montanamotor
19th June 2006, 20:04
Hi, friends.
One new thread on producing a reliable database on TGPlanes. As you know in the meantime, I am professional editor of magazines here in Germany. Therefore, I know quite reliably, by which features people are really appealed most, when it comes to the reception of information - in ANY form.
Based on this knowledge, my advise in the topic of building up a reliable data-source of WW II planes - and related topics, too - would be: Visualize it!
A databank MUST at first consist of a collection of pictures related to each item. THEN people can visualize, what is being talked about.
I don't know how to handle this administratively (I'm an ditor, not a web-administrator, sorry...), but best thing that COULD happen to TGPlanes in this case, was, compiling an own catalogue of pictures first, and then add written information to it.
In the end, this should at best look like an online, retro-style "JANE'S"-aircraft catalogue, dealing with everything flying in the course of military duty from, say, 1920 to 1950 (Plus "X"...?).
By the way: We have STARTED this thing already! Romantic Technofreak's GOT-series are well made, well received examples of how things could look like!
Why not achieve the planned aircraft-data-base in the following way:
One of us would collect pictures of a pecific plane that's of special interest for him (Come on, guys, I bet, each of you has a picture folder on his PC, featuring as many pictures of his personal ONE-AND-ONLY-plane as you could positively download from the net...), and upload it to TGPlanes own data-base-server..
He himself, of someone else who was also interested in this plane, then would write a text about it in a way, RT's GOTs are made - with the opportunity for each of us, to add stuff to the specific compilation or, to edit it, where it is deemed appropriate. Datasheets, armament, recognition cards - all of this might also be added to this text.
Finally, this collection might then be supplemented with a collection of web-links for further information on this specific plane.
And if you might think now, that this method of compiling a resourceful database on planes would very much resemble an aircraft WIKIPEDIA - then you would be absolutely right.
Requirements: TGPlanes would need it's own server for storing-purposes (As an easy-to-handle and sustainable upload-facility for pics, for example - because in lots of existing older threads, the picture-links have regrettably often expired, already) - and it would require DISCIPLINE from the suppliers of the concerning, related stuff.
Conclusion: Learning from WIKIPEDIA means, lerning from a winner - eh...?
This is only a "Brainstorm". But it might work, and I'd like to see something like this realized one day.
For now, I'd very much like to hear your comments on this - the TGPlane's editors and admins opinion also being most welcome, of course!
Cheers!
Montanamotor
One new thread on producing a reliable database on TGPlanes. As you know in the meantime, I am professional editor of magazines here in Germany. Therefore, I know quite reliably, by which features people are really appealed most, when it comes to the reception of information - in ANY form.
Based on this knowledge, my advise in the topic of building up a reliable data-source of WW II planes - and related topics, too - would be: Visualize it!
A databank MUST at first consist of a collection of pictures related to each item. THEN people can visualize, what is being talked about.
I don't know how to handle this administratively (I'm an ditor, not a web-administrator, sorry...), but best thing that COULD happen to TGPlanes in this case, was, compiling an own catalogue of pictures first, and then add written information to it.
In the end, this should at best look like an online, retro-style "JANE'S"-aircraft catalogue, dealing with everything flying in the course of military duty from, say, 1920 to 1950 (Plus "X"...?).
By the way: We have STARTED this thing already! Romantic Technofreak's GOT-series are well made, well received examples of how things could look like!
Why not achieve the planned aircraft-data-base in the following way:
One of us would collect pictures of a pecific plane that's of special interest for him (Come on, guys, I bet, each of you has a picture folder on his PC, featuring as many pictures of his personal ONE-AND-ONLY-plane as you could positively download from the net...), and upload it to TGPlanes own data-base-server..
He himself, of someone else who was also interested in this plane, then would write a text about it in a way, RT's GOTs are made - with the opportunity for each of us, to add stuff to the specific compilation or, to edit it, where it is deemed appropriate. Datasheets, armament, recognition cards - all of this might also be added to this text.
Finally, this collection might then be supplemented with a collection of web-links for further information on this specific plane.
And if you might think now, that this method of compiling a resourceful database on planes would very much resemble an aircraft WIKIPEDIA - then you would be absolutely right.
Requirements: TGPlanes would need it's own server for storing-purposes (As an easy-to-handle and sustainable upload-facility for pics, for example - because in lots of existing older threads, the picture-links have regrettably often expired, already) - and it would require DISCIPLINE from the suppliers of the concerning, related stuff.
Conclusion: Learning from WIKIPEDIA means, lerning from a winner - eh...?
This is only a "Brainstorm". But it might work, and I'd like to see something like this realized one day.
For now, I'd very much like to hear your comments on this - the TGPlane's editors and admins opinion also being most welcome, of course!
Cheers!
Montanamotor