Best type of model threads/posts?

[John Howling Mouse]

I've been wondering if people enjoy seeing how a model comes to fruition or if they prefer to simply be hit with the final effect of the completed project.

[AeroplaneDriver]

Definitely the first one...thats all the fun of it!

[Cliffy B]

Ditto!  Especially if there's been a bunch of scratch building, kit bashing, super-detailing, etc...  Everyone learns so much more when seeing well built models step-by-step.

[AeroplaneDriver]

Yep, I've learned so much and become a much better modeler just from watching the 'in progress' pics on this forum.

[philp]

I actually like to open the thread and see the finished product.  Then have all the build photos explaining how you got there.  Too many build threads never get to the finished product (and not just mine ).

[AeroplaneDriver]

You're right that many build threads never get finished...Lord knows I've had my fair share, but I still like to see the progress...I dont need to see a finished build all the time to get some inspiration for a build of my own or to pick up a new technique or a tip...But I can also understand the WOW! factor of opening the thread for the first time and seeing a cool build.  I love that too, just PREFER to see the WIP thread.

[apophenia]

I like the suspense of watching it unfold. If it doesn't get finished, so be it (the vicarious thrill's been achieved and it becomes a what-if whif    ). Besides, many is the time when dropped projects get resurrected after a hiatus. The modeler's glory at finally reaching that finishing line seems somehow increased.

[ChernayaAkula]

First one for me, too! 

Especially in whiffing. When modelling real world subjects, it may not be necessary to show in-progress steps when the subject is a well-known type (F-16s, for instance). On a little more obscure types, in-progress threads can be very interesting. In whiffing, in-progress threads can show what parts from other kits where used to create what effect or what was scratch-built.
On the other hand, it can be entertaining to see the finished result first and guess what types the donor bits came from.

[anthonyp]

I'd like to post in-prog pics of each individual build I do, but sometimes, especially after a winter of me being a technological sociopath, I usually take batches of bandwidth assaulting pics, thus declaring war on modems around the globe.

[Tophe]

I voted for the first way, which I do, but I do not pretend this is the best. That is just my way and I am satisfied with it.
The final result is in my gallery, which directs (link) to the forum for each model. So from this source, the situation is "finished aspect, then steps".
When I am building a model, I enjoy reaching a step deserving a picture, and receiving comments or suggestions. This is part of the enjoyment I feel in (what-if) modelling. If I should silently spend so many hours PSR without receiving support, maybe I would give up, finding boring this activity, prefering minute-made drawing. When I came in this what-if site, I had been a modeller long time ago but I was just drawing, many ones encouraged me to go back to modelling, they were right: this is very pleasant, this is a hard way but with support every week, it is nice. Thanks again.

[NARSES2]

I personally only (I think there was one exception) post pics of completed models. Ideally I should take pics of the construction stages as well but never ger around to it.

I love the photo's of work in progress especially by some of the "masters" it's just I can get a little frustrated when projects I'm watching in awe sometimes drop off the radar. Whence my vote for completed models followed by the work in progress

[thedarkmaster]

Personally i only do the completed model photos, but that's just me.

I do like the whole build in progress thing but i do get annoyed when people take pictures of the box and the sprues before any work is done, that's not work in progress it's opening the box!

So many great build threads have just died and it's such a shame that these huge amounts of great work never get finished

[Weaver]

I do like the whole build in progress thing but i do get annoyed when people take pictures of the box and the sprues before any work is done, that's not work in progress it's opening the box!

In all fairness, one valid reason for doing that is in GB threads: it "proves" that the model wasn't worked on before the official start date.


I like in-progress threads and try to do them myself, but I entirely understand people not wanting to, because taking all the photos and posting them up takes a significant amount of time and effort. I tend to do fewer pics these days and think harder about whether they're showing anything significant or interesting, rather than just "Look I glued the wings on".

There are also some models where their impact is as a joke or a surprise, and in those cases, an in-progress thread would "give the punchline away". Nothing to stop the builder from posting the build shots afterwards though.

[PR19_Kit]

I used to be a Type 1 poster, showing the project step by step until I got to the finished article, but.....

In recent months/years I've ended up with SO many projects stalling for one reason after another, and not all for modelling related reasons either, that I switched to a Type 3 for my latest model, posting the finished article with the build story posted at the same time. I always take the piccies as I go anyway, just in case it all goes TU and I have to re-build it later!

[sotoolslinger]

Definitely #1 I have learned so much from watching other builders. Now I enjoy seeing a nice model posted completely finished but I always would perfer to see the in progress shots.