I have been using Wikipedia from history-lessons to actual Bioogy research, and found a nice article on scale modelling. I got thinking (dangerous). I already collected a huge amount of information on modelling that lie in a big, ugly mess on my hard drive, wainting to be sorted out. Right now it’s easier to find the needed info one the web than on my computer, but the information is there -I guess most of us are like this. There’s a very good way to organize all this know-how, which would benefit us all.
Why doesn’t people (meaning us) start to expand the scale model article? All the techniques, tricks, small secrets could be collected in one, easy to use, easy to access database from all over the world -in one language. With the permission of the authors photos and whole articles can be incorporated -with total credit given, of course.
I’d start it, but since english is a second language for me I’m not sure how to name the articles properly for example. But I can help expand it
So? We start it, and who knows where it ends?
(The articles on armour, helicopters, etc sometimes are very vague - look at the sad little page about the Leopold gun. Modelling these we accumulate a great deal of knowledge about the orginals - these could be entered in Wikipedia as well.)
Yep, I like the Wikipedia concept, an the opportunity that it gives us. Imagine one electronic super encyclopedia holding all (or rather a lott) the knowlegde of the world!
I know it’s sound far off, but it might be done…
Spongya,
Good idea but has some missing parts you might not have thought about yet.
Wiki server software: free, open source, retail, which one???
Server space: Whose gonna pay for it. If you go the free route you end up with internet spam and things like those stupid google ads plastered all over the place. Unecessary cookies, connections, etc. It’s not quite free. You get the idea
User management and moderators: Whose gonna do it. If it becomes big it will be almost a full time job. Leave it wide open an your asking for trouble.
Organization: random or some kind of hierarchy
There are some other issues and each can indeed be worked through but the point is it will be work. It will be fun work though. Best of luck with it. Maybe if you start by wiki-ing your stuff others will join in.
Wiki server software: free, open source, retail, which one???
Server space: Whose gonna pay for it. If you go the free route you end up with internet spam and things like those stupid google ads plastered all over the place. Unecessary cookies, connections, etc. It’s not quite free. You get the idea
Well, every stuff you need is already there. Only the articles are missing. Wikipedia is free for all -everybody edits it. If you see some error, you correct it. If you have some more info on something, you add it. If you see someone doing inapproproate stuff, you delete it. It’s that easy. Like an online, massively multiplayer word processor.
User management and moderators: Whose gonna do it. If it becomes big it will be almost a full time job. Leave it wide open an your asking for trouble.
Organization: random or some kind of hierarchy
No organization, no management. Everybody adds a little -and it adds up.
I’m trying to make a mass-movement here. I kind of hoped it’s evident…
(Just to be clear on this, let’s walk through again the main issue: if EVERY modeler contributes a little, it would result in a massive database for techniques, tricks and so on. Clear now?)
Yes ok it’s clear. Have you contributed anything? Post a link if you did.
I have helped implement wikis from the ground up so I thought that was what you were talking about. Anyway as for me It’s just another distraction to have to keep up with yet another system. Not enough time, too many models to build right now, we can always use tips, tricks and techniques but modeling is only as complicated as you make it. I try to keep it simple so I don’t need an encyclopedia. My models aren’t that great but they are ok.
The reason for that is simple, because ANYBODY can edit a Wiki.
While the idea sounds nice to have one dedicated to modeling, in the long run someone will have to be appointed to keep it clean and remove unnecessary edits, false info, etc.
This is the same rason why I DO NO rely on Wiki’s for information, as there is nothing that guarantees me that they contain correct information.
Secondly most wiki’s are done by private people and thus represent more their views on the topic than an objective view.
Don’t get me wrong I like the basic idea of Wiki’s but I don’t like the idea that anybody can edit anything and everything.
Thye thread starter has a good idea but I think a blog might be better suited than a wiki as the contents is under one persons/groups control.
