Wanted - Feedback in regards to the Forums. - FineScale Modeler - Essential magazine for scale model builders, model kit reviews, how-to scale modeling, and scale modeling products

David Voss

Member since
December 2002
From: Waukesha, WI

Wanted - Feedback in regards to the Forums.

Posted by David Voss on Friday, February 7, 2003 1:15 AM

Well it's been a little over two months since we launched the new site. During that time the site has seen an increase in traffic, the number of members has grown rapidly (6,900+), and the forums have seen a lot of activity (3,000+ posts).

To everyone who has sent us feedback about the site - Thank you! We appreciate everyone who has taken the time to let us know what they thought about the site.

Now I would like to ask everyone for feedback regarding the community area of the website, specifically the forum. Now that many of you have had time to use the forum, let us know what you like about the forum and what you don't like. Are there features you would like to see added, removed or improved upon? Are there things which need to be explained or are just downright confusing? How about ease of use? Is it easy to use and get around the forums or do you find it difficult? Are there enough categories/forums or would you like to see more?

Whatever the feedback, good or bad, let us know what you think.

Post your comments here or send them to webmaster@kalmbach.com with the words "Forum Feedback" in the subject. I'll review all of your comments and discuss them with the staff.

Thank you in advance!

David Voss Senior Web Developer Kalmbach Publishing Co. Join me on the FSM Map

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djmodels1999

Member since
December 2002
From: United Kingdom / Belgium

Posted by djmodels1999 on Friday, February 7, 2003 1:47 AM

I just love everything about it. I have managed to get various bits of info that I had been looking for for years, got great tips and made a few friends. It has made a big difference in my way of enjoying the hobby. Thank you. Smile [:)]

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, February 9, 2003 5:35 PM

I will agree with everything djmodels1999 said. One thing I would like to see is the availability of FSM archives online for all back issues. This would make life much easier. There is only one thing I don't like about the forum. I spend to much time here instead of at my workbench. Oh the burdens one must bare sometimes Big Smile [:D]

.

Darren

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, February 9, 2003 9:32 PM

I like the format and it is easy to navigate around. I think the board statistics is a nice touch, you can see who and how many are online.

Mark

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, February 12, 2003 1:50 AM

Well done !
I enjoy all aspects of the site and have found it a great source of information and advice.
I look forward to further developements in the future.

Best wishes
Steve

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ILuv3ggs

Member since
December 2002
From: Brisbane, Australia

Posted by ILuv3ggs on Wednesday, February 12, 2003 10:17 PM

forums are great, have learnt lots from people replying to my and other people posts. the bak issue archive would be a good idea.

Cya

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JChurch

Member since
January 2003

Posted by JChurch on Saturday, February 15, 2003 11:33 AM

The site is fantastic, can't get enough (the wife is getting suspicious) Wink [;)]

This may sound corny, but I'd like to see you move the status board from the bottom of the page to the top. I like to see who I'm sharing the site with and watch the membership grow, just that kinda guy I guess.

Madd Dawg

Your not going to leave it like that are you?

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djmodels1999

Member since
December 2002
From: United Kingdom / Belgium

Posted by djmodels1999 on Saturday, February 15, 2003 1:59 PM

That's an excellent suggestion from JChurch. Save scrolling down...

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, February 17, 2003 12:55 PM

Hi all! Just logged on for the first time yesterday and I'm having a great time with the discussions. The site is well constructed, fast and eye-catching. Kudos to the web designer! One point I would like to bring up...what about a category in the Forum where people can go to find pics of interest. I'm not saying general category stuff, but pics of say, Canadian armor, British warships, U.S. jets. etc. Mind you, these can be links to someone else's site or just an email address and the types of pics availabe. I know I have a few Canadian 6x6 Truck, VW Ilitis, and 6-wheeled LAV pics which people may like to see. As a special category, possibly with sub-categories, there would be a concise and growing database for pics. Sounds like a plan? or is this the rantings of a lunatic modeller?

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midnightprowler

Member since
February 2003
From: East Bethel, MN

Posted by midnightprowler on Wednesday, February 26, 2003 3:43 PM

Dittos to what everyone else has said. The only negative thing I can say is this thing is taking time away from my time for building!! Rats!!. Oh well. Keep it up guys.

Hi, I am Lee, I am a plastiholic.

Co. A, 682 Engineers, Ltchfield, MN, 1980-1986

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 1 Corinthians 15:51-54

Ask me about Speedway Decals

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, February 26, 2003 4:03 PM

Well not knowing what the previous site was like..I can't say what the general improvements are...

What I can say is that it's a well laid out format...

Only couple of things I would add..

1-Pesonal Messages...this is good way for people to send messages back and forth...for trading and such..

2-how about a bartering section...where people can place up what kits they have they would be willing to trade or kits they are looking for...you get the picture (I know you already have a classified section..but this is a bit different)

3-a way to mark messages read...or to mark a whole forum read...

4-a way to be notified if someone responds to a thread you have posted in. this is usually a choice, either when they sign up originally or on a per thread basis...

These are very minor upgrades I would see as being useful...overall the site is easy on your eyes, well orginized and easy to follow..

I like it!

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, March 7, 2003 1:45 PM

Maybe put the forum tree on the bottom as well, save scrolling back up. Guess i'm just lazy.

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David Voss

Member since
December 2002
From: Waukesha, WI

Posted by David Voss on Friday, March 7, 2003 3:36 PM

QUOTE: Originally posted by claymore68

Maybe put the forum tree on the bottom as well, save scrolling back up. Guess i'm just lazy.

Don't tell my manager, but I have a couple of layout changes in mind for the topics pages. Wink [;)]

I just need to stay away from here and spend more time programming. Wink [;)]

David Voss Senior Web Developer Kalmbach Publishing Co. Join me on the FSM Map

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cnstrwkr

Member since
March 2003
From: USA

Posted by cnstrwkr on Wednesday, March 12, 2003 10:00 AM

I am back to the hobby after a few years and what a great way to start with all this info. I agree with Claymore68, the forum tree at the bottom will save time here and hopefully get me back to the table sooner. Smile [:)]

Tommy difficult things take time...the impossible, a little longer!

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Keyworth

Member since
January 2003
From: NE Georgia

Posted by Keyworth on Wednesday, March 12, 2003 8:32 PM

Archived issues and articles would be great. I also like the idea of placing the forum tree at the bottom; a real time-saver. Great job on the site overall.

"There's no problem that can't be solved with a suitable application of high explosives"

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Buddho

Member since
March 2003
From: Newport News VA

Posted by Buddho on Thursday, March 13, 2003 9:41 PM

This site is fantastic! I, like many others have wound up spending many hours browsing and corresponding with others. I would also like to see more archived back issues, since I was unfortunate not to have started my subscription until the 90's. Keep up the great work!

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, March 20, 2003 10:05 PM

This magazine has been invaluable to me for the 18 years(God has it been that long) since I first subscibed. Love the website. Now I can ask questions, search for missing parts and get timely responses

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, March 20, 2003 10:14 PM

having read some other requests I want to add my two cents.. I stated earlier about having years and years of old FSM's. How about a subject index . It would be great to be building some kit and call up the kit on your site and get everything you guys have written or projects done or photographs of. If you have it make it a prominent choice.

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 1, 2003 6:33 AM

Diddo to everything everyone said,,,,,,,,,,, A pic gallery would be nice, howeveri know this takes up tons of space!!!! But, i dont havea problem with this forum taking time away from building, WHY?? 'cause my puter is next to my work bench!!!!!!!!

Great site Gentlmen!!!!!

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Kolja94

Member since
December 2002
From: Oak Harbor, WA

Posted by Kolja94 on Thursday, April 3, 2003 4:17 PM

Absolutely terrific site! Love the look and feel, and the friendliness so far (OK, only a couple days) is great. Of the modelling forums I visit and post in, this is the easiest to use and has the best features.
About the only thing I would improve is picture sharing. It seems a little awkward, but that might be because I just haven't figured it out yet and am something of a slow study!
Keep up the great work with the terrific magazine and great website!

Karl

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, April 7, 2003 12:19 AM

I have good news and bad news.first the bad news. The screen pause is way to slowwwww, especially on older posts. This has become more of a problem lately I do realize that this happens with the more information in transfers but its really becoming a chore to reteive information .Next, sometimes my the whole page I am reading has scrolled off the right side of the screen. I have been told that this is caused during loading to my computer but that the problem lies in the server. Now the good news.I love this site.much information,fellow modelers sharing ther secrets and war stories. Very cool. I do have one request however, how about starting a wants and disposals section .Maybe one where dealers were not allowed, just modeler to modeler. Any way thats all I can think of for now. good luck and keep up the good work...Thanks.............

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Woody

Member since
December 2002
From: Third rock from the sun.

Posted by Woody on Monday, April 7, 2003 6:27 PM

I love it, very civil not like some other sites. I registered when you started and lurked for the most part. Now I like to particapate because of the friendly atmosphere. Keep up the good work

" I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast; for I intend to go in harm's way." --John Paul Jones

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 10, 2003 12:09 AM

Well it's a great and useful site for modelers. I got several useful tips on modeling and kits future release. I've read FSM for years. Back here in Malaysia I have to wait months to get copies of FSM. Now that I'm a subscriber, I get the magazine on time and I can surf on the net for more info. For me it's a great place to trade ideas to improve skills. Even though we're thousands miles apart, through this forum the gap became closer. TQ FSM.

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 18, 2003 10:39 AM

Are we creating a new breed, the e-modeller? I'm a Brit in Riyadh, I only logged on for the first time the other day, I'm hooked! I've learnt a lot ( And I've been modelling for 25 years ) & I've passed on some of my modelling tips, so hopefully someone else will benefit. I too would like to see a bitswap site, I have some kits to get rid of & if we cut out the dealers it would be cheaper all round.

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, April 19, 2003 9:02 AM

Outstanding !!!!!!!! Been an FSM subscrider since around '86-'87. Learning new techniques all the time. The hardest one to learn was staying up late and getting up early.

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, May 2, 2003 1:35 AM

Here's an idea, the same questions keep coming up again & again; panel lines,
washes, glues etc. How about an FSM book/magazine of 'how to' modelling basics covering the most asked subjects on the forum, using the best three or five answers from the forum? With the writers permission of course. FSM could print a disclaimer in the front, saying if the technique messes up your model it's not our fault etc. Plus, a safety tips section, fumes, resin dust, that sort of thing .
As if you guys don't have enough to do producing such a great magazine as FSM, here am I suggesting even more work, sorry!
Also, I've just got hold of a copy of your, 'Great scale modelling 2003', WOW!!!
I wish!, oh well, time to try to hike my modelling standards even higher, and there i was, thinking I was three quarters of the way up the flagpole!
I'm not sure how your other 'how to' books sell of course, but this one could run & run, & could be updated or you could produce a second volume in a year or so.

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djmodels1999

Member since
December 2002
From: United Kingdom / Belgium

Posted by djmodels1999 on Friday, May 2, 2003 2:02 AM

Great idea!

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leemitcheltree

Member since
January 2003
From: Washington State

Posted by leemitcheltree on Friday, May 2, 2003 12:01 PM

David,
I've been a subscriber since about '82 - great mag and a great site - I very much like the forum. Improvements? Maybe.............

1. A classified section - buy or sell or services available - maybe run the ads for 30 days or so then autowipe them - but I don't know how much web space you have available
2. Maybe a way of accessing archived articles straight from the back issues of the mag - (but this might keep people from subscribing? that's bad)

But then again, If I don't see these changes I'd still be happy with the format - I've found the attitude of the participants to be very generous of time and skills, an excellent source of information - and also very kind and informative to the sometimes very "basic" questions that newcomers to modelling ask. I enjoy replying to those new to the hobby as much as asking questions.

Pretty well done, David...........

Cheers, LeeTree
Remember, Safety Fast!!!

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, May 2, 2003 2:01 PM

Great idea albertsponson!! Another twist on it might be to create a separate area in this website and post them there. It could be updated and added to as needed. Or maybe have it as a downloadable .pdf file or something that people could download and keep as a reference. Something to think about.

Ray

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JChurch

Member since
January 2003

Posted by JChurch on Saturday, May 3, 2003 9:20 AM

Here's an idea , maybe you could burn them all on to a CD and thro' it in to a couple of special editions for us subscribers.

I'd call that a "BONUS" Big Smile [:D]

Madd Dawg

If at first you don't succeed... distroy all evidence that you made the attempt !

Your not going to leave it like that are you?

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Wanted - Feedback in regards to the Forums.