that or a flat, "flat" you have to paint the shadows and casted shadows based on you choice of aone ( or sevaral) light source(s) you pré-selected, and that shall give volume to your painting.
Examples are the hat, the ton on which he is sitting, have at present no effect of roundness and volume, so choose your light source and paint highlights and shadows accordingly, and volume will be more visible. It is one of the main differences with paiting of a three-D figurine.
You can read the article of Greg ddd àn this site, [size=78%]http://www.flattinfigures.com/painting-flats-by-greg-difranco (http://www.flattinfigures.com/painting-flats-by-greg-difranco)[/size][size=78%]. [/size][size=78%] When you read it, you shall also progress rapidly.[/size]
[size=78%]and [/size]
Painting Flats and the Effective Use of Color - Greg Di Franco (https://www.intflatfigures.org/index.php?topic=3830.msg25332#msg25332)
Also this link
? "The ten GOLDEN tips for painting a successful flat" (https://www.intflatfigures.org/index.php?topic=3792.15)
You have a talented skill in painting already , congratulations and thank you to join us!!!
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Nice work, very good result for first attempt
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Hi Lewis,
if you are painting in acrylics you may find this video interesting -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JU6S3mOj8Kw (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JU6S3mOj8Kw)
regards
John