CAMPAIGNS
Actually it is up to you. Someone comes up with a idea and usually they state some rules, sometimes others make suggestions/modifications to the rules. Start date and duration are also up to you, although you may want to make sure there isn't too much overlap with other group builds since you don't want to compete for participants. My Barbarossa campaign is scheduled to start and end when the original actual operation took place 52 years ago. That just seemed like a fun idea.

I think we use the terms "group build" and "campaign" synonomously. Although I think a campaign is more along the lines of "build a kit about an item from this era" and the group build is "everyone make a Hurricane" (for example). Sometimes exact kit is specified, sometimes just scale, other times any kit of that object will do. Again, this is up to whoever comes up with the rules.

I know there was a Tamiya Corsair build where everyone built the same bird. There was also a figure build where the theme started out as a sniper at a window but then expanded to just build only one figure.

Word to the wise is keep rules simple. There doesn't have to be a "prize" most like to build to belong to the community. If you take a look at the Operation Barbarossa thread I started, I tried to keep things simple, but then others tend to try to make things more complicated. If you read the entire thread, you'll see where I try to reel them back in. Heck someone even wanted to build a Stuka for an armor group build!

I also try to separate the out-of-box builders from the master builders who will spend $50 on aftermarket accessories and scratchbuild half of their kit. You don't want the guy who's building the old Monogram Classics Hurricane OOB competing against the guy with the top of the line Hasegawa/Fujimi kit with Eduard PE, resin cockpit and aftermarket decals. It tends to scare off the beginners when the "pros" start talking about all the aftermarket items they plan on adding to a kit. Take a look at my Jumbo Sherman thread to see this phenomenon!

If you do decide to start one, you may want to print out this message and save it for future reference. Jim has a tendancy to dump old PMs to save space.

Rob

I think it should be first separated into those who build British planes vs. those who build German planes. That is two categories. Than you can make a distinction between out-of-the-box and superdetailed. Four categories. Than you have to consider scales. I think 1/72 and 1/48 are enough but some might want to build 1/32. So than you may have either 8 or 12 categories #:-) .

Just my 2 cents: I think if we keep the rules very simple and stress participation and sharing of the builds in the threads it will be a success. Maybe just limit it to BOB aircraft, any scale, any country involved, with clear start and end times. I have started my search for a suitable hurricane.

That's great !
It could be possible to do softskins, in the form of recovery or emergency trucks.
I've got a 54mm figure of a downed german pilot, so that could be suitable too.

If you want the spit group build to be part of the BfB campaign, there's an easy method : have both start at the same time !