Kit Review Forum ???

HEY,
Im with nichol, this and scal auto are the only places i go cuz its nice. If anything, the news of you guys having kit reveiws would only bring business.

Randy

I try to make this my one modelling stop so I don't spend time hunting through the internet to find a kit review. I think the idea for a review forum has merit.

My thoughts as far as another review site?
Domi may build a Heller CL-415 and find it fairly easy, with few modifications needed to make a decent replica.
On the other hand, Drew may find the kit a bit of a challenge and explain any problems he might have.
So, I see another review site as another tool to help out.
Just my

Randie

To be honest, David, if and when I think of purchasing a particular kit, I do try to obtain as many references on it as I can. So yet another review is, for me, useful. I'm not either necessarily talking about full blown review, from the day of purchase to the first contest. Those are useful, but 'first impression' reviews can also be interesting, because you may not know that the latest Revell kit you just bought was in fact released 20 years ago by Hasegawa or else...

A separate 'place' for such reviews, full blown or not, would be useful to many I'm sure. I mean I still do visit regularly other modelling sites, but this remains my primary target and exchange (of info) place, and this review forum is just missing from this fabulous site.

As to putting things in 'order', well, if it is possible, I would not mind keeping the reviews in a hopefully sensible filing system (I work for the libraries!)... If a forum could be created with various folders for type of models (cars, AFVs,..), then it would be easy to arrange new entries accordingly, in alpha-numerical order...

HEY,
Well at least you guys know the idea is out there and that it is generally accepted as a good idea. You got the point, a quick way to find kit reveiws by builders for builders. Well, hope you guys like the idea cuz it could be useful.

Randy

Well, David, it's not like you're busy, right.

Thanks for weighing in.

Regards,

Just cause you don't hear anything, doesn't mean we're not reading. I've been following this discussion since it began. I'm just not sure what I think about this at the moment.

Lufbery makes a good point -- "Do we really need another set of reviews?". There's tons of reviews out on the Internet, the FSM workbench reviews and then reviews posted by members here in the forum. But then I think, perhaps what's being discussed is a way to quickly locate and identify kit reviews posted in the forums (topics can get buried quickly). Or perhaps it's a combination of everything?

So many ideas...so little time...

Randy,

No problem. I do hope that Lawrence or Dave pops in to read what we've written on this subject.

Regards,

HEY,
Lufberry, you are right. My mind was on overhaul the past few days and i didnt know what i was talking about. Your was is easier. Sry about the arguement and stuff. I was thinking about it and my idea didnt make any sense. Oh, well, not like admin is gonna do anything about it, they havent even said anything about it yet.

Randy

My initial thought was this sounds like a good idea, but then after reading the posts I have to agree with the idea we already kind of have this built in. Honestly I'm lazy, I would much rather post a Can someone suggest a 1/35 Panzer IV then to go searching the internet for a review. Between people asking about a kit and reading posts from people building a kit, I learn quite a bit about what I want to know about a kit.

I do still think the idea is a good one but not particularly high on my list, I would think a cross reference method of type and company would be neccessary though, I would usually look at it by subject (F14, Pz 4 etc) rather than manufacturer but there have been times I've found a kit I was interested in but wanted an opinion on its quality or what it includes.

Randy,

I get your point, I just disagree. If I want to build a kit, I first figure out what I want to build, then look for reviews of kits of that subject. So I'll look at all the B-17 kit reviews listed and then pick the kit that appeals to me.

What you're suggesting takes two steps to my one. First post to find out who makes a B-17 kit, then look under that manufacturer's category to read the review. If the reviews are organized by subject, I see who makes the kit of that subject by seeing the list under the "B-17" category.

But this might be a case of something that works for me not working for you. Still, every review site I've visited has had the kits organized by subject and not manufacturer. Maybe it's just that I'm used to that kind of organization.

Regards,

for what it's worth........i kinda like the idea
i guess i like organization and compartmentalization.........easier to find stuff.

HEY,
The whole point of having the reveiws would not be to find out how a B-17 would be, but how an exact kit would be. It would be for the people who are thinking of getting a certain kit, and want to know how good it is. If they wanted a B-17 and wanted to know which one is the best, they could post in the forum. But once they find out which is the best, they go to the reveiws and find out why it is the best. Seriously, check out the link i posted. Its not to find a model, but to check one out that youve already found. Im sorry if i sound angry, but im thinking my thoughts arent getting accross the way im trying.

Randy

I any case, some thought would need to go into this.. The example of the F-14 can be difficult enough, but think of the other type of models. The Panther tank, for instance... Would it go under SdKfz 171, PzKfw V, Panzerkampfwager V or Panther? And where do you put the Bergpanther in relation to that???

Cool that sounds good to me

Randy,

How would I know to click on "Tamiya" if I'm looking for an F-14 kit? Tamiya may not make one, or they did and it's out of production, or whatever. Would I have to click through the list of manufacturers to find an F-14 kit review?

I personally don't care who makes the model I'm building. I care more about the subject matter and the quality of the kit. I also don't think that the manufacturer's name is a surefire indication of kit quality. For one thing, some Hasegawa kits are now under the Monogram Pro Modeler name. Some kits are under the Revell, Revell-Monogram, Monogram, and Revell of Germany names, but some are found only under one of those.

Manufacturers are confusing. There's a lot of mold sharing going on, and kit makers come and go.

Serious question: how many of us say, "I'd like to build a Hasegawa kit." versus "I'd like to build a B-25"?

In the aircraft forum, I see a lot of questions on "Who makes the best B-1?" or "Where can I find a really good 1/72 Avenger?" I don't see a lot of "What kits does Hasegawa make?"

Again, just some thoughts,

HEY,
we would have to do it by manufacturer because the F14 mae by tamiya may be different than the one made by dragon. Kits by different manufacturers have different qualities. Just sayin. My idea isnt the only one, it was just a suggestion by my part.

Randy

you're probably right, Drew, for the 'filing system'... My only concern there would be the uniformisation of the entries... F-14? Grumman F-14?? Tomcat??? That's a problem on Hyperscale for instance. Lack of co-ordination! Having said that, this would come up in the entries by manufacturer too, I guess...

Alright, so if this new forum is created, why is it important to list by manufacturer? I'm actually asking, not being sarcastic.

There are dozens of manufacturers, more than I can keep track of. If you're going to do a review, I think it should be done by kit subject. If I want to find a review of an F-14 tomcat kit, I probably won't click on Fujimi or Hasegawa, I'll click on "F-14."

Furthermore, this site has workbench reviews that go back a number of years. The Aircraft Resource Center (www.aircraftresourcecenter.com), Modeling Madness (www.modelingmadness.com), and Scale Model Aircraft Kit Reviews (www.fortunecity.com/meltingpot/portland/971/home.htm) sites have tons of reviews, and thats just for planes. There are armor sites, ships sites, etc.

Do we really need another set of reviews?

If so, do we really need them separate from their home topic forum?

I think my basic objection to the separate topic area idea is that if I want to find out about an armor or airplane kit, my first action will be to look in the armor or aircraft topic areas.

Maybe the reviews can "live" in thier topic areas, but have a shortcut to a separate topic area like the group builds do.

Just some thoughts,

Me too! Maybe they are waiting for a first wave of comments.. or are they afraid we will post nasty reviews about advertisers..??!

HEY,
Or we could have a separate part of the site where all of the manufacturers are listed, you select one, then choose the category ie. cars, planes etc, then choose your model. As long as it was easy and quick. Im suprised admin hasntsaid anything yet.

Randy

Domi, I think that's a great idea.

Drew, we could still comment on kits in the appropriate forum as well, I would think. Just full-blown reviews could be in the new forum.

Drew, this would make it hard to find a particular review in so many pages of, say, the Aircraft Forum...

I know the search feature could help, but still, imagine a search on Me-109, and you'll probably get dozens of hits...

Nah. Just post the review in the appropriate topic category. You know, aircraft reviews in the aircraft area, etc.

Regards,

HEY,
I knew i forgot to put that idea out here. I did it on the scale auto site, but havent gotten any feedback from the staff. Well thanks for picking this up here at FSM djmodels, and i too would like to see it happen. Here is an idea for the setup of it... http://www.pbreview.com/products/

They have a product reveiw section for paintball and it would be nice if you guys could do this for kit reveiws.

Randy

I like this idea! We have so many people asking about this kit and that kit and so forth. This idea would be a big help.