WIP/Finished Product "Poll"???

Eric,

I thought about that long and hard before I posted my P-39 WIP. Seeing as how slow I build it would have been better if I had just waited and put up a finished kit with snap shots of the build as it progressed.

Bottom line is I would say I prefer a completed page with WIP pictures and a short explanation on how it got there. That way I would not forget which WIP's I was watching and waiting to see the finished kit.

. I'm a slow builder too. I take pics and save them for when I'm finished. I've tried a couple of WIPs but I think everybody got tired of waiting for the finished build.

Jim

I like WIP's, but if the build is drawn out over a long period of time, I tend to lose track of what's going on. It would almost be better if the builder took pics as he went and then posted it all at once with text when he's finished.

I would probably prefer WIP posts of each major step and any small but troublesome steps.  the reason is simple.  As the build progresses, everyone has a chance to chime in with any suggestions, info or similar experiences that we can all learn from.

Rich

Jester75

Ok, out of curiousity I was wondering what "we" as a whole prefer to see here on the forums. Do you prefer to see a "work in progress" where you can watch and see how the end result is accomplished and what went into it? Or do you simply prefer the end result and thats it?? Feel free to elaborate on your response!!

Sparrowhyperion

I would probably prefer WIP posts of each major step and any small but troublesome steps.  the reason is simple.  As the build progresses, everyone has a chance to chime in with any suggestions, info or similar experiences that we can all learn from.

Rich

I tend to agree with you as I am no expert and I value the input of those here that do have the knowledge of the hobby and also of the subjects that we build. I too am a fairly slow builder , being a family of 8 takes its toll on build time, so it does take me a while to complete a build as Herr Manstein is so fond of pointing out However, I am leaning towards the take pics along the way and just make one big post or maybe even just photograph the build after its all said and done. I wonder if a post formatted like the Marder Madness group build would be a good idea where only the initial post is updated and all the other pages are just comments and discussion on the build? Thoughts??

mmm,, not a big revelation,, but I like a combination of both,, if its a new kit, or one that is differant, I like the blow by blow,, and on the scratch building stuff,,, but if it drags out, its hard to follow..

Hercmech

Bottom line is I would say I prefer a completed page with WIP pictures and a short explanation on how it got there. That way I would not forget which WIP's I was watching and waiting to see the finished kit.

Only quoting you because you were the first and similar comments followed, not singling you out.

It may make it easier to keep track of from the readers point of view but completely defeats the point from the builders point of view.

During a WIP others frequently point out errors (kit or builder), helpful tips based on experience building the kit, and suggested techniques useful for the subject. None of that is of much help if it all comes out after the model is done.

I've only posted two WIP threads here on the forums, mostly just posted finished stuff.

One WIP covered an involved 1/700th kit bash of the WW2 carrier Enterprise in the Ships forum.  I showed how I modifed the kit pieces with stock plastic to get the model to the point in the carrier's life I wanted to represent.  It didn't generate too many comments until I'd completed the project, so I don't know that the WIP was of much benefit to any forum readers.  I suppose that the subject matter wasn't something many modelers had tried, or even cared to try, but I did have a lot of views as I posted. The finished model was well received.

My other WIP was in the Space forum covering a 1/48 Lunar Module project using various kinds of foils.  It generated more comments, I suppose, since more space models require crinkled foils as part of the build. (Certainly, a LM does.)

That's my personal experience with WIP posts.

As a reader, there've been a couple WIPs that have kept my interest, but mostly I've just wanted to see completed builds.  The completed models can be good inspirational/instructional lessons in their own right.  But unless there's a particular kit, or specific subject/technique I might need help with, many WIPs tend to take up lots of time scrolling through the pages and I don't always have the time, on a given forum visit, to go through it all.

But then, that's just me.

If I have a concern about either type of posts, it would have to be the poor photography on many of them.  That's a little unfair since I've made my living with photography for over 30 years, and not every model builder is a pro photographer.  Even with that, if the shots aren't very good, thay aren't worth much to the forum reader.  I've posted and contributed to several threads on photo tips, and many photos posted are very good.  However...

Builders all want to participate in the forums and should always be encouraged, blurry and poor exposures not withstanding.

Everbody should have fun.

I like WIPs.

Lots of good thoughts and comments, keep em coming!! Noone however has commented on the idea of updating only the intitial post of the WIP thread so that readers dont have to go through 10 pages of comments to see the actual work, would this be a good idea??

Jester75

Lots of good thoughts and comments, keep em coming!! Noone however has commented on the idea of updating only the intitial post of the WIP thread so that readers dont have to go through 10 pages of comments to see the actual work, would this be a good idea??

Jester

As you may be aware, this is what is happening currently in the 'Marder Madness' build in the armor forum.  The participants have listed the Marders in variant order and, as we make progress, we just edit our original post to show new work.  Then, to alert everyone, we throw a 'Hey, I did an update on page 1' message at the end of the thread.

Personally, I think this is working pretty darn well.  I think it is even more useful in GBs where you have different things being built - it creates a more easily followed build progression.  I think it is a method I will attempt on my next solo build, that is for sure.

Is it possible to expand the forum topics and add a WIP section? Each WIP has its own thread. That way anyone following a build can look and tell instantly if there  are new updates. I know it drives me crazy to have to look through page after page just to find the build I' interested in.

bbrowniii

Jester

As you may be aware, this is what is happening currently in the 'Marder Madness' build in the armor forum.  The participants have listed the Marders in variant order and, as we make progress, we just edit our original post to show new work.  Then, to alert everyone, we throw a 'Hey, I did an update on page 1' message at the end of the thread.

Personally, I think this is working pretty darn well.  I think it is even more useful in GBs where you have different things being built - it creates a more easily followed build progression.  I think it is a method I will attempt on my next solo build, that is for sure.

Yup, that is exactly the thread I was talking about. I too think I will use that format for my next build as well. It is very nice to click on the post and see all the WIP pics/comments in the very first post!!

WIPs... Because that's how I rip off your techniques and figure out how to get the same effect for .005 cents on the dollar...

jbrady

Is it possible to expand the forum topics and add a WIP section? Each WIP has its own thread. That way anyone following a build can look and tell instantly if there  are new updates. I know it drives me crazy to have to look through page after page just to find the build I' interested in.

That's what email notifications are for...  You can also bookmark a build-thread to your "Favorites"...  That's how I track mine when they go from page one to page seven...

Hans von Hammer

jbrady:

Is it possible to expand the forum topics and add a WIP section? Each WIP has its own thread. That way anyone following a build can look and tell instantly if there  are new updates. I know it drives me crazy to have to look through page after page just to find the build I' interested in.

 

That's what email notifications are for...  You can also bookmark a build-thread to your "Favorites"...  That's how I track mine when they go from page one to page seven...

I got enough crap coming into my inbox... didn't know about the favorites thing... I'll have to look at that.

I always click on "Your Forum Discussions" on the right hand side and any posts that have been updated with a comment are usually a light green, stuff I have already read is gray.

I like the format of the Marder thread. It would definitely be easier to follow that with a single builder in comparison to the many going on there. Still it works for multi-builders as well.

Being somewhat a newbie just getting back into the hobby, i like to see wip pics as the build progresses, ive learned alot here by following those types of threads...keep em coming

Nathan

It depends...some people (a very few at that) can pull of a WIP, but only because they update it on a fairly regular basis...those that languish or have "uneven" updates are tedious at best to follow, and some just never get finished---those are the most annoying kind...