Your ideal Model website

[Guest]

Hi chaps.

John has allowed me to post this thread, for which i am grateful.

Some of you are aware that i have trade accounts with some UK kit suppliers. This is for my Amazon and website activities. The website is new-ish, and not fully stocked, so this thread isn't a cheap shot at getting some sales. I know that i can't yet compete with the big boys for the range, but we're getting there.

Also i want to add that i joined the forum because of my newly re-discovered passion for modelling.

Anyway, to the point. We all know the things that we look for when we shop online. Price, delivery, availability, ease of navigation etc. But personally i get a bit frustrated when i click on a product, and get just a larger image of the box shot, and a one or two line description of the kit. I'd expect to see details of how large the kit is, how many parts, features such as etched items or options, but i'd really like to see what the finished kit looks like. Populating an e-commerce site with products can be a lengthy process, so many webmasters will cut and paste text and images from their suppliers/manufacturers (guilty as charged m'lud). I personally want to see what can be produced from the kit, even if it is heavily weathered, battle scarred or accessorised.

Basically, what i'm asking is what details and information you'd like within the product description. And if it had amateur kit builders pictures, would you be happy to add yours?

Again, i just want to make clear that i'm not touting for business. If any of you should know or guess my website, can i ask that you don't post it an a thread, as it is then searchable by Google etc.

John obviosly works hard on the forum, and i'm not looking for free advertising, just your comments.

Thanks for reading, Dave

[Guest]

I agree wit you Dave, I mainly use Model Hobbies as I am very satisfied with price and service. However, before I buy off them, unless it is a direct recommendation, I have to search for reviews and/or details about the kit. It really frustrates me that I cannot get any other info from their website. I also like the idea of a modellers gallery so that potential buyers can see what can really be doe with a kit. Box art is designed to sell more than represent the model. However, I can see problems in maintaining a gallery. Not only does it have serious resource drains on the sellers server but t is important it is kept up to date and relevant to stocks.

[Guest]

However, I can see problems in maintaining a gallery. Not only does it have serious resource drains on the sellers server but t is important it is kept up to date and relevant to stocks.

It wouldn't be a gallery as such. I can get 4 smallish image links on a page without slowing it down. One of these (or even the main image) would be for the submitted image. If the build was exceptional, then i can have a larger gallery page, which is linked to from the product page. I don't host the site personally, and the servers are more than capable of anything i can throw at them.

Thanks for the input.

Dave

[Ian M]

The things I like in a web shop (or would like) Are:

Live stock. If its not in the shop it says so on the item's page.

Diamentions. I hate having to get the converter out to see just how big a kit is when built.

What colour paint needed to produce the options in the kit. Could be tricky with so many paint makes so have a good conversion chart.

If there are detail sets avaliable for the kit. PE, conversion sets, Metal tracks, Decal sets, that kind of stuff.

I know many of us, like to hunt for that kind of thing for our selv but some times its just hard to find out where to look!

Good luck with the venture.

Ian M

[Guest]

The things I like in a web shop (or would like) Are:Live stock. If its not in the shop it says so on the item's page.

Diamentions. I hate having to get the converter out to see just how big a kit is when built.

What colour paint needed to produce the options in the kit. Could be tricky with so many paint makes so have a good conversion chart.

If there are detail sets avaliable for the kit. PE, conversion sets, Metal tracks, Decal sets, that kind of stuff.

Ian M

You're right about the paint and charts. Tricky, but worth doing well.

I was thinking about the add-on kits being shown on the same page. What about generic accessories, ruck sacks, figures etc?

Thanks for the comments

Dave

[AlanG]

I like seeing the box art but i also like to no what paint schemes/Sqn colours are available on the kit. I love building WWII kits but find the same old squadrons/aircraft being available i.e. JE J etc etc

Live stocks are also important imho.

[Gern]

Hi Dave,

Gotta agree with Ian M. I like to know how big the finished kit will be and what colours I will need. The colour bit is very difficult 'cos references will depend on the individual modeller's choice of manufacturer, but even a list out of the box would help; there are plenty of cross reference colour charts available and you might be able to include a couple on your site.

One thing I find extremely annoying on many web sites is their poor search facilities. If I type Spitfire or Tiger into a search, that's what I expect to see - nothing else. I don't want to have to plough through every kit on a manufacturer's list just 'cos they do a version of what I'm looking for.

Just my two penn'orth. Good luck with your business.

Gern

[Guest]

I'll make mine short and sweet i agree with everything ian has said, specifically paint conversion charts, and the extras e.g zimmeritt, individual track links for that specific model type i.e. panzer III etc.maybe even a shot of the finished kit would be nice, the live stock is definately a must as there is nothing worse than trying to get through on the phone only to be told after 10 mins they don't have the stock. The paints that are required for the possible schemes is a must that way when i order the kit i can order the paint as well, a gallery would be nice, miniart do it on their website of all there products this also helps as a visual aid when you come to paint.

scott

[Guest]

I'd like to see some kind of link to relevant 'extras' so if I'm looking for a Panther, I can see the other aftermarket stuff to add to it, such metal barrels, zimmeritt, photo-etch etc.

Patrick

[stona]

All good points above. Most important for me is a live stock level and the knowledge that I will get what I order in days not months. A better description of the model and an idea of painting requirements is a good idea.A bit more information would,I think,be a very popular addition but you'd need to be wary of effectively reviewing every kit you stock LOL.

Linking to extras is also a good idea but a lot of retailers who stock a model don't stock the extras! Where do you draw the line? Would you stock a popular subject,say a 1/48 Spitfire,and all the possible resin accessories, white metal parts,photo etch,every available decal sheet etc? I think this is why most retailers keep detail sets and extras as a seperate category.

I like the idea of some "finished" images,particularly since box art isn't what it used to be (showing my age there!)

Gern has hit the nail on the head regarding search engines. Some are diabolical,anything tnat can be done to ease a search has got to be a very good thing.

Best of luck

Steve

[Guest]

thanks for all of the replies so far.

it seems that the general concensus is that actual images are favoured as oppossed to box shots. also that add ons and accessories should be shown along with finished dimensions and indication of paint colours to finish the various kit options. Oh and colour chart references, and a good site search engine.

No problems!!!

I agree that actual kit images should be there. I'm adding these whee i can, and will seach harder fo finished pictures. If i get stuck, i may ask if anybody on here has an done the kit and want to add their picture. The add ons and accessories will be the main thing to work on. Its easy to still keep the site clear to users, so no worries there. Paint colours- we started with good intentions, but wasn't sure if it was the best thing to do, so i'll begin to update the site, and find some accurate colour conversion charts.

Our particular search engine on site will only return products with the keywords in the title. So it is fairly accurate. Therefore if you search for 'tiger' it will return all tiger tanks, and tiger parts etc. If you type tamiya tiger it should only return tiger tanks from tamiya (well, that was a bit obvious really i suppose).

I really appreciate your help, and hope i can return the favour in the near future.

Dave

[Guest]

Hi Dave.

Might sound crazy but my local online retailer includes history about the model subject. Check it out:

Jagdtiger Early Version |

I chose the Tamiya Tiger search too. They also include things like "related products" and a cheaper kit and more expensive kit option, and they have an "Add all required Acrylic jar paints to order (Max 15GBP)" option. That sounds good. And, no, I don't work for them!

Regarding the searching, I think it needs to be kept really loose to be user friendly. You never know how people are going to search for a model. I recently went looking for US GI's from Vietnam era or close, but what I was searching for were any figures with their sleeves rolled up! I was looking at pirates and all sorts! I like to narrow the fields by filtering results. I usually know what scale I want, and which conflict or era I'm looking for, manufacturer is worth having, and of course, aircraft, armour etc. The above site annoys me because I HAVE TO select a manufacturer before I see the kits. I like the way Netmerchants let you narrow it down.

Hope this helps.

Tony B

[Guest]

Got to agree with a few of the other lads recommending paint colours and a conversion chart would be good .

Richy

[Ian M]

refering to Stona's comment, you dont have to stock every aftermarket add-on for the kits... Just tell us where we can find them.

EG. Tamiya quad tractor 1/35: PE avaliable from Eward. ordre part no. 35444

or Tamiya Fw 190 D. Eagle do decal set for this plane they can be found here: Dora Vol. Two EagleCals

that kind of info. (looks like you are getting a lot to do out of this question)

Relevant publications could be handy too.

I like the idea of pictures of the built kit. Im sure there are a few on here that would gladly send a photo or two if you asked them.

[Guest]

Hi Dave.Might sound crazy but my local online retailer includes history about the model subject. Hope this helps.

Tony B

Having content on the product page is always good, as Google may index it for relevant keywords in the text, and then return the site in searchs. I think that the text is pretty much cut and paste from the supplier/manufacturer site. Do you think that this kind of info is useful to buyers though? If i only had limited space, i'd opt for just the features of the kit.

Thanks Tony