"MFCA Show in Philadelphia Area This Weekend (USA)" Topic

For those figure enthusiasts in the Northeast US and Canada, the Miniature Figure Collectors of America annual show will be held this coming Friday and Saturday, May 4th and 5th, in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania (northwest of Philly).

This is the premier figure show in the Northeast, and will draw painters from throughout the US, Canada, and Europe. While the primary focus is on historical figures 54mm and larger, the mini world has been represented with more and more pieces over the past few years. Modelers displaying their work are invited to enter various classes, and prizes are awarded using the so-called Open System of judging, with work judged against a standard(gold /silver /bronze /certificate awards) rather than on a 1st/2nd/3rd basis like an IPMS show, for instance.

The pieces that will be on display will represent every level of painting and modeling skill, from novice/junior to the very best in the world.

The event is known for at least two other reason. First, the vendor area is among the largest at any US show (bigger in size than the tennis barn at Historicon, I believe), with plenty of figures, books, paints, bases, and all the other related items we look for. And second, the atrists displaying their works are generally available to anyone, and usually quite willing to discuss their or your pieces in an ongoing effort to share skills and improve everyone's game (assuming normal courtesies, etc.).

If you are within travelling distance and have any interest in figures, and haven't been to this unique event, I would urge you to give it a look. This will be my 14th visit, and it is the one modeling event each year that our group does not miss.

Don

I used to attend the show regularly when they had it at Widener.
Even the pedestrian pieces were awe-inspiring, especially when you consider that very few are "merely" painted commercial figures. Most of these are made from scratch.

John,
These days, there are two general categories: "Painters" for stock figures, to be judged solely upon painting criteria; and "Open" (I think that's the term) for scratch-built figs, conversions, etc. – to be judged based on both painting and modeling criteria. Over the past few years, the split has been about 50-50 between these two main groupings.

Armor, planes, ships, etc. are grouped under the term "Ordenance", and Toy Soldiers have their own category, although this has diminished markedly in the past several years.

Don

Dragonhead Games will have the AIM and Minifigs ranges there. Steve has always done well at the MFCA shows.

Tom Dye
GFI

John,

Did you ever eat the sub sandwiches from the Campus Casino?
They may be my fondest memory of Widener.

Is it about a block walk away out the rear of the gym where the show was held?

John,

Yes! It was half sub shop, half bar. You could order the sandwiches sweet or sharp. The MFCA show is where I bought my first metal wargaming figures, Garrison Persians and Minifigs Philistines, from C.H. Johnson. Minifigs were .17 for foot and .22 for cavalry!

C.H. Johnson.
Ah, yes. He first fed my Lamming habit, bless him.
I was hooked on Garrison long before I met him, though.

Oddly enough, the thing I most remember about MFCA shows is the smell.
Someone had a rather strong pipe tobacco that used to permeate the hall. I hate cigar and cigarette smell, but that was rather nice. I even caught that smell at some of the wargaming cons back in the 70s and 80s. Back when dinosaurs ruled the earth, and this was a Free country!

Even the Lamming figures I bought had a tobacco smell, but a different one. Even the Lamming figures I bought from someone else, not at the MFCA show, had the same smell. I think it may have been the packing material.

He fed my Lamming habit too. I always liked the bargains at Sky Books. Were you there the year Grenadier Miniatures first came on the scene? I couldn't conceive how any miniatures manufacturer could come out of nowhere and have so many ranges. The first toy soldier set that I bought as an adult was purchased from Silvano miniatures there at the show. I, too, remember that pipe tobacco smell.

The sub shop was indeed the highlight of the show…The two ladies that worked it were quite entertaining.

Then there were new companies like Grenadier and Ral Partha. Lots of hard to find books and plates, 54mm Toy Soldier companies, and other items that were not as easily accessible as they are now in the InterNet Age.

I also bought my first Toy Soldiers there from a place that went under a year later. I also paid a princely sum of $50 USD for a box of Mignot French Sappers at that same show.

FYI, the MFCA Show is this weekend in Philadelphia.
The Show is not at Valley Forge this year, so I looked up an old topic with a more accurate title.
Enjoy the Show.

Same show, different topic.

Enjoy the show.