SPA Modeler

easy killer. I am extra very unusually moresly required to give free gifts to, uh, where was I?

I believe that honesty is a good policy in these endeavors. One could recommend a kit under one set of circumstances and highly recommend another, since we don't use Good, Gooder and Goodest, Precise language use is something to behold. Well written pieces don't have to drag you along - you tend to hop on board and enjoy the journey.

A box/kit review - Quality of box, quality of packing the item, number of sprues, how well they are organized and molded. Attach points too thin, too thick, in the wrong places, I need a drink. If the reviewer thinks there are flaws, they should point them out.

The same should hold true for the build review. Point out the things that affect the assembly of the model. Unclear instructions and bad fit come to mind. Jim, you hit the others as well.

Above all remember these are not life or death pieces.

I see your point, JimD. Indeed there are sites out there that don´t dare to call a kit crap simply for not to risk getting no more replies from a sponsor. There also are sites out there that do!

A build review is going much deeper than a in-box review. Terry Ashley from PMMS does the best I know. He is "da man!" for me. An in-box review is what I do, simply because it is already very time consuming for me as a non-native speaker and because I put great demands on my self when doing the pictures. Would you believe I worked about two days on the pictures and about 1.5 days on the text of my F-86K review?

A review always is a kind of personal thing. You would write another one than me. You talk of a kind of matrix or set parameters to base a review on, if I get you right?!? For my understanding a kind of structure should be there to base a review on. But only as a kind of a frame, not in regards to the content.

Indeed it is sometimes hard to find "new" words to describe a kit´s characteristics or details. If a figure kit, for example, has a mould line down the figure´s body you would tell it a mould line. But if the next 10 figure kits from the same manufacturer have the same mould line down the figure´s body: what now?

Most kits have decals or PE parts. There aren´t a million words out there to describe the same characteristics on all new words the next review.

You asked about the qualities of an in-box review. I only can tell you my most important one: honesty.
If there is something I don´t like or understand why the manufacturer did something the way he did I sometimes ask the manufacturer about this. But I have no other option than to call a duck a duck if it walks like a duck, etc.

I don´t hesitate to tell what I don´t like, as much as I mention what I liked much. If possible I try to show a way to improve what has been mediocre quality in a kit. But if something simply is not logic or plain bad I will mention it.

I am a modeller. I build plastic kits. I write my reviews as a modeller for modellers. But you never can satisfy everybody.

JimD wrote:Sheesh...quiet around here today..

Anyway, I've been thinking. I feel the need to establish a criteria for kit reviews. Do you know how much it annoys me (as someone who writes for a living) to read a review that ends in "Highly Recommended" or "Very Highly Recommended?" How about "Super Very Highly Recommended." It's all the same...they literally don't mean anything different.

But let's be honest...most reviews aren't really reviews...they are fluff pieces to stroke Eduarevellogramiyagawademy's ego so they keep sending samples.

Anyway...seriously though. I think the best way to truly evaluate a kit should be built on some sort of matrix that can be applied to every review sample.

For a build review I think it's simple: fit, engineering, detail, accuracy(?), decal quality, etc.

For an in-box review I'm a little more taxed to come up with a criteria. I guess maybe that's why they all end with some hackneyed phrase that conveys no real useful information.

I think we can all agree a build review is the best way to determine a kits overall build-ability and quality, but what do you feel are the qualities of a good in-box review?

Hi all.
Completely agree with you JimD.
There are a lot of forums that made "in the box reviews" and that finish by the words you said and personally I'm tired of reading those.
I believe those forums to be in the "obligation" to do so, because other way they don't will receive the factory next new kit free.....
Anyway, I believe the best thing is a "Build review", but an HONEST one. That is the more interesting thing for any modeler.
The build review has to have a lot of pictures showing the "up's" and "down's" from the kit.
Doing this in a real honesty manner.
For me the "in box" review are no more interesting.
My 2 cent.
Cheers,
Jamme

Jamme, good to hear from you! Hope all is well. Good thoughts, too. I find the 'in the box" or "sprue reviews" somewhat relevant when coupled with the build review. I'm coming to recognize that the layout and placement of parts on a sprue tree does have some value....especially in dealing with the Uber kits.

Hi LyleW.
First thank you for asking how I do.
I"m OK, but not very much time for modeling.
I agree for a part of what you said, BUT.....
Looking at sprues doesn't mean that the kit fits well..... (you have to know what I mean ........(Eduard FW....)
Cheers,
Jamme

I do understand! I have a couple of Eduard kits. YIKES! I guess I was thinking of how the sprues are laid out, in that as you work through the kit, the assemblies may be all contained on one or two sprues. Not a biggie, though.

Jamme,

best news is to see you are doing fine! Missed your contributions on our new place but I see and understand that real life keeps you busy.

You are absolutely right that building a review kit gives you and the readers a much higher insight on a kit´s quality. But on the other hand I have noticed from close friends that have indeed build a certain kit that they had some fit problems that surprised them. But: no build review review mentioned this fit problem!

So again we have to take it with a grain of salt what is written in an in-box review or even in a build review. The only way to know for sure is to build a kit yourself.