Does anyone have an interest in doing group build anymore?

[Geoff M]

Title says it all.  Thanks for your reply.

 

[southwestforests]

My health is a bit of a mess any more and completing any build of anything is iffy, which is a discouragement from participating in a group build.

[habu2]

I thought group builds required an active admin and associated privileges, and since SBARC has all but abandoned the forum, getting those privs set up has become difficult if not impossible.  Am I right in thinking that>

[Da SWO]

I'm not a fast builder. The last F-16 Group Build had a long window so I could participate. 

It would also need to be something in my stash.

Then I can be in.

[WymanV]

I know there are (were?) dedicated group build moderators here but as I recall it still requires Steve to actually create the page and getting that done seems to be akin to pulling bear's teeth. Not to mention many of the usual active participants have drifted off as Steve has. I always wondered if a go-around could be to revive an old group build, post links here in GD and the appropriate sub-forum and just add new posts to the existing forum. I don't believe any of them have been locked and there are a lot to choose from.

 

 I wrapped a group build project not long ago on the On The Bench podcast FB page and I'm always looking for another that catches my interest.

[airmechaja]

Phantom is the closest we have to admin. on this forum and his powers are limited. He might chime in on this one.

[phantom]

The past couple group builds we tried around here were busts. Apart from the other "kind of a moderator" and I, very few builds were finished. We tried extending the GB from 6 months to an entire freaking YEAR and hardly anyone else finished.

We tried giving stuff away, that did not even work. a couple times people who promised a prize just fell off of the face of the earth. I just hope they didn't die or something. I have no way of finding out. It got very discouraging. I would build 4 models, the other mod would build a couple and that was it. Lots of people chime in, say this is a great idea I am in. Some start, but hardly anyone ever finished.

 

I am not against the idea, they used to be great, but if you are in you have to be IN!

 

 

Oh as for starting the GB page, as mentioned my powers are limited. Most of what I do around here is JUST erasing spam, mostly Asian gambling and porn sites. I mean sure, I was once bitten by a radioactive lawyer, but all I got was the power of attorney.

Edited September 12 by phantom

[Geoff M]

14 minutes ago, phantom said:

The past couple group builds we tried around here were busts. Apart from the other "kind of a moderator" and I, very few builds were finished. We tried extending the GB from 6 months to an entire freaking YEAR and hardly anyone else finished.

We tried giving stuff away, that did not even work. a couple times people who promised a prize just fell off of the face of the earth. I just hope they didn't die or something. I have no way of finding out. It got very discouraging. I would build 4 models, the other mod would build a couple and that was it. Lots of people chime in, say this is a great idea I am in. Some start, but hardly anyone ever finished.

 

I am not against the idea, they used to be great, but if you are in you have to be IN!

 

 

Oh as for starting the GB page, as mentioned my powers are limited. Most of what I do around here is JUST erasing spam, mostly Asian gambling and porn sites. I mean sure, I was once bitten by a radioactive lawyer, but all I got was the power of attorney.

Sounds like a no to me 😒

[Kurt H.]

It was fun, I ran a couple group builds, and I  enjoyed working with co-moderators, and watching some awesome builds. 

 

I think the things that ended up hurting participation were

• The long lead time - it could take a few months for the group build calendar to have a slot open
• The process to get 20 votes
• Absence of moderators to create the forums

By the time the group build slot opened, many people may have moved on to another project, or lost enthusiasm for the Group build subject.

As participation in the forums as a whole declined fairly quickly, it was much harder to get the 20 required votes. Finally, with the moderators gone, we could not set up a GB admin and the offical forum thread for the group build. 

 

I think the rules and procedures for Group Builds were needed for the time when this forum was much busier. Without structure, the too many group builds could start and it would be come a mess. The rules and procedures did not change with the reduced participation in the ARC Forums as a whole, which led us to the current situation. 

 

 

 

I think the one way forward for Group builds here would be:

 

• Designate a new GB Admin 
• Make the calendar more flexible - if someone has an idea be able to start much faster
• reduce the amount of votes needed, or eliminate this requirement

First we need a new admin. I seem to remember doing a group build where we started within a week or two of getting enough votes, and it worked pretty well.  I think with the present amount of participation in the ARC Forums, 3 to 5 people who are excited enough  to do a group build should be enough to get started, which could encourage people to jump in. 

 

Personally, I do not like Group builds any more, here or in other venues. I realized I do not enjoy projects I have to do, or that have a deadline. It almost feels like work instead of a fun hobby.  I guess the only way it appeals to me is to build something I wanted to build anyway. 

 

[Spook498]

You know, we could just pick a subject, jet, prop, car, etc., and start a thread. People post their updates and a few pics or tips, etc., and go that route. I have always been well intentioned in joining a group build but working two jobs and raising kids doesnt give me much "me" time. Although that is slowly changing with winter coming around.

 

The "like minded subject build" thread.

[phantom]

Kay, someone who wants to run a group build. STEP UP and run.

Duties include. 

 

BUILDING A MODEL that is in the group build.

CHECKING AND COMMENTING on the other builds going on in YOUR GB.

If you are giving out a prize or three (not actually required) GIVE OUT THE DAMN PRIZE at the end of the GB.

Show up and check out what is going on, at least every other day.

 

Its not like you need me or another "low power moderator", you could just start a thread anywhere and start building.

The major problem is all the people that say "Yep, I am in," Then never show up, Then the couple that show up but never finish.

I mean seriously people, we ALL have lives and things happen, but if you are going to commit then COMMIT.

[airmechaja]

But, we did have some fun in them when they worked. 15 years ago. Just say'n.

[Drifterdon]

On 9/12/2024 at 2:23 PM, Spook498 said:

You know, we could just pick a subject, jet, prop, car, etc., and start a thread. People post their updates and a few pics or tips, etc., and go that route. I have always been well intentioned in joining a group build but working two jobs and raising kids doesnt give me much "me" time. Although that is slowly changing with winter coming around.

 

The "like minded subject build" thread.

I was thinking the same thing here.   

I know I used to be one of those that would say I was in on group builds but never got anything finished.   Between work, raising the family and other outside activities, models just didn't find the time.  Then my health went down the dumper and finding time to sit at the bench got even more problematic.

I'd be in for just picking a subject and going with it.

[phantom]

2 hours ago, Drifterdon said:

I was thinking the same thing here.   

I know I used to be one of those that would say I was in on group builds but never got anything finished.   Between work, raising the family and other outside activities, models just didn't find the time.  Then my health went down the dumper and finding time to sit at the bench got even more problematic.

I'd be in for just picking a subject and going with it.

Then pick a subject and run the GB. I will still join (if the subject is of interest to me). But I won't run them anymore. But willing to help as are a couple of others around here.

[eraucubsfan]

I will echo what a few have been saying.  The biggest issue that we have run into lately is, not having a dedicated area of the forum for the GB.  Unfortunately, only the admin can start/add stuff to the location.  We would be stuck (like we have lately) running the group build in the normal forums.  This becomes convoluted as there ends up being multiple threads started for the GB.   

 

I will fully admit that I promised a prize for the Tomcat GB but didn't deliver.  However, life did get in the way.  This is the issue with year-long group builds.  

 

I think until SBARC returns or one of us gets more ADMIN privileges, the GB just won't function as they used too.     

 

[Kurt H.]

On 9/13/2024 at 11:35 AM, airmechaja said:

But, we did have some fun in them when they worked. 15 years ago. Just say'n.

 

Yes we did. It really was fun, Especially when a popular topic was chosen, and the group build originator was highly involved.   A group build does not work as well on other platforms since you can not segregate the posts the way you can with a forum.  It was fun being a mini mod with my own GBs. I did struggle to keep up with the posts, but it was rewarding to see others join in and build great models based on my idea. 

 

 

Edited September 18 by Kurt H.

[Geoff M]

I would like to see them start up again but I realize without the ability to start a separate group build page it is harder.  I always enjoyed the ones I was able to participate in. 

[Thadeus]

I did have a lot of fun in them too! Group builds were quite fun. Quite often seeing people build same kits in a few different ways was interesting.

The separate page for GB was quite fun but the later ones did kind of suffer from low number of participants and low visitor counts. All that buzz in the thread was extremely cool. Ideas, propositions and such.

Whatever the case - if the subject is of my interest, You can pretty much count me in with at least one project.

[Robert Garelli]

I would be very interested in being part of a group build again, its been a long time.  I wish Steve would just hand the reins over to someone willing to make this forum great again. 

[Ryan Hothersall]

Shame group builds died out here. 
 

However, they are still alive and well on other sites like britmodeller.com. 

[bashace]

Being a GB moderator takes a lot of time and dedication, it seems I had a lot more time 10 years ago than I do now for some reason. I found being a GBM was fun and rewarding, but also challenging to keep the momentum going. Someday I hope to have the time to commit again, just need to stop life from getting in the way!