5 W's of a Group Build ?

Sites like Armorama.com actually give registered members space to upload photos to participate in GB. We create galleries for folks to upload in progress photos as well as a gallery for completed photos. Use of a digital camera is required unless you can mail hard copy photos to a friend to upload for you.

Maj. Gronovius,

I can see it working at the model club. Almost. You can show the models to each other; get/make phone calls with a thousand questions; visit each other's homes etc.

Online here must be a little different. I assume that the majority of GB'ers are competent in posting pics, or get help with that, etc. Is it a competition here?

I've only just finished my seventh model, so I'm not sure I'd want to be tied to a subject yet. I'm also not sure I'd like to start comparing pics of my model with significantly more able modellers.

But, I'll watch a few Group Builds to see how they work out. I guess it was just a new concept, and I expected there'd be something bigger hidden behind the meaning. :)

QT
Lt
Canadian Forces

This was an answer I gave in the Armor Forum a few days ago:

QUOTE: I've noticed there are two types of group builds here. The first type has a specific purpose, usually to build a model related in some way. It could be by type (Tiger) or by function (tank destroyer), or by historical event (Battle of the Bulge, D-Day, etc.). These tend to be well thought out and organized. Often there is some learning involved (i.e. was a particular vehicle a tank destroyer vs. self-propelled artillery gun; did this particular vehicle/unit participate in that battle, etc.). The second type tends to be a spur of the moment thing. "Hey, I just bought the new Dragon/Tamiya XYZ kit! I'm starting a group build on [something releated to the kit just purchased]. It starts today/tomorrow and runs until [fill in the blank]." Just a casual observation and my 2¢.

In actual model clubs I have belonged to, a group build is normally a quasi-contest. The club votes on a particular kit and then acquires a number of the exact same kit (for example, the Italeri M4A1 Sherman). Everyone who wishes to participate then builds the same kit. Our builds finished in December during our Christmas party. Everyone who participated had their name placed in a hat and the winning name won a year membership paid for by the club.

It was interesting to see car and plane builders make a tank kit. Some members built the kit straight OOB and others went hog wild with aftermarket photo etch, aluminum barrels, tracks and decals. Needless to say you get a wide variety of results. It is a lot of fun and perhaps someone builds a model of a subject that they never would have done.

qt -

for me a group build is where several to many modelers get together and build models from a certain battle, certain type of aircraft or ship etc.. or even from a certain time period.

Everyone shares their knowledge of the subject, helps each other research and in the process has a good time. There's a group of us who have followed each other from GB to GB in the last year because we all have similar tastes in models and also because we enjoy each others company. I've found it helps me finish my models as well, not necessarily because of the finish date but because everyone is pulling for the other to show what you've accomplished.

I've learned a lot about the hobby as well as history through my participation in them. Everything to just how good Pollyscale and Vallejo acrylic dull coats are, to little known facts such as the British flew F4F Wildcats in the Battle of Britain. (not in combat)

A group build is basically where a bunch of people decide to build something sharing a common theme or subject (or more often, somebody proposes a theme, and then others decide to join him).

I'm not entirely sure of the why myself... part of it may be the sense of community it fosters. Part of it may also be the incentive to finish... a lot of modelers (myself included) have trouble bringing a build to completion in a timely manner; group builds often have end dates, and so it instills a deadline by which the build must be completed.

A GB is when people get together and build something from an era, county etc...