Hello
Well obviously we have many shy members, this is my second attempt at posting some sort of reply, my first "opus" was lost when I pressed the wrong button, story of my life really, always pressing the wrong button, glad I never got the job of nuclear safeguard officer??
Wells lets try again, I first started collecting flats in the late 50s, early 60,s cant remember exactly when, Hamleys has a sale on they were selling off all their stocks of Britain's soldiers as someone had pontificated that lead was harmful so lead soldiers went. While there I saw some small box's of Ochel figures selling at one shilling and eleven pence for twenty or ten figures depending whether you bought infantry or cavalry four were bought bearing the legend Made in Western Germany, they formed the bases of my collection and still sit buried somewhere in the vast hall of treasures stored away safely, to be bought out at that time of life when everything classed as "junk" gets sold by the younger generation
Then followed a number of years of buying figures with the tedious method of writing letters, waiting for lists., ordering figures going to the Post Office to purchase vouchers to pay for them, by the time they turned up forgetting why you wanted them, Eventually a collection was formed very random in the selection, if it looked interesting it was probably bought.
Any way I met with Jim Woodley and a few like minds at the old BMSS meetings at Caxton Hall and three of us held a exhibition of figures at a Church Hall in Leyton which went down fairly well and Jim who was collecting solid figures mainly Russell Gammage saw flats for the first time was very interested and the rest is history.
I tried to start up a small business selling flat figures mainly at the BMSS meetings, the reaction was like I had introduced the Devil to a Church meeting, very soon, suitably chastised I gave up
let the BMSS and never looked back.
I have I guess a small collection of perhaps 2/3 thousand figures many sets from Ochel, Hinsch Gottstein, Maier etc. etc. lots of Napoleonic from Mignot, Thiel Fraundorf. and real Hodge podge of figures, still I have enjoyed collecting them.
As regards painting started with oils found this to be very difficult, never could get the fluidity quite right, never satisfied with the finish, tried Water Colours which bought its own problems, now progressed or digressed to Acrylics which I find easier to use but again problems the blue colours are not quite right but still will press on an see what happens.
Never really painting many figures, never been satisfied with what I produced, never wanted to be to Exhibition standards, just wanted to produce a few figures that I liked and looked good, many attempts were cleaned off perhaps to start again , I suppose of alack of confidence in my painting ability is the real reason, but then I enjoy what I do so who cares.
If this is not what you wanted or expected then not doubt one of the moderators can wave the magic wand and make it disappear.
Kindest regards
Bob
