New Thread Topic

THE MODEL BUILDERS

WELCOME TO THE MODEL BUILDERS FORUM, DONT FORGET TO CHECK OUT OUR MONTHLY CONTESTS!

We hope you enjoy your visit.

You're currently viewing " THE MODEL BUILDERS " as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.

Join our community!

If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

New Thread Topic; Drumming up interest.
Topic Started: Jun 28 2009, 05:41 PM (151 Views)
Mercman	Jun 28 2009, 05:41 PM Post #1
Bronze Medal Member Posts: 2,686 Group: Members Member #482 Joined: November 25, 2006	Okay guys here's the deal I run this idea past Ben, and Bryan, so now we'll see what you think. I was thinking of starting a kit review thread. I would be pinned, with 2 different categories. One for models, of all sizes, and the other for diorama stuff. This would be for new kits, that you bought, and you would post a review of the said kit. Basically though there will have to be a few rules. Mainly if the kit is bad don't go trashing the manufacturer, or if you don't agree with the reviewers thoughts, don't be doing the same. This would be just for getting info out about new kits, or old ones, if still available, and your thoughts of what they are like. Is the kit, and its contents good, or bad, or so-so. Pics could be posted of the parts in the box, along with your thoughts of how they rate. Would you recommend this to any one, or not. Any interest in this subject? Please post reply's her in this thread, and we'll see what happens.



khamilton	Jun 28 2009, 06:26 PM Post #2
Diorama Moderator Posts: 4,226 Group: Members Member #522 Joined: December 13, 2006	Sounds good to me.



DaveInTheHat	Jun 28 2009, 06:45 PM Post #3
Advanced Member In The Hat Posts: 2,156 Group: Members Member #386 Joined: August 20, 2006	I got some older kits that I haven't built yet, most of them are fairly inexpensive kits that I picked up at train shows. All my stuff is HO scale other than a few 1/32 scale cars. The last new HO scale kits that I bought are from RDA and they look great. I bought 5 kits directly from them and they were really nice to deal with. I've been wanting to start one but I keep getting side tracked.



Hollywood Jim	Jun 28 2009, 07:03 PM Post #4
Bronze Medal Member Posts: 2,889 Group: Members Member #527 Joined: December 13, 2006	I like that idea. But you'd have to figure out a way to inventory the reviews. So we could find the one we might be looking for. You know, like if someone reviewed the Revell 49' Merc kit. Then say, 6 months later I wanted to find and read the review.......



DamnCranky666	Jun 29 2009, 08:55 AM Post #5
Admin--Chief Crank Posts: 14,920 Group: Admin Member #666 Joined: April 1, 2007	That's a fine idea. Sure.



chester	Jun 29 2009, 09:34 AM Post #6
Bronze Medal Member Posts: 2,791 Group: Members Member #526 Joined: December 13, 2006	By "trashing the manufacturer" do you mean we can't give a bad review? What if the kit is really a piece of junk? How does one say what he thinks about the kit without it NOT reflecting on the manufacturer?



DaveInTheHat	Jun 29 2009, 09:50 AM Post #7
Advanced Member In The Hat Posts: 2,156 Group: Members Member #386 Joined: August 20, 2006	Maybe if we just stick to the facts and use pictures the reader can determine the quality of the kit. Another idea would be to come up with a rating system like 1 to 10.



nkhandekar	Jun 29 2009, 12:01 PM Post #8
Advanced Member Posts: 1,792 Group: Members Member #523 Joined: December 13, 2006	I think its a good idea Merc. I agree with Jim that cataloging is important. Sites like Hyperscale do it pretty well with their galleries and articles.



khamilton	Jun 29 2009, 12:12 PM Post #9
Diorama Moderator Posts: 4,226 Group: Members Member #522 Joined: December 13, 2006	chester Jun 29 2009, 09:34 AM By "trashing the manufacturer" do you mean we can't give a bad review? What if the kit is really a piece of junk? How does one say what he thinks about the kit without it NOT reflecting on the manufacturer? Since we don't have any advertisers to impress here, I think we should be able to offer objective criticism. We owe it to other to inform the group of poor fitting parts, sub-par detail, etc., without presenting it as a personal attack on the manufacteror. It is what it is...............



Mercman	Jun 29 2009, 08:22 PM Post #10
Bronze Medal Member Posts: 2,686 Group: Members Member #482 Joined: November 25, 2006	khamilton Jun 29 2009, 12:12 PM chester Jun 29 2009, 09:34 AM By "trashing the manufacturer" do you mean we can't give a bad review? What if the kit is really a piece of junk? How does one say what he thinks about the kit without it NOT reflecting on the manufacturer? Since we don't have any advertisers to impress here, I think we should be able to offer objective criticism. We owe it to other to inform the group of poor fitting parts, sub-par detail, etc., without presenting it as a personal attack on the manufacteror. It is what it is............... Exactly what I had in mind. Also if someone disagrees with the reviewer, no trashing him/her/them. Just basically give your your point on veiw, and what your thoughts are, would you reccomend the kit or not, and why. This will take some work to put together, so any thoughts, ideas will be appreciated.



Bryan_M	Jun 29 2009, 08:45 PM Post #11
ADMINISTRATOR Posts: 12,445 Group: Admin Member #355 Joined: July 26, 2006	Merc, this sounds like a great Idea. instead of the reviews being pinned, i can add a section to the dio forums for it.......ill have to talk to ben first, but that would be better (i think) instead of it being pinned... and its also a good idea not to trash anything, like you said. if the kit has problems, note the problems but dont blast the manufacturer....im gonna call ben tomorrow, and we will talk about it...... stay tuned! bryan



chester	Jun 29 2009, 09:38 PM Post #12
Bronze Medal Member Posts: 2,791 Group: Members Member #526 Joined: December 13, 2006	Well I certainly agree that trashing the author of the review should not be in order but none of us do that to each other anyway here. But if a kit manufacturer puts out a real dog then I'd want to be the first to know it so I didn't buy it. One thing I'd like to hear about are how good or bad an instruction sheet is too.



Bryan_M	Jun 29 2009, 10:25 PM Post #13
ADMINISTRATOR Posts: 12,445 Group: Admin Member #355 Joined: July 26, 2006	my thoughts exactly chester.........if its a crappy kit, then say its a crappy kit. and of course none of ever bash each other.........the instruction sheet would be a good idea too......... bryan



Mercman	Jun 29 2009, 10:50 PM Post #14
Bronze Medal Member Posts: 2,686 Group: Members Member #482 Joined: November 25, 2006	chester Jun 29 2009, 09:38 PM Well I certainly agree that trashing the author of the review should not be in order but none of us do that to each other anyway here. But if a kit manufacturer puts out a real dog then I'd want to be the first to know it so I didn't buy it. One thing I'd like to hear about are how good or bad an instruction sheet is too. On some other boards I belong to over the years some good people have quit due to FLAME WARS. Someone didn't like their opinion. It's never happened here, and I hope it doesn't. I too agree if the kit is bad, I would like to know. However if it just happens now, and then no sense in trashing the manufacturer. Everyone has bad days. Sometimes it can get real nit-picky about little details. For the instruction sheet idea, like I proposed pics, or scans on the mentioned kit would be good. I too would like to know if I would be capable of doing the kit. Mind you constructive criticisim is what we are after here, Is it a good buy for the money, or a waste. This would also apply to aftermarket parts, and makers. How was the service, and the quality of the product. Bryan, It would be great to do like you suggested, maybe put it in 2 categories. One for model kits, all scale mainly vehicles. One for dio stuff, buildings, parts , etc. Like Jim's thought this wouldd make it easier to locate a review.



Deleted User	Jun 30 2009, 03:02 AM Post #15
Deleted User	Seeing as how sometimes the finished product depends on the builders ability, what may be a problem for one may not be a problem for another. This is why being objective is the key, and if a kit is just junk, as Ken said, it is what it is and people have a right to know. I don't see how a negative review on a particular kit could or should end up with trashing the manufacturer. All manufacturers make a lemon every now and then, so make lemonade, lol. Any kit no matter how bad could be a candidate for a weathered dio subject, right? So, as long as everyone doing a review keeps in mind that the manufacturer is what keeps this hobby alive, some respect should always be shown when reviewing their products. However, if they don't hear the bad points from the builders perspective they will never improve the product. Just review the kits with all due respect and there shouldn't be any issues.
Deleted User


Mercman	Jun 30 2009, 03:36 AM Post #16
Bronze Medal Member Posts: 2,686 Group: Members Member #482 Joined: November 25, 2006	Drackopolis Jun 30 2009, 03:02 AM Seeing as how sometimes the finished product depends on the builders ability, what may be a problem for one may not be a problem for another. This is why being objective is the key, and if a kit is just junk, as Ken said, it is what it is and people have a right to know. I don't see how a negative review on a particular kit could or should end up with trashing the manufacturer. All manufacturers make a lemon every now and then, so make lemonade, lol. Any kit no matter how bad could be a candidate for a weathered dio subject, right? So, as long as everyone doing a review keeps in mind that the manufacturer is what keeps this hobby alive, some respect should always be shown when reviewing their products. However, if they don't hear the bad points from the builders perspective they will never improve the product. Just review the kits with all due respect and there shouldn't be any issues. BINGO!!!!!!!!!!! Exactly Drak.



chester	Jun 30 2009, 06:23 AM Post #17
Bronze Medal Member Posts: 2,791 Group: Members Member #526 Joined: December 13, 2006	Not to get off topic here but speaking of instruction sheet scans. If you're into big trucks, this Dutch modelers club has among the of myriad of info on the site, instruction sheet scans. http://public.fotki.com/modeltrucks25thscale/



Deleted User	Jun 30 2009, 10:41 AM Post #18
Deleted User	Mercman Jun 30 2009, 03:36 AM Drackopolis Jun 30 2009, 03:02 AM Seeing as how sometimes the finished product depends on the builders ability, what may be a problem for one may not be a problem for another. This is why being objective is the key, and if a kit is just junk, as Ken said, it is what it is and people have a right to know. I don't see how a negative review on a particular kit could or should end up with trashing the manufacturer. All manufacturers make a lemon every now and then, so make lemonade, lol. Any kit no matter how bad could be a candidate for a weathered dio subject, right? So, as long as everyone doing a review keeps in mind that the manufacturer is what keeps this hobby alive, some respect should always be shown when reviewing their products. However, if they don't hear the bad points from the builders perspective they will never improve the product. Just review the kits with all due respect and there shouldn't be any issues. BINGO!!!!!!!!!!! Exactly Drak. This was my mindset when I did a review for SA in '06. I pointed out the flaws, never dissing Revell, but I also included how I overcame the situation and made it work. It's rare that you find a perfect kit that goes together without a little creative thought being involved. But i'm still happy to have the kit regardless. My first step in building any kit is studying how it goes together and then making a plan of execution. some kits are a real pain and studying them first can help you avoid running into BIG problems later.
Deleted User


1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)


« Previous Topic · DIORAMA DISCUSSION · Next Topic »