kitmaker net, aeroscale, armorama, modelgeek, model shipwrights.... There is clearly a lot going on "behind the Armorama homepage".

I can only be impressed by the dedication and the work put in by the staff of all this. But honestly, for me being just an average visitor it also seems a bit complicated. I would very much appreciate to find a clear explanation somewhere how it all started, how it all ties together, and where all this is going.

Armorama is a GREAT site, no more, its a great community and I would like to know more about it.

It is really all Jim's idea. He is trying to get a comprehensive site that will address all areas of modeling. Each area gets its own 'home' and also shares common things like the gallery and logins and the support center

This thread may help a bit.
Site Talk Thread

Personally, I'm having a lot of fun, just clicking on items and finding out where it leads..... :-) :-)

"To Boldly Go Where No Model Geek Has Gone Before"

Jim started Armorama.com in December 2001. He posted messages advertising his new site in various forums like Missing Lynx, Kithobbyist and even in the old Usenet newsgroup, rec.models.scale. The site was named after the main focus of Armor + Diroama modeling, hence Armorama.

A few of us liked what we saw and decided to help with the site's growth. We suggested adding forums to cover aircraft, ships, space, figures and the other forums you see on the site. A historical figures site went under and Jim invited them into Armorama as well.

The UK members got a satellite site and it eventually morphed into an actual online IPMS club.

Once the site got much bigger, Jim created Kitmaker as the network of hobby sites. He then started "breaking out" the various modeling subjects into their own sub-sites; Aeroscale for aircraft, Model Shipwrights for ships, and Model Geek as a catchall for subjects not falling into the main themes of the other sites like science fiction and general modeling.

Incidently, Model Geek started as a back up site for the main site when maintenance was being done. It was also used as a test site for trying new things.

This is sort of a glossed over history, but gives you an idea of how it started and why we are where we are today. The rest is being saved for a Schiffer Publishing book that will sit on the shelf next to the books on the history of Revell, Aurora and Monogram models.

Don't forget Historicus Forma, the Kitmaker "division" dedicated to historical figure modelling

https://hfmodeling.kitmaker.net/

Launches May 2006

:-) :-) :-)

Funny Dave! #:-)

Yes this pretty much sums up things.

Cheers,
Jim

Considering the amount of change in the last 3 to 4 months within this site, I have to say, that Jim has done an outstanding job keeping things running as smooth as it has been. I too, had my initial doubts, but have since been won over by the changes.

Well done Jim!!!

Frank

Hey Robin!Good job on Armorama History-The Cliff's Notes. :-) I was spinning my wheels trying to figure out what the purpose of "Modelgeek" was! Did a little Grumpy style spelunking too! :-)

You are a bit to modest Jim.

You and your staff seem to be having all the capacity to keep working at consistency in a rapidly growing internet site.

And that is a characteristic that is missing in many, many sites. It starts of with lots of potential, it grows beyond what the webmaster and staff can handle and it dies in chaos.

You and your team seem to be able to continue to fight chaos, and thats a rare (and very good) property.

My only comment is that each main page should have a clearly marked direct link back to the main Armorama homepage. If its there now, its not visible. Maybe I've missed it or something. Old man with Trifocals you know! hahahahaha
Gary

Being used to the all-in-one site it was a bit of a challenge trying to find where everything was reshuffled. Like many others I have been slowly exploring all the various links and sites getting used to it. I think I am beginning to get the hang of it. So far I have been able to find everything I was looking for but that's because I know it exists somewhere as a pre-redesigned site member. There are still some questions.

For example a few days ago a new member was looking to acquire a figure that came inside a certain kit, through buying or trading. It was not intuitive to him that one would have to jump over to modelgeek for the Buy Sell Trade forum. Also it is not too intuitive that the Users Help is located on Modelgeek (although I see as an alternate many use Site Talk on Armorama.)

Not sure if eventually each site will have it's own section for Buying/Selling or it's own Help section.

I can only say that all this work hasn't been in vain! This site is getting better and better all the time! And I haven't been here for that long... So we all should- I am- be proud of Jim's -and his staff's- work and thank them for the good quality of the site as we have it! Thanks guys!
Cheers and happy modelling!
Prato

i love the change, but iam glad to see the "old" format back...

Now jim, might you consider sitting down and glueing a little? Seems like i always miss your non-site related in progress threads :-)

Frank

wot he said ^^ the new forum page is better than before, being an even better "everything in one place" deal, with its direct links to threads on the satellite sites. i am building an aircraft carrier in the flattops campaign, and felt i was losing touch a little with the sea going fraternity. no more! its really easy to keep an eye on every part of the armorama network now
THREE CHEERS FOR MR STARKWEATHER!
HIP PIP......
p.s. silly question time! how do i change my focus from the main homepage to aircraft?

I don't believe that 'focuses' are still a viable setting.

What you do make Aircraft your default setting (at least this is one way).

Go here (not the subsite prefix)
http://aircraft.armorama.com/

And set it to your home page IE:Tools Menu:Internet Options Menu:General Tab: Use Current Button in Home page panel

Or just replace your old Favorite link with the subsite link

Me too..... if I'm not back in an hour...send out the search party

You can say what you like about all the changes but there is one thing....Thank God they havn't moved the Cyber Bar.....Doris is still there putting heads on pints.

Cheers
Peter
:-)