Very quiet

[PJDeluhery]

Nick, thanks for your reply below. It seems that people are using this site, even if they lurk like I frequently do. Glad to see that we remain a force in the flat world.
I also appreciate the update you gave below. I'm not sure if we all knew that information before.
Thanks.
Sorry to hear you have been sick. I hope you will recover fully very soon.
I pay attention to the names of the painters in the galleries, but I realize it is often impossible to know who painted what at shows. I think we should try to get the painters' names when reasonably available. Maybe we could get the show to publish a list of the painters and their numbers so we can line them up after the show. I can see that keeping things anonymous makes sense while judging, but it doesn't make much sense afterwards.
Michel, many thanks for all your work on the photos. I also join Nick in expressing appreciation for all the work Mark does. Great respects to you both.

[Hannibal]

Thanks a lot Nick, I accept your proposal.
When photographing flats, please take individually with their frame.  If reflections, it can be a bit sideways, I correct the picture and as much as possible get the overlightenings away if not on the flat itself !. 


But also take some displays also at distance to undertand how they are grouped, from same painters ... !  (bacause not all participant identify the flat on the front = small sticker, et sometimes descriptions are ... fancy!)


I shall do my best with the pictures, much better than nothing at all !!!


Michel

[Nicholas Ball]

Hi Michel, just to clarify,

All shows here in UK, of which there are now very few that I attend, no names are shown with the competition figures. I know in parts of Europe names are displayed which does make identifying a lot easier.  At SMC in Eindhoven next month I will be Judging, so it will be easy for me to get photos, but I only have an old iPhone, so pictures can be a bit hit and miss.  I will also see if the organisers will give me a list of entrants.  I can then email these to you for editing if you so wish.

I think photos, even without names are very useful as they can be used for colour references to other members. I do use the gallery quite a lot for this reason myself, especially for the older sets.

[Hannibal]

Nick Ball =  "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."

I don't grasp what you mean, Nick, is there something to improve?
M.

[Hannibal]

must be dreamy to acquire this flat for painting !!!!

[Nicholas Ball]

Alice and the Catapillar

[Nicholas Ball]

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🍻

[Brian]

Still nothing from the committee,  I have finished posting on this subject as loosing friends out of it     

[archigrog]

So, someone and perhaps with a group of experienced guys should start from scratch a new list of editors "AFTER having contacted them" for being active and in business, and asked what they still sell or represent, and confirm theyr internet access, email, telephone and presence or not on EBay and other local disribution (like in the US, with the Litte Tin Toy Soldier, .." and replace or add with a date, a new post to be either progressively built, or a deadline like February 1st 2026to be issued ...


A first step to seucure supply.  Can someone do it in the USA?, in Italy, in Germany, in France, i Sweden, in Spain, in "other countries .... ??



There are a few names in the countries/areas designated within BFFS/IFFS (refer to the magazine), whi should do by default, unless someone else volunteer to replace them

That could be a good idea Michel!
Having a post that anyone can improve by his experiences.


Claudio

[Hannibal]

So, someone and perhaps with a group of experienced guys should start from scratch a new list of editors "AFTER having contacted them" for being active and in business, and asked what they still sell or represent, and confirm theyr internet access, email, telephone and presence or not on EBay and other local disribution (like in the US, with the Litte Tin Toy Soldier, .." and replace or add with a date, a new post to be either progressively built, or a deadline like February 1st 2026to be issued ...


A first step to seucure supply.  Can someone do it in the USA?, in Italy, in Germany, in France, i Sweden, in Spain, in "other countries .... ??


There are a few names in the countries/areas designated within BFFS/IFFS (refer to the magazine), whi should do by default, unless someone else volunteer to replace them

[Jean_Paul]

Un autre exemple pour ce qui serait un frein pour notre jeune genération. En allant sur le site web de Berliner Zinnfigur pour cet article le delai de livraison est de 3 mois. Comment voulez vous motivé de nouveaux acheteurs. J'ai contacté directement l'editeur et j'attends toujours la réponse depuis plus d'une semaine, la dernière fois plus d'un mois et encore j'ai eu de l'aide par un intermédiaire. J'ai plaisir de travailler avec Wolfgang Bock, Wolfgang Frieidrich, Ulrich Lehnart, Mauro Benini et d'autres ...mais pour l'exemple, c'est à se demander s'ils sont vraiment sérieux ... et je ne parle même pas de ceux qui ne communiquent que par lettre
Jean Paul
Another example of what would be a hindrance for our younger generation. When going to the Berliner Zinnfigur website for this item, the delivery time is 3 months. How do you want to motivate new buyers? I contacted the publisher directly and I'm still waiting for a response for over a week, the last time over a month and even then I had help through an intermediary. I enjoy working with Wolfgang Bock, Wolfgang Frieidrich, Ulrich Lehnart, Mauro Benini and others... but for example, it makes you wonder if they are really serious... and I'm not even talking about those who only communicate by letter.

[PJDeluhery]

I agree, Brian. The views are increasing, so I know many others are reading this. What do YOU say?

[Brian]

Here we are at a crossroad,  it not just the committee but all of us that needs to do better.
The last few years we have lost the idea of promoting the flat figure, figures are still coming on to the market but we don't post about them, shows are attended but no revue, the BFFS set their table and walk away or stand in front of it in a group and not engage the public.


The Journal is not what it was but this is no fault of Jerry he can only print what he is sent, our numbers are going down in the society and I keep being asked "what do I get for being a member"  well at the moment not a lot!


This web site is the only contact the members have with the society and when a question is asked, well it my get a answer or not but this is where the committee or site moderators (which we have none) come in even if just to say they don't know.


All the other clubs ad society's produce figures, we play at it, how many of you have the latest Arthur figure? "The Marriage" it's been out for years now but know one knows about it, not even in our figure catalogue.


So not just the committee but all of us need to do better,  next year is our 40th lets hope if we can get there!     [size=78%]  [/size]

[Hannibal]

I would join you PJ for Centurion Miniatures, very dynamic youn company producing continuousely resin figures, quarter and half round de bosse, and flats, of all kinds and their site is well documented.  They are invading the French , Belgian and some German contests and exhibitoins.  They are present with a boot in Many shows since two years, primarley in France. Contact and dispatchiog is very good.


I don't like so much the half-round bosse, with too much relief, but many models are in the two or three formats and they are flexible.
But for a novice, half-round bosse is forgiving more the specificities of a flat due to a strong relief, creating light shadows that should be more painted on a flat, so helping to enter in that world ... 


For the anniversary figure, and because it is an anniversary from older time, I would personnaly dream or re-editing (if mould still exist), or re-create by computer perhaps and with Centurion in flat ad half round, the  particular "egg" character on a wall in large size issued from Anice in Wonderland, because this book and the work of Mike Taylor are the memory of British BFFS-IFFS.


I cold lead to a internal painting contest for the best and/or most original interpretation of the character.


I have to find out a picture somewhere, and shall post it.  There are two others large size, the Lion and its speaker also in larger size than Mik's serie.  This trio would be a re-birth of the BFFS of te years 1900's perhaps.  (Size of 60 or 70mm?)  [perhaps edited by Werten Miniatures, but where are the moulds today?]

Here are few ideas:
the Jabberwocke, dragon, because mould was broken, can't be recovered, make new mould to please all fans of Teniels


The White Knight, emblematic figure of Alice in Wonderland


The Lion and the Horse in 54mm


The egg, in 54mm???


Perhaps choose among and make a new mould in 60 mm for the anniversary, these are ideas or suggestions...




Now let's other member give their ideas and suggestions....

[PJDeluhery]

Oh. Please respond to another thread here for an anniversary figure. It's in line with this discussion.Lurkers, time to voice your opinions!
As for figure sources, I humbly recommend Centurion Miniatures. Some great resin figures and ronde boss. Excellent service and great prices. Check it out.
Centurionminiatures.com