First, let me thank all those who participated in the poll and/or contributed
suggestions for themes. All of the suggestions were once again quite good,
but I don't think that there will ever be a single set of themes which
will satisfy everyone. :-/

I'm only going to run nine themes this time, so that we'll end up at
the end of the year instead of in March as we are this year. Each theme
will, however, run for *two* months' time and overlap. Each month will
start a new theme and a new theme Picture album. The album will exist
for three months: the two months in which the theme is active, and one
month past to allow everyone a good look. :-)

Additionally, there will be three "Designer Challenge" themes,
beginning April, July, and October, each running for three months, with
a Pictures album *and* a Files folder for the participants. For these,
participants will design a model under certain restrictions, though the
model subjects will be designers' choice; making the model kit available
to the rest of us is *not* required, though it is certainly encouraged.
<G>

As always, this is meant to be *fun*. No one is ever required to participate
in the monthly themes. The purpose is to encourage members to build things
that they might not otherwise consider building.

I also encourage participants to be creative in thinking about their
choices. For example, a space shuttle could fall under "air vehicles"
as well as "space," while the ISS could fall under both "space"
and "structures." "SF and Fantasy" could include real
things, provided they are important to the story in which they are found.

If anyone needs clarification on anything about these themes, please
contact me on or off the List.

This post will be stored as "Themes_2004.txt" in the Files
area for future reference.

Mike "Chthulhu" Hungerford

papermodels-owner@smartgroups.com

http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/papermodels

Monthly themes:

April, 2004: Land vehicles - Anything which travels over land.

May, 2004: SF and Fantasy - Anything found in a Science Fiction or Fantasy
book, film, comic, TV show, etc.

June, 2004: Air vehicles - Anything which travels through the air.

July, 2004: Structures - Buildings, bridges, towers, gazebos, etc.

August, 2004: Water vehicles - Anything which travels on or through
water.

September, 2004: Strange but True! - Anything that actually exists,
but looks as though it shouldn't.

October, 2004: Space - Anything related to space travel, from launch
facilities to space stations.

November, 2004: Life - Anything which is, or was, actually alive, or
parts thereof.

December, 2004: Exhibitionism! - Show us your collection, or present
a model in an interesting way, such as a diorama (Extra credit for including
yourself in the image).

Designer Challenges:

General rules: No abstract sculptures, please. If you release your design
for others to build, make sure that the page(s) will print within a 7.5"
x 10" box, so that it will fit without resizing on US Letter and
A4 paper. Try to avoid use of anything except normal card stock in your
design(s).

April, 2004: Design and *build* the most complex, but recognizable,
thing you can from a single page of parts. No limit on the number of parts,
but remember you have to build it, too.

July, 2004: Design something recognizable using no more than five parts.

October, 2004: Design something recognizable which uses only cubes,
rectangular solids, and flat pieces, such as some of the "cube head"
figures.