Group Build Advice and Calendar Additions

Feedback, Help and Testing Suggestions and Feedback
1

Hi all,

This comes from a discussion I had with Nathan T about bringing a little bit of structure to the Group Builds forum.

What do you guys think of creating a permanently sticky message with some advice for running successful group builds and a permanently sticky thread that would list the current group builds along with their start and end dates. We’d want to keep the calendar thread clear of comments and only list the builds and dates there.

Creating a separate Future Group Builds forum isn’t feasible at this time because we don’t have someone dedicated to managing a calendar. One of the nice things about the FSM Forum is that you guys do a great job of floating your own ideas, organizing them, and getting them underway.

Let us know what you think. If the consensus is that the additions would be helpful, we’ll talk to some of the GB vets and get the best info we can for the advice column to help novices. Then we’ll get the calendar going. That one will be an on your honor thing. If we end up with a bunch of non-related posts cluttering it up, we’ll can it.

Thanks,

Tim

2

I defiantly think the advice for running GB’s would be a good idea. Thinks do seem to have gotten a little hap hazard lately.

The calendar might also be a good idea as it might encourage people to plan ahead rather than just start GB’s off the cuff.

I give a thumbs up to both and lets see how they go.

3

So in the calendar thread a person would be able to go back to their gb thread and edit any date changes? No locked threads once they are posted?

4

Right. Locking the thread wouldn’t work because we would need members to have access to go back in to add new GBs and edit past posts.

5

Though I think once the GB has started, there would be little need to go back to the calendar. And its usually when a GB is well under way that dates change.

6

Works for me!

I’ve tried to keep the rules simple and clear on the two GBs I’ve run and started on Jan 1 and ended on Dec 31 just to be easy and simple there as well.

7

Sounds great to me! I’m all for organization! And you have a great group of GB Vets to talk to about details. I like the idea.

Eagle90

8

I think it’s certainly worth a try.

However, I do not think it should become mandatory. Rules tend to become burdensome.

Anyone should be allowed to start a GB at any time.

Any GB should be allowed to be as long or as short as it wants.

There should be no restrictions on who can join, ie. now and then we see proposals limited to nationalities, state residences etc.

9

The only reason the calendar would be there is to help people know what’s currently running. So, hopefully, it would benefit the GB-runner to put a GB on the calendar. However, if a GB-runner didn’t want to have a GB on the calendar, he or she wouldn’t have to.

As always, a GB’s length is up to its runner. As for who can join, I don’t think it’s unreasonable to put a cut-off on the number of participants (First 20 aboard the SS AWESOME GB and then we close the doors!) or giving a final date for signing up. Again, those decisions are up to the GB-runner. Beyond that, there shouldn’t be (and I don’t think I’ve seen anyone try while I’ve been with on the Forum) any restrictions due to a participants nation, city of residence, etc.

Sorry if I gave the impression that I was suggesting those sorts of restrictions. It definitely wasn’t my intention.

10

The purpose of the GB calander forum would be to serve as a one stop shop, quick glance to see all Gb’s currently running and their dates- to serve as a easy reminder or to help out people new to the forum, without having to scroll through the current GB forum to find everything. Member’s wouldn’t be required to post their gb info there if they didnt’ want to. But it would be good advertising if they did, so to speak. But still, all replys to it would go in the appropriate gb thread, like we do now.

11

GM, I can’t say I have ever seen a GB restricted to people of a certain region, at least on here. What’s being proposed is that the GB’s continue to be run just as they are, with members starting GB’s when they want and on what ever subject they like. Its one of the great things about this forum, the GB’s are not controlled and limited to just those that are popular.

But hopefully, what’s being proposed will help make the GB’s run better with people being able to plan their GB’s around whats already up and coming.

12

Planning is always good.

Yeah, I’ve seen them over the years- girls only, vets only, Michiganders only. It’s not a big deal.

13

Would there be a way to delete a post after the GB is over? Or would the “host” have to post/edit a “CLOSED” notice?

14

i like the idea of a calendar that lists name, start date, end date and host. i also like some basic guidelines that are not rules but “helps” for first time GB hosts. i don’t like the idea of a limited number of participants though i do inderstand the thought behind it. numbers can be limited by limiting the subject. for example the FIRE/EMS GB was open to any thing; wheels, boats, planes, because the subject matter and interest was a limiting factor while something like CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT would be too limiting (though i have 2 that would fit but i’m wierd) while WW2 GERMAN FIGHTERS would probably be too broad.

for me some GBs are things i have a lot of while others just sound interesting and different and “OH LOOK I HAVE ONE IN THE STASH.” GB lengths are also subject dependant. a TOWED GUN GB doesn’t need a year while a SHIP GB probably does.

just some random thoughts after spending all day at a local contest.

15

We really need something though. I’m about to build an A-10 and was looking to see if it fit into any of the current GBs but I can’t find anything.

16

I think it’s a goond idea to have the calendar in the GB forum. It really makes planning future GBs easier, as well as finding a GB for a model you’d like to build!

17

I can’t think of any of the current GB’s would suit your A-10, but don’t let that stop you building it. Do a WiP, you may well get more views and comments in that.

While I am a big fan of GB’s, we should restrict our builds just to them.

18

I almost always chose the next kit first and then I’ll drop it in a GB. If there is no GB then construction still goes on according to plan.

I do think a calendar or list of current GBs would be great though. I spent a lot of time to find nothing.

19

I have started our alpha run of the Group Build Schedule and added the first GB–the Heroes & Villains GB Aaron and I are running.

Feel free to enter your GBs into the schedule. Let’s try to keep them organized similarly, and provide a hotlink to your GB in the name. That way, if someone’s interested, they can click to go look at it.

Let’s see how this works.

20

Pyrman64,

Once your GB has ended, you should be able to go in to delete your post. If you can’t delete it, then editing it to say closed should be enough. If you can’t delete the entry, notify a moderator (Aaron or me at this time, potentially someone else in the future, as these things do change) so he or she can delete it from the schedule.