BUILD SOMETHING COMPETITION 2018 RULES - IT'S OVER!

[Vanvlak]

Well here we are at last - I'm heavily plagiarising last year's rules by jimbibbly, so credit to him - any errors or omissions or misconceptions would be due to the changes I made. 

Post any rules queries and comments as replies.

The theme for the Build Something Competition is:
ILL-ADVISED

Thanks to Rich H for suggesting it, and to all who posted ideas. I hope the choice of theme won't prove to be eponymous.

GENERAL RULES

One entry per member (no joint contributions).

A child board has been set up in the Workbench section and all build threads must be started in this. A dedicated Gallery has been set up just for hosting contest images so please post your photos here:
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?action=gallery;cat=98

You can then add them to your build thread - any questions regarding this just let myself or Prof Witcheimer know.
The official start date is 09:00 GMT Sun 14th Jan and all applicants must notify their intent to take part on the registration thread by 20:00 GMT Thurs 11th Jan. They will then be listed in the registration post. The list of entrants will be in alphabetical order (no favouritism). Please let me know if your username is wrong.

YOU CAN START YOUR BUILD THREAD IN THIS SUB-FORUM DIRECTLY, BUT PLEASE DO NOT POST ANY PROGRESS BEFORE THE START DATE. Please name your thread according to this pattern:
BSC2018 someone's model-name - for example, BSC2018 Chekov's Gun, where Chekov would be the user's forum name and 'gun' would be the object being built.

If you change your mind –  if Real Life intrudes or if the theme is not to your taste - just let me know and I shall remove your name.

I’ll be building an entry of my own, but I’ll withdraw my entry from voting. I will not be entering as a 'legal' participant, just to make up the numbers or purely for fun – this way I can also say ‘I didn’t lose’ this year. 

Finished entries must be submitted no later than midnight Sun 4th MARCH and the voting will start shortly after. That's seven weeks to build something. DUE TO THE EMAIL DELAY FOLLOWED BY THE IMAGE UPLOAD DELAY  THE DEADLINE FOR POSTING ON THE BUILD THREADS REMAINS OF COURSE HAS BEEN EXTENDED BY A WEEK ; BUT THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF THE PHOTO OF THE FINISHED MODEL WILL FOLLOW 

The build threads of the entrants should include as many progress shots as possible, including sketches but no photos of the finished entry should be posted on the thread - painting in progress is not allowed, only primed entries are permissible on the build threads - if you are unsure then please ask. I would however turn a blind eye to small details which have to be finished before assembly (for example a pilot and controls in an enclosed cockpit).

Final entries must consist of either one photo OR a photo-montage of the finished piece. No photo manipulation will be allowed apart from cropping, white balance and contrast within reason. Again, if you are unsure then please ask.

Photo size should be 800x800 pixels and sent as a jpeg to buildsomething@leadadventureforum.com


Although winners will be voted by the population of the LAF, if there is any sense of foul play the judges’ decision is final, although we would hope that it won't be necessary given the friendly nature of the LAF. 

THEME RULES
The entry must include something that ties in with the theme of 'ill-advised'.
Anything goes whether it's a vehicle, a building, a robot etc., as long as it is – well, plainly ill-advised!

Whilst an action could be ill-advised, remember that you have to build something – so a tiny naked goblin attacking a huge fortress is only valid if you scratchbuild them (or at least, the fortress)! Try to choose a theme which really emphasises ill-advisedness – a space marine terminator who refuses to wear his helmet to battle is ill-advised, but that doesn’t really have the special oomph of ill-advisedness, does it? If you have any questions either ask them here, to the above buildsomething email or via pm, but please label your email/ pm Build Something 2018.

Minimum base size is 50mm x 50mm or 50mm diameter or variations of; there is no upper limit. If in doubt, ask.

There is no minimum or maximum limit of figures on the entry but please remember that this is a Build something contest and NOT a figure painting contest.

Any period or setting is allowed as long as it fits with the theme including sci-fi, historical, pulp, fantasy etc.

The idea is to ‘build something’ (hence the name of the competition – clever, eh?) so the vast majority of the piece should be scratchbuilt, and only 0-25% can be commercially bought items or figures. The rest must be hand made.

Any amount of 3D printing is allowed in this edition of the BSC, with the (obvious) proviso that although there might not be physical model bits to show, anyone including 3D printed parts extensively (or a whole model) still need to adhere to the guidelines, and post about the design process and include images (as would be the case for any other construction approach) - the sudden appearance of a complete model with no previous images and description is not on! 

Conversion of commercially-bought items is allowed also e.g. a head swap on a single figure would not be suitable, but re-positioning and sculpting several new body parts would be. Another example could be a plastic aeroplane kit: adding a couple of extra parts to the kit would not be sufficient to qualify, but having some of the parts from a sprue on an entirely new build would be fine. Again, if in doubt, please ask.

It's not possible to cover all the eventualities, so please use your common sense and play fair. 

Good luck, and happy building to all - and don't forget to REGISTER YOUR INTENT and START A THREAD.

[pocoloco]

Huh, that's a tough one that theme 

Gotta put my thinking cap on for this.

[von Lucky]

How are 3D printed components/entries handled (assuming that the design work is done by person who's entry it is)?

[Vanvlak]

How are 3D printed components/entries handled (assuming that the design work is done by person who's entry it is)?

As explained I plagiarised last year's rules, which included this on 3D printing:
The idea is to build something so the vast majority of the piece should be scratch built, only 0-25% can be commercially bought items or figures. The rest must be hand made. This percentage also applies for 3D printed elements (whether home printed or bought). So the total of bought and 3d printed items together on the build cannot exceed 25%.

I rewrote some details, and in the end had two versions, one with the above text and one without, and I used the one without - but there are arguments for both, and we have seen these in last year's discussion. I'll summarise the arguments:

Against including 3D printing above 25% of model composition:
Not everyone has access to 3D printing
3D printing is against the spirit of scratchbuilding
It's a building competition, not just a design competition.
It could be daunting for most modellers to see fully rendered model produced by 3D printing.
It's a different skill set and not one which could be fairly compared to what is needed for the LAF BSC
etc.

For including 3D printing above 25% of model composition:
People might have other resources which are not accessible (e.g. laser cutting, a shed-load of rigid foam, free plasticard etc.)
3D printing is one skill in the set which a modeller can have.
Forum members have repeatedly demonstrated skills which would (in this sort of competition) still easily beat a 3D printed object.
3D printing still requires creativity - as much skill in drawing is required if a 3D printer is used.
Prints still need cleaning, finishing, sealing to produce a good model.
It would be interesting to see what people could come up with.
etc.

The debate filled a few pages of thread last year and saw a spot of raised tempers. This year I am (and this might prove to be ill-advised  going to give my opinion, which is currently just that, as a proposal, and not a final decision.

My opinion was originally to retain the previous arrangement, but I changed this after reading last year's posts:
I'd give it a try - the above arguments seem to balance out, yet I cannot help feeling that over time 3D printing - and other equipment - will become more available and give what might be seen as a temporary potential edge. The creativity in coming up with a good idea for this theme, which (I agree with Pocoloco) is not the easiest, is still needed, as is the skill to design the model and print it. Given the size, it is likely to be a multi-part model, which also needs its own design skills which are slightly closer to the more traditional build something idea. Not the same - but then again, other new tools, adhesives and materials are becoming more accessible. So I would allow 3D.

I'll reiterate that that is just an opinion, and discussion and input are welcome - I will adhere to the preferred opinion, if one is evident.  

If the eventual outcome is to allow 3D, and if you think you'll pull out at the thought of competing against 3D - don't! I appreciate that this option (if we go for it) could be off-putting to some; but please remember this is a friendly competition, and more of a place for showing how you build stuff. For me that was the best part last year, with participants giving tips and ideas to their direct competitors.

I modified the text slightly (twice!) to perhaps express myself better as it seems the topic has muted everyone!

[von Lucky]

Thanks for the clarification. I think these two points:

The creativity in coming up with a good idea for this theme

please remember this is a friendly competition, and more of a place for showing how you build stuff

Sums up how I feel. I think a few more people over the year have shown that 3D printing is another tool to use if that's what you are comfortable with (or want to challenge yourself with).

I am in for BSC2018 either way.

[beefcake]

I really mostly use this as motivation to sculpt something. Ill-advised will be a bit tricky but I have at least one idea already.

[Mason]

Ill advised.....

That covers most of what I do anyway....just gotta find a way to include it in my plans for my next project.
Should be possible....

[Rich H]

*makes pondering noises*

[McMordain]

Ugh, that theme... I'm not good with abstract thinking 
I will probably build something not really original.
As for 3D printing, I have no problem including it in any percent.

[Sinewgrab]

Ill advised...hmm.  I feel my creative juices flowing.

I doubt that I will be able to build and paint my entry in 48 hours like I did last year.

[Vanvlak]

If you want to throw 3d printing in without restriction I am in otherwise I am not in.

Reason is simple, If I was to do this, the end product I would list on shapeways or sell a few off after printing them so it would have to be largely 3d printed apart from some styrene rod or something else someone could easily get in order for it to be viable.

I will also use it for the convention game I am putting on which is meant to highlight 3d printing and eureka miniatures figurines. 

Currently, that's the way it is, although there is, as indicated above, still room for discussion. I should set a cut-off date for this, I guess to make sure it's clearly defined for all participants (and potential ones).

The aim of the competition is obviously to have some fun, get people to tackle a common (if wide) theme and showcase techniques and skills. The winner gets the potato cup, which I'm hoping will some day actually be designed and produced as an award...
This of course doesn't mean that a participating model would not subsequently commercialised or otherwise used; this further scope might just make it harder to stick to the theme of the competition, which is of course a requirement.

Incidentally - it's only fair to point out I have access to a 3D printer. I have not learnt how to use it yet, however, and will as a consequence not be using it. I am also rubbish at detail design, so I wouldn't be using it anyway...

[Rich H]

Not bothered about allowing 3D printing.  I have one, I don't use it very often as it hates me.
I'd suggest anyone who thinks it's easy has never tried to sculpt in 3D or get a bloody printer to work...
(Or had 5 hours printing ruined by the filament getting tangled in the last 10 mins. )

I'd rather use glue and 'stuff'!

[Mason]

As someone who has no knowledge of 3D printing, it would be nice if those who intend to use it explain what they have done in layman's terms so that those of us who are clueless have an idea of the processes involved.

It may also help alleviate any thoughts of an 'advantage' being gained by having access to one.
 

[beefcake]

Not bothered about allowing 3D printing.  I have one, I don't use it very often as it hates me.
I'd suggest anyone who thinks it's easy has never tried to sculpt in 3D or get a bloody printer to work...
(Or had 5 hours printing ruined by the filament getting tangled in the last 10 mins. )

I'd rather use glue and 'stuff'!

I hear you there.
Down here materials that people in the UK or USA find easily (such as that damned pink or blue foam that suits modelling so well) are rather hard to come by. It makes scratch builsing more time consuming with acquiring products. Although I guess it's swings and roundabouts. There are probably things here easy to acquire compared to elsewhere.

[von Lucky]

I agree Mason - I think those doing 3D work need to take as many photos as possible, with explanation like the rest of us.

And none of this new-fangled screen shot stuff. They need to take a photo of their computer screen by exposing the metal plate coated with collodion emulsion, then processing it, etc.