It's hard to believe that SMA is already 2 years old and this November we'll turn 3. The first videos started late November 2008 and the first version of the site launched in April of '09. It wasn't much of a site to be honest with you however the Nerd Herd forum began shortly after that along with a redesign of scalemodeladdict.com.
This current site represents version 3 and as we grow and move forward I am starting to develop the next incarnation of scalemodeladdict.com.
In this thread I encourage you to dream a little with me as to what the site could be, what new features you'd like to see and functionality we could use around here.
Feel free share your thoughts and don't worry about insulting me with 'this just don't work for me' comments. I'm a big boy, I can take it.
I'll start the ball rolling with some of my thoughts.
Complete integration of the sign-in for site wide commenting and posting.This means you sign-in once and you can post comments on gallery entries, in the forum, comment on articles, etc...
An advanced contest systemVia your profile you would be able to pay contest fees, upload your entry box/date pic, submit your final entries etc... and cast your vote.
User driven galleryWhen you have finished a build you can add the photos and descriptions to the gallery yourself. New members would require moderation the first time round and then be approved to simply add a gallery entry from then on out. Members could comment on gallery entries, etc...
User driven tips sectionAs above, you could submit tips to the site without having to email me.
User driven build articles & reviewsAgain, as above - you could submit build articles via an online interface. The content would be anything from a kit review (text, photos and/or video) to how-I-did-this tutorials.
A model kit wikicredit to being DreamKnight's idea...Similar to wikipedia but all about model kits. We could define it by subject (King Tiger Tank for example) and the wiki would have information on all the available kits, paint to buy, links to online photo reference etc...links to on-site reviews and build ups of that subject etc...
The SMA member base would be able to add to this and over time it would develop into a great resource for everyone.
Smart HomepageThe SMA homepage would always display the latest content being added to the site and become the central hub of what's going on here....as opposed to the stale page that it is now.
Meet the Herd will remain however I would automate the backend programming of that a bit so to have it become a more regular feature (ie: less time required to set it up)
Site wide messagingWhen sending members a PM you would have access to that across the entire site and not solely in the forum.
AdvertsI have agreements with SMA sponsors that require the display of ads however I am working on making them less intrusive and more a part of the overall site design.
I think that's about it for this quick brainstorm. Please...share your ideas, what works, what doesn't, what could be better and what's missing. Now is the time to do it.
Again, thank you for being a member here, thank you for posting here and thank you for commenting here.
Without you this site is nothing more than a few graphics and code.
God bless.
