It looks like the campaign planning is already full for the whole of 2015.

Its getting a bit out of hand, isn't it?

We just keep coming up with too many interesting build topics.

Makes build planning a lot easier for me.

Amen to that, Brother, except for trying to keep up with all the fun builds!

A pretty good selection as well. Understandably heavy on WWII combat types, but plenty of room in less specific topics for other interests.

Still, I'm glad I got my idea in when I did.

Perhaps in future years there should be a lottery or voting for 12 or 13 campaigns proposed and committed in the previous year.

My build planning is easy for the time being.

I build anything which is already in the stack



However, no matter how easy it is, i keep making "mistakes" and buying more kits

Do you mean, you are losing the Stash War ?!

..Of course NOT, how dare you suggesting such ridiculous thing

With other words, yes, I am affradi so

I know that I'm in the minority here, but I honestly feel that we have way too many campaigns per year. Most have a decent number of signees, but far less actually start a build, and even fewer seem to finish as they're already building for another campaign.

If we used a simpler system, lets say start 3 campaigns, then 3 months later another 3, then 3 months later the 1st 3 end (max of 6 months duration), then start another 3. You'll have a lot better control, more starts and finishes, and more interest in the current campaigns.

My Grumman Campaign is a perfect example. 53 signees, with just 1 month left, there are 5 completed models, and maybe 6 signees currently posting a model in the works. Given that all 6 get completed for 11 finished models, it's a poor 5.8% completion rate. While I have no facts nor figures for other campaigns, I'm willing to bet that many haven't faired much better. I'm sure that some have indeed done statistically better, but this is a system that needs some serious tweaking.

Joel

it so happens I was interested in this question too, and did a little study a while back.
year, enlisted, completed, completion, campaign title
2010 49 23 47% Aces high 2
2010 45 19 42% Anti Shipping
2010 71 13 18% Bf-109
2010 69 18 26% Big Beautiful Bombers
2010 42 12 29% Boom Boom twin boom
2010 23 9 39% Civilian Planes Only
2010 48 14 29% Close Air Support
2010 25 7 28% Origami
2010 45 17 38% P51 Mustangs Heaven
2010 43 18 42% Pin ups
2010 59 11 19% Sea Planes and Flying Boats
2010 18 4 22% Summer 1940
2010 19 4 21% Winter Wonderland
2010 32 12 38% WNW 1/32 WW1
2011 38 16 42% Aerial Screw Helicopter
2011 19 7 37% Afterburner Decals campaign
2011 27 11 41% Camm-paign. The Sir Sydney Camm
2011 39 11 28% Cold War Jet Campaign
2011 42 20 48% Corsairs Sky Pirates
2011 35 7 20% fighting falcon
2011 13 4 31% Flight of the Intruder
2011 39 31 79% Knights of the Sky
2011 43 18 42% Mischievous MiGs
2011 38 23 61% P-40 the Work Horse of WW ll
2011 44 20 45% Spitfire/Seafire
2011 23 8 35% the cats out of the bag.
2011 30 15 50% The Century Series
2011 12 4 33% VAC ATTACK
2011 33 20 61% What IF?
2011 47 21 45% Zerstorer heavy fighters
2012 27 11 41% Air Pioneers record breakers
2012 33 11 33% Bae British Aerospace
2012 36 12 33% Delta Dawn
2012 11 5 45% Egg Planes
2012 77 28 36% Fighters
2012 47 20 43% Fw 190 Wurger
2012 19 13 68% Knights of the Sky 2
2012 34 11 32% Looney Toons
2012 32 12 38% Matchbox nostalgia
2012 36 12 33% Pin ups 2
2012 16 5 31% Porco Rosso
2012 43 18 42% Small is Beautiful
2012 23 8 35% Super Sukhois
2012 28 12 43% Support Aircraft
2012 19 4 21% VP International
2013 10 42 24% 55 years of Phabulous Phantoms 
2013 27 58 47% Anything Goes 
2013 8 26 31% Birds Of Prey 
2013 9 26 35% Club Med 
2013 21 41 51% Devils in the Dark: Nightfighters 
2013 8 25 32% Douglas Parade of Propeller Power 
2013 3 18 17% Ground Force 
2013 16 37 43% Hangar Queen III 
2013 6 28 21% Heli Gunships 
2013 13 24 54% Knights of the Sky III 
2013 6 28 21% P-47 Heaven - Thunderbolts Are Go 
2013 5 18 28% Rescue Me 
2013 12 29 41% Smurf Scale 
2013 12 40 30% The Lottery 
2013 4 13 31% Then and Now 
2013 13 31 42% Venoms, Vixens and Vampires, oh my: de Havilland! 


number, year avg. enlisted/completed/completion
15 2010 42.0 12.9 31%
16 2011 32.6 14.8 44%
15 2012 32.1 12.1 38%
16 2013 30.3 10.8 34%

yeah, Im a math geek. EDIT added 2013 data
PM me if anyone wants an excel sheet

and for the record I am enlisted in seven campaigns at the moment.

also, I will definately finish my Grumman albatrosses in December.

I messed up my Sept & Oct. build schedule so I had to drop a few Campaigns in the process so now I have a 3 birds ready for another Hangar Queen Campaigns...
I'll try a fresh one for the 1st Gen and then try to finish up those that missed the finish line ( Su-27, F-14 and Tu-16)

I don't think we should cut back the number of campaigns, but I do think we should allow single builds to cross into multiple campaigns--so long as the build is started and completed within the specified timeframe for each campaign.

Finding space on the bench is at a premium...Mobelwagen flak panzer: F6-F Hellcat and an FT-17 tank at the moment with the Tirpitz close at hand.

I know I havent been at this as long as some of you guys and gals but I try and plan that I have a schedule that allows for 2 maybe 3 models to be finished off per month.

That's interesting reading. I wonder if there is a hard core of "campaigners" that finish the majority of campaigns they enter.

PS. Could you balance my cheque book for me?

There is definately a hard core of campaigners who finish campaigns. If you look through all the campaign galleries you will quickly come to recognize 10-15 callsigns.

I havent analyzed any individuals for completion rate, accept myself. over 2011-12-13, Ive completed 83% of campaigns I started.

edit to add, I could balance your check book for you - PM for my standard rate sheet and T&C's

Hey everyone,

Im pretty new around here, I am currently in two campaigns and plan on being in many more. The stuffed campaign list is like the menu at a fine restaurant, its all very motivating. As a community, what is the objective of the campaigns if not to revel in our modeling, enjoy being awed by others efforts and to offer advice, humor and good will to those seeking it.

I suppose my question is, even in the face of low completion statistics, what harm is there in allowing for the richest and most vibrant menu possible? It should have the effect of bringing more diners and more stimulating dinner conversation.

Now, what to order next,

Bryan

Jonathan,
Thank you for taking the time and effort to come up with those figures. I must confess that the overall numbers are somewhat higher then I thought, due to certain campaigns having much higher completion rates then the majority of campaigns.

Still, the completion rate is no where what it should be. Such factors as needed to move on to another campaign, finish up a previous campaign build, loss of interest in the model, or just screwed up the build. The fact is that most just don't finish what they start because we have multiple builds going at the same time, and loose their focus for that build. As have been pointed out numerous times, I'm the exception to that rule, as I only start one build, and it goes to completion before I start the next build. I do my research, kit inspection, AM ordering well in advance as a break from the current build. But for me, focusing on one build is how my completion rate is well over 90%. In the last two years I've started and put down just one model with maybe two days work into it: The Special Hobbies 1/48 scale Buffalo. Just couldn't get my Mojo up for it.

I've been building models on and off longer then most just because at 67 I've been around longer. I tend to work a min of 4 days per week, with a lot of 5 day weeks as the temps drop outside. Usually my work sessions last a min of 4 hours. So I do put in my time. And I realize that my chosen scale; 1/48 takes longer to complete a model then a typical 1/72 scale OOB build. But to assume that the average modeler can complete two models per month is pushing it somewhat. One completed 1/72 scale model per month over an extended period would be higher then the norm. Personally, my builds are semi OOB/detailed, and I average around 3 months give or take a few weeks. the A-6E took more then 4 months, while the P-38 will be done in 6 weeks.

Bryan's concept of what a campaign is, really isn't what they're about. His description is more attuned to what Aeroscale is all about. A campaign is a small microcosm of a SIG. Where a specific subject matter is what all the members/builds focus on. There is a time frame 6-12 months to complete ones model(s), and receive a campaign ribbon for it. And yes, it's also a place to gather and share a common interest in a subject, but that same concept is done all the time in Build Blogs.

Personally, I've never visited, or viewed any models in a campaign that I wasn't enlisted in. It's far to difficult to follow a build over several months as there isn't a logical way to do so. But a Build Blog is offers you easy following, and a continuous give and take from other members who share your interest in the subject matter, and or build.

As I said in my 1st post, in this case, less is far better then more, as I think that Jonathan's figures more then prove that point.

Joel

I think my conception of what i do here is closer to Bryan's than to Joel's.

Wow! I don't really have a lot of time to go into the whole philosophy of campaigns issue right now (and I'm not sure that if I did I wouldn't make a complete hash of it) but a poll was done a year or so back and everyone was asked if things should be different. The basic result was no, people in general were fine with the way things are. Right now we're supposed to only start one campaign per month (though I admit I fudge that sometimes) and that does cause things to back up a bit. On the other hand, as some have mentioned here, we have a pretty good variety of options out there for people to choose from.

When I first started I used to beat myself up for not finishing a campaign too, but as I got into it more I remembered that this is a hobby, we do it for fun. Campaigns are a chance for like minded modelers to get together and discuss and build to certain themes, but there's no pressure to finish or shame in not. We all know how life gets in the way.

I, for one. like the variety our current system allows. When I get an itch to do something, I can almost always find a campaign it will fit into; and when I see a campaign coming up that I especially want to participate in I usually have enough of a heads-up to make time for it when it comes around.

Different people like different systems and that's the way it will always be. But I think the way we do it now allows for the most flexibility as long as we don't get hung up on the "need to finish" issue. No pressure is the key! But I'm always glad to hear what other members think!

Oops, guess I did discuss philosophy some. Hope I didn't screw it up too bad!

Michael,
It's like you read my mind!

Michael,
Ditto that last comment.
Cheers!

I try to balance my campaigns to match our Club's contests. That was why I had to drop some campaigns. Not to mention I'm not very good at finishing airplane models.
Don "Lakota"

Some interesting view points for sure. After reading Joel's comments about sign ups for his Grumman Campaign, compared to the number that are likely to finish, I guess I am going to have to revise my expectations downwards for my own campaign (Tiger Meet!) that starts in January. With only 13 signed up at the moment (I'm sure the proposal went up about 18 months ago!), I guess if 3 or 4 finish, that would be about average.

The other thing I have noticed recently is, the month long extension at the end of a campaign has become the norm. Playing devil's advocate for a moment, should campaigns be 7 months long as a rule, or will we still get people wanting the extension, regardless of how long the campaign is to start with. I noticed a few days ago on the Big Bad Bombers campaign (due to end 30 Nov, now has 1 month extension), that one individual only started their model one week before the campaign was due to end anyway, which tells me that people are taking the extension for granted.

Any thoughts?

I always though that the month long extension was a bit strange, especially if a campaign had been over six months long. I think if you made a campaign seven months long people would still want an extension.

If I spent half as much time modeling as I do browsing Kitmaker and commenting on other peoples builds, I would be able to complete a build in every Campaign available!

🍷, D