I am looking for feedback from members on reorganizing our forums for this new site. Here is what I had in mind. You tell me what you would like to see.

Cars
-Classic
- Custom
- Formula1
- NASCAR
- Dragsters
Trucks
- Monster
- Classic
- Custom
Motorcycles
Paint & Finish - tips, techniques, etc

Thanks!
Jim

I'd like to see,
under cars also,
- movie
- commercial

under trucks,
- utility
- plant, maintenance, construction
- commercial

a good idea anyway, I'd like to see any start.

How about a "Working" and a "Pickup" catagories for trucks
How about a "customization" and "Decals" cat. under the Finish area I feel strongest about decals, they are huge on autos and I think it would be a good category.

Hey Jim,

You may want to consider adding "Funny Cars" in there with or under dragsters. I for one would be immensely happy to see the "Finish" area - especially paint techniques (from shooting to polishing) and decaling.

Mike

I agree that a "Commercial" category under Trucks would be good, since that would cover any working trucks, as well as emergency vehicles (ambulances, fire trucks). Or it could be broken down into "Heavy Commercial" and "Light Commercial" to differentiate between big rigs and small.

Perhaps you could turn the NASCAR category under Cars into a "NASCAR/Circle Track" category, as a place for the other roundy-rounders.

Maybe a section under Cars for "Hot Rods" ('pre-48)? Or, instead of "Classic" and "Custom" categories, maybe it could be broken down into "Hot Rods", "Customs" and "Muscle Cars"? In that scenario, "Customs" becomes sort of the catchall category if you're not building a rod or muscle car. Maybe an additional category for "Japanese/European" would be in order?

Of course, a "Commercial" category under Cars would be nice, too, for police cars, taxis and the like.

Just my two copper Lincolns.

-YL

Jim, just seen the new site, congratulations on the birth of a new one, it looks great! Unfortunately it does not seem practical to list Formula 1, NASCAR and Dragsters separately in forums. I really enjoy building each of these types, but there are too many race specialities (Rally, Le Mans etc) to list separately, so grouping them together under a single heading (Race or a better name) seems more feasible.

My suggestion would be:

Cars
- Commercial/Production
- Classic
- Custom
- Race
- Sport

Trucks
- Commercial/Production
- Classic
- Custom
- Race
- Utility/Sport

Motorcycles
- Commercial/Production
- Classic
- Custom
- Race
- Sport

Paint & Finish - tips, techniques, etc
Accessories

Eric,
Keep in mind that when a user clicks the main "Car" forum he will still see all the sub-group topics in that area. Unless they have de-selected some that is.

But I agree that too much division of topics at this point would probably be counter-productive.

Great ideas everyone, keep them coming. I will look at this again tonight.

Cheers,
Jim

I agree that too many sub-categories may make things more complicated than they need to be for the moment, so maybe it is best to keep things simple, as in Eric's example. But as the site grows, there may be a need to expand the "basic" sub-categories into things more specific.

For now, we can make the sub-categories fit our models: a '32 Ford highboy roadster or stock ''71 Duster could be slotted neatly into the "Classic" category. A Hirohata Merc or a '69 Camaro with a new Corvette engine in it could go under "Custom", and a tricked out Mazda Miata weekend track car could be tucked under "Sport", etc., etc..

And as much as I love motorcycles and motorcycle models, I don't think there's a need for sub-categories there. Maybe the one main category for Motorcycles would be enough?

-YL

How about a sub forum for automodel talk in general. Roumers of upcoming models, first impressions of new kits, die-cast models, newly acquired kits you just have to share, etc.

Good idea. Perhaps we can call it "The Garage"?

Hopefully that would translate well internationally.

Jim

I was thinking "Pitstop" or "The Paddock" but I like "The Garage" better



Exactly the same in Danish.

How about a reference/build photos section? Anyone could post or ask about references for a project. The kitbashers or scratchers out there could really use this, but it could be asked in a new post too.
The one thing I'd love to see the most anywhere here is a defined "how to" on homemade decals...I've seen alot of generic how to's that don't list the programs that are used nor how to use said programs, just what paper was used. How many times has anyone ever wanted to make they're build different via custom decals only to not have them available. Now an "Alps" article isn't the hot set up{$$$}...but anyone with experience on an IBM or Mac based set up would help anyone here...my two cents for what it's worth...