This has been discussed before Here but we currently have 10 active, 14 waiting in the wings and one possible proposal for the rest of this year and into the beginning of next year.

To top things off we have had more suggestions recently, Here and Here

It's encouraging that the membership is taking a huge interest in the campaigns but I feel we have far too many now and the more we have the more diluted the entries would be as people stretch themselves too far and and enlist themselves on too many campaigns (I admit I'm one of them at times). Big Beautiful Bombers is a good example it ran for the whole of last year with 69 enlistees but only 18 completed it, and there's many more like this

Therefore there will be a blanket stop on all Aeroscale campaigns approvals for the rest of this year (but this doesn't stop people coming up with suggestions)

We would also like to propose that we start a voting system (like we use to do when Sam and I joined). The membership would continue to give suggestions/submissions and these are then sorted into each genre (WWII, Modern , Helos, etc) all the suggestions are put to vote and the top two of each genre are run for that year (January to June and July to December).

There would cap of one campaign per genre (i.e. WW1, WW2, Modern, Helos etc.) in any 6-month period, with scope for a couple of "specials" and 12-month campaigns for really major builds. Hopefully by voting the subjects for the next group of campaigns it would help focus everyone on what they really want to participate in and increase the amount of finished entries in each campaign.

Of course If the members want to run there own like the Ashes Speed build recently then they are more than welcome to. Hopefully this would make the job a little easier for the Campaign Manager and Administrators

So you do you guys and gals think? or can you make any suggestions for improving how campaigns can be run?

340 days with no new campaign proposals to click "enlist" on!!! oh dear.

I agree there are too many campaigns right now, but I also think we shouldn't get too strict either.

What if we upped the minimum number of enlistees?

That's still 12-16 campaigns a year. Say 1903-1919 (WWI?), 1919-1946 (WWII?), 1946-1966 (Modern1?) 1966-present (Modern2?), Helos (all years) Space (all years), That might be more than enough.

I'm not going make it on time for the P-51 Heaven, some chance on others... But that's more me than the 6 month times. IIRC several folks are already finished with Century Series, less than 4 weeks in.

Maybe you're on to something with more enlistees.

Increasing the minimum number of enlistees might not necessarily increase the number of finished builds. You could cap the number of Campaigns that each member can be enlisted in at any one time. Then again that might just result in people dropping out to enlist in more attractive Campaign themes.

If you lock the timing to Jan-June then Jul-Dec, then guys like Warren who finish a Campaign build in 5 minutes have to wait 6 months. Perhaps a 3 month overlap would work, Jan-Jun, Apr-Sept, Jul-Dec.

Hmmmm, lots to ponder.

was the completion rate really any better when there were fewer campaigns?
Twin spinner in 2008 (the first I entered only got 10/44 finishers)

Sure, there are likely too many for everyone to enter all, but as long as we are enjoying the forum is that not the main thing?

I get that it is a headache monitoring official campaigns so limiting them is prob a good idea.

Could you limit it to 12 overall in a year. and start one a month? There are more WW2 or cold war. (you rarely see a helo built here), how many could you reasonable cope with? The campaigns are a great motivator for finishing up (for me)

You mentioned the speed build, it got 5 finishers out of 5 starters. No badges or that but a Group build is about more than the sticker.

Even though everyone loves getting stickers

I think it comes down to self control really.The pin-ups campaign had 44 people enlist and only 19 complete.Half of the enlistees I never heard from the entire campaign or have seen them in the forums.I offered more modern campaigns trying to pull more interest into the modern forum.Which has worked some what.
I have more ideas but I'm holding off because we have so many campaigns running(I my self have 4)Although I fancy the idea of a voting system it can be a double edged sword in the respect that it will turn some away.Again I just feel it comes down to self control.Maybe a special badge beside your name that shows you constantly finish the campaigns you sign up for earning you respect from your fellow modelers

I'm not sure I should say too much because I haven't helped out yet and I appreciate the campaign leaders and administrators give a lot of their time. For what it's worth, I think Jaypee has some good points, ie new starts each month and more flexibility on the no. of campaigns per category (WWII should get more than helos). What category would the Sydney Camm-paign or BBBs fall into? They span eras. Rather than have categories, how about the proposal with the most enlistees (votes) is the next one to start done on a monthly basis?

I think 50% completion rate has been about normal for campaigns the entire time I have been on this forum, even back when there were very few campaigns at a time.

If administration is a problem, then do what you need to do, but otherwise let the campaigns and the campaigners sort themselves out

Why not have two systems?
1) Bells and whistles main campaigns, limited to two per year per forum, and supervised as present
2) " Join me if you want " campaigns, where communication is private, and only the final results are posted on the forum, perhaps with a short resume of the problems and joys.

Clive Mason ( modulla )

I think the more campaigns the better. Then people get a wide choice of what they wish to build. No one twists peoples arms to join a campaign. If we need more administrators then so-be-it.

I do not think fever campaigns will lead to a higher completion rate. On the contrary I think a more "live" campaign forum leads more people to get on with their builds and discuss and comment in the campaign treads. I do not see a higher number of campaigns as a bad thing - on the contrary it shows people are getting into the hobby.

All that being said the number of campaigns could be limited to 12 pr. year if the administration requires the number to be limited. In thta case I support the idea of a campaign being started each month. However, I fear how the voting system will be handled. You need at least a month to vote to ensure everybody gets to cast their vote.

Anyway, just my two cents.

I Like the idea of lots of campaigns on the go. My belief is that too many rules, caps and voting systems steal away from an individuals freedom to express.

On the other hand, I can understand that being an administrator of to much may be a little overpowering. Perhaps the answer is in having more administrators as Warren has suggested. eg.One for props and one for everything else.


You shall not Kill, You shall not harm Others, You shall not Steal. These are the three laws beat into me as a kid. Everything else is just common sense. To many rules take away from the fun.

Guy

As a WW11 8th usaaf enthusiast there isn't a single one of the 14 proposed campaigns that interest me. In other words, if you are a modeller that specialises rather than one that builds anything going, your going to be a bit limited if you want to participate. Out of the 10 ongoing campaigns, I just had to withdraw from the P-51 build because I found it so damn complicated to upload pics of my build onto the forum, and I wasn't the only one who struggled with that either. Maybe if more effort was put in to making this site more user friendly instead of worrying about the amount of ongoing group builds, which people obviously enjoy judging by the amount of modellers who take part, more people could get more out of this site!

rob

Allen, I too remember the voting system.
That was in the days when Aeroscale was a tiny little place with a few hundred registered members. Now there are thousands so I can see where things could become bogged down. I wouldn't mind bringing back the voting system if you could do it twice each year. One voting period for Jan through June and a second for July through Dec.

However you guys decide to tackle the problem, I'll support you all I can.

Hermon

I am definitively guilty of signing up and not finishing the campaign

but then I am definitively guilty of not finishing anything for over a year now anyway,reality just does not permit spending time on the hobby. Basically i ama not builder these days

I doubt that a change in format will change much, imposing more rules sometimes leads to more work in managing, not to solving problems.

all in all, campaigns that lead to 10 finished models are not that bad. And probably the other campaign members finish their model as well after the deadline.

Not really sure what the problem is, a 50% completion rate doesn't sound that bad to me based on group builds elsewhere.

You are assuming lots of group builds is diluting them, but there are a lot of members. You may find limiting the number may actually result in less participation, not more as people may not find a group build that interests them.

Is there an issue of maintaining control of the campaigns or is this personal feelings of how things should be being presented as a problem?

Ok the voting Idea doesn't seem to be very popular, it probably didn't come across as well I had hoped (but the written word never comes across as well as the spoken word )

The suggestion was made as over the months I've kept seeing comments over the last few month of "there's too many campaigns", "Why do I keep enlisting" or "I'm pulling out as I'm signed up for too many campaigns" I don't think it a case of needing more administrators as technically each campaign has a leader (and sometime an unofficial deputy) to do the day to day running, with the admins keeping an eye on all the campaigns and the background work (checking proposals, approving campaigns setting up galleries, etc)

As a different approach, if we continue with what we currently have what about the campaign is proposed as usual and get the 10 people interested but don't suggest any dates only a time frame (3, 6, 9 or 12 months). When the campaign is submitted the admins will then choose a suitable date so there isn't a clash of too many campaigns starting at the same time (like the 5 starting in March).


Unfortunately the campaign admins don't have those sort of powers as the sites creator (Staff_Jim) is only one that can make any coding changes to network.

and I think that the comment is a bit unfair. Just try to find another modelling site which is better organised than this one.

I think that everybody should realise that maintaining a site like this is a full time job that does not pay very well.

Well I can honestly say that I will not be starting up anymore campaigns or joining any more other then the GB in the early aviation forums . They really take away from my own personal projects and are time costly away from the bench .

Like what has been pointed out already is that folks are signing up for more then they can handle , that is where the problem lies , not the amount of campaigns going . Restricting to only 12 campaigns a year might not yield alot of builders -hence turning folks away . Most of the campaigns on the go now are WW 2 based which is the main interests among modellers .

With the site growing we need more admin rather then just having one to over see everything , so I do agree with Warren on that note . More staff to aid in the work loud , such as having a campaign admin for the sub-forums . Early Aviation , WW 2 , etc etc ......... Decreasing the number of campaigns so one individual is able to handle it is not the solution to the problem .


We also have to take into account that when folks sign up for a GB life does get in the way and other issues come up which take us away from the bench not letting us finish a build ..............

I'll jump in with my two pennies.

From my perspective as someone who has only got back into models since 2007 and really only serious about it since the start of 2010. I find the whole campaigns thing to be very motivating. I had bought the Ju-88 before finding this place, but after looking over the campaigns and with the ok from AussieReg I am making it in the Anti-shipping campaign. I had ordered the De Hav Comet Racer and if it comes in time I will have a crack at the civil campaign with it. Sure I like building kits, but its also nice to have a focus and a collection of guys and gals who can help with suggestions and motivation.

I think its also good for the site as the campaign forums seem to get a healthy post rate. I also think its good for the hobby. My birthday is coming up in Feb and I have asked for the 1/48 Val in Midway colors so I can take part in the Midway campaign. I like Val's but had no immediate plans to buy one. But the campaign is a good motivator for me to grab one. They are helping me plan my building a bit better as well. I am looking at the campaigns and deciding what to buy. I'm not adding to my stash anymore, but buying with set builds in mind.

Even campaigns I don't intend to join I have been looking at and finding them very interesting.

I'd like to see more campaigns and not less. I'd like to see some smaller time frames as well. 3 and 6 month ones. Maybe for 1/72 and 1/48 builds as I can understand a 1/32 can take a long time if your going crazy on it.

50% completion rate. Overall that seems cool to me. I have been involved in charity and community groups for about 8 years and events and functions for those get about a 50% turn out. Just seems to be how it is. A lot of things can get in the way of kit building. I think we need a little discipline. Sure there is a BUNCH of campaigns I want to sign up to, but I am holding off. Finishing and planning what I can and not just jumping in. I intend to finish every one I join.

We are a community and communities come together for a greater good. It is unfair to expect the current admins to have to worry about a increasing amount of campaigns, but there must be members of this cool community that could help moderate them. maybe a central approval process that says yay or nay to a campaign, but then passes it off to other mods/admins who will oversee that process.

just my thoughts

I don't understand what is so hard about copy and paste its pretty simple. There needs to be a walk through of the different ways to post pics on the general forum.I will work on it,its actually incredibly easy

Done here you go Rob,
How To Upload Pics

Allen,
My .02 cents
The more the merrier people need self control if they are not fast builders.
I completed 19 Campaigns since May 2010, 7 since I went back to work in August, 12 were done when I was home recovering from ankle surgery.
Sleep is over rated when you are addicted to plastic
And what about the retired guys that are home all day.
Again my .02 cents

Hi Aaron,

Well said. We should all be thankful to Allen and Sam for volunteering to help run the campaign section. Thanks again you two!

The issue I see with voting is it becomes a popularity contest. It is very likely you will see a rotating list of Luftwaffe, Battle of Britain, Grey jets, Wing Nuts and 4 engine bomber campaigns. The more unusual ski-equipped aircraft, sea planes, racers, interwar, post war, airliners etc will fall by the side as they will never generate the same kind of interest.

That has been the result I have seen elsewhere when group builds were limited and decided by vote.