Proposal for a new GB format

[Neil]

Sleep and coffee worked for me too, it seems to me part of the issue is the naming - so maybe if we call them what they are - short-term GB's, medium-term GB and long-term-GB - that way you have the name right up front - long-term build is 6 months, short-term is 2-3 and medium 3-5? Or still too confusing?

[Guest]

Thanks for all the work you've put into this, Ian.


Speaking as a slow builder, who struggles to find time, and has only taken part in one of the group builds over the last few years, this looks a good proposal to me. We won't know till we try it, but I can see it working. One slight risk in the proposed format is that group builds become focussed on types of aircraft, tanks, etc. rather than the wider ranging and more imaginative ideas we've had recently (Snow, Under a Tenner, From a Photo, etc.). I don't know that this is a big deal, and I'm sure there are ways around it - there's nothing to stop anyone proposing a GB subject that's a bit different. I suppose it also depends on what it is that people find enjoyable about group builds - seeing a lot of examples of similar things so we can compare, or getting some encouragement to try something they wouldn't normally think of.

[dave]

Personally I don't think that is a good idea. Either you end up with a lot of repeat posts in different builds or in you example two threads that end nowhere and one with the full build. So I would vote no to that.

That's fine with me on balance I agree with you, it just occurred to me as a possible scenario so I thought I would ask the question

[Ian M]

Sleep and coffee worked for me too, it seems to me part of the issue is the naming - so maybe if we call them what they are - short-term GB's, medium-term GB and long-term-GB - that way you have the name right up front - long-term build is 6 months, short-term is 2-3 and medium 3-5? Or still too confusing?

Or just call them all Group Builds and in the calendar ones, you have the start end dates from the get go. In the Ones that come along the way, it is the participants and the person that proposed the build that work out the how long and all that. So really it is for those that want to take part that decide how long the build should last.

One slight risk in the proposed format is that group builds become focused on types of aircraft, tanks, etc. rather than the wider ranging and more imaginative ideas we've had recently

Not at all Doug. You can suggest a Group build on any subject that you wish. So we could end up with single type builds, A diorama, a figure based build or the more artistically open challenge like "A river runs through it" which could turn out to be anything just as long as a river is running through the thing!


I know that a good few enjoy the challenging type ideas, but from my experience  they are well unattended So far we have had a 'snow' and a 'mud' theme. neither of which are exactly brimming with entries. Which is a great shame.