What do you guys think of the new Scale Forums setup?

[rovpilot26]

Gentlemen... The intent of putting the threads into sub forums is to make it easier for everyone (whether totally new to scale or a veteran) to navigate.

There are quite a few pilots who have shown an interest in diving into scale but have run into a case of information overload and are overwhelmed.

The decision was made to make the scale forum easier to navigate and enable HF members who are looking into becoming a scale builder/pilot with a means to gain the knowledge without going through 122 pages dating back to 2004.

[rdavis]

I like the new layout and am looking forward to restarting my 430 turbine build.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Andy01]

Originally Posted by rovpilot26

Gentlemen... The intent of putting the threads into sub forums is to make it easier for everyone (whether totally new to scale or a veteran) to navigate.

There are quite a few pilots who have shown an interest in diving into scale but have run into a case of information overload and are overwhelmed.

The decision was made to make the scale forum easier to navigate and enable HF members who are looking into becoming a scale builder/pilot with a means to gain the knowledge without going through 122 pages dating back to 2004.

Bryan

I respect your opinion, I just choose to disagree

I think that many / most scale threads tend to be a bit diverse, so it may be a little unclear as to exactly what category something might be in anyway, so most searching will probably be done multiple times in a few of the sub-forums, which potentially makes the search process longer and harder, with a higher likelihood of missing something. Refer to some examples/scenarios I gave in my post above.

I suspect that the new format will appear even more confusing and daunting to many newbies because it looks like a much bigger "subject" now, but I may be wrong. When I went into scale a few years ago, I very quickly realised that it was a lot more complex a subject with many more variables than the average pod & boom, and I was up for a lot of reading to try to get my head around it.

I have noticed a few would-be scalies pop-in, ask a few questions and often disappear quite quickly, possibly because they found it too daunting. Scale is not for everyone.

For many of us regulars it has taken the daily browse from a few minutes, to double that, and many more mouse clicks, which is annoying and inefficient.

By my count there are 7 for and 9 against so far

Anyway, I am guessing it is probably a done-deal, so time to either get used to the chaos, or go elsewhere

Colin

[WillJames]

Andy,

You have some points but we are structuring this for the vast majority of our members the best way we can based on our experience with the members of HF. I am sorry you don't like but it is what it is. Thank you.

[goodhunting]

Eh.... we'll get used to the new setup.... it will just take time...

Gh

[pc3associate]

+1 on what Colin said, but I guess if the decision makers really wanted to know the opinions of the majority, they would have put a pole up before making the changes.?.?.?....

Majority out, rules by few in.

[MarkH]

From " What do you guys think?" to " I'm sorry you don't like it but it is what it is"? Will, with that statement it kind of seems like you don't really care what we think. So why ask the question?

For myself, I usually drop in and see what's new. Now, I'll need to go to every sub forum to accomplish the same thing. Probably not going to happen. Looks to me like someone trying to copy another forum that is strictly for scale helis. But at least with that one, I can see new post since my last visit without checking every sub. Is that option available here? I took a quick look and didn't see it.

[loudbikes]

Why is the "large scale" section full of just "vario" brand helis? Also, what size would be considered "large scale"? Just trying to understand. - Tim

[Margaritaman]

I will keep it polite, it stinks. And fwiw I like change. I like to change my clothes, I like to change lanes, I like when the seasons change, and I like to change the channel.

[goodhunting]

Is it just my perception or did the number of posts decrease?

Gh

[rovpilot26]

Originally Posted by goodhunting

Is it just my perception or did the number of posts decrease?

Gh

No Sir the number of posts did not change one bit. Posts were migrated into new sub-forums, but none were deleted.

[WillJames]

Originally Posted by MarkH

From " What do you guys think?" to " I'm sorry you don't like it but it is what it is"? Will, with that statement it kind of seems like you don't really care what we think. So why ask the question?

For myself, I usually drop in and see what's new. Now, I'll need to go to every sub forum to accomplish the same thing. Probably not going to happen. Looks to me like someone trying to copy another forum that is strictly for scale helis. But at least with that one, I can see new post since my last visit without checking every sub. Is that option available here? I took a quick look and didn't see it.

I do care or I would not have asked. My problem is I know absolutely nothing about Scale Helicopters and the whole idea is to get more people involved in Scale Helis. The only way to do so it to simplify it by breaking it down into subsections. I understand that some of you guys don't like it and it makes me wonder if you don't like new people getting into your exclusive group or something. Personally I have always enjoyed watching Scale but my problem has always been lack of time and money to do what I want with it. I also lack the woodworking and fiberglass skills to really go all out. I guess maybe one day but not yet.

You can easily see what is new. Enter the scale forum and every sub forum that has new posts or threads since you last logged in will show as red. If it shows as blue it means there are no new posts or threads in it.

Once you enter the main Scale forum or any of the sub forums, threads that have new posts will be dark bold title, ones that have not will not be bold.

[WillJames]

Originally Posted by pc3associate

+1 on what Colin said, but I guess if the decision makers really wanted to know the opinions of the majority, they would have put a pole up before making the changes.?.?.?....

Majority out, rules by few in.

The decision makers, ME want to attract new people into scale helis. Due to how complicated the Scale side of this hobby is, breaking it up is the ONLY way to accomplish the mission of this site and get some new people interested by making it less daunting to find info than ONE single forum. In case you guys are not into Pod and Boom or Multis, I have been working with experienced guys from all facets of the hobby to simplify the site and make it easier to attract new people to the many facets of this great hobby.

You guys are so far the only ones who have complained. Most times people beg to have it broken down. Maybe having one single forum makes it easy for you but it certainly does not for everyone. I started flying helis when I was 19 and I am 47 now and I still know virtually nothing about Scale helis other than I like them. I would venture to guess I am not the only one who will benefit with separating the threads from one forum into the proper sections. Our website stats is also showing that more people are already visiting now that Google has had time to catch up.

If you are here to have an exclusive big boys club where you want it to be harder for outsiders to find info, I am sorry. I am sticking with my mission and the reason why I started this site in the beginning. To get more people involved in this great hobby, to help less people wash out and to grow the hobby. Sorry if that is a little to simple for some of you who prefer it to be obscure. That is basically all I can say.... again, I am surprised honestly.

If you guys see posts that need moving, please click the report post button and post where it should go and one of our HF Support guys will gladly move it for you. I would really appreciate your help.

As for deleting posts. NOTHING on this site gets deleted. Spam and porn gets soft deleted. Hard deleting anything causes the need to rebuild the database that causes downtime for our members. It can also cause database inconsistency. It has NEVER been done and never will be.


Also, I do not copy anybody, I do what I want here with what I think is needed. Others copy HF and I just let it go. If you know me, you know I am no copy cat. Ask anyone who knows me.

[Keyrigger]

So far, I have found that these sub-sections will work for a majority of the posts here. I have been sorting out posts from the main section and correcting ones that are not where they could be. Posts asking general questions tended to push build topics down and vice-versa, so being able to break down the posts into those appropriate topics helps keep them as current as possible. Works for me.

Don

[WillJames]

Thanks for sticking your neck out Don. I had no idea how much resistance this was going to cause.

[nightflyr]

Change is a tough thing to deal with at times....
There will be no pleasing everyone as with most things in life.

The best you can do is offer up the best solutions to the mass users, given time, most will get accustomed to the new layout and hopefully offer improvements to help others along the way.

Remember when most everyone thought the world was flat??
Columbus had to shake a few ideas and people around at the time also.

JMHO

[Keyrigger]

I'm pleased to have been asked to help out. Take care.

Don

[cobieg]

It has taken a little getting used too but, I am finding it easier now. Thanks Will for the explanation of it although it should not have been necessary.

[goodhunting]

First of all do not equate resistance to change with reluctance to help out. I don't think anyone was refusing help or advice.

You asked a question and got responses.... Some were positive others were not. Scale community is very small but I would not think of it as exclusive. Most people that seek advice here are also present and active on other forums. And this is in no way bad.

If you look at the Kotters model of change you can see that first change is inevitable and that you should change when everyone is happy and satisfied. So from this stand point you did well. And as i stated before.... We will get used to it.
Gh

[Richard F.]

I for one Love this website. Rc helicopters facinate me to no end. I just spent the last couple years going back to school and have not been to active physically in the hobby. But I still have checked in on HeliFreak almost every day. Scale in particular is my thing. So thank you for the forum! It's a wealth of knowledge at my fingertips!