Can Some One Please...

Travis,

 I used to get a lot off of ebay and will admit ebay has some awesome deals but got stung on a few as they never sent the items (did get the money back thanks to paypal) and a few others were lost in the mail. I have decided to stay off line. Im from the old school and love to actually see and touch what I am buying and if its in the store then I know it wont be lost in the mail or never sent. Thats why I hope my last LHS stays in business and I may just buy a few 60-70 tanks to help he survive. 

I noticed that to the other day I was in there, they have a few "mechanics" that work there fixing the rc all day long. And I happen to thank that if  rc didnt exsist that there would no longer be any Just Plastic brick and mortar shops, so kudos to that side of the hobby.

Darren

Darren,

That is the plan! Lucky for me these guys have plenty of people bringing in broken RC stuff regularly. I will just be glad if he continues to keep the model stuff in stock. It is so much easier, not to mention fun, to go down to the store to get a thing of glue or a bottle of paint. Online is great, I usually save up for a good size order to save on shipping. Like free shipping on orders over $100 from Squardon! Not hard for me to do!. I would say I get most of my kits off ebay these days....you just can't beat the deals (when your lucky).

Travis

STFD637

Modelmaniac,

Your case sounds like the set up I have here. We have 1 store with some model stuff, but mostly RC. I can see why too. I thought this hobby was expensive, jeeze that RC stuff is crazy! $100-$1000 for the kit. Then when you break it the parts cost adds up. Our loca just openned up a new store a little closer to me, Whoo Hoo! They have a great selection of pain, Styrene, and some nice kits at reasonable prices. I try to buy from him as much as possible so he doesn't go out!

Travis/STFD637

Travis,

 That is one of the reasons i havent touched rc because of the cost of repairs, servos go out, or something breaks and then you have to pay to fix it. Plus spending 40+ to make a one off creation in a model kit to me is just more satisfying anyway. Yeah spend what you can afford with that new shop. Thats what im gonna do with the last one here in town to help his bottom line because i want to be able to get my paint in the store and not try to find it online.

Darren

Modelmaniac,

Your case sounds like the set up I have here. We have 1 store with some model stuff, but mostly RC. I can see why too. I thought this hobby was expensive, jeeze that RC stuff is crazy! $100-$1000 for the kit. Then when you break it the parts cost adds up. Our loca just openned up a new store a little closer to me, Whoo Hoo! They have a great selection of pain, Styrene, and some nice kits at reasonable prices. I try to buy from him as much as possible so he doesn't go out!

Travis/STFD637

Konigwolf13

Wow this thread is still going? LOLZ

As I said before it was started out of frustration as much as anything, frustration as things not working, not the change. Now most things are working, mostley its issues with links to do with the old forum, may or may not get fixed in the new year. Some change is good in my opinion, its needed, helps clear the air. Change that kills little hobby shops and forces you to buy from big chains or to navigate to bewildering amount of stores online not knowing who to trust (I thinks thats part of the real problem)  can be bad change.

Andrew

Andrew,

 here here, I totally agree with you on that one!

Wow this thread is still going? LOLZ

As I said before it was started out of frustration as much as anything, frustration as things not working, not the change. Now most things are working, mostley its issues with links to do with the old forum, may or may not get fixed in the new year. Some change is good in my opinion, its needed, helps clear the air. Change that kills little hobby shops and forces you to buy from big chains or to navigate to bewildering amount of stores online not knowing who to trust (I thinks thats part of the real problem)  can be bad change.

As for finding FSM and subscibing, at the same time this change happened, I subscribed for the very first to to a magazine, why? Because it can be imposible get sometimes. Its a specialist magazine, international market in a conservitive state, conservitive capital city with small population (about 250,000). Adds up to make many things difficult, not the least of all modeling. So I changed and subscibed now I have access to the bonus stuff, I might actually have to look at soon, LOL.

Andrew

PaintsWithBrush

'modelmaniac1967',

You had FOUR hobby shops in your area? We have HobbyLobby and one small independent guy that is hanging on by his fingernails. He put all his eggs in the RC basket and let the plastic and railroad crowd go. It amazes me that me is still afloat. 

The only place around here that sold FSM was Books-A-Million. Perhaps the new Borders carries it, but I have yet to go in there. I subscribe to the magazine but hardly ever avail myself of the "subscriber only" portion of the site.

I think that scale model building's  worldwide reach will keep it around during this slow phase and your local guy should be able to hang on if he is now the only source for an area that used to able to comfortable support four.

PaintsWithBrush,

 Yeah, we currently have around 650,000 people in the Albuquerque area right now. I too think that all closing except that one shop will help. They to are mostly RC but have a great selection of paints, thats what im interested in, so i dont have to mail order. They have a good selection of plastic but out of my price range right now. Some tank kits are in excess of $65.00-70.00 there where as the other shops would run right around $50.00. But at least i have paint thats all i can be happy about and build the large stash of kits that i have right now!

'modelmaniac1967',

You had FOUR hobby shops in your area? We have HobbyLobby and one small independent guy that is hanging on by his fingernails. He put all his eggs in the RC basket and let the plastic and railroad crowd go. It amazes me that me is still afloat. 

The only place around here that sold FSM was Books-A-Million. Perhaps the new Borders carries it, but I have yet to go in there. I subscribe to the magazine but hardly ever avail myself of the "subscriber only" portion of the site.

I think that scale model building's  worldwide reach will keep it around during this slow phase and your local guy should be able to hang on if he is now the only source for an area that used to able to comfortable support four.

Dahutist,

 Yeah i do agree with you that I to am glad they are still around especially in this economy. As others are going away, an even scarier trend for the hobby in my city is that we have lost 3 hobby shops in the last few years and only have 1 true full service model and paint hobby shop left. In fact the only place now that sells finescale mag is Hastings. If hastings quits selling it then I would either be forced to subscribe again or do with out. I am hoping that someday this economy picks up again so I dont loose any more hobby shops in my area.

modelmaniac1967

 My only problem with this forum is the subscriber only content. I have subscribed to this magazine on and off for years.... I have every issue starting from 1987. So either I have supported finescale magazine from buying it off the shelf at the newstand or subscribed to it. But if you dont subscribe all the time you do not get to see the subscriber only content. To me that is total crap.

You are what one would call a "between the cracks" player. I, too, have subscribed and/or paid for FSM for years - as long as you. I just bought the newest issue at the store, today. So I sympathize with you.

But we are not currently on record as subscribers so we miss "the perks," as another called them. There is no loophole for guys like you and me - either we are in or out. Life is like that.

So we're out, "between the cracks." It is what it is. We can be glad FSM is here and still available, when many others have gone under. I can accept that as a blessing.

First off. Great post Bgrigg and Dahutist! Second; Andrew I am glad you are staying. I am attempting my firts 144 build ever due to your GB! I love this site and haven't had any problems navigating it. I didn't come here as much before the change so I can't truely compare.

In the last 2 months since I started comming back here I have found all my old enthusiasim for the hobby! I would hate to see any more of the original guys leave as they are wealth of info.

I will say this some types of "CHANGE" is bad, but not all!

Travis/STFD 637

modelmaniac1967

I know why they are doing it because they can see just how many mags that they are selling monthly if your a subscriber

The reason they do, IMO anyway, is to give the subscribers an added perk and also just might get others to subscribe. The mag business is where they make their money, not this site which is free. I'd rather get all of the free content that they provide than have to pay for the entire site just to get the subscriber extras.

As for the original question, I go to several sites. Armorama, Military Modeling, Large Scale Planes, ARC, Missing Lynks, etc. They're all great sites but none can match this one for the variety of subjects and experts in each one. No flame wars, no holier than thou a-holes, no mfg. worshipping, and lots of very helpful and friendly members.

Regarding the change, I think  we all have much more important things in life to worry about. Six months from now most won't even remember what the old site looked like.

Happy New Year!

Cary

Change can be hard for everyone, and I for one like things to stay the same, always felt that if it wasnt broken then dont fix it. However things will change and change as it may be, we are still here. My only problem with this forum is the subscriber only content. I have subscribed to this magazine on and off for years. I just had to let my subscribtion lapse because of the NON change from the current economy. However I have every issue starting from 1987. So either I have supported finescale magazine from buying it off the shelf at the newstand or subscribed to it. But if you dont subscribe all the time you do not get to see the subscriber only content. To me that is total crap. I know why they are doing it because they can see just how many mags that they are selling monthly if your a subscriber, which by the way I pay more when i buy it off the newstand but right now its easier for me to come up with the cover price then all one big price for the subscription. So like i said eariler I have supported this magazine for over 20 years and right now can not access the subsciber only content. Does anyone feel the same way as I do if you dont subscribe to the magazine?

Kalmbach Publishing's evil plot is working to perfection. In an effort to drive away participants form the scale modeling hobby, they carefully researched the tactic that would prove most successful in alienating the people populating their website forums and unleashed their version of WMD......A CHANGE.

Knowing full well how resistant the human mind is to change, they gleefully cast aside the ultimate in internet website perfection and unleashed this unholy abomination into the world. The rest is history. Members running screaming into the ethers of the internet tubes, hoping beyond hope that their search for a new home will soon come to a happy end within the loving embrace of their mind's version of Nirvana.

I have seen that oasis called Swanny's. It is a nice place. There are nice people there. It is easy to use.

I am also a hearty soul. I have girded my loins and strode into battle with this "New FSM" forum site. What I have found is that under the shiny new colors thrown out there to distract, Kalmbach's monstrosity is NOT the demon of the ages after all.

It is a nice place. It is populated with nice people. It is STILL easy to use.

I was visiting the guys at Swanny's before the "change" occurred. I will continue to do so. I will also continue to visit here in the FSM world. I like it here. I am not afraid.

Regards from the front, PWB.

...Seems this is the fourth revamp of the website, and each one has posts about how ugly and difficult to navigate they are. I guess people REALLY don't like change!

...Adapt, or die is a pretty good motto to live by.

...I've learned some new tricks, helped out some people who were a bit lost, and find that this is still the same old forum it's always been. It's a bit like a family ...Forums aren't about software, they're about people, and FSM has some of the best people out there!

...And Swanny's is a good place to go and visit. I don't spend much time there, not as much as I like, but Matt runs a nice forum. It's been through some changes, too!

Excellent post, yourself. Back when silver was taken out of American coinage (1965), there was a decision to be made - what to make it from? It could have been made to look like anything... but it was kept a "silver" color because the people rejected the other samples they tried.

The other coins were easier to make and less costly to manufacture, but people didn't like them. Why? Because they didnt look like the money they were used to. The change made them distrustful and leery.

It is the same, here. The look is different, the feel is different and some of the things work oddly. But they work, and the family of people that make it up are still here, regardless of the changes. We must remember we don't OWN this forum - we enjoy its benefits at the behest of someone else. To be blunt, it is Kalmbachs dime we ride on here. If they wish to make changes, so be it.

In life, we aren't always handed that which makes us warm and fuzzy. Oh, in our minds, we expect change to always be to our liking, but change is more often invasive and inconvenient. But it is CERTAIN to come. You can be assured that as soon as you get adjusted, the rug will be yanked out from under you.

How we handle that, individually, is the one choice we retain.

Good post, Dahutist!

Funny, but earlier I was looking through the old Community Assistance forums looking for an answer I knew was buried back there. Seems this is the fourth revamp of the website, and each one has posts about how ugly and difficult to navigate they are. I guess people REALLY don't like change!

Me? I don't mind it so much. Adapt, or die is a pretty good motto to live by. I've learned some new tricks, helped out some people who were a bit lost, and find that this is still the same old forum it's always been. It's a bit like a family (and here we are approaching Christmas!) that gets together and shares some laughs, remembers some good times, and has the occasional fight, but mostly loves each other. Doesn't matter whose house we're at, or what color the walls are painted.

Forums aren't about software, they're about people, and FSM has some of the best people out there!

And Swanny's is a good place to go and visit. I don't spend much time there, not as much as I like, but Matt runs a nice forum. It's been through some changes, too!

This reminds me of when Barak Obama ran for president. All we got was that we needed change - it was shoved down our throats. Most people were doing alright - house, cars, TVs, hot tubs, plenty of food, hobbies, etc. A few had more, some had less. But things were pretty much as they always were.

But by God, we had to change. We had to leave and go somewhere else. Something wasn't right, somewhere.

I always asked - "Change to what? And from WHAT - what is it about HERE and NOW that you think will dramatically improve?"

Then the changes came. And fewer and fewer people now notice a difference in their lives, unless its something else to complain about. So what did the change get us?

So here we are at FSM, which has changed its format. Honestly, I've always liked this forum. From what I can see - it's still alright. Its different and some of the new 'features' are dubious, but taken as a whole, it works. Most of the same people are still here and doing fine.

I see that you have been in what, six group builds, and so obviously have a presence here. Leaving would take that benefit away from the members, here - and you would start over in your new home.

I'll admit, some forums are a little easier to navigate, but this one aint that bad; seriously. If you are comfortable, here, what will change get you? We don't always need to open a door, simply because it has hinges on it.

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Now that I've said that, and you're still intent on leaving, you wont find a better webmaster than Matt Swan. Not only does he pay attention, he participates and builds models himself. He isn't part of a large corporate conglomerate or too busy to mix it up with the guys. He also has a working format that seems to appeal to the users. As for everyone there being locked into one genre, thats bunk. A better bunch of eclectic modelers cannot be found, and are, in fact, a reflection of the man, Matt, himself.

But dont take my word on it... visit www.swannysmodels.com

I have a lot of anti-spammer software running to prevent unwanted bots. If you have any trouble signing up or logging on please send me an email swanny@swannysmodels.com and I can assist or manually enter your information. If I relax the security then I start seeing bots show up and no one wants that. One other item, should you successfully sign up then when you try to log in it gives you an error this is from some computers firewalls not immediately accepting cookies. All you need to do is click the home tab and you will be recognized immediately. I log into the site from three different computers and see this happen on one but not the other two. I am always willing to assist anyone having trouble.

a6m5zerosen

the Swanny forum is impossible to use-no matter what user ID you come up with, it tells you that it's already in use-don't waste your time like I did.

the Swanny forum is impossible to use-no matter what user ID you come up with, it tells you that it's already in use-don't waste your time like I did.

My Special Genre? Dont Have One :)

I enjoy aircraft (where I started as a kid), armor, sci-fi, ships, helo's, I've started my hand at scratch building to see if I like it. I couldn't really pick a specific one as each as two or three subjects within the genre that I absolute love.

As I said in another post, I dont plan on moving anytime soon, as much for the community its a nice one. I made the original post out of frustration of the damn error's all over the place when quoting etc. makes it almost impossible to read some posts.

Andrew

this is the best choice for all around modeling  Most others tend to specialize  in one /two genres

that said      what is you special genre?

Check this forum out. http://www.swannysmodels.com/yabb2/YaBB.pl