Pistonheads build off???

[CobolMan]

dr_gn said:

We could always vote someone off every Friday evening, and then humiliate them by forcing them to put their partially complete model in a blender.

Cruel but oh so funny. I'm thinking of prime Saturday Night TV here - The airfiX-Factor featuring our very own dr_gn as Simon Cowell and the unforgetable Eric as Loius Walsh. Who's going to take the places of Dannii and Cheryl though?

[Eric Mc]

If you are going to compare me to another Irishman, please don't let it be Louis Walsh. Sir Gerry Robinson would be fine though.

[CobolMan]

[Zaxxon]

Maybe the term build off is a bit wrong. It would be interesting to see peoples interpretations of a single kit though. There will be a certain level of competition and a winner but some would use PE, resin and bespoke decals and some would use the bare kit. Some airbrush some brush.

I think once every 3-4 months would be ideal so it doesn't get in the way of peoples main projects.

I prefer 1/48 as a scale as it's halfway house as far as detail vs cost. But 1/72 would be cheaper.

It could even be done as a theme so for the end of this year we could do 70 years since Pearl Harbour.

[11110111]

I've never built planes before for the first build can we open it up to a certain budget but allow a number of options of vehicle types? I only like to build cars

Edited by 11110111 on Wednesday 5th January 10:57

[DieselGriff]

Rather than going for the same kit you could choose a theme like a number of GBs on BM. That way people can choose their subjects within a a broader framework.

[Red Firecracker]

There are really only three successful ways of approaching these, especially with the more diverse interests of the audience of this website;

a: Everyone builds the exact same model
b: Everyone builds a model within a set theme
c: Everyone builds whatever they like

Personally, I would say that option c is best for this, especially as it hasn't been done here before. That way you are more likely to appeal to a greater audience and hence get a greater number of participants. Of course, this does all depend on the perceived end game for the 'build off'. Is it a competition or is it a chance to get people building and maybe for the more senior builders (for want of a better term) to offer a bit of advice and help the first timers? Big difference between the two and again, I'd suggest the latter option may be better. Encourage people to have a go and not feel pressured into entering a competition that they think they have no chance of winning.

These are my findings/observations from running a few Group Restorations on diecast forums. Everybody then gets to build something that they can engage with, whilst the techniques that are shared across most if not all models can be passed on by the more experienced modelers.

[The_Jackal]

Seeing as most people seem to be doing other GBs, I think the main criteria need to be cheap and quick.
So my basic conditions would be:
1) 1/72 plane
2) No PE

That way it will be a bit of fun, minimal cost and hopefully a lot more entries. If people want to do a full blown GB with lots of rules, then are are plenty to choose from on all the model forums.

[Yertis]

The_Jackal said:

Seeing as most people seem to be doing other GBs, I think the main criteria need to be cheap and quick.
So my basic conditions would be:
1) 1/72 plane
2) No PE

That way it will be a bit of fun, minimal cost and hopefully a lot more entries. If people want to do a full blown GB with lots of rules, then are are plenty to choose from on all the model forums.

What's "No PE"?

Pretending you have an injury so you can sit it out with the asthmatic kids, or photo-etched?

FWIW I'd love to do this. If it's really a competition shouldn't we all start from the same baseline, ie same kit, built straight from box? Then it's just a true test of skill rather than who buys the most lavish set of decals. This will save me the torture of choosing a kit and then buying loads of resin bits (and presumably PE bits too).

[dr_gn]

Yertis said:

The_Jackal said:

Seeing as most people seem to be doing other GBs, I think the main criteria need to be cheap and quick.
So my basic conditions would be:
1) 1/72 plane
2) No PE

That way it will be a bit of fun, minimal cost and hopefully a lot more entries. If people want to do a full blown GB with lots of rules, then are are plenty to choose from on all the model forums.

What's "No PE"?

Pretending you have an injury so you can sit it out with the asthmatic kids, or photo-etched?

FWIW I'd love to do this. If it's really a competition shouldn't we all start from the same baseline, ie same kit, built straight from box? Then it's just a true test of skill rather than who buys the most lavish set of decals. This will save me the torture of choosing a kit and then buying loads of resin bits (and presumably PE bits too).

If you really wanted a test of skill, you could say a simple, standard kit, built within a time limit, but with unlimited scope for scratch-building, as opposed to after market bits. For example, you can make some photo-etch equivalents from coke cans, seatbelts from masking tape, gun barrels from syringes etc, etc.

[Boosterdq]

I would be interested in this, what i would like is a single model but free to do with it what you wish. After all the judge would spot the people who have spent money on the models from those who make it, and after all its just for fun.

And with maybe a 2 month turn around on each model if you dont like the type/scale you dont have to wait long.

[Zaxxon]

Yeah cool, that sounds good, 1/72, no Photo Etch, stock transfers.

You can you homemade bits though like bits of cloth etc



How about one of these?

http://www.wonderlandmodels.com/products/tamiya-17...

Edited by Zaxxon on Wednesday 5th January 18:22

[SlipStream77]

Zaxxon said:

How about one of these?

http://www.wonderlandmodels.com/products/tamiya-17...

The Mustang is pretty simple, it would be nice if there was a little more scope for detailing.

How about this?

http://www.wonderlandmodels.com/products/revell-17...

[Eric Mc]

I've got a Walrus in the stash so I'd be up for that. Although now produced by Revell, the Walrus is ex-Matchbox by the way, so not the latest state of the art moulding. Having said that, Matchbox biplane kits were rather nice.

[DavidY]

I haven't built a plane for nearly 35 years, but I'd definitely be up for that. Like the idea of scratchbuild parts and not using commercial PE.

[Gokartmozart]

One route could be to use Airfix Starter Kits.

e.g
http://www.airfix.com/airfix-products/aircraft/mil...

They only cost between £5.99 to £9.99 so no big outlay. even for Dr_GN


There was a GB doing this on Britmodeller last year.

http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?showf...

If there was enough uptake future ones could included theme builds.

E.g F1 cars, cars that have ran in the Monte Carlo Rally etc.

[dr_gn]

Eric Mc said:

I've got a Walrus in the stash so I'd be up for that. Although now produced by Revell, the Walrus is ex-Matchbox by the way, so not the latest state of the art moulding. Having said that, Matchbox biplane kits were rather nice.

MATCHBOX you say? No aftermarket bits but any scratch built additions. Hmmmmm. Always had a soft spot for the Walrus...

Even that simple model would take me a couple of months though.

ETA, I actually considered building one of these recently, I think they look great!



http://www.fortunecity.com/meltingpot/portland/971...

Not sure if they are easily available now though. They are very small too, but it would be a quick build.

Edited by dr_gn on Wednesday 5th January 19:57

[russy01]

Gokartmozart said:

One route could be to use Airfix Starter Kits.

e.g
http://www.airfix.com/airfix-products/aircraft/mil...

They only cost between £5.99 to £9.99 so no big outlay. even for Dr_GN

Im not into building models, however i always have a read in this forum, (like a bit of RC).

I think this is the best idea, keep it simple and cheap and only allowed to use a certain no. of paints or something. It would just be nice to see who can do the most with the smallest amount of kit.

There are a few simple planes, but there are also a few nice car kits, DBR9 in Gulf Colours, XKR GT3 and then some older cars, TR4 & MGB (But these are a bit plain)

Cheers

Also if you are after a group buy on some airfix kits give me a PM, i'll sort you out.

[dr_gn]

I'd be much more interested in doing something like this if it was more about constructive criticism during and after everyones' build, rather than a pure competition. What I find lacking on Britmodeller is the (understandable) reluctance to offer criticism, even if you put your model in the "Critique Corner". Personally, if I post a model on a forum, and people say they like it, that's great, and more than enough...I don't want to turn my pastime into a competitive sport. Each to his own though.

Just Browsing the Revell Germany Website. Found these two which also look good (instructions on the website links):

Not sure of the provenance, but they are more detailled than old Matchbox kits, the colour schemes are challenging, and there is a bit of cockpit detail:



http://www.revell.de/index.php?id=210&KGKANR=0...



http://www.revell.de/index.php?id=210&KGKANR=0...

The LA5 in particular has a nice scheme: fairly complex camo, red i.d. and some bare metal behind the exhausts.

Also, the Hawker Fury is a nice old Matchbox kit (as is the Gladiator), but only one scheme unless you could find some old stock:



http://www.revell.de/index.php?id=210&KGKANR=0...

All about £5, currently available and very simple.

[kenny Chim 4]

11110111 said:

I've never built planes before for the first build can we open it up to a certain budget but allow a number of options of vehicle types? I only like to build cars

Nor have I built or painted aircraft and it's many a year since I completed a car.

My current projects tend to be figures such as this: http://www.ahauntedgallery.com/images/alex_close_s... He's around 10 inches tall (on his base- it's a bust). But, I'm up for a competition regarding all entrants building the same kit of a cheap aircraft and using no after-market additions. As long as we can use our imaginations though..

One suggestion would be that we stretch the completion time to at least a month as many of us (as Eric pointed out) have more pressing commitments.