Reformat the Reviews Thread?

Hey AF Modelers,

We're thinking of splitting up the Reviews thread (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=169216) to make it work more like the Tutorial and How-To Depository (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=215864).

Basically, each kit review would get its own thread, which will make way for commentary on that particular kit and review in that same thread.

What do you think? Pros and cons, please? Which will work better for you? Which will help you find the information you need? Discuss.

Bonus issue to discuss: What should we do with two reviews of identical, or nearly identical kits? Separate threads for each reviewer, or one thread per subject? Or something else...?

Hi,

I know some people take a lot of time and put a lot of effort into a 'big' review but I just ain't got the time to scroll through a novel just to find out the kit aint that great.

I think what would be good is a rating system along with a short description and photo's of the unassembled and assembled (if done at the time of the review) of the kit.

You could grade them in marks out of ten (or five) in categories such as mould quality, value for money, decal difficultness etc etc (you mods will know of better/other categories than this newbie's head can muster.

Just a thought!

Sounds like a great idea to me.
It would make sense to put all the reviews on the same kit together. Could get a bit long winded, but talking about modeling is what this forum is all about! People could even post links to pics showing how they've built that particular kit.

In all honesty, I treat the reviews like many new members treat the FAQ, I don't visit them.

In all honesty, I treat the reviews like many ne members treat the FAQ, I don't visit them.
I'm Sorry, but that's me as well :slap:

Maybe it could have it's own sub forum like the complete and in progress because as it is now you have to look through all the pages to find something. This could be a reason for there not being many reviews also. I suppose some people want reviews that are very specific, especially for competition cars, but for me i just like to know roughly how many parts and does it go together better than the average revell kit. Pictures of the parts would be good and just a few words on accuracy and quality would do for me.

While you're at it recombine the Street and Motorsport forums, it sucks having them seperate.

I read them on occasion but very rarely; I have no comments it it other than that. :(

While you're at it recombine the Street and Motorsport forums, it sucks having them seperate.
:iagree:
I rarely get over to the motorsports section, as I'm currently not building a race car, but when I do remember to check that section out, I see that I'm missing out on some very cool builds. Just compare the times viewed in the MS section to the other section, and it's plain to see that the motorsports forum is a flop.

Maybe it could have it's own sub forum like the complete and in progress because as it is now you have to look through all the pages to find something.


I sooooo support that idea! A new sub forum just for reviews would be great.
If I want to buy a new kit, I want to know about the quality of it, so it is positive to have reviews. But having them all in one thread is not that great. You have to scroll and look for a very long time to find a review that you would like to read.

But if there would be a sub-forum a new thread with all the reviews listed would be great. Maybe they could be listed like this:

Nissan:
- Nissan Skyline R34 Gt-R / 1/24 / Tamiya

In all honesty, I treat the reviews like many ne members treat the FAQ, I don't visit them.

same :(

but if you want, I can try to make a webpage system that user can update on there own.

While you're at it recombine the Street and Motorsport forums, it sucks having them seperate.

well you get used with time. I like it now.

An index page would be a good addition.
:p

like some, i don't visit the review thread at all.

I used to visit the review thread, but I don't any long because it is hard to find what you need. I think that the only thing needed is a new post at the beginning of the thread (are mods able to do that? insert a post into an existing thread?) with links to each review in the thread. The new first post would read just as a list of the kits reviewed, with each one a link to that post in the thread. That would be better than cutting it up into seperate threads becase 1. that would be a lot of work for you and 2. every time a new review was posted, the thread would still be all pretty and yellow and stuff so we'd know. A sub forum or anything more complicated than the above would be, in my opinion, a waste of energy and bandwidth. You'll get maximum effect from minimum effort this way.

I've read de reviews once since I came here on AF. I don't really like to read them first because it always is a long story. Second, because I've to scroll until my finger hurts to see al the posts there. It would at least be very helpfull when it would be organized like the FAQ/Tutorials. I think more people will use it when it is like that way. I think it's a good idea.

I dont have time to read through all the posts, but what about a review sub forum?

That's because these reviews aren't visited so often that I think it may be a good idea to develop the new format you've proposed us!

Some other forum are using this method: 1 thread for 1 kit, and as many reviewers or reactions you want in each. With lots of pics, few words, and lots of experiences shared...

The point is just to ask people to make a review each time they buy a new kit: the list could be impressive rapidly! :D

It can become a very attractive part of AF, believe me! All we need is PICS PICS PICS! :lol:

Edit: it would permit to avoid such threads as "how about this kit? And this one? Anyone has built this?..."

Making it working as a sub-forum (same level as street & motorsports sections) can be a good idea too, as it may, it should, it must become huge!

Edit: it would permit to avoid such threads as "how about this kit? And this one? Anyone has built this?..."


Not so sure. You know, people have hard time to see the FAQ, the How To and even thread that are 3 post below. :lol:

I'm For The Reformat!!!It Will Make It Easey To Find The Kit You Want To Know About

I've visited the review thread once, a long time ago. I might actually read it again if the reviews were split up.

While you're at it recombine the Street and Motorsport forums, it sucks having them seperate.

Hmm... Maybe we should start a discussion about this, it has been around long enough now for us to see how it's working.

Well, as the person who founded the review thread (with Kiwibot assistance), I'm honestly very disappointed in it. I've put a ton of effort into all of my reviews (the Stratos review took a full two months because of lackluster reference material on the rear suspension) and I've done all I can to make them informative on both the kit and the subject matter.

I will say this, though, we will reformat the review thread, but the reviews themselves WILL STAY AS IS. The rating system is thorough and easy to understand. Kits are rated on their accuracy, detail, fit, options, and value with varying values placed on each category. The categories are totalled and then a kit score is assigned.

So, no Bas Carwash and Tikiman, the scoring system AND the "long-winded" review are not going to get replaced. You'll destroy the quality of the reviews over my dead body. I agree that pictures are a good idea to add. I have not had adequate equipment for this until recently, though.

What's being discussed is making it easier to find reviews of specific kits. I do believe strongly in this and agree that a system closer to the FAQ setup will work well, but I will NOT accept any change in the review format. We have a universal ratings system and we have a standard of quality to keep. If a reader cannot compare one kit's review to another because some yokel betrays the standard, then the reviews are rendered useless.

I repeat. DO NOT change the standard for the reviews. Change the format for finding them, but DO NOT change the standard.

As a member for a while now i find the review section pretty useless. i think it would be better to break down the kits by company. currently some reviews dont have titles to let you know what kit they are talking about. also split up kits, after-market, resin, etc.... but all the same i dont think id bother looking to much as my first experience with the thread was annoying. no offense but as the thread stands its not much help to consumers.

P.S. i would love to review kits but as it stands any reviews would just get buried before they were read and i would have the duty of linking it to replies
. im not to computer savvy so.....

I'd certainly welcome some help with the reviews. As much as I'd like, I can't very well run out and buy every kit ever produced, sit at home with stacks of reference books and Googling information through the night plus dry-fitting and assembling the kits thoroughly by the instructions to sort out fit.

It'd take too long and I've got other habits (slot car racing, drifting, MGB GT rebuilding) to invest my meager pay in.

But, again, the idea is to take the current reviews, give each one its own thread, and then link to all of them in a single stickied "Review Listings" thread. This would allow for feedback on the reviews (as well as questions for those who want more information) and would make it easier to locate the specific kit review people are looking for.

Sounds like a good plan. I dont think there should be feedback to a review though. We have PM for that. If a kit is reviewed more than once then it should be add to the same thread but feedback is a bit contrary. sorry just my opinion. otherwise if you reformat id certainly contribute.

I too must hold my hands up to not visiting the reveiw pages that much, for many of the already mentioned reasons. A one off reveiw with no feedback option would be better, however the problem is that reviews are subjective due to the fact that a ' bad kit ' to a newbie may be buildable to someone with years of practice so the issue you have is that a scoring system is needed based on fixed parameters so your reveiws are comparable and so useful in the scheme of things,also it should have the facility to also add your expertise level. An index system would be great as you can then only search for the specific subject if you wished to.

I like that idea also. Easier to pick up your kit in the list.

i think it might be worth having a set format for reviews that covers the things that people would want to know.
a lot of the guys who write reviews already write separate paragraphs about things such as detail, fit etc etc....
is this possible?

We already have a universal standard scoring system. Here's how a kit is scored.

Accuracy: 3 - 0 to 3 points are awarded based on how correct the proportions, measurements, and parts are of the kit.

Fit&Finish: 2 - 0 to 2 points are awarded based how well the parts fit together, how much sense the instructions make, and the quality of the tooling of the parts in the kit.

Detail: 1.5 - 0 to 1 and a half points are awarded based upon the amount of parts represented correctly in building the car. This is a slightly more relative score as curbside kits are judged relative to other curbside kits (meaning a kit with an engine won't necessarily get a higher detail score than a curbside)

Options: 1.5 - 0 to 1 and a half points are awarded based on extra parts in the kit that allow for multiple building versions or modification. These parts are also judged for quality, accuracy, and desirability (so no AMT, extra license plates doesn't get you anything).

Value: 2 - 0 to 2 points are awarded by comparing the four previous stats to an average retail price to determine if you are getting enough kit for the buck.

Final Verdict: 10 - the total of the above scoring.

So far, the lowest kit score we've given was to the Testors "Full Detail" Chezoom (2.5) and the highest to the Revell '32 Ford Coupe Street Rod (perfect 10).

I repeat. DO NOT change the standard for the reviews. Change the format for finding them, but DO NOT change the standard.Granted, but how about adding a summary to the top (or bottom) for our A.D.D.-afflicted modelers? Like the total score, the broken-down score, and a short list of pro and cons?

And I'm keen on the idea of locking the review threads, but still merging into one thread reviews of the same kit. That makes the best way to express an opinion contrary to a review already posted, to post one of your own...

Right? :dunno:

And I'm keen on the idea of locking the review threads, but still merging into one thread reviews of the same kit. That makes the best way to express an opinion contrary to a review already posted, to post one of your own...

Right? :dunno:

Thats what i was saying.that way if you feel like a kit has a bad/good review then write your own. but i strongly believe it needs to be broken down by each car by whatever company. i have a 120+ kits in my house and i would love to do some reviews but im not going to build each one to review it. i think id just like to make a personal decision on fit, accuracy, etc... add some pics of kit and trees and there you go. simple reference. i can see if a kit is good or not by viewing it. i dont need to mock it up. lets keep it simple but useful. kind of like on HLJ.com, they have pics of the kit and trees on alot of kits and then we add a paragraph or two about how things look; flash, mold lines, warps, blem, etc... this would make the thread useful though newbs wont use it like anything else useful on this site but i know i would like overviews on kits. the rating system is fine but dodgy but ive got no problems with it on a whole.

Perhaps we could have a distinction between "Full Review" and "Quick Review"/"Preview"/etc...

I think both could be valuable and co-exist well, and I tihnk both could still effectively use the rating system already in place.

Perhaps we could have a distinction between "Full Review" and "Quick Review"/"Preview"/etc...

I think both could be valuable and co-exist well, and I tihnk both could still effectively use the rating system already in place.

Well yeah i meant that i could review alot of kits in short detail. in-depth reviews are great as well. i build 1 kit a year :lol2: so that would limit things on my side. i would just like to do short reviews to put kits on the board, reference really. and also add the in-depth reviews as they are written. but in the same thread of course.

One of the problems of the review thread is the exposure. I don't visit the review page very often either, because it's buried under a sub forum. By the time I read the main page and progress pages for street and racing, that's more than enough for me to check a day.

If the review threads are posted in the main forum like they used to be, I will most likely read them and leave some comments.

I think we just need an index page at the top of the main forum, and the page points to each review thread (, which may include links to progress threads as well, because they do include crucial information to decide what to buy, etc. ) And if the index is sorted by car manufacturer, that'll be better.

As for the level of review, I think it can be out-of-the-box, dry-fit or complete.

I don't care what's done to the review format, I think it should be left to however one wants to write it. However I do agree that all the reviews on one kit be put in the same thread. You get to read different opinions on the same kit without having to wade through, say, 3 different threads about the same model. One could even get a hold of a new kit, post pics of all the trees, and leave it at that. Then someone else could do the review if they wanted to, another might actually build the entire kit, etc.


If someone down the line has a problem with the kit it could be posted in the thread. For example one could ask if the reviewer had the same problem on fitting certain parts together, and that would add to the overall review of the kit. Imagine having to post to multiple review threads just to ask "Was your front fender warped also?"

Review formats and ratings would be moot, since you'd get all types of reviews in one thread anyway.