Group builds

A group build is nothing more than many members getting together and building the same subject and at times variant. This is a great way of getting to know one another better and share problems or information on a brand or subject of your build. Great fun.

Richard,

I've been thinking of posing some philosophical questions about group builds just to get people thinking about them, and your e-mail just kicked me into gear. I don't mean to hijack your post - but I'm hoping it will spur discussion that you were getting at anyway.

As far as I can tell, the group builds simply "are what they are". A bunch of people deciding to kinda build something on a theme together, and concentrating their posts in one area of the forum. I don't think it's anything more than that.

I have my own impressions about what I think would be a "good" GB (please don't think that I'm trying to tell people how to do it "right" - who am I to dicatate ?!) but I'll tell you what I would be really interested in seeing.

First, I generally haven't gone into the GB's that I'm not building in, and I thought it was a great idea to "De-Stickyfy" the GB's. The reason I didn't go into them was that I didn't want to have to wade through all the beginning posts to find out where the BEEF was. I guess I should consider it just a necessary evil, but that part is frankly - just boring.

But I've noticed after going through some of them, that there is some great stuff that I would like to see. The example that comes to mind is the Aircraft - Accurate Miniatures GB. I have never built an AM kit, and I have no plans to do so in the next year, but there is awesome work going on in there ! And it would be helpful, inspiring, interesting... to anyone even if they weren't building an AM kit. Now theres a "Monogram GB" in the works - I think this is supposed to be like an antithesis to the AM GB, but it will no doubt be equally helpful, inspiring, interesting...

Again, I'm not trying to dictate - but I think that all that stuff should be out on the table where everyone sees posts with specific Subject Titles so that if I want to see an Apache or a Sturmovik being built I'll know where to go - not have to wade through 8 or 9 pages of a GB to see if there's anything I'm looking for.

My own idea is that GB's would be better if they were highly specific. The guy building a B-2 Spirit in the Heavy med bomber group has about as much in common with me building a B-24 as a guy in the armor forum does (no offence guys - we're all working in styrene !)

I'd really like the input of other people on this subject - cuz others might have totally different ideas as to what a GB should be or what they are looking for from a GB.

Whatta you think...
What would you like to see in a GB?

My reply... I'd like to be working on the same kit as others so I could offer and receive technique help, historical data / technical reference help, creative ideas, kit idiosyncracies, ...etc... that was specific to what I was working on. That would also cut down on the clutter.

If everything stays the same - I'll still be happy - this is my favorite site, and the people have been great. Happy modelling and posting - this is afterall a hobby - hope this wasn't too heavy for y'all. I gotta shut up now,

Chris

There does seem to be a little Group Build mania right now. There are so many going on, with new ones starting every day, that you couldn't possibly participate in all. Most of the GB's are pretty loose on subject matter, especially when you get to doing a manufacturers line such as any AM or Monogram kits. But they can be fun & interesting, so if you see one that sparks your interest, join in and see how it goes.

groups builds are like a disease . . . and I thought just doing models was addictive!

I really agree with Bossman--I think group builds would be a lot more interesting and helpful if there were highly specific. It's a given that there will be a number of people building heavy bombers in the Aircraft forum, so what's the point of organizing a group build? The kits being built are far too diverse for there to be any advice and information shared in the thread that's specific to that group build. If there were a group build that concentrated on the variants of say, the Focke-Wulfe 190, or post-war P-51 Mustangs all in the same scale, then you could learn a lot about the specific airplane in addition to getting a good idea of the strengths and weaknesses of available kits. I don't mind building many models that are very similiar to one another, and I'd like to see some more group builds to gain experience in certain areas.

I can think of three titles for a Group Build they are.
European Theatre
Nth Africa and Mediterainian Theatre
Pacific Theatre

Rob.

I have a sujestion for a Group Build that would cover just about every member, with three titles to choose from.

European Theatre
Noth Africa and Mediteranian Threatre
Pacific Theatre

Rob.

I like group builds centered around a theme rather than a specific vehicle. A GB focussing on a family of vehicles would interest me if the family is large and diverse enough (e.g. the recent Sherman Family GB), but if everyone's doing a Panzer IV, I find that kind of boring.

I also think a GB should push you into modelling something new or different, something you wouldn't have done anyway. A different subject, like the aircraft/armor crossover that's being discussed rght now (where the aircraft builders make a tank, and the armor builders do a plane). Or maybe a different medium, like resin.

Just my ,


M.

I think that I lean more toward the specific vehicle/aircraft/subject group build. I agree with the statement that it's very hard to "bloodhound" your way through 14 or 15 group builds - with up to 25 pages each - trying to find a few subjects that you're interested in.

Theme group builds are fine if they are limited in nature. The D-Day build, a Battle of the Britain build, or a Battle of Kursk build are all examples that I see no problem with. Builds that incorporate an entire front, entire year, or even an entire country are a little too broad in my opinion.