Writing Reviews of New Kits

Pretty sure you need to be employed by someone whom those manufacturers buy advertising space from... Like "Fine Scale Modeler" magazine...  Might wanna work on that ol' Journalism degree before you entertain that idea though...

I'm also pretty sure that, if you want to STAY on the list, bad reviews are pretty rare for stuff from the larger accounts...

I write reviews for Armorama and have started writing for Model Shipwrights.  The kits are sent to the people in charge of the websites (or magazines) and are then passed on to the reviewers (such as myself).  I've gotten a few kits, books and aftermarket accessories but the vast majority of the reviews I write are on things I purchased myself. 

For the record, I don't let the source of the kit (be it from the manufacturer or myself) influence the review I write. What would be the point?  It wouldn't be a review but just another form of marketing which is highly unethical to say the least and fortunately, at lest for the reputable magazines and websites that sort of behavior is not the norm.....

Reviewing kits isn't as easy as getting a kit, slamming it together then jotting down a few sentences about it. Each entity has a specific procedure and guidelines for reviewing. I've done several reviews, include one here on FSM some years ago.

Typically reviews are done on short notice, finding reviewers who can accommodate short turn times, build rather well and most importantly can write and take pictures of what they are doing is hard. Usually you get one maybe two of the three, but all three is rarity.

To get noticed as a possible reviewer, start doing some reviews on your own. Submit them as well as post them up on a blog page of your own.

An example of what it takes to write for a magazine.

My favorite part of writing a review is the research.  The part I find the most challenging is getting decent parts pics.... much harder to get good results with flat sprues than it is a completed build.  LOL

To write good reviews requires a lot of time and you must have good writing skills.  Nothing turns me off to a review or reviewer faster than lousy grammar, redundant phrasing and basic generalities. 

No persoanl experience with writing, but from the comments of others it is not as glamourus as it sounds. Usually it is a short turn around, and it has to be built pretty much out of the box as you are reviewing the kit for sale, not a bunch of aftermarket stuff. Apparently it is also common to provide models from an area you may not be interested in, lie aircraft and you are primarily an armor modeler. I guess that is supposed to keep you more honest and focus on the fit and finish of the kit rather than minute details about the subject.

If you are an IPMS member you can ask to be considered for review models they receive.

It also helps if you do some on your own to demonstrate your writing skill, ability to fairly evaluate a kit and ability to finish a kit in a reasonable time frame. While they don't come right out and say it, missing a deadline pretty much ensures you won't be getting another free kit. Apparently that is something of a problem with new reviewers.

I was one of the original reviewers for the website Armorama. At first I reviewed new kits I had just bought and built (back in 2002). Eventually, I started getting kits sent directly to me from distributors and manufacturers and eventually when the site started getting review samples sent to them, they were passed on to me (as well as other volunteer reviewers).

It was a nice gig until your hobby becomes work. It becomes a pain to have to stop building to take photos, keep notes, etc. Then there's the "rush" to be the first site with the review of the latest, highly anticipated hot kit.

I have spent a quarter century on actual modern US armor and was comfortable as a knowledgeable modeler (I dislike the term expert) on many of the kits from this genre, but when they start sending me panzers and other stuff that I could review as a modeler, but not as a subject matter expert, I started to lose interest.

Your reviews end up getting nitpicked by guys who, for whatever reason, have to take shots at you. You'll see comments like "How can you rate that kit as an accurate model?? The road wheels only have 34 bolts and not the proper late war 36 bolt road wheels!!" Of course, these guys NEVER write reviews, they just nitpick others.

Bottom line, if you want to end up on one of these lists, you must first be one of the volunteers who write their own reviews of kits you've bought, submit those to the various websites (none of these non-profit model sites would turn away well written reviews) or to the various club journals like IPMS or AMPS's Boresite.

Eventually, if your reviews are well received, you'll end up on the list of guys who get asked to do reviews.

I've written reviews for print (FSM and UK magazines) and for websites (including my own).  While fun and its great to get free kits sometimes - as others have said - the deadline bit does kill some of the joy.  For example, I did a review of the Eduard Bf-110 when it first came out.  I had to really apply myself to get it done in 4-5 weeks - which is a new record for me -as the magazine wanted to be the first one out with a full build review.

If you are interested, i would suggest writing full build articles that highlight some interesting modelling skills or historical perspective. The time pressure on those types of articles are way, way lower than new kit reviews. If you do hook up with a magazine and they agree to your story proposal, they or manufacturers will send you reviewers kits as its free advertising for them.

Alternatively, buy your own kits, buitld it and write and article. Submit it to FSM, and the money they pay will pay for your kit and more.  Heck, FSM even pays for a picture in the readers gallery.  You can then build what you want, when you want, and at your own pace.

Thanks for being up-front Rob!!  It seems like everyone out there wants to be an "armchair general".  I guess the main problem is that a review is entirely "subjective".  Something that I think is "way cool" you (for example) may think is total crap!  What is it they say about opinions?

I've posted a couple reviews in the past on TrackLink.net and on my own club's website.  I'm currently working on one of the Trumpeter PT-76 kit. 

I'll just keep doin' what I'm doin'.  It seems to work for me! 

Rob brings up a very valid point .... anything that you enjoy as a hobby turns south in a hurry the minute you make it work. I, personally, love to do reviews and I don't really consider it work .... so that aspect doesn't really bother me.

I've started doing some reviews for another web site/ forum and I can tell you that doing the reviews, even for 1/35 figures, can tend to interupt any personal builds you have going on.

HOWEVER, as Scott (Espin) pointed out, they can be very rewarding in that (at last for me as I typically only build US military stuff) it forces me to learn about new subjects. Also pointed out above, it is very ture that it not just about slamming things together and taking a few notes here and there. I've found that if I don't take detailed notes (and pictures) about what and how I do things, I typically don't remember those details later when I'm writing.

But, as with anything in modeling, there's no one right way to do things, so ... to each his own. The secret to getting to the "review level" is to keep improving you work ... and as Rob said, put together your own reviews of kits YOU bought and post them, here, there, where ever. Eventually, someone will notice .... same as commission builds ....

... now THAT's a whole 'nother story !!!!

All good info gentlemen.  Writing reviews can be very rewarding and fun, although it has a tendencancy to derail you from projects you're working on due to time pressures and you may not be in the right frame of mind at the time for the subject matter because your interests are elsewhere at the moment.

Thanks for all the info and perspectives guys!  I do appreciate it!

For me, the reviews are help when I'm looking at two identical kits from different makers (i.e. AFV Club & Trumpeter Stryker kits).

I also use the reviews / constructions articles as my own study guide if I decide to build a particular model again.

Have a good one y'all!