Reviewers wanted for new sticky thread!

Well, anyone who frequents the board surely has noticed the new sticky at the top here, and I can definitely say that it'll be as useful for new modelers as the FAQ's.

However, we will need reviews consistently contributed to the thread in order to make it useful, and many different reviews at that. I've already contributed one, and will contribute more. But given all the releases out there and the huge variety of subject matter I certainly couldn't cover it all.

I figure it'll take 10+ people, myself included, who are prolific kit buyers/builders and are inherently familiar with automobiles to create a worthwhile kit review thread. Heavy anti-Fujimi, anti-Revell, anti-AMT, or what have you biases won't be welcome. Also, all the reviewers are going to need to keep in touch with each other to make sure we don't have multiple reviews.

P-man was willing to make the sticky thread, and his efforts are greatly appreciated. Now it's up to us to make it work.

The rating system will be a 1 through 10 scale. A "ten" kit is going to have to be a rare example, encompassing incredible detail, revolutionary building features or options, near universally appealing subject matter, and 100% accuracy at a reasonable price. By the same token, 1's will be rare, having severe inaccuracies, poor detail, lousy fit, and being over-priced.

To give examples of each; a "10" kit would be Accurate Miniatures Mclaren Mk8B. A "1" kit would be the Lindberg reissue of the Pyro 1948 Lincoln Continental.

So, who's up for this? I want names and I want them pronto. Think of it this way; with the review thread permanent there'll eventually be no need to answer "Is this kit good?" threads. :biggrin:

You can count me in if you need me. I don't know if I fit your criteria but I am willing.

My props to you thats a great idea i would help you but i lack the model building experience that this requires. But its a good thing cause i know people that bought models and the quality wasnt good so good luck to your project.

im up for it im on this forums like 24/7 so pick me lol and i have built and own a very large amount of models

Okay, SLK320 and Drumcat, glad to see you're enthusiastic. Just need some sample reviews from you guys to see what you can do. Just make sure to get in-depth on all the primary stuff; body, interior, chassis, and engine (if the kit has one).

The major points to judge a kit on are the following:

Accuracy: This must be held to above all else. A kit can get by with a lack of options, an obscene price, and fiddly fit if it's accurate to the 1/1 vehicle.

Fit & Finish: Does the kit build well? Are there any hiccups or unclear points in the instructions? Is there a lot of flash and mold lines? What about the quality of the chrome, clear, and other such finished parts? Do the decals lay down well and are they complete? That's fit & finish.

Value: Value is the last thing to judge, but it's crucial in determining where the kit lies in comparison to other kits. Basically, compare what the MSRP is to what you got. Things that up value are optional parts, highly demanded subject matter, and wide ranging usability. For instance, if Revell released an S13 240SX fastback kit in 1:24th scale with an SR20DET optional engine that would be a highly-usable kit because of all the applications for the parts therein.

So, pick a kit, review it on those terms, and PM it my way and you'll have your answer. And anyone else that's interested, the same goes for you. No preference to mods or beautiful women.....

....maybe to beautiful women. :naughty:

Layla's Keeper- is it going to be one review per kit? I wouldn't mind being part of this.

i'd definatly like writing reviews!

Ok. you got it

Yes Chaos, definitely one review per kit. That's one of the reasons I'm trying to keep a tight leash on this; to prevent 70 reviews of the Tamiya R34 Skyline kit saying it kicks a$$ and nobody stopping to mention that Aoshima has a passable Cefiro kit.

I figure as soon as the thread has a good number of kits reviewed, we can go back and give second opinions. But that's a ways off.

Glad to have more interest, but remember. I'll need sample reviews. Once I have sample reviews, I can start making determinations as to who will be on the review staff.

Afraid I don't have the PM, slk320. If you're going to e-mail the sample review to me, then e-mail it to [email protected]

Sorry about not being clearer before, but the e-mail account that my account here at AF is routed to is one I lost the password to a long time ago.

Okay, i sent my sample review.

Okay, I've read CamaroSSBoy's review. He's in. That leaves 9 more slots to fill. C'mon folks, get to those keyboards.

CSB, how about posting that AMT Camaro review in the sticky thread with some better paragraph breaks. ;)

Just sent Pm and Email.

Well I wouldn't say I was a prolific builder, I have a habit of having 8 or 10 going at the same time. But I bet I could contribute 2 or 3 per year.
I am nearing completion on a Lindberg 61 Impala SS and the Revell Baldwin Motion Vette, so I could have those for you early next year.
I build mostly Classic American Cars, Muscle , Rat Rods....
I have a pretty good collection going so over time I think I could contribute quite a few.
Drop me a line if you are interested.

Darin

Okay, two more slots have been filled. So currently, the review team is;

Myself.
CamaroSSBoy346.
bigfrit.
slk320.

Dag65, "prolific builder" doesn't necessarily mean "prolific project completer". Also, subject matter isn't that important, as we're going to need to cover a lot of different kits. Just make sure that you don't review a kit that's already been reviewed. You can send a sample review my way and we'll see what can be done.

A suggestion make a thread for each individual review, and link them from the main Sticky. It would be like the FAQ, and other such posts. It would also allow for an organized of reviews for the individual cars.

:iamwithst:

I would like to take part in this, but I am afraid to commit to something I may not have to devote to on a regular basis. Will know more hopefully in the coming weeks.

I'd be happy to review the kits I build. I've sent you an email w/ a sample, let me know what you think.

^^^^same Here I Sent Mine In

Blueboost is now aboard the team.

Hawk312, I'm basically hoping to get about 15 quality reviews out of each member of the team. If this can be managed, that's 150 kits reviewed. Once that occurs, the plausibility of a searchable database will be investigated. As of now, there's too few reviews to wonder about.

Once the whole review team is gathered, I'll PM you all with some basic guidelines for future reviewing. I'm also going to see if I can convince one of the graphics savvy people into creating a logo for our signatures.

I'm thinking the title will be "Official AF Model Rivet Counter". Sounds good, huh? :biggrin:

Also, welcome CADguy aboard, too.

So, now the team is;
Myself
CamaroSSBoy346
bigfrit
blueboost
CADguy
slk320


That leaves four more open spots.

Once the whole review team is gathered, I'll PM you all with some basic guidelines for future reviewing. I'm also going to see if I can convince one of the graphics savvy people into creating a logo for our signatures.

That would be really cool. :)

i sent in my revised copy layla...check yer pm box....also, if you wouild like i could include solme information on the real car and lowriders....

zach

i sent in my revised copy layla...check yer pm box....also, if you wouild like i could include solme information on the real car and lowriders....

zach

Zach, I've sent you my reply. It took me a while to determine how to word it. Sorry about the delay.

testing my new official signature!

werd :smokin:

All right, two more team positions filled.

Welcome Zcaithaca and Willster127 to the Rivet Counters.

Please help the reviewers.

What kits might you fine folks be considering to buy that you would like a review of?

Cool, I'll copy my review over to the relevant thread.

I hope this signature works!!

Our sig pics dont work? BTW, if everyone could PM me their email's that would be great

I'll see what I can do to fix the sig problem.

here is my email. [email protected]

I feel its easier to communicate via a mass mailer.

-Paul

I agree slk, I just sent you all one PM each and it wasn't exactly the funnest thing I've done today.

so...

[email protected]

Is there still a spot open? I'd like to do one on a kit I just started: AMT R/T TT Stealth AWD.

my email is [email protected]

I e-mail it to you or Layla's keeper before I post it in the sticky?

pm it to layla and he will probly approve your review and make you a part of the team

Well, two more spots are filled. SR5 and Chaos picked up the latest two.

So, here's the complete list.

myself
Willster127
Zcaithaca
blueboost
chaos
slk320
CamaroSSBoy346
bigfrit
CADguy
drumcat

opps, my bad, i didnt know that thread is for official reveiwers only.
i'll remove mine accordingly...sorry...

yeh, i didn't even notice that.
You can put me down if you feel my writing and reviewing is responsible. If not, I'll remove it.

sorry again for the confusion.

Sebstar, SweetwhiteCAV, you guys don't have to take yours down (plus your reviews are pretty good) just be more mindful in the future.

The thread isn't so much just for the official review team as the team is for sustaining the thread. With the team, I hope to have a standardized system of review that can be easily referred to and easily trusted. The goal is to eventually build up a library of kit reviews so that we can cut down on the "Is this kit any good" threads that pop up frequently. At the least, the review thread will allow us to deal with those for common kits; i.e Tamiya Supra, Revell Integra, AMT F&F kits, and the like.

It's preferred that the reviewing be left to us, but I'll accept all the help we can get so long as it's intelligently written and fully informative. Naturally, I won't hold anyone to a standard higher than what I hold myself to. So take a look at my reviews and you'll see what level I expect (and, as time goes on, demand).

hey peeps... glad people have some interest in the kit review thread... put my name almost everywhere on the forums :) btw... i made that sig... cant wait to read some more reviews :)

Yep, SchuberT is to be thanked for the logo. He came up with it based on my rambling description and came up with it in a little less than a day, too.

Hey Layla's Keeper, I'd like very much to be on this team, but for the moment I am vacationing in Boston so I can't prepare a sample review (unless I can sneak a model from the store when my girl isnt lookin'). However, if you've got any spots open come the 14th I'll make one up and shoot it your way. I think I was with you when you pushed this idea a few months ago, and I think it's a very worthwhile venture. Anyway, drop me a line or whatever, and if I don't respond for a while, sorry, I have limited access to computers at the mo.

I agree with the database approach instead of the "all in one thread only one review per kit" approach. The sticky thread at the top of the page could outline basic rules for getting your review thread into the database. Then, if people don't agree with the original review, they can add a supplemental review, and even comment on the previous reviewer's review.

A simple scheme would be that if a person wants to write a kit review, he posts a new thread with the title "Kit Review(s): ______name of kit_______" and writes his review in that thread. Then, he sends a PM with a link to the review to one of the 10 moderators, who file it into the database. The database could be sorted by Kit Manufacturer (eg Tamiya), or car manufacturer (eg Nissan), or both. The sticky thread then would be only one post, constantly under revision.

This scheme is pretty clear in my head. If it's unclear how I wrote it, please ask for clarification, and I'll do my best.

I feel it's important to have a good sized number of reviews up first before a database is considered. With only 15 odd reviews right now. It's a bit tricky.

Willimo, I can certainly see about adding you on the 14th. I'd need a sample review. And it'll hinge on how many reviews I get out of the staff by then.