I've never heard of the concept of Group Builds before as I'm new to this forum. Can someone tell me what it's about? Thanks

Hello Colin!

I'm also new here so I'll leave the detailed explanations to the "veterans"...
But you can go on the Campaign page by clicking on the CAMPAIGN button above. Campaigns are the Armorama version of Group builds.
Basically a Group Build is a group of modellers building at the same time models around a pre-defined subject. I, for example, enlisted in the "Two Wings and a Prayer" Campaign so all of us are building biplane aircrafts!

Jean-Luc

You got it. Group builds are basically members agreeing to build the same subject to promote discussion and sharing ideas and techniques etc.

Armorama takes it a bit farther with Campaigns. Campaigns are very similar in concept. The subjects are typically a bit more in depth and usually there is a bit of a twist or X factor in the campaign. There is a bit more organization to a campaign in that there is a Campaign leader who is responsible for the concept and general oversight of the project. They should start discussions, offer help etc. In the end the Campaigns there is usually a gallery set up for a few images of each enlistees work.

Group builds are a bit more relaxed and are still encouraged if people don't want to go through the request process, gallery setup process, etc.

The original concept of a group build began in model clubs. The club would purchase the same kits from the manufacturer at discount or some local source in bulk. Everyone in the club who chose to participate would build the same kit and at the end of the build time they would all bring in their kits and show them off.

It was fun and interesting to see all the variations especially due to the differing degrees of skill and the genre of the model picked. For instance an aircraft modeler may add lots of after market and details to a plane but a car modeler building the same kit would most likely build it straight OOB using kit decals.

Here at our site we had a GB where everyone built the old Italeri M4A1. Normally our GB are based on a theme and have wide open rules so max participation is achieved. For example the Miniature Magic GB is designed for folks to build a small scale kit. Any kit.

I really enjoy the campaigns we have here. Basically someone puts forth an idea or theme and people get to use their wildest imaginations to meet the requirements.

Some past examples I've been involved-

Remember Market Garden: This was not only a theme to build a model, figure or diorama about Operation Market Garden, but one of the requirements was to find a picture and build something based on that picture. It didn't have to be a recreation of that picture but something in your build that people could recognize in that picture.

Cover Up- Your dio had to incorporate two things
1) A trench, bunker or some other type of fortified emplacement.
2) A flag

So you see all it takes is someone to step forward with an idea and some interesting requirements and the sky's the limit.