I think the SMF is entirely redundant. The "Model Team" descriptor covers more System-rich builds and there are a good number of Technic sets that use heavy System sections, 8275 and 42078 for instance.

Seeing the activity in this topic, we should move ahead and merge the forums.

Edited August 1, 20213 yr by Toastie

Honestly, I'm not sure whether I'm happy with the decision to merge the Scale Modeling and the Technic Forum.
Trying to gain a wider audience for scale models certainly is a good thing. But there are very many Technic MOCs/MODs and very few pure scale models, so I fear the latter ones will simply drown in the flood of Technic-related threads.
Second, the merger does not solve the problem where to post certain models.
Take my Tyrrell F1 car as an example: I think it feels perfectly at home in the SMF; but, since it's a pure display model without functions, where to post it if SMF didn't exist?
Yes, there's the "And Model Team" appendix in the Technic forum title. But Creator-style sets and MOCs should be discussed in the "Special LEGO themes" forum, though I thought the Creator (Expert) line was kind of a successor to Model Team...

I'm confused...

8 hours ago, Tenderlok said:

Honestly, I'm not sure whether I'm happy with the decision to merge the Scale Modeling and the Technic Forum.
Trying to gain a wider audience for scale models certainly is a good thing. But there are very many Technic MOCs/MODs and very few pure scale models, so I fear the latter ones will simply drown in the flood of Technic-related threads.
Second, the merger does not solve the problem where to post certain models.
Take my Tyrrell F1 car as an example: I think it feels perfectly at home in the SMF; but, since it's a pure display model without functions, where to post it if SMF didn't exist?
Yes, there's the "And Model Team" appendix in the Technic forum title. But Creator-style sets and MOCs should be discussed in the "Special LEGO themes" forum, though I thought the Creator (Expert) line was kind of a successor to Model Team...

I'm confused...

I see your point, but whenever you start categorizing things, there will always be edge cases where it's hard to say if it should be in one category or another. The more categories there are, the more edge cases there will also be, so this merger should at least remove one place where it's hard to decide one way or another.

I still think this merge is the right thing to do considering the inactivity of the scale modeling forum, and maybe the split is now something like having models which are all design and no function put to Special themes forum while those with at least some technical functions belong here.

34 minutes ago, howitzer said:

I still think this merge is the right thing to do considering the inactivity of the scale modeling forum, and maybe the split is now something like having models which are all design and no function put to Special themes forum while those with at least some technical functions belong here.

I agree. In some cases we are stuck between a rock and a hard place, but I still think it's the right decision.

I think it could be differentiated by one simple question: Does it have functions of any kind?

Yes: --> Technic&Model Team

No: --> Special Lego Themes

As far as I know all the Model Team vehicles had some basic functions, like steering for example. Keeping that in mind I can accept Creator Expert cars like the Porsche 911 or the Mustang as successors of the Model Team spirit.

Function-free diplay models and even shoes on the otherhand do not belong here imo.

48 minutes ago, Gray Gear said:

I think it could be differentiated by one simple question: Does it have functions of any kind?

Yes: --> Technic&Model Team

No: --> Special Lego Themes

As far as I know all the Model Team vehicles had some basic functions, like steering for example. Keeping that in mind I can accept Creator Expert cars like the Porsche 911 or the Mustang as successors of the Model Team spirit.

Function-free diplay models and even shoes on the otherhand do not belong here imo.

Agreed! 

1 hour ago, Gray Gear said:

I think it could be differentiated by one simple question: Does it have functions of any kind?
Yes: --> Technic&Model Team
No: --> Special Lego Themes

That would lead to crazy situations…
Discussions about sets like the Caterham, the Fiat 500 and the VW T1 camper (no steering) would belong in the Special Themes Forum, and those about the Mustang, Porsche or VW T2 (steering) in Technic & Model team.
Seriously?!
Besides, the whole discussion seems to be a bit car-heavy, yet scale modeling is so much more (but in every case, it's basically about looks and not about function).
Where to post exact scale models of airplanes, machinery, or monuments – functionless, but modeled with accuracy and virtuosity? Or think of Edwin Korstanje’s fantastic ships. You don’t really want to shove them off to the Special Themes Forum, where they would have to reside next to Fabuland and Collectable Minifigures, do you?

One last thought: Beautiful as they were - technically, the Model Team sets were no scale models at all. So using the "& Model Team" designation as an argument to integrate scale models (of cars and what else?!) into the Technic forum is a bit misleading IMHO.

I know the SMF/Technic merger is settled. But perhaps it could at least be combined with a general restructuring and/or clarification of forum categories.

Edited August 2, 20213 yr by Tenderlok

@Tenderlok as you have said correctly Creator style sets without any functions do not belong here. I don't know what's so crazy about that.

There is no problem accepting a boat with a working crane for example, or a plane with retractable landing gear. Machinery is the same case, if there are some working functions there is no problem.

But Monuments?! And other functionless models don't fit.

48 minutes ago, Tenderlok said:

Or think of Edwin Korstanje’s fantastic ships. You don’t really want to shove them off to the Special Themes Forum, where they would have to reside next to Fabuland and Collectable Minifigures, do you?

Yes, there are other kinds of builds that also take work and look good.

But no, that does not mean they should be shown to Technic&Model Team users that are not really interested, just because there are a lot of users here. Some themes just have more followers than others, that's the sad truth. I would recommend Instagram or other plattforms to those users, where there are more users in general.

Edited August 2, 20213 yr by Gray Gear

Solution:

LEGO Technic, Model Team and Scale Modeling

47 minutes ago, Gray Gear said:

I don't know what's so crazy about that.

The crazy thing is that even discussions (reviews, MODs) about sets from one single Lego product line (Creator Expert cars) would have to be posted in different forums, depending on their (non-)functionality.

47 minutes ago, Gray Gear said:

that does not mean they should be shown to Technic&Model Team users that are not really interested

I didn't mean to propose that, rather I wanted to emphasize my original notion that the implementation of SMF was a good thing.
Yes, I know I'm much too late to the party. Hence my proposal to take the SMF/Technic fusion as a reason to redefine some more forum categories.

47 minutes ago, Gray Gear said:

I would recommend Instagram or other plattforms to those users, where there are more users in general. 

I doubt whether that's a very helpful suggestion, considering the original aim of this discussion was how to get more attention for/more activity by scale modelers...

@Jim That doesn't really solve the problem that some Technic builders apparently don't want to see functionless models in "their" forum...
And, to avoid confusion, I would remove the "Creator" tag from "Special Themes" forum, or specify in the forum description that Creator Expert-style models are indeed welcome to "LEGO Technic, Model Team and Scale Modeling".

 

Edited August 2, 20213 yr by Tenderlok

I bought some Ingmar Spijkhoven kits and want to review them in the next couple of days/weeks. Those are realistic-ish scale models, but with lots of technic and functions inside, so i guess i post it in Technic and Modelteam...

We need to accept that, however we organize, merge or split forums, there will always be models that do not fit in a single forum/category. And with that, builders that feel unhappy with the placement of their models in an X, Y, Z forums.
The important thing is that we give our best and try what works best, and, change it again later if we all agree.
 

12 minutes ago, Jim said:

LEGO Technic, Model Team and Scale Modeling

That was the initial idea when we first talked about it And It looks good!
 

6 minutes ago, Coolusername said:

I bought some Ingmar Spijkhoven kits and want to review them in the next couple of days/weeks. Those are realistic-ish scale models, but with lots of technic and functions inside, so i guess i post it in Technic and Modelteam...

They still belong to the SMF, until the merge. His models are even on the cover of the SMF

Ok, good to know.

If i post it in SMF and you merge the topics, it probably doesn't matter where i post it?

1 minute ago, Milan said:

 

They still belong to the SMF, until the merge. His models are even on the cover of the SMF

 

14 minutes ago, Tenderlok said:

@Jim That doesn't really solve the problem that some Technic builders apparently don't want to see functionless models in "their" forum...
 

Like @Milan said; can't make everyone happy all the time. 

And I am pretty sure the Technic fans won't mind an occasional scale model. It's not that the SMF forum was flooded with MOCs every day/week.

4 minutes ago, Coolusername said:

Ok, good to know.

If i post it in SMF and you merge the topics, it probably doesn't matter where i post it?

Until the contest is over, the current rules of both SMF and Technic are valid.
So, you can either wait until the contest ends, and then post it in the merged forum, or post it right now in the SMF.

6 minutes ago, Milan said:

Until the contest is over, the current rules of both SMF and Technic are valid.
So, you can either wait until the contest ends, and then post it in the merged forum, or post it right now in the SMF.

You mean the TC20 until august 10th? If i would post it now in SMF, will it just be visible like normal after the merge, or should i wait?

7 minutes ago, Tenderlok said:

The crazy thing is that even discussions (reviews, MODs) about sets from one single Lego product line (Creator Expert cars) would have to be posted in different forums, depending on their (non-)functionality.

That seems crazy indeed. But I am sure you will find the threads for newly released official sets no matter if they are posted here or in the special forum. To be honest and judging by the numbers of replies there are much better places for discussing newly released Creator Expert models. But there is no better place than EB to discuss Technic-related stuff and MOCs. So your concern should not be too much of a problem. Apart from that you could also argue that it was crazy by Lego to release non-functional cars (at this scale!).

Although I very rarely comment these days I was one of those you supported a seperate SMF and I am also one of those who welcome scale models returning back to the Technic forum. When I have something worth to present here again I will certainly do so with the forums merging back again. I am not sure if I had done so knowing that only very few people would have noticed my model in the SMF.

Just now, Coolusername said:

You mean the TC20 until august 10th? If i would post it now in SMF, will it just be visible like normal after the merge, or should i wait?

Yes, the merging was scheduled after the current contest (after the winner is announced). If you post it in SMF now, it will be visible there now, and after the merge it will be synchronized with the Technic forum (by date of the latest reply). It will be visible there, too, of course.

2 minutes ago, brickphisto said:

I was one of those you supported a seperate SMF and I am also one of those who welcome scale models returning back to the Technic forum. When I have something worth to present here again I will certainly do so with the forums merging back again. I am not sure if I had done so knowing that only very few people would have noticed my model in the SMF.

Plenty of people noticed your awesome models. Some of them were even frontpaged

17 minutes ago, Jim said:

And I am pretty sure the Technic fans won't mind an occasional scale model.

I'm glad that you seem to have changed your mind...

2 hours ago, Jim said:

3 hours ago, Gray Gear said:

[...]
Function-free diplay models and even shoes on the otherhand do not belong here imo.

Agreed! 

 

Edited August 2, 20213 yr by Tenderlok

4 minutes ago, Milan said:

Yes, the merging was scheduled after the current contest (after the winner is announced). If you post it in SMF now, it will be visible there now, and after the merge it will be synchronized with the Technic forum (by date of the latest reply). It will be visible there, too, of course.

Ok!

If i can even make it until the 10th. Kits should arrive tomorrow. Together like 6000 parts and i don't have that much time to build this week. Also never done a big review so i need to look at others, and make pictures and think about what i write and everything.

I don't think anyone has ever reviewed such kits here?? So i wanna do it, to maybe get some more deserved attention for these!

5 minutes ago, Coolusername said:

So i wanna do it, to maybe get some more deserved attention for these!

My advice, take your time with it. No need to rush. Better to wait until you are fully satisfied with the reviews. I guess you will finish it after the merge (mind you, it is after the voting and announcing the winner), so you can post it in the new final forum.
Since this is about Ingmar and his models, I would like to see really nice photos and detailed review, so we can frontpage it. Ingmar deserved it.
But, we can talk about the review in another topic, and leave this place for the merge discussion

37 minutes ago, Tenderlok said:

I'm glad that you seem to have changed your mind...

I do think a scale model of a shoe will fit special themes better, but most of the scale models seem to be vehicles anyway.

Solution: one single forum, but with tags 

A thread can hold multiple tags. Then people can easily select the tags they are interested in.