I am sure this question would come up soon... here is the scoop.

I have moved all the Sci-Fi content (features, reviews, forum) to the new ModelGeek site so I can have a testbed of data to build with.

You can post and use the forum of course and there will be some changes soon to the latest posts page so that users will be able to more easily keep tabs on topics on all the sites (model shipwrights, modelgeek, etc).

www.modelgeek.com

Cheers,
Jim

Looks Great Captain!
I was wondering where the all the Sci-Fi goodies had gone...thanks for the update!
~Gunny

Perhaps since it is now in a separate site, the spaceships/sci-fi category can be broken up into different genres like Star Wars, Star Trek, Babylon 5, Real Space, Gundam, Warhammer, etc.?

Hope this doesn't sound wrong but, did you move due to lack of interest or to much? I'm new here and am really pleased with the sci-fi section. The campaigns are just the kick inthe rear I needed. I have found that unless it's a dedicated sci-fi site it gets pushed to the side. After 20 some yrs building I only do sci-fi now cause it gives me the freedom to build "why not?" models. Scared me to logon and not find it.
Brian

Question- How come I can't log out of modelgeek?
Brian

We won't be getting new Gallery webspace on Modelgeek, will we?

Not exactly sure I understand what this means for the sci-fi guys like myself. Is it a graveyard for the sci-fi stuff or is it a brand new site dedicated to sci-fi? Just don't think we need a brand new site if we have starshipmodeler.com.

ModelGeek.com is not a site dedicated to Sci-Fi modeling. It's a site dedicated to scale modeling in general. So you will be seeing a wide variety of modeling on that site vs Armorama which will remain a military scale modeling site (with eventually aircraft breaking off to it's own dedicated site).

And I really disagree strongly with the concept that there isn't room on the entire Internet for another dedicated Sci-Fi modeling site. If that was the case then because Missing-Lynx and Track-Link exisited Armorama should never have been. Sorry just seems rather protective and short-sighted not to simply let users decide where they want to visit on the net.

Starship Modeler is a great site. Not that I have time to use it that much. But so is CultTVMan and a number of other sites... should they just go away and let SM be the king of the hill alone?

Cheers,
Jim

i like that dalek feature! i ought to build the other one i have.
i dabble in sci fi stuff, and i like the idea of a separate(ish) site thats still "in the family" the dalek won't be the last contribution i make to the sci fi side of things, aalthough i am up to my eyeballs with other builds!

If you were in touch with what has been happening in the site in the last few months, you would be aware that ALL the sections have been undergoing an increased volume of traffic...

The reason for the seperate sections being moved slightly away from the centre is exactly that - the site is becoming too big.

However, for those still unaware of the situation, a structure has been created (like a central point) from which all the sites are connected:

https://archive.kitmaker.net/ it SHOULD be self-explanatory...

One reason I like Armorama is "shopping under one roof." Another DG means another place to visit, another bookmark, which means one cannot visit all DGs in one day. There'll be new trolls, there will be fewer hit counts and visits, and generally the DG has to establish a name for itself over time.

Just as many modelers are trimming down their stash, so too some modelers are trimming down on their DG visiting to tackle and build their stash.

Was this decision based on the lack of space on Armorama?

I admit sci-fi isn't considered as popular as AFV modeling, but bear in mind with each DG move, there has been quite a few drop-offs.

Well, that answers my question...

I know what you mean, although if Armorama was a 'single-issue' site then there would be no need for change. Having the 'satellite' sites means its easier for the Area Managers, to better input content, to become more specific, rather than 'generalized'. It's inevitably going to confuse some amd it's going to be a month or before it's as fluid and seamless as we all want it..Jim

I to like everything under one roof and when the Warships moved i got worried the first week was a little slow but from what i can tell things have picked up a lot and i like the new site and getting back to Armorama is just a click away, I say give Jim your support and a chance to prove to you that it works, i will give it a try.

A nice feature to have would be the ability to customize what you "see" on the "Latest Posts" page. In other words, if I was interested in Figures, Sci-Fi, Armor/AFV and General Modeling, I could customize my latest posts page to display new posts from those discussion groups.

Likewise, a user could see "all" new posts from all sites under the Kitmaker banner or just the ones he opts to subscribe to.

I do not know if this is feasible or not though.

There is a new LP page in the werks that will do a bit of that (cross site post info). If you click on the LP link on the homepage of the ModelGeek site you can see it's current state.

Jim

Lets try keeping this as simple as possible.....

If you go to ModelGeek.com....
You will see that on top you have:
Areoscale
Armorama
Historicus Forma
Model Shipwrights.

Still ONE BOOKMARK! ---- Not that hard to change.

Each site will have it's own Managing Editor, staff, moderators. Each site will be autonomous, with each operating under the guidance of it's particular Managing Editor, staff, moderators.
Which will free Staff Jim to handle just the major problems with the Domain----- ModelGeek...... and allow the Editors, staff, and members to shape each AUTONOMOUS site according to their particular needs, likes and wants (with in limits of course)

So instead of thinking that this is pulling us apart, go to http://www.modelgeek.com/ and click on Historicus Forma, or Areoscale, and volunteer for some staff and moderator positions, and become A PART!!!!

Hopefully with the right Managing Editors, Staff and Moderators loyal to THEIR site, and continued support of the "Old Guard"..... we will all continue to grow, and improve not only ourselves, but OUR sites, and hobby.

And maybe Staff-Jim will be able to spend a little more time with his wife, and daughter, and less time trying to keep everyone from killing each other! That will now be up to the staff at each site........ :-) :-)

James,
Size (as in files, or bandwidth) is not this issue. Size (as in staff, members, numbers of submissions, posts, etc) is and that is why we are compartmentalizing.

This concept of a network of sites is not all that new. As a gamer surely you are familiar with this one...

www.ign.com

which is also....

www.gamespy.com

which in turn publishes....

www.planetelderscrolls.com

Not re-inventing the wheel here. Just upgrading to a cart. Lol

Jim

Not to change the subject but, is this still a wip? I've been surfing this site getting to know the waters as it were. I see no link to modelgeek here or at the kitmaker main site. I also see no logout icon for model geek. With no notice on the homepage about the change I first thought oh another dumped sci-fi site. If I hadn't looked at this I would have had no idea and gone elswhere. The change is made, let's make it work.
Thanks
Brian

Would breaking out into different sites give everyone more Gallery webspace by freeing up bytes on Armorama?

Or are the DGs and Gallery webspace not interconnected?

If posters get more Gallery space for their specific modeling interests (sci-fi, AFV, figures, etc. each gets 1MB Gallery space EACH site), then sure, I'm all for it!

Either way, I'll abide by whatever happens...not like I'll start a petition to prevent this breakup of Armorama :-).

Pete.... when we went to the new server, every members gallery space increased.

Definately a work-in-progress. The plan was originally to launch the ModelGeek site last... but there are some development reasons for switching gears for a bit and getting some of the functionality working properly before we move on to launching the figure and aircraft sites. So yes there is still a lot to tie all the site together so to speak. For one they will all likely have a similar header area to the ModelGeek site. So it will be easy to move between sites. Also the homepage of the MG site will eventually feature content from that site as well as content from Armorama and the other sites.

I think in the end most people will be very happy with the changes. Of course... some people are never happy with any change... and I am use to that by now. :-)

Cheers,
Jim

Right in the middle of the campaign - I hope everybody finds it -I went looking to see what happened to Sci-fi and found this. Any way to direct people till the get used to the new space?