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General Discussion / Re: Very quiet
« Last post by Nicholas Ball on September 21, 2025, 11:25:28 AM »Alice and the Catapillar
Recent Posts
72
General Discussion / Re: Very quiet
« Last post by Nicholas Ball on September 21, 2025, 11:22:27 AM »Having been away from the forum for over a month due to a health issue, I was notified about this thread last week by another member and as the Antibiotics have now worn off and I’m feeling a bit more human, I will address some of the issues.
Firstly, without Mark, this site would not be possible and the Whole Committee appreciate everything he does to keep this forum going. So Thank You Mark🙂
With regards the discussions, yes they are very few, but as the attendance shows ( over 1000 today ) most ever over 3000, then our site is definitely a worthy, wonderful and useful addition to the flat figure world. I still travel here and abroad for shows but what with the economic situation this has become increasingly difficult,and far fewer than I would like. However, when I do, and speaking to other flat figure societies, especially in France and Italy, the British Flat Figure Society is still rated the best for both journals and web content.
I have to thank Michel ( Hannibal ) who updates photos from shows etc, however there is an issue here, in that it is becoming increasingly difficult to actually know who has entered what figures!
As a Judge, even I don’t get to know ( rightly so ) as competitors are only numbers. Facebook helps to identify a few but certainly not most. As a reference to others then the photos are the more important part.
I do regularly look at the galleries, specifically to find references to colours and sets.
With regards the suggestion on getting an update on Editors, then next year at Kulmbach I will go around, collect cards and details etc. and we can have a couple of pages in the Journal with all these updated details.
We are also getting a couple of additional display cases in the Plassenburg as the BFFS case is getting over full. Anybody wishing to put figures in can do so whilst in Kulmbach, though I do have a few from Mick Creese which will go on one shelf as a dedication to his fabulous works. I have said anyone else wanting me to take figures then I will collect them at our next AGM. With regards the AGM there is always a report posted in the Journal but it is usually at the end of the year when Ian has time to write it up. May I remind everyone, this is a hobby and some of us still work so that will always have to be our priority.
With regards Michel’s question on the Western Miniatures Alice set, the egg is edited by Regina Sonntag and may be available from her, but as some of you may or may not know, her workshop was broken into in March/April and equipment and moulds were stolen. As yet I do not know which. Also she was going to engrave our latest figure, which was due out at the AGM, but due to all this I am expecting an update at the end of the month. The figure is 50mm of Alice and the Catapillar. I will attach a photo as a reminder. Also as the 40th Anniversary is next year we are again going to produce another figure, again with Regina having delays, this has been put on hold at present, but hopefully should be available in Kulmbach. We did ask for possibilities at the AGM but as no one has contacted me on this, the committee has decided to go with our original thought and do Phillius Fogg on an elephant with his companion hanging off the side. I still need to get a drawing issued.
At shows we do attend, there is always someone at the table to interact with attendees and we do hand out / sell cheap flats to anyone interested in giving it a go- to say we all wonder off aimlessly is quite frankly disrespectful to members volunteering to attend the stands - they should also be allowed to enjoy the show as well !! Especially as the cost to attend usually runs into many hundreds of pounds-
There is a problem with getting the younger generation involved with flats! We all know that, we also tend to find even with seasoned modellers they either love them or hate them. Here in the UK a few clubs have members who try to get their children involved, as do those abroad, but you can lead a horse to water but ……………….
If there are any issues I haven’t covered then please post here so they can be addressed among
I thank you all for being part of the BFFS Nicholas🍻
Firstly, without Mark, this site would not be possible and the Whole Committee appreciate everything he does to keep this forum going. So Thank You Mark🙂
With regards the discussions, yes they are very few, but as the attendance shows ( over 1000 today ) most ever over 3000, then our site is definitely a worthy, wonderful and useful addition to the flat figure world. I still travel here and abroad for shows but what with the economic situation this has become increasingly difficult,and far fewer than I would like. However, when I do, and speaking to other flat figure societies, especially in France and Italy, the British Flat Figure Society is still rated the best for both journals and web content.
I have to thank Michel ( Hannibal ) who updates photos from shows etc, however there is an issue here, in that it is becoming increasingly difficult to actually know who has entered what figures!
As a Judge, even I don’t get to know ( rightly so ) as competitors are only numbers. Facebook helps to identify a few but certainly not most. As a reference to others then the photos are the more important part.
I do regularly look at the galleries, specifically to find references to colours and sets.
With regards the suggestion on getting an update on Editors, then next year at Kulmbach I will go around, collect cards and details etc. and we can have a couple of pages in the Journal with all these updated details.
We are also getting a couple of additional display cases in the Plassenburg as the BFFS case is getting over full. Anybody wishing to put figures in can do so whilst in Kulmbach, though I do have a few from Mick Creese which will go on one shelf as a dedication to his fabulous works. I have said anyone else wanting me to take figures then I will collect them at our next AGM. With regards the AGM there is always a report posted in the Journal but it is usually at the end of the year when Ian has time to write it up. May I remind everyone, this is a hobby and some of us still work so that will always have to be our priority.
With regards Michel’s question on the Western Miniatures Alice set, the egg is edited by Regina Sonntag and may be available from her, but as some of you may or may not know, her workshop was broken into in March/April and equipment and moulds were stolen. As yet I do not know which. Also she was going to engrave our latest figure, which was due out at the AGM, but due to all this I am expecting an update at the end of the month. The figure is 50mm of Alice and the Catapillar. I will attach a photo as a reminder. Also as the 40th Anniversary is next year we are again going to produce another figure, again with Regina having delays, this has been put on hold at present, but hopefully should be available in Kulmbach. We did ask for possibilities at the AGM but as no one has contacted me on this, the committee has decided to go with our original thought and do Phillius Fogg on an elephant with his companion hanging off the side. I still need to get a drawing issued.
At shows we do attend, there is always someone at the table to interact with attendees and we do hand out / sell cheap flats to anyone interested in giving it a go- to say we all wonder off aimlessly is quite frankly disrespectful to members volunteering to attend the stands - they should also be allowed to enjoy the show as well !! Especially as the cost to attend usually runs into many hundreds of pounds-
There is a problem with getting the younger generation involved with flats! We all know that, we also tend to find even with seasoned modellers they either love them or hate them. Here in the UK a few clubs have members who try to get their children involved, as do those abroad, but you can lead a horse to water but ……………….
If there are any issues I haven’t covered then please post here so they can be addressed among
I thank you all for being part of the BFFS Nicholas🍻
73
General Discussion / Re: Beware - Michael Taylor flats from UK seller: TimeCaptive
« Last post by chris bartlett on September 21, 2025, 11:12:57 AM »With regard to Michael Taylor of Cannock's collection of dioramas I was fortunate to have purchased all(I think all?) put up for auction,
including his large collection of flat aeroplanes. I believe some of his creations were kept by his family.
I shall cherish all the figures he painted and I regularly ponder over them all. A real treasure.
including his large collection of flat aeroplanes. I believe some of his creations were kept by his family.
I shall cherish all the figures he painted and I regularly ponder over them all. A real treasure.
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General Discussion / Re: Beware - Michael Taylor flats from UK seller: TimeCaptive
« Last post by chris bartlett on September 21, 2025, 11:05:34 AM »I bought the flats on eBay as I wanted some flats painted by my old friend. I was hoping to get one of his dioramas and have been watching for an auction but apparently they were auctioned off a short while ago, so a bit disappointed.
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General Discussion / Re: Flats to the U.S.
« Last post by Nicholas Ball on September 21, 2025, 08:28:06 AM »Hi All, Does this apply if sending them from friends? Nick
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General Discussion / Re: Flats to the U.S.
« Last post by marko on September 20, 2025, 04:10:35 PM »I will not get into the bone headed nature of all of this but....
I just received an order from Kilia Figures and I noticed Berliner Zinnfiguren is shipping to the US as well. There is an extra postal fee but, they have both figured out the paperwork involved and it is possible.
The Kilia figures are exquisite which I will post shortly.
mark
I just received an order from Kilia Figures and I noticed Berliner Zinnfiguren is shipping to the US as well. There is an extra postal fee but, they have both figured out the paperwork involved and it is possible.
The Kilia figures are exquisite which I will post shortly.
mark
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Vendors - Vendor Announcements / Re: The Little Tin Soldier
« Last post by Hannibal on September 20, 2025, 04:12:46 AM »what about the sendings from private to private, like on EBay, or gifts sent for free to US citizens?
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General Discussion / Re: Flats to the U.S.
« Last post by Hannibal on September 20, 2025, 04:10:38 AM »We need to apply the same rule the other way too !
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Vendors - Vendor Announcements / Re: The Little Tin Soldier
« Last post by socko47 on September 19, 2025, 06:01:36 PM »This also means The Little Tin Solder will be in limbo in ordering flats from Europe to sell to his American customers! Jack was at the National Capitol Show with a few new items that he received prior to the change in de minimus rule.
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General Discussion / Re: Flats to the U.S.
« Last post by socko47 on September 19, 2025, 05:56:55 PM »The USA no longer allows packages under $800 duty free . Known as the de minimis rule, has been ended. It would require paperwork by the sender. A number of overseas businesses have sent out emails notifying their US clients that they would no longer be sending out packages until the situation changes and/or the necessary paperwork gets clarified.