Cumulonimbus Posted October 13, 2015 Posted October 13, 2015 (edited) Hi Jim, welcome back! Hey guys. What's up with the contest? I don't see a lot of WIP topics? I decided not take part in the TC8 for a number of reasons: - It is a really busy time for me now, some crucial things in my personal life (search for new job and new house) really eat up a lot of free time. When I do have the time, the energy and inspiration are often at a very low level. - The additional requirement of a video is something I have no experience in and don’t have the time for to go through a learning curve. - The fact that there is no part count restriction has created huge expectations in the community, I feel that my 700 piece tower crane or 42042 sized crawler cranes simply can’t live up to those expectations. Edited October 13, 2015 by Cumulonimbus Quote
Jim Posted October 13, 2015 Posted October 13, 2015 - It is a really busy time for me now, some crucial things in my personal life (search for new job and new house) really eat up a lot of free time. When I do have the time, the energy and inspiration are often at a very low level. I hear you! Time can be a restricted asset - The additional requirement of a video is something I have no experience in and don’t have the time for to go through a learning curve. Assuming you have a smart phone, shooting a video can be done in 5 minutes. Add another 5 to upload it to youtube and you are good to go. - The fact that there is no part count restriction has created huge expectations in the community, I feel that my 700 piece tower crane or 42042 sized crawler cranes simply can’t live up to those expectations. Bigger doesn't mean better. Sometimes the smaller, more compact MOCs are way better than the big ones. I wouldn't let expectations stop me from participating. After all; the contest is meant to have fun, and maybe learn a thing or two. Quote
Cumulonimbus Posted October 13, 2015 Posted October 13, 2015 I must confess that I tend to take these things (MOCs, contests, topics, etc) too seriously and my perfectionism isn't helping either. I will finish my cranes, but at my own pace, I just don't need the "stress" of another deadline at the moment, it takes too much away from the fun of building. Quote
Jim Posted October 13, 2015 Posted October 13, 2015 I must confess that I tend to take these things (MOCs, contests, topics, etc) too seriously and my perfectionism isn't helping either. I will finish my cranes, but at my own pace, I just don't need the "stress" of another deadline at the moment, it takes too much away from the fun of building. I recognize your feeling. When I do reviews I enjoy building the set, but there's always the feeling that I need to finish building it (and the rest) before a deadline. Quote
Erik Leppen Posted October 13, 2015 Posted October 13, 2015 Is the contest too restricted? Or haven't you made enough progress to show something? For me, the reason is that I still don't know if I will make it. The biggest challenge has yet to be taken. If I have that nailed, then I might open a topic, but if previous contests are anything to go by, then I'll probably open the topic when it's done... Bigger doesn't mean better. Sometimes the smaller, more compact MOCs are way better than the big ones. I fully agree. (And my entry will be smaller than most.) But the problem is... will the voters think this way too? Looking at what many people build, they think bigger is better. And many voters are builders. (Yes, I know one doesn't take part for the win, but everyone still tries to win. That's the whole idea of a competition.) Quote
Lipko Posted October 13, 2015 Posted October 13, 2015 For me, the reason is that I still don't know if I will make it. The biggest challenge has yet to be taken. If I have that nailed, then I might open a topic, but if previous contests are anything to go by, then I'll probably open the topic when it's done... I fully agree. (And my entry will be smaller than most.) But the problem is... will the voters think this way too? Looking at what many people build, they think bigger is better. And many voters are builders. (Yes, I know one doesn't take part for the win, but everyone still tries to win. That's the whole idea of a competition.) That's why I prefer contests with part limits. Quote
Thirdwigg Posted October 13, 2015 Posted October 13, 2015 That's why I prefer contests with part limits. Me too frankly. Quote
Jeroen Ottens Posted October 13, 2015 Posted October 13, 2015 Me too frankly. I suppose we should move this to the generic contest discussion topic, but I second (or should I say fourth) the extra limits to level the playing field and force more creativity (or at least that's how it works for me ) Quote
Erik Leppen Posted October 13, 2015 Posted October 13, 2015 Me too, but I also like the variation. Quote
syclone Posted October 14, 2015 Posted October 14, 2015 (edited) Just don't have enough time to build something serious for the contest. Edited October 14, 2015 by LXF Quote
doug72 Posted October 14, 2015 Posted October 14, 2015 (edited) Perhaps the contest should have been spilt into two sections for mobile cranes and static cranes. Edited October 14, 2015 by Doug72 Quote
John Daniels Posted October 15, 2015 Posted October 15, 2015 Hey guys. What's up with the contest? I don't see a lot of WIP topics? Is the contest too restricted? Or haven't you made enough progress to show something? I you have made some progress and you can show us some pictures, you are good for your [TC8] topic. I have been working on a Liebherr LR 1300, even though it is questionable whether or not it will be done in time for the deadline. I guess that I will quit procrastinating and go take some WIP pictures. Quote
Kiwi_Builder Posted October 15, 2015 Posted October 15, 2015 I don't expect that I will end up entering the competition even though I made the WIP topic and made good progress. I have a big, good looking, strong boom that can extent successfully. I have half of a superstructure that looks brilliant and a carrier chassis with five steering modes and all wheel drive. My problem, as with many people, is time and inspiration. In order to complete the crane I need to finish the superstructure, get a working boom elevation system, build the rest of the carrier (outriggers, cab, bodywork) and somehow make them all fit together and look good. This will be particularly difficult because my problem is that I build all three modules separately and as a result, none of them really go together properly. They're all different sizes so only a few parts of it are actually in scale. This means that most parts of the crane will probably have to be redesigned completely to make them fit together. All of this wouldn't be a problem were it not for me being extremely busy at the moment with other parts of life that are extremely important. I don't have time for building and when I do, I just don't have any inspiration for it. I will probably continue to work on it when I have the time and inspiration, but that won't be until well after the competition is over unfortunately. Quote
Jim Posted October 15, 2015 Posted October 15, 2015 Perhaps the contest should have been spilt into two sections for mobile cranes and static cranes. Resulting in....? Quote
doug72 Posted October 15, 2015 Posted October 15, 2015 Resulting in....? A winner in each catorgary Quote
aminnich Posted October 15, 2015 Posted October 15, 2015 I disagree, this is a crane contest. You can build any type of crane, big or small. All types of cranes have their problems while building. It should be one contest with one winner Quote
Kristof Posted October 22, 2015 Posted October 22, 2015 My oppinion isn't very vbaluable since I couldn't be more far from entering this contest (havent built anything remarkable from technic... so far), yet I watch the contest and all the WIP's carefully. If I were about to enter, I'd probably loose all hopes (and most likely be discouraged from entering eventually) after seing WIP's from several pro builders, showing their magnificent projects. Eventhough I know all these sayings about how it's not about winning etc. I'd hardly find enough motivation to enter a losing battle. I'm not at all mad about that and I don't blame the contest - all I can blame is my lack of skills, part resources and perhaps time. But I think there might be a lot of people, surely better technic builders than I am, who are feeling the same, which may be why there aren't as many WIP topics and why it seems there won't be that many entries in the end. I think that part restriction or shorter time would make this contest whole different and we may loose some of these georgeous looking (according to WIP's) creations so even the slightly negative fact that one can hardly contemplate winning without being big technic guru with great stock of parts is somehow worth it, at least for me :) Quote
Milan Posted October 22, 2015 Author Posted October 22, 2015 (edited) We have seen before that smaller, but more smartly created entries can be better, and ultimately, win the battle. It may sound corny, but main goal here on the contests is to have fun. Prizes may have motivational kick, but at the end, the best part is enjoyment while searching, designing, building, testing and improving your own build. And of course, competing with the other guys doing the same. For this Crane contest, one of the reasons for a somehow lower number of entries, so far, may be that cranes are really one of the toughest builds with Lego. Regarding your skill, not a single pro builder on this forum had all the skill and parts from the start. Patience and persistance is the key imo. Entering contests and also building yourself is a great way to advance. Edited October 22, 2015 by Milan Quote
Lipko Posted October 22, 2015 Posted October 22, 2015 (edited) We have seen before that smaller, but more smartly created entries can be better, and ultimately, win the battle. It may sound corny, but main goal here on the contests is to have fun. Prizes may have motivational kick, but at the end, the best part is enjoyment while searching, designing, building, testing and improving your own build. And of course, competing with the other guys doing the same. A contestant, especially a non-pro does want some feedback on how he/she did in comparison with the others, but voting is a bit too biased towards large models, and that can be a bit annoying/disappointing. Sure, we always see smaller models among the winners, but those are always very outstanding models. For not so outstanding models, bigger is better most of the time (I'm not saying that big models are not outstanding, the TC7 winner was a winner for me, no doubt). Or I don't know, some stats from contests with no part limits (and excluding the model team one): [TSATS]: 3 small, 3 huge in first six [TC6]: 1 small, 3 big, 2 huge [TC7]: 2 small, 2 big, 2 huge Edit: okay, this seems quite random, and most entries fall in the middle/big range. Drawing conclusion: failed. I just have the feeling in most contests that middle sized interesting models are often missing attention. Edited October 22, 2015 by Lipko Quote
Kristof Posted October 22, 2015 Posted October 22, 2015 Milan, that's all just right. Maybe my post sounded a bit to negative while it wasn't intended. Also by magnificent projects I didn't mean huge builds exclusively. For example I call effe's or Erik's cranes magnificent as well as yours, yet it's rather medium or small. As you say, noone starts with instant experience and part pool, yet to enter contest like this one with confidence, you need both, at least so some extent. And that was basically what I was trying to say (rather clumsily) - this contest doesn't attract beginners, eventhough they would be welcome to participate. (I'm judging by myself and the reality so far - can be proved wrong eventually) Which doesn't mean at all that this is not great contest! There are many smaller creative competitions where even newbies can aim high. This one offers showcase of the best lego modeling which I'm super happy to see and admire. Quote
doug72 Posted October 22, 2015 Posted October 22, 2015 (edited) This is my first contest and its been an interesting build time - constantly trying to improve my TC 8 entry to make it reliable with the limited number of parts I have to hand plus a few extra parts ordered. It has been a rewarding challenge. I had to dismantle my 42009 ulitmate crane to get enough parts and PF motors to build the luffing jib tower crane entry. My TC8 is my 2nd large crane build. 1st was my Giant Block Setting Crane and the 3rd was a horizontal jib tower crane built from what I learned from building the TC 8 entry. Already planning future crane builds - going back to the days when I used Meccanno to build them. Possible a Coles portable yard crane from 1950's. This is unusualal in that it has a triangular wheel base with the rear 2 wheels having caster steering. Edited October 22, 2015 by Doug72 Quote
Appie Posted October 23, 2015 Posted October 23, 2015 We have seen before that smaller, but more smartly created entries can be better, and ultimately, win the battle. It may sound corny, but main goal here on the contests is to have fun. Prizes may have motivational kick, but at the end, the best part is enjoyment while searching, designing, building, testing and improving your own build. And of course, competing with the other guys doing the same. For this Crane contest, one of the reasons for a somehow lower number of entries, so far, may be that cranes are really one of the toughest builds with Lego. Regarding your skill, not a single pro builder on this forum had all the skill and parts from the start. Patience and persistance is the key imo. Entering contests and also building yourself is a great way to advance. Personally I could care less for a prize, but it's always fun to win a contest and I think that is what krisandkris12 meant. Cranes might be a difficult build, but it's not like there isn't a plethora of MOC's and even official sets to steal techniques from for this subject. I think the biggest reason for the low number of entries is that the concensus (especially for this type of model) is bigger=better. And while small models might do well and even win in previous contests, that probably won't change the view of a novice who wants to try his luck at this contest. The size of entries of others can be quite overwhelming and make the novice wonder why he should even try or if he has enough parts to compete. And not just novice builders will have a problem with this bigger=better concensus, also pro-builders, since designing and building a 2000+ parts MOC takes time, even for experts. So some might have already dropped out because they couldn't commit the time. Quote
Epic Technic Posted October 23, 2015 Posted October 23, 2015 (edited) Oh no only a week left until the deadline . I really hope I can finish my crawler crane this weekend. I've been spending too much time working on design a 3000$ hover board; oh god what is wrong with me? Honestly, I feel as if some builds are too large and i often focus mainly of the large errors within the build, that's why I find that medium builds pack many good aspects all together, but if you manage to build a very good small build, I find very impressive. These are just my two cents. Edited October 23, 2015 by Epic Technic Quote
Milan Posted October 24, 2015 Author Posted October 24, 2015 Why can we not modify parts? What do you mean exactly? Quote
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