Episode 20: Marion and Alan Ball and MFCA 2022

Painter Marion and sculptor Alan, happily married since 2003, are one of the most dynamic duos in the world of military miniatures: both stellar, gold-medal-level talents, extraordinary storytellers in their consistently stunning pieces, and cheerful purveyors of knowledge and encouragement to any modeler lucky enough to meet and chat with them at shows around the world. We were lucky to chat with both of them from their home in Switzerland on Zoom, and we feature that interview in this episode, along with our recap of the 2022 MFCA Show outside Philadelphia in mid-May. Some pix of that follow—and we’ll no doubt be talking about and featuring more from the show in the months to come—but first, as always, a few of our favorite pieces by the Balls (with much more on their Web site here). Thanks for listening and looking!

Barry Pick #1: Duel after the Masquerade

Jim Pick #1: Happy Cossacks (and a rather unhappy monk, who I didn’t mention on the pod)

Barry Pick #2: Cat’s Cradle

Jim Pick #2: The Last of the Mohicans

MFCA 2022: Barry and Jim both won gold medals in the Historical Open division for their latest box dioramas, “Beyond the Seventh Moon” and “Night Raid, 1945.”

MFCA named three Grand Masters, including Christos Panagiotopoulos (left) and our own Mr. Biediger (right), together with Bernard Tardif—honors well-earned by all three (and prompting rare smiles by Barry. Christos, on the other hand, is never not smiling!).

Jim after repairing “The Gun Deck of the Victory” by MFCA Grand Master number one, Shep Paine. The historic box is now a centerpiece in the collection of Bill Neustadt, who gave the work his enthusiastic thumb’s up.