Ideas for the next Group Build?

[Brad Cancian]

Ok chaps, here are some proposed draft rules. I propose a 15 Jan start so that people have a few weeks to mull over what they might want to build (as well as keeping things clear of Christmas and New Years, which tend to be family time). Please let me know any thoughts or adjustments you'd like to propose.

"Shelf Queen" Group Build Rules:

1. The group build is open to all registered members of the forum. Members from all skill levels are encouraged to enter.

2. Your entry may be an aircraft, artillery, armour, vehicle, figure, ship or a diorama.

3. The model must represent a WW1 subject operational during the period 1914-1918.

4. Choose any model that has been languishing on your ?shelf of doom?. The only rule is that it must already be part of your existing model ?stash?. The model may be started, or unstarted. The idea here is to build and finish something that has been either part started and since relegated back to the shelf, or a kit that has been a twinkle in your eye as a project in your stash for quite a while. I?m using the honour system here, so please don?t go and buy a brand new kit for the group build.

5. A build log should be started as a new topic on the group build board. Please include any initial photos of the kit in its current state (started or unstarted). Progress update photos should be added to your build log.

6. Any scale smaller than 1/1 scale is permitted.

7. Any building medium is permitted.

8. You can enter as many times as you like.

9. Start date is 15 January 2025 and the GB will run for five months, closing at the end of 15 June 2025.


Cheers!

BC

[Dirigible-Al]

That looks good Brad. I'm sure this will get a good attendance.
Alan.

[Allan31]

Great ideas all......

My only problem is I have no shelf queens. I have a limited area in which to build and my basic modeling philosophy of not letting a pile of plastic get the better of me means everything that gets started, gets on the shelf somewhere. Those that got hurried along to make way for other builds are farther back on the shelf.

However.....

IF we can determine exactly what constitutes a "started" model there may be some wiggle room for me.

Before I jumped in with this Eduard Pup, (don't get me started on THAT as it may well be my first shelf queen) I had pulled down a Roland D.VIb, a DH.4, both Blue Max, and a Special Hobby SPAD VII. I was well along basic clean-up, parts off, trailing edges sanded thin, scallop edges corrected and most parts fitted and sanded. I even ordered aftermarket decals for the DH4 and SPAD. I then decided to fondle something else. I just never got out any actual adhesive of any kind.....

But hey, give me some time and I may have an Eduard Pup shelf queen but that just means I'd have to finish the damn thing anyway.....

I have group build ideas but we are well covered already. Someone mentioned listing the builds in the "under construction" forum to garner further interest. When I've run GB's on other sites I would use initials. As example, the Dave Wilson Memorial Group Build would have been listed as "Aurora Albatros, 1/48, DWMGB".

Your thoughts? I will of course abide by whatever you want me to do.

[Brad Cancian]

Thanks for the suggestions gents - I have now announced the new group build, here  -

https://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=14768

Cheers again,

Brad C

[Brad Cancian]

Hello all, and welcome to 2026! I hope everyone has had a relaxing Christmas and New Years, and has managed to get some glue and paint into their nostrils!

Having successfully completed our "Aces Mounts" group build, I am after ideas on the next one, which I would like to kick off mid / late Jan.
 
Some ideas:

- Des Deltore / Dave Wilson Memorial Group build. This would be similar to last year's group build where the subjects are pretty much open.
- Multi-Seater group build. Subject matter here would be any multi-seat aircraft
- A campaign / theme group build, i.e. "Fokker Scourge"... "Bloody April"... "Eastern Front"... "Kaiserschlacht"... etc, where you represent a machine from a defined period.
- A Squadron / Air Force group build - i.e. "Richthofen's Circus"... "The Storks"... "Obscure Air Forces" etc, where we pick a Squadron or similar and build a machine from that unit.
- Movie Machines - build a fictional machine from a well known movie.

These are some simple ideas off the top of my head - please get the ideas coming again!

Cheers!

BC

[NigelR]

My vote would go to multi-seater, it might force me to build one of the many multi-seat aircraft I have on the shelf.....!

[Brad Cancian]

Thanks Nigel!

C'mon folks, any other thoughts, ideas or preferences?

Cheers,

BC

[DaddyO]

Like the idea of a multi-seater GB.

What about a  'in different markings one'? (Camels, DH9a's and Albatros' in Polish markings, captured aircraft and Fokker DVII's in USA or Lithuanian colours for a few examples)

Another possibility would be a water birds one?

Paul

[Brad Cancian]

Thanks Paul - the 'different markings' idea is intriguing. Perhaps an "Under New Management" group build, where the subjects are aircraft that ended up in different markings from their original operators?

This could also encompass civil markings for ex-military machines.

I like it!

Cheers,

BC

[Tim Mixon]

Brad,
I like Paul?s idea of ?water birds? the most.  However, I?ll participate in any chosen subject.

Cheers,

Tim

[2996 Victor]

I wouldn't mind taking part (in what would be my first forum group build): both "multi-seaters" and "under new management" would be great options.

Cheers,
Mark

[Allan31]

I would luv to do "multi seat"



...and "movie"....

[PrzemoL]

I personally like two ideas. Yes, Des and Dave had their separate devoted GBs. But now we could do a joint one to commemorate both our Founding Fathers. And I also like the multiseater idea.

So, maybe, why not join these two, and have a multiseater GB with a hint to commemorate Des and Dave?
It would be a broad topic, possibly appealing to many modellers. The other proposed subjects seem to be quite narrow, which may limit the number of participants.

[Brad Cancian]

Thanks folks - any last thoughts? Will look to finalise in the next week or so, for an early Feb kick off.

Cheers

BC

[Brad Cancian]

Hi all - apologies, been a bit delayed with this one with a bunch of 'life' stuff going on, am thinking the Multi-Seater group build will commence 16 March and wrap up 17 July, that should give 4 months. That should be enough time for folks?

Proposed rules are:

1.   The group build is open to all registered members of the forum. Members from all skill levels are encouraged to enter.

2.    Your entry may be any multi-seat aircraft flown during the 1914-1918 conflict.

4.   Any scale smaller than 1/1 scale is permitted.

5.   Any building medium is permitted.

6.   You can enter as many times as you like.

7.   The model may be started, or unstarted.

Posting Rules:

8.   As per the last group build, build log should be started as a new topic on the "Under Construction" board.

9.   Please prefix your build log with the title "Multi-Seat 2026 GB". For example, if you were building a 1/48 Roland C.II, the title of your build log should read "Multi-Seat 2026 GB - 1/48 Roland C.II". That way we can easily track which threads relate to the Group Build and which do not.

10.   Once your model is completed, please also post pictures of the finished model in the "Completed Models" board, again utilising the group build prefix as above but with the term "completed" added into the title, i.e. "Multi-Seat 2026 GB - Completed 1/48 Roland C.II". Please also ensure you link your build log to the completed models post.

Let me know if you'd like to propose any adjustments to the rules before I put them up.

Cheers!

Brad C