Another visit to the MFCA figure show

The Miniature Figure Collectors of America MFCA Show and Mart has always been one of my favorite model contests to attend, so I was surprised to see that it's been three years since my last visit! The show has seen its fair share of ups and downs over the years, but if this year is any indication, interest in the show remains strong with many of the big names in the hobby in attendance. Here is a selection of my favorite entries in the show. Enjoy!

Jason Whitman's sculpting and painting improves with every passing year. The pinstripes on this 54mm baseball player are testament to his progress.

Greg DiFranco isn't the most prolific painter in the hobby, but every figure that he produces is absolutely outstanding. Look at the pattern of this Trompette du Regiment Turenne.

It's not uncommon to see two modelers team up to create a stunning figure or vignette in the figure community. (Why is this not common in plastic modeling circles?) These Prussians by Michele Scelsci (sculptor) and Marco Bariselli (painter) were a favorite among the show's attendees.

I love Victorian era uniforms, so this vignette from Anders Heihtz was among my personal favorites.

One of the best busts in the show was this German WW1 stormtrooper from Young Miniatures, painted by Dave Youngquist. It featured a variety of color and texture.

Barry Biediger displayed several boxed dioramas that were stunning. Each was a peek (literally) into the apartments of everyday people. He adeptly captured a sense of composition and mood with every one of them.

Another example of Barry's work.

So-called "flats" are as close as we'll get to being true "artists." This example, titled "Femme a l'Evantail" was beautifully painted by Retuerto Analia.

Another exceptional flat, this one from Catherine Cesario Poisson.

Fantasy subject matter has become incredibly popular over the last five years. I haven't always been a fan of this trend, but work like this is slowly convincing me that there's an important place for these figures in our hobby. This guy was the best entry among several from France's Michael Volquarts.

Another example of Michael's exceptional painting, a bust of Bruce Willis. (Is it a "bust" if there's no torso?) I could sit and study those flesh tones for hours!

Gary Beetley's vignette remind us that small, compact compositions are almost always more effective than large, expansive ones.

On of the best modelers I've every met is Pete Dawson. I include his Takom Skoda Turtle here because of the way he chose to paint it...and you're not going to believe it. He hand-painted it using Tamiya acrylic paints! That's not a typo. Seriously. The guy knows how to manage and handle paint like no one else. He weathered each color with artist oils (he's a figure modeler at heart) and hand-painted the brown surrounds with oils as well.