Your opinion requested..!

[hizootdklown]

As many of you know, Timbo & I have been communicating a lot as of late. One of the questions we asked ourselves is "are these challenges successful"..? I know what Tim's response was, soooo now it's your turn... Whadda ya think or did you give that up for Lent..?

Hizoot ;D

[davea]

Aww man, now you make us choose! I like the contests AND the challenges, and I love my beer!

[justincredible]

Well I spend my time on the sofa-

[Darren "DJ" Finlayson]

Ya know there is th Big Rig Hot Rod challenege... and the first postings of progress are going to start in just a few hours.

Right now there are three contestants, but I'm sure we could make room for more in our convoy. he he he he

Rules are simple, use big rig parts, monthly updates, and have fun! Use your imagination here guys.... who knows what we might end up with at the then. I'm hoping to see some really BIG hot rods. ;D

Below are a few examples of what COULD happen, from the Blastolene web site. Yes, these WERE big rigs. *evil grin*








I know I'm pumped about this challenge, and I hope it will help me actually finish a model... for once... in several years. Why not let the challenges be fair game to those who want to propose them and want to participate in them? I believe the real sucess if if people have fun with the builing challenege and if people have enjoy watching the progress of the builds.

My two cents worth.......

[joed]

well the challenge that ramone and had was to me and l think ramone as well that it was successful
we both had fun and pushed us as well
but l do like a good contest as well
and l do miss the contests and we haven't had one in sooo long

[stilljustharley]

OK, this might rattle a few cages but what the heck, most of you are a long way away!

As far as the individual challenges are concerned I think they work really well. Because there's only two people involved, dropping out and having no-one notice isn't really an option and chances are you're building something you really want to. Plus it's more of a two man NNL than a real contest so just finishing something that you really got involved with is a bonus (and you get the chance to hand out some good natured ribbing if your opponent starts to fall behind....).

The bigger contests seem to suffer from two main problems in my opinion. The first is that inevitable drop off between saying "i'm in" and actually doing anything about it. Let's be honest here, if you're not a naturally prolific builder then signing up to a contest with a deadline of, say, a couple of months is unlikely to see you finishing something on time. Same goes for folks who start multiple projects but finish, well, less. There's nothing wrong with being either of those types (I'm certainly not a quick builder by anyone's standards) but it's dispiriting for the organiser to think there'll be loads of entries when, in reality, most will never get beyond the planning stages. Just be honest with yourself, and the organiser, about the chances of you getting anything done.

Second point is a bit more esoteric but if someone says "Hey, let's have a contest based on the contents of your trash can" how often do we see a response along the lines of "Instead of that, why don't we restrict it to just the top half of the trash can?". To me, that it is just rude. The Trash Can Build Off has been proposed, so either go with what's been suggested or don't go at all. No-one's stopping you building your Top Half Trash Can showrod if you want, but it just doesn't fit with what the contest organiser has in mind.

Actually, I've got a third point as well, it's the law of diminishing returns. If there are already a number of contests/ challenges/ grudge builds underway it doesn't take Einstein to realise that there will be fewer people prepared to commit to another contest/ challenge/ grudge build so just bide your time before throwing the idea out to the masses.

On which topic, he said sneakily, would anyone care to pick up a challenge to a bike build off BUT with no stinking V twin engines involved? Singles, parallel twins, flat twins, triples, V fours, boxer fours, straight fours, straight sixes, V8s (if you must) are fine but the only criteria is that you could realistically take the thing for a ride which involved corners, stopping at junctions and the occasional pothole.

Form an orderly queue chaps!

[A.J.]

I think Harley hit it dead on.

But as for me. I'm not much of a contest type person. As this topic touches off of others of recent, I'll still say that I build for myself primarily and not for the enjoyment of others. If others get enjoyment out of it then that is the bonus. I think that is why the challenges have been pretty successful lately. As Harley mentioned, the participants have built for themselves what they really want to. I'm not saying I wouldn't even enter a contest (and haven't yet since the inception of the Showrod Rally) but some of the contests just weren't my thing. Building something that I'm not interested in is even tougher than me completing something which is very hard as a lot of you know...LOL! ;D

[hizootdklown]

No worries Guys,

That's why I posted this here. I want to hear ALL your ideas & think that Harley makes some good points. BOTH contests & Challenges have their ups & down sides as well.

Having just completed a challenge, I wish there was more than just 2 people in it..! But in contest, you have deadlines & commitments to consider. I know that Tim finished his project in about 3 weeks while it took me 3 months..! That's a lotta time to loose interest in as well..!

Hizoot ;D

[donculley]

It also depends on the contest. I don't enter too many of them mainly because of time, but also on the build . For instance, I put three recent TD builds when the Td contest was on, but when it comes to customising a kit, I just can't hold a candle to the wild stuff a lot of guys come up with here . The site inspired me to try and restore old gluebombs and thats basically what I've been doing now for a few years, but ask me to chop, channel ,and do a fog paint job on a 32 ford , well it would just end up a complete mess (trust me !). that being said , I think contests and challenges are great, and I love seeing the stuff that gets built on this site.

[bobpaeth]

I also have to agree with Harley. ( mostly ) I seem to never do too well in contests but still enjoy them. A "challenge" contest is probably the best of both worlds. Like it was stated it's harder to just drop out without everybody noticing. But what I would like to see would be two of the winning challengers go head-to-head for further judging, a process of elimination. I would also hope as I have stated in an earlier posting that realism be observed.

bob

[hizootdklown]

The problem with that Bob,.

Is that " Challenges " are NOT set up as contest but rather a 2 man NNL to see if you can push your abilities or style above & beyond your normal... I guess that could include "realism" or anything else you want...

I know in tim's & my challenge, the object was to just build outside or differently than our normal style while still going crazy. We did this because we'd already seen each others work & knew that we could build clean.

So there has been no winners or loser's in challenges & if there were, wouldn't that constitute a contest..?

Hizoot ;D

[fletch]

I guess my take on it is, with Challenges you should probably go up against someone who will push you to new heights. Even though you are building something you like pushing the envelop never hurts anyone. Who knows you might even learn some new techniques. I agree Challenges are on the level of a 2 man NNL, you get to give each other some good natured ribbing exchange ideas and become better modelers because of it.
Contest on the other hand are a lot more stressful, not only from the point of the build knowing your work will be judged against a standard, but just the environment in general.
Both have their place, both have merit and both have disadvantages. It just depends on your comfort level.
The thing I learned a long time ago, build because you enjoy building. If you build for contests and don't win you'll end up disgruntled and never enjoy the hobby.

[Psychotic Hillbilly]

I do like a good contest. I even enjoy seeing everyone else build. I guess I need to get in on it or be challenged to do one. But I dont know about this vote as I like the idea of beer and girls and contests as we see fit. What to vote for?

Wait a minute... No one said anything about girls did they? My Bad..


Ken...

[Darren "DJ" Finlayson]

MMMMmmmmMMMMmmmmmm..... beer girls.....

TGIFF ;D

[Tim Nolan]

I probably shouldn't even say a word.

I don't go to regular model contests. Taking the stuff up to Billetproof was the first contest I'd had a mind to enter in about 8 years, and Sonny and I both ended up not entering because it was such a cluster f***.

Do you remember the "good ol' days, (go look in the Gallery under contests if you don't or weren't here), when we had some contests, posted pics all along the way for weeks to keep each other excited, and then on the "big day", opening up that webpage, and just being blown away by the sheer plethora of killer builds!? It was just awesome! But, things got complicated,nitpicked, bitched about, technical, grudged, and cheated into oblivion. We STARTED the online contests here, and we made them a success. But, as with all success at some point, things just went awry, and now it's ancient history.

It's a shame really, and there's no reason not to do it again, but until the moral majority ask, we'll let it slide. I have enjoyed the Challenge Builds (I was a fan of the Biker Buildoffs on TV). Jeff and I are done, Scott and I are halfway there. No stress, no strain, no worries mate. I'm a bit disappointed more of you haven't tried it, but that's just more proof as to why we shouldn't do a full blown contest. "Full Blown?" NOW THAT WOULD BE A KOOL CONTEST NAME! Hmmmmmmmmmmm........(Did I hear Brandon's neck hair bristle?)

[fredmellini]

I throughly enjoy the contest/challenges here on the corner both as an occassional participant and as an onlooker. I love seeing what all you guys/gals come up with!!!! ;D Locally I build for about 3 shows that are held in July, Oct and November.

I myself, am so hit and miss as to what or when I build that for me it is hard (he he I said.....hard) anyway, I go mad on a building spree and churn out model after model and then I burn out for awhile and do not build anything. My other problem is that I really have a hard time with a specific build (theme) and really have to be in the mood or like the topic or I will never build it. Obviously winter month are better building time for me and Summer time is very difficult to get bench time for model building.

I bounce around so much with building a showrod, a monster, a figure, a truck back to show rods etc. I really admire you guys/gals that came really build the beautiful showrods and create your own parts etc. time after time. ;D I guess that is why I could never hand paint/letter a 1:1 truck because after doing one side I could never do it all over again on the other side!!!! ;D

So in a nut shell, I guess my answer would be...........I have no problem with a challenge or a contest here. I will enter/participate if possible, if not I will be a good cheerleader and offer or help with advice if asked.

[Deleted]

The last one I entered was the Tom daniel contest and that was real fun! But it's true, not everyone comes through when the deadline comes. How many past contests here have been extended? I thought the last contest was good ( except for the vote stuffing issue) other than that, it was a sucess. I think a contest will be good to have, but not right now, not when the two man challenge is going so well. ;D

[barten]

Some great ideas here. ..and Harley well said. .and Tim yes the first couple contest were just wild. . . that very first one. . . were most couldn't post images but we sent them all in. . .and WOW . .. . you have no idea what to expect. . . till Contest posting day and the site was up . . . and you couldn't stop going back and looking at the builds. . .all so different all so wild! ! ! ! !

It was very cool to see. . . . one contest. . . .very little rules . . . and nothing seen till a master page was lanched. . . and no changing rules . . . no complaints. . . it was very cool


I like the Challenges. . .and I still owe Jerry G my finished build. . . he has more experience than I do in finishing one! ! ! heheheh

GB
barten

[scotty]

Being M.I.A. for almost 3 years, I must have missed the 'bitching' & 'nitpicking' part of Rally Contests!
I loved the original 'themed' contests, out of the three I entered I won a 3rd place and was chuffed just to enter with no expectations in mind except the fun of the build!
THAT'S MY TWO CENTS WORTH..
Scotty.

[theflame]

I've been lame at finishing contest builds. I've got three name game entries on the go, a 40 Ford for the war and a Vette Van. I'm a slow builder and too much of a perfectionist to knock something out quickly, but I love having something to build for a reason. I don't like that I don't get them done on time, but also I don't wanna lower my standards either.

I say, more contests! Just don't bet on me finishing it, however long the deadline! ;D

[customcruiserroy]

I love looking at the contestants' wheels! Like flame, tho, it takes me a LONG time to finish one. I have one kit, a cross between a 69 Camaro and a 49 Ford, that gets close to being finished until I think about stuff and there it goes back to the workbench. It has been 10 years in the works! Hahahaha!

But keep the contests going!!

RSS

[theflame]

Now THAT i wanna see!

[ggaetz666]

I think both challenges and contests can be intimidating... if all you want to do is win! But from what I've read herein and reviewed in some of the old contest entries and build ups, I would believe every one of you/us/them or whoever appears to be in this, is in for one reason, the FUN, which is why I love this site, this forum and the whole enchilada. I'm another one that has a tendency to build a pile of stuff in a short time and then hibernate for a few months, must be the climate up here ;D but I will have something to show come October, I just have to find a miniature hockey helmet... ?!? Later dudes

Gerry G

[gfgcollects]

Yeah the last one was me, hit the wrong key, or too late or... I gotta go to bed. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

[Paul B. Canney]

I think everyone is trying to overthink this.

Neither word can be used by itself for what we've been doing here. The majority of us 'grew up' in the hey day of model building. Competitive competitions were normal and run by local establishments.

In thier day, they accomplished what they were designed for. (To sell more kits). Johnny walks into the store, see's 25 candy colored creations and "wants to do that" too.

Sell more kits.. sell more paint.. glue.. brushes.. The whole industry was built on sales.

Today, because we all grew up with the impression that a contest must be competitve, we tend to shy away from them.

We.. (Us all here) adopted the word "challenge" to try to eliminate the fear of competition and encourage participation. And to that, I would say, we have been most successful.

Sure, we could use "cruise" or "show", but that doesn't encourage new builds. And Thats always been a primary objective around here. Build something new.

We've seen some off the wall crazy intergalactic stuff, and some neat ideas that make us scratch our heads and think "gee, why didn't I think of that".

I can tell you first hand I would never had built this:



had it not been for Nolan building this:



But it wasn't to try to one-up Tim, it was just a great idea he had that I was inspired to try my hand at.

Paeth introduced the personal challenge to us, and that too is cool idea as it pits creativeness against creativeness. Idea vs idea. I think those should be handled on a one on one basis. Unfortunately, we don't have an 'area' set up to collect the challenges. I'll look into that if people think it's a good idea.

I hate the idea of these specific challenge builds getting buried in aging subject threads.

So what we end up with is "Challenge/Contest" having dual meaning

1. Challenge as "a challenge to build and complete a new build"
2. Challenge as "a 1 on 1 challenge"

They have both been successful.

So until someone invents a word to replace "challenge" in the above descriptions, lets try not to overthink what a word means.

Sometimes the light switch is on, sometimes the light switch is off.. for the rest of us, they invented dimmers.