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Figures
Military figures of all shapes and sizes.
Hosted by Darren Baker, Mario Matijasic
Is there interest in a New (Beginners) Forum?
jimbrae
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Provincia de Lugo, Spain / España
Joined: April 23, 2003
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Posted: Saturday, March 22, 2008 - 03:05 AM UTC
I need some feedback before I present this one to the site's owner

Simply put, i'm aware of a lot of constant questiions about figures, paint and all the basic stuff by people who are new to figure modeling. Now, this WOULDN'T be a way of 'competing' with HF, but rather a Forum dealing (almost) exclusively with 1/35th scale figures.

Ideally, it would be a Forum where 'newbies' could post questions, photos of their WIPs and (hopefully ) get answers to anything that comes up.

So, is it worth considering?
beefy66
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England - North East, United Kingdom
Joined: October 22, 2007
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Posted: Saturday, March 22, 2008 - 03:33 AM UTC
I would most sertinly use this forum as my figure painting in any scale but mostly 1/35 is not that good and could realy do with help when trying to do them.
c5flies
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California, United States
Joined: October 21, 2007
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Posted: Saturday, March 22, 2008 - 03:47 AM UTC
Jim, I'd like to see this extended to the whole armor spectrum, not just figures. It would be a great place to post tutorials, maybe see more WIP, etc..
FNG
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Louisiana, United States
Joined: January 22, 2006
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Posted: Saturday, March 22, 2008 - 04:10 AM UTC
Great idea. The "Most Asked Basic Questions" { which I have Plenty of}, would find a "Home" . J.C.
sadodd
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Nebraska, United States
Joined: December 29, 2007
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Posted: Saturday, March 22, 2008 - 04:15 AM UTC
Jim,

Is this to be a new forum or just a new category? A new category would be good but to start a new forum would be, IMO, confusing to those of us who use the forum now. Not that I'm an expert in all areas by any means and I would surely use a beginners category for the things I needed help on.
lespauljames
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England - South West, United Kingdom
Joined: January 06, 2007
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Posted: Saturday, March 22, 2008 - 08:49 AM UTC
i think the forum.
say someone asks about face painting.
we just give the basics!
just give the general outlines!
when i first came here i was like omg
. some stuff i still cant do or make sence of!
just me thoughts


Jimmy
footsie
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England - North East, United Kingdom
Joined: May 13, 2007
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Posted: Saturday, March 22, 2008 - 10:57 AM UTC
yep, i would sign up for this, are you thinking of a written tutorial or a photo by photo step by step kind of thing ? either way count me in.
jimbrae
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Provincia de Lugo, Spain / España
Joined: April 23, 2003
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Posted: Monday, March 24, 2008 - 12:39 AM UTC
Bump - see if we can have a little more feedback...
youpey
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New Jersey, United States
Joined: March 11, 2008
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Posted: Monday, March 24, 2008 - 12:48 AM UTC
i would love to have that. i have asked so many questions, and many times i feel stupid because they are so basic. this would really be helpful
Kuno-Von-Dodenburg
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England - North, United Kingdom
Joined: February 20, 2007
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Posted: Monday, March 24, 2008 - 12:57 AM UTC
I think it's an excellent idea - I've been modelling since the early '70s (with some extended breaks) but compared to some of the "übermodellers" here, I still feel like a beginner, LOL!

Besides, the hobby by its very nature is a constant learning process, and sometimes it's good to get back to basics.

The idea gets a big thumbs-up from me. For the whole field of armour modelling though - not just figures.
alanmac
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United Kingdom
Joined: February 25, 2007
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Posted: Monday, March 24, 2008 - 01:15 AM UTC
Hi Jim

I certainly think if we could in some way incorporate not just on figures but all aspects of model construction and painting a F.A.Q section it would be an excellent idea.

In that way questions previously answered, ones that repeatedly come up could be easily found, and it would be a single place to direct your attentions if starting something you've not tackled before such as figure painting.

I know you run the danger of too many sections on the site but maybe a few lines added to the procedure of joining the forum to alert them to this section may help.

I've seen other forums use this method with success before. Newcomers posting questions already asked would be directed there and I believe as such frees up the home page for new items, none specific questions, threads and articles.

Alan

kiwibelg
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Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium
Joined: August 09, 2005
KitMaker: 939 posts
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Posted: Monday, March 24, 2008 - 03:48 AM UTC
Hi Jim,
I for one would like to see a beginners forum.
Since HF has gotten off the ground, the figure section here has become a little stale.
Maybe a new forum would be a means of rejuvenation!
If such a forum would appear i would suggest to have some basic and easy figure tutorials working with oils and acrylics.
Such things as cleaning up figures after they come off the sprue or from a resin block would be handy.
Grass roots but important to part of the figure learning curve.
For the advanced, slight figure conversion such as drilling holes to accommodate new heads or hands wouldn't go astray.
Maybe some of the more experienced AFV figure guys could be called upon to share a trick or tip each month?
One last thing that might be a good point of interest is to include something for the 1/48 or 1/72 figure guys.
There is an increasing amount of kits available, and just recently the Benelux guys had a 1:72 campaign.
After the campaign Guy (Guygantic) made a great little tutorial of painting in a smaller scale that at present is only in Dutch on the Benelux site.
Maybe his tutorial could find itself a permament home here somewhere?
Anyways, food for thought!
Shay


milvehfan
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North Carolina, United States
Joined: June 26, 2007
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Posted: Monday, March 24, 2008 - 04:05 AM UTC
GO FOR IT ! I for one have been building armor and figures on and off for quite awhile and as I have really No artistic abilities or that keen eye for detail I can use all the help that I can get. . This site and the modelers who use it are indeed a wealth of info. The modeling tips, How To's have been a Great help to me . I think all would benefit from a beginers forum. Thanks everyone! Keep on Modeling !!!
CMOT
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ARMORAMA
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England - South West, United Kingdom
Joined: May 14, 2006
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Posted: Monday, March 24, 2008 - 05:42 AM UTC
I feel this is a good idea in principle, however if restricted to figures for beginners it could be a bone of contention as regards HF, I feel this way because it could be seen to detract or be actively competing against HF. While I know this is not the intention in any way perhaps a forum covering all the basics involved in the Armorama sphere would be a more useful to everyone, as we all have weaknesses in different areas.
Tarok
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Victoria, Australia
Joined: July 28, 2004
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Posted: Monday, March 24, 2008 - 08:11 AM UTC

Quoted Text

After the campaign Guy (Guygantic) made a great little tutorial of painting in a smaller scale that at present is only in Dutch on the Benelux site.
Maybe his tutorial could find itself a permament home here somewhere?


Actually with all due respect to Guy, his SBS was based on a series of tutorial threads found on Historicus Forma. Partly inspired by Guy's SBS we, HF, have recently combined all those theads into a single unabridged tutorial, which is found here: Painting a Face: Oils over Acrylic by John Pradarelli
Tarok
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Victoria, Australia
Joined: July 28, 2004
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Posted: Monday, March 24, 2008 - 08:25 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Simply put, i'm aware of a lot of constant questiions about figures, paint and all the basic stuff by people who are new to figure modeling. Now, this WOULDN'T be a way of 'competing' with HF, but rather a Forum dealing (almost) exclusively with 1/35th scale figures.

Ideally, it would be a Forum where 'newbies' could post questions, photos of their WIPs and (hopefully ) get answers to anything that comes up.


Jim,

Unsurprisingly I am not in favour of another figure forum in Armorama. Much of what Armorama readers, and I'm refering to those that only visit Armorama within the KitMaker Network, is available on HF.

We have painting SBS's galore, varying from the most basic in face painting to more complex like SS camo or the new US digital camo. Whether assemblying and painting a 1/35 scale plastic WW2 German figure or a 90mm white metal Napoleonic figure, the skill sets vary little and thus little differentiation need be made.

We welcome figure modellers of all ages, all skill levels, all scales, and all genres. Our critique is honest, and in the best interest of both the modeller and the hobby.

Instead of opening yet another forum which will cause further "genericization" of the Armorama brand, please feel free to syndicate any of the fantastic figure articles and reviews found on HF, and refer those interested in figure modelling to the place where figure modelling belongs on the KitMaker Network - to Historicus Forma!

All are welcome on HF.

Rudi

p.s. I didn't mean for this to sound like some sort of marketing speech...
kiwibelg
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Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium
Joined: August 09, 2005
KitMaker: 939 posts
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Posted: Monday, March 24, 2008 - 09:24 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Actually with all due respect to Guy, his SBS was based on a series of tutorial threads found on Historicus Forma. Partly inspired by Guy's SBS we, HF, have recently combined all those theads into a single unabridged tutorial, which is found here: Painting a Face: Oils over Acrylic by John Pradarelli


Tarok,
Sorry my bad..i have been MIA for a while and did not see the particular tutorial!
Greetz,
Shay

1969
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England - East Midlands, United Kingdom
Joined: December 16, 2005
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Posted: Monday, March 24, 2008 - 09:41 AM UTC
I agree with Rudi people requiring info with anything to do with figures from basic assembly and painting to full figure sculpts in any scale should visit HF,there are plenty of people with the relevent skills who are more than willing to guide people whatever their skill level,scale or genre of figures.

Steve
ivanhoe6
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Wisconsin, United States
Joined: April 05, 2007
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Posted: Monday, March 24, 2008 - 10:32 AM UTC

Quoted Text

I need some feedback before I present this one to the site's owner

Simply put, i'm aware of a lot of constant questiions about figures, paint and all the basic stuff by people who are new to figure modeling. Now, this WOULDN'T be a way of 'competing' with HF, but rather a Forum dealing (almost) exclusively with 1/35th scale figures.

Ideally, it would be a Forum where 'newbies' could post questions, photos of their WIPs and (hopefully ) get answers to anything that comes up.

So, is it worth considering?
jimbrae
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Provincia de Lugo, Spain / España
Joined: April 23, 2003
KitMaker: 12,927 posts
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Posted: Monday, March 24, 2008 - 11:18 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Unsurprisingly I am not in favour of another figure forum in Armorama. Much of what Armorama readers, and I'm refering to those that only visit Armorama within the KitMaker Network, is available on HF.

We have painting SBS's galore, varying from the most basic in face painting to more complex like SS camo or the new US digital camo. Whether assemblying and painting a 1/35 scale plastic WW2 German figure or a 90mm white metal Napoleonic figure, the skill sets vary little and thus little differentiation need be made.


Thanks Rudi (and Steve) - precisely the kind of feedback that I was looking for

However, this was NO reflection on the work being done on HF - on the contrary, rather, it stemmed from a feeling, that for whatever reason, figure modelers (HERE on Armorama) are NOT using HF as they should be.

So, in view of your comments, and frankly the limited response, perhaps the whole issue of strengthening (establishing? ) 'Beginner's Forums' should begin with armor?

I put this post up simply to gauge interest, if anyone can present overwhelmingly convincing arguments, i'd like to see them..
sadodd
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Nebraska, United States
Joined: December 29, 2007
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Posted: Monday, March 24, 2008 - 11:57 AM UTC
Jim,

OK now I get it. Do a beginners forum, and then categorize the forum much like the armor/afv's categories. 48th scale, armor, artillery, soft skins and so on. Except do it with the intention of drawing those to an FAQ type section. Categories would then be painting, armor/afv's, figures and so on.

YES I would be very interested in this. Although I think I would call it Beginners/ FAQ forum.

Just my humble opinion.
Yoni_Lev
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Washington, United States
Joined: September 20, 2007
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Posted: Monday, March 24, 2008 - 01:52 PM UTC
Jim,

At first blush, I like the idea of a beginner's forum, especially for armor.

However, I'm wondering how this would really benefit the forum users in the end. As it is now, most newbies post questions in whatever forum best fits their needs, ie. T-34 questions in the Soviet forum, Stryker questions in Modern Armor, Merkava questions in IDF, painting questions in Paint, etc., etc.. It keeps things relatively orderly, and seems to be working well. Is it? Or, more precisely, is it not? Like the old saw goes, if it ain't broke...

Perhaps instead of a beginner's forum for the moment, the site could use FAQ page for the new guys (and gals).

-YL
jimbrae
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Provincia de Lugo, Spain / España
Joined: April 23, 2003
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Posted: Monday, March 24, 2008 - 08:41 PM UTC

Quoted Text

I would call it Beginners/ FAQ forum.


Steve, thanks for that . Possibly there is NOW a need for that kind of Forum. which will now become the basis for my ('official') proposal. I do feel there's a neeed for something of this type as (too often) questions from less-experienced/new modelers remain unanswered.

Of course, at the end of the day, it's up to people to participate MORE in the Forums rather than simply reading them...
Gunny
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Pennsylvania, United States
Joined: July 13, 2004
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Posted: Monday, March 24, 2008 - 08:58 PM UTC
Personally, Jim,
I think its a very good idea, and IMO there should be one on each side of KitMaker...experienced, intermediate, and beginner modelers site-wide can benefit from teaching and learning from this type of forum.
lespauljames
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England - South West, United Kingdom
Joined: January 06, 2007
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Posted: Monday, March 24, 2008 - 09:33 PM UTC
i think because of the big jumble of skill levels floating around it would be fantastically useful. i mean if someone is new to modelling they dont want p.e, resin, vac form , and oil based faces thrown at them,(well unless they really want to )
im currently teaching my girlfriend the basics, as she was intrigued by a dml /251 i made. so she has picked it up.
she dosent even know what photo etch is, and the concept of resin instead of styrene was alien to her.


Roll on the basics!!
 _GOTOTOP