discussion How to do this and that....Any thoughts?

[spanner570]

With all the great ideas and tips on Scale Models, how about a 'Sticky' where all the stuff can be sourced in one thread?

This suggestion stems from a couple of requests for me to do a 'How to.', but I'm sure everyone has one or two of these up their sleeve or has covered it in a build post......This is fine, but tips and tricks will get lost as the thread slips down the order of things and easily lost and forgotten.

I know there is a Unconvential thread, but that's more a 'Try this' idea rather than a how to.

So what do members think to my suggestion of putting how to's under one roof. That way we can all contribute our methods. and it would be a great quick reference library.

Can John and the moderators give it a thought? And if you and the members are up for my idea, perhaps you could oblige us with a 'Sticky'

I commend the idea to the House!

Ron

 

[geegad]

sounds like a good idea to me

 

[Guest]

the house accepts the idea and seconds it. it could be run as a questions and answers thread. the existing threads could be moved over into the sticky.

 

[Guest]

Doesn't the tutorials section cover this? That's where I look to shamelessly copy other people's excellent ideas!

 

[Guest]

The basic idea is perfect Ron.

My only thought would be that the stuff would be lost in one thread.

If there is one thread then you would need a very comprehensive search option. Searches are not in my opinion very sophisticated I just have given up on them.

I have also a worry that laying things down may deter members from introducing their own ideas.

When I first came to this forum what I did like was the informal way of things. On a couple of other forums if somebody asked a question the moderator belted in with look Here.

On this forum many exact & similar questions are posed & each time something new comes up. Somebody has thought up their own idea & told about it here.

I would go for, following your lead Ron, a number of sections. There are sections at the moment but they are very expansive. Perhaps a large section with more subsections may do it.

For instance at the moment painting covers such a lot & others like me stuff things into painting as there is no other section to put a variety of these things into.

Bet you are cringing at all this John ?

Laurie

 

[John]

Bet you are cringing at all this John ?

Laurie

No I'm reading

But it says "where all the stuff can be sourced in one thread" ScaleModelShop.co.uk

 

[Guest]

Now John are you suggesting there that something set up as the shop ?

If that is what you are thinking I think that is perfect. Main subjects with a lot of sub sections. That would cut out all search operations.

Just two clicks & you are there. Perfect.

Laurie

Also add that the index for the shop is one of the best I have seen.

 

[spanner570]

Good discussion...

My idea of making it a 'sticky' would keep everything in one place and be amongst the other stickies, giving a simple, one click access to the how to's.

I didn't envisage a questions and answer type of thing as I reckon it might get bogged down a bit. My idea was really a place for quick reference, with little or no posts. Any further questions could perhaps be p.m.'d to the author.

I see the tutorial thread as bigger beast. Take Patrick's superb tank painting exercise. That is a thread in it's own right, and quite deserving so.

A 'How to' should perhaps be a quick reference...i.e. How to make a door, which would be just a one liner really.

More food for thought....

Ron

 

[Guest]

So essentially what would work is a thread without any comments. That way the info would be easily available.

I think it could be combined with the shop, like if certain products were used to provide people with an idea of what's possible eg pigments & weathering.

Mind you, there's always the blog facility, something that's currently under-utilised.

And thanks Ron!

Praise from the master is praise indeed!

 

[Guest]

if a person asks "how do i make a tree" then this thread becomes full of differing ideas on the subject, essentially a question and answer situation.

where the ideas are going now will basically become a data base for solutions.

either idea would work in essence if people used the system correctly.

good discussion

 

[spanner570]

All valid points and opinions.....

I see it as this:-

One click on the 'How to' Sticky

Next click sub division.....Tree, water, whatever.

Done!

There doesn't really have to be any discussion or comment, just post your how to's in whatever catagory. Further help, thanks or guidence could be conducted via p.m's.

Having said all that, I am a numpty with most things 'tinternet, so I haven't a clue what's involved in possibly setting this up....

As an aside, and bearing in mind my ignorance, what is the difference between a blog and a thread?

What I do know is it's obviously down to John to decide yay or nay, as it's him who would have to do the donkey work. As we all know he's got enough of a work load as it is.......

Ron

 

[Ian M]

I can see the idea behind thit but fear we will all drown in hundreds of one liners.

My thoughts are that we use the sections there are. We seem to have all the bases covered.

How to build a door would go under diorama.

How to paint a tank in the paint.

How to paint an aircraft.....in the paint.

Ian M

 

[Guest]

Think that is the problem Ian which you have just highlighted. All goes in paint.

Subsections such as prep, fillers, masking would be better. Lots of things go under large sections to wade through these is soul destroying. Much easier to ask the question.

Laurie

 

[Ian M]

Good point Laurie, but the truth is prep is all a part of the painting process. I think the hard part would be working out where build ends and paint starts...

I'm all for order and being able to find things, I just dont want to bog things down with to many fora with the same info in.

I will give the suggestions a bit of thought and bat it about a bit with John. It is after all his forum, I just get to play with it! ;-)

Ian M

 

[spanner570]

Valid point Ian, but that's not what I meant by a 'how to' Sticky.....

I don't follow the painting a tank/ aircraft in paint argument....I never invisaged prep and making models to be a part of the sticky. These would be left in the broader contex of a thread and would obviously have no place in 'One off' how to's.

My idea was for specific how to's, such as doors, walls, street cobbles ect. Putting them in a quick reference would make it unneccessary to search builds trying to remember what thread it was the specific technique was described in.

Anyway, what is the difference between a blog and a thread, chaps?

Cheers,

Ron

 

[yak face]

I think its a great idea , I'm with patrick and ron however , I dont think it would be a good idea to have replies or questions. A simple sticky where members can post their way of solving a particular problem , without any replies to clog up the thread, would be my ideal way of doing it. If any one wanted any further info they could PM the contributor or just post a general question in the relevant section. Just my two penneth , its up to john at the end of the day, cheers tony

 

[John]

I would rather people didn't PM each other to discuss "how to" that kind of defeats the whole point of the forum, we are here to share, I guess Ron might have something with a "How To" forum then put posts in there but I think it would be better if it was full of more detailed posts rather then someone with a one liner, if that makes sense?

So that being the case it would have to be moderated to make sure the posts are worth going in or if they belong in the quick tips forum.

There is also a blog attached to the forum which I don't have enabled, we could use that in some way.

 

[spanner570]

John, good and valid point re. p.m's, I forgot that side of things.

The 'One liner' phrase was just me trying to be clever.......

What I should have typed was anyone contributing to this proposed 'How to' thread could keep it short and sweet....ie just a few lines coupled with pictures, rather than a long and detailed contribution.

Thanks for giving my suggestion some consideration, I appreciate it.

Ron

 

[Guest]

Surely though Ron, some 'how to's' would need a fair amount of description?

To my mind, it's other comments / questions that clog-uo previous threads like this. Subdiving the tutorials section would help & 'no reply' threads could be submitted after moderator approval.

Cheers

Patrick

 

[spanner570]

Quite right Patrick. Some will, some won't.

Your other points and observations are valid too.

I hope this idea does come to fruition, it would certainly help forgetful, 'tinternet numpties like me find specific stuff long gone from the front pages of this great forum.

Cheers,

Ron