The Flat Figure Novice is cast...

[Charles]

I was under the impression that all the Neckel Napoleonics had been sold to Scholtz, including the Frank figures. Peter, I would check the Scholtz (Berliner Zinnfiguren) online catalogue, the downside is that they don't sell single figures, just boxes which often contain duplicates.
Charles

[peter michael prow]

I think a big help for a newcomer to flats  might be advice on how to get the best out of oils. Chances are that they have discovered flats  via military  or fantasy modelling which is  almost always done with acrylic paint.
Oils are very different-transparencies,glazing etc and require much re learning (which is fun but also daunting)
Im learning the hard way and getting through lots of paint stripper ...

[Brian]

Peter, I may be able to help with Kieler and Wunsch but Neckel I thought were supplied by several editors now, what are you after?       

[PJDeluhery]

FWIW, Konrad Schulte has numerous CDs of uniform plates at pretty reasonable prices. Not sure what you're looking for here, but here's the link:

http://www.fredericus-rex.de/Uniform-CD-s/

[Isabelle]

Hi Mark,

It's a very good idea  It's not easy for novices to begin  to paint flats tin figures and perhaps it will be a project to edit an advice's book with severals languages for example : English, german and french as it's the case for a lot of book of an german editor (I don't remember his name this evening excuse me). What do you thing about this ?
isabelle

[Roger]

For my part, anyone who wants any advice on French Napoleonics or 18th century fell free to ask for painting advice. I have more books than Waterstones and will be happy to bore your ears off with it all ))

That's good to know. 

[peter michael prow]

For my part, anyone who wants any advice on French Napoleonics or 18th century fell free to ask for painting advice. I have more books than Waterstones and will be happy to bore your ears off with it all ))

[peter michael prow]

Hello Brian,
Happy new year.

Just a reply to your comment about asking for help contacting editors... well I'm asking!
I don't want to look like a newcomer making waves (I'm not-I was painting three decades ago with figures from Western) but I am getting disheartened and need a little help.
I gave up with flats three years ago, basically because I just couldn't get the figures I liked, while all the time other members were ordering and receiving beautiful figures, the only advice I was getting was "go to Kulmbach" which wasn't much help.....

I'm painting again now, but unfortunately the editors who sell the figures I love and inspire me to paint (Kieler, Neckel and Wunsch) do not reply to me. However they DO all invite email enquiries and orders via their website. My messages are properly translated and polite, the orders neither tiny or monumental and as I say, I'm not pestering them-they offer a catalogue and a service.
Also, I would like to get the Glorious Empires sets I'm missing-Jacques hasn't responded, Glorious Empires were very good in the past, is this no longer a going concern?

So what do I do Brian? all I want to do is paint great toy soldiers and participate in the group again, how can I break the ice with these editors, or is there a way of ordering through someone else at least?
So what must I do?

Thanks for your time,
Happy painting

Peter

[Brian]

Yes, I totally agree. A reference section would be great 
In my last post on here I painted a rather gloomy outlook for getting figures, editors won't sell to people they don't know, it's not as bad as it reads. Most editors are happy to correspond first and then take an order, they just want to make sure you are a collector.
So don't be put off on your first attempt in contacting an editor, tell him you're interest and saying your part of the BFFS helps.

One more thing, nearly forgot, its a good idea to have your mail in English and German or French, whatever the language of the country your sending to. It just shows politeness.

[Nicholas Ball]

I for one would be very grateful for this, I'm hopeless at finding reference material

[peter michael prow]

For sure, it would be a waste of time trying to cover the bases with a range of military uniform guides, but a thread inviting questions to people like me who enjoy the research (and have far to many books lying idle  ) could be good?

[Brian]

Ask! that's all you have to do  I have the ear of some editors, not all but some. ask on the forum and someone has info your after, a lot of editors will not sell to people they don't know as it is not a business.

I can not see the harm in giving painting guides, good idea for military but when you have hundreds of figure types where do you start 

Thing to remember is when you place your order with a lot of editors you will have to wait, figures are not always in "stock" and have to be cast and sent to the editor by a third party (only a few editors cast there figures) before they can get them to you            

[Roger]

maybe a uniformology section on here where people can ask questions would be a nice beginners resource

Good idea, that would be a nice resource for everyone not just the beginner. I'm sure most of us have built up reasonable reference libraries so it might also be a good idea to add our interests/expertise to our signatures.

[peter michael prow]

The biggest problem for a beginner is the actual ordering process.
Maybe advice, or even an introduction system whereby a trusted customer could contact a vendor on behalf of the beginner?
Most people, especially younger painters will instantly be put off by being ignored, so advice on contacting would be nice.

Personally I dont think it's the problem of the vendor to supply any painting details, Theres a wealth of uniform books and online resources-research is a big part of the fun, but maybe a uniformology section on here where people can ask questions would be a nice beginners resource

[marko]

 As another thread has indicated there is quite a range of opinions on purchasing flats.  But, what if you are a novice?  Imagine you are a young individual just starting out on your flat career.  You are full of potential but, don't know where to go and have limited financial resources.


So what do you do?  If you are careful you will look through the links and review the Editors with online catalogs and find a period and figures that are of interest.  However, in many cases it still leads to many unanswered questions.

Many of the web sites are not entirely clear or easy to utilize.  With what information that is presented a good drawing or the name of an engraver may not be very helpful  In both cases ordering is a bit of a leap in the dark.  There is no the Art of the Tin Figure to purchase anymore.  There are no figure magazines with a great deal of coverage left.


Even more confusing for the novice - ironically this time - is the sheer range of choice online.  Ignoring the vendors without an online presence there is a huge range of options to choose from.  If you have the misfortune to choose the Napoleonic Wars then what does one choose?  Choices abound.


Finally, unlike models and 3d figures where most of us come from most flat figures have no colored directions to follow.


Without some wise advice it is indeed a tough set of decisions to make.


As such I am proposing a new project for our members with some basic  advice on all of the above called the:

     The Flat Figure Novice 


I am proposing we jointly put together some helpful advice, links and tips with the goal of putting it on this site as a FAQ for those interested as well as being suitable for printing.  (The thought is a little along the lines of Martin's Flat Figure compendium.)


So starting at the beginning as it where, what is some advice - links - tips for those starting out?


mark