comeback of flats

[Nicholas Ball]

Over the past 3-4 years here in the UK, there has been a concerted effort by a few really good members to push flats.  The BFFS also started to get to a few European shows, and slowly we have seen a higher interest in flats, especially in the competitions, which is where our main PR has focused.

This is all good news,so long may we prosper
 
 

[nmrocks]

I think an upswing would be great but all hobbies run in cycles, I'm seeing more on ebay. In the states it's mostly overpriced, poor quality older sets, not worth buying. Euro ebay is another scene altogether, see some beautiful painted figures go for hefty prices, which is usually a sign of strong demand. several of the members here have been selling very nicely done figures and highly prized Douchkine painted figures for seemingly VERY good prices.
The older members could better address the popularity today vs. the past but I believe the hobby is beginning to catch up with the information and marketing available thru computers and the internet. As they say once you've posted something it NEVER goes away, so keep posting stories and pictures and I am pretty sure it will be discovered.
Ray


P.S. not to hijack this thread but has any of you seen this artists work with miniatures? really wild and great, look closely or you'll miss the massive detail.
http://www.kuksi.com/artworks/sculpture/

[marko]

I also see the move to larger sizes but, also would call this somewhat of a golden age for modellers.  I don't know how it has translated to sellers but, the variety now is stunning.

When I started becoming aware of flats 35 years ago they were a hard secret to crack in the US.  My first purchases were from a company called Red Lancers who carried some Segom - that was probably 20 years ago.

Now with the internet, sites like our own and the wealth of online vendors I see the variety we have along with the convenience better than ever.  Granted most sales are via the internet but, that is the nature of the US world anyway with Hobby Stores becoming more rare as our choices go up.

I am not sure if it is a fair trade given many happy hours and discoveries in Hobby Stores however, the variety available now days is unparalled.  Given the abundance someone is buying a lot of figures.  (Speaking personally I have been doing my bit.)


mark 

[Glen]

They are generally known as flats. Pretty much all of the figure painters know what they are. Most of the military modelers as well. 30mm pieces are rare here in Texas and Oklahoma; there might be more on the east and west coasts.

I only know of one flat vendor in the US - The Little Tin Soldier. I don't know his sales beakdown, but he seems to have a lot of larger scale pieces and few collections.

In the TX and OK shows, flats are mixed in with rounds; there is no separate flat category. That might not be the case on the coasts.

Glen

[Hannibal]

In Belgium and France, there is a slow move upwards, mainly for large sizes.  The 30mm in my opinion is slowly dying there, perhaps not in Germany.
 
Attraction is seen on EBay sales, where Germany issues many many flats constanttly (2)3,000) for 400 in France, much less in the UK, and almost one elsewhere  How do you call them in the USA ?? perhaps I have not the correct search word)  In France "plat d'étain"  in Germany  "flachfiguren".
In the Européan competiions, a growing number of flats are presented since 3 years.... requiring more and more competition to issue a separate category, sometmes two (fantasy and historical).
Also see more in the European french FFigurines trimestriel magazines...
 

[alfsboy]

Penny is a great painter .I follow her on Facebook.Flats are a real challenge to paint but supremely rewarding when you manage to get a decent one finally done .

[kevind]

They are becoming more popular here in the USA. Two years ago, one of the 2 new MFCA Grand Masters was Penny Meyer...her work consists mainly of beautifully painted flats.

[Michael_43]

Hello friends,

I saw yesterday an interesting report on a new movement in our society.

After the digital revolution where everabody sits in front of or next to a computer at work there is an analog
movement in leisure time to cooking, gardening, painting, do pottery, etc.
People wants to do something with their hands.

Do you think it´s a big chance for a comeback of flats

Best regards

Michael