Use of our website

[Dave Hayfield]

The LMA website does not seem to be getting the usage that other association sites attract considering the hundreds of members in the association. Not many discussions about the hobby, the equipment we use, experiences we come up with etc. etc. I go on to other forums and they are full of various comments and advice regarding the day to day goings on about the subject in question. It also seems that the same few members are using the site, the same names crop up all of the time. I seem to remember that when the website first started in its old format the discussion on who did what or how to do what went on for page after page, with comments from may more members. WHERE IS EVERYBODY??? Discuss!

[Dave Parry]

They are all on FaceBook, most have there own pages set up and post what they are doing on there. RCMF which was and still is the biggest Model forum going as even suffered over the years. We can only assume it is due to the same reason. Don't know what the answer is. I know this forum suffers because it is difficult to post pictures due to size restriction and a lot of members don't know how to resize them etc... I am sure more will have other reasons why members don't use our site. Interesting topic Dave lets wait and see.

[John Greenfield]

Hi Dave's
Interesting question and as I visit the site every day I have just done a bit of thinking about why I visit and what I do when here. These are my thoughts :-
I scan for anything for sale or wanted.
I follow interesting construction articles.
I check for info on events.
I respond to any postings where I feel I may have something to offer in the way of advice and assistance.
I do not post up details of my projects as adding photos is far to time consuming and complicated. Take picture with camera, connect camera to laptop, download pictures, spend ages trying to resize, save new resized pictures, write text and captions for pictures, upload.
From re reading the above it seems the reason I don't contribute more to the forum is the picture issue as I am happy to sit at the laptop to type.
Anyone else have similar thoughts ?
J

[David Jones]

I like to submit build threads when I've got a project on. I like to think people find it interesting to see a build in progress and maybe pick up some ideas, likewise, it's nice for other builders to chip in with their two penneth worth if they think I'm doing something wrong. If I'm in doubt about anything and need advice or a point of reference, this Forum is my first port of call as there is a wealth of experience on here.

I was okay with re sizing my photos when I was on Windows XP, but now I'm on Windows 10 (which I hate), it is more of a challenge and time consuming. I'm not sure what or when my next large project will be, but I will probably do a build thread for it when I start. I've also had an article printed in the Journal in the past but, as far as Facebook and Twitter are concerned, I'm a non believer.

Just my thoughts on the matter. Jonesey.

[Steve McDonald]

It does surprise me that not much happens in the General Discussion banner. I look at the site at least three times a week, looking for new discussions, for sale and wanted etc. I also love Neil Hutchinson's photographs, who doesn't! Although not a prolific builder, if I am unsure of anything, my first port of call is this website. I always get an answer from seasoned LMA members and appreciate it. You can see that I don't post very much, mainly because my large modelling is limited and not very exciting for experienced members. I live in the North of Scotland and don't get to many of the events so don't know many of the members that well, some by reputation only and most don't know me from Adam when I speak to them. Nonetheless all are very friendly and are happy to chat or answer questions. Using this forum allows me to keep up with what's going on and I know I can get top quality advice when I need it. Yes I use Facebook but would not want to lose the LMA website or the Forum. Keep up the good work guys, it is appreciated more than is said!

[Bob Thompson1894]

I look on most days. The picture problem is not just here, RCMF suffers as well. Its easy to resize a picture, but a lot of folk dont seem to have that basic knowledge. Facebook doesnt mind how big a file is, it just compresses it for you. May be a tutorial on how to resize pics would help?

[Tony Collins 1073]

I look on most days. The picture problem is not just here, RCMF suffers as well. Its easy to resize a picture, but a lot of folk dont seem to have that basic knowledge. Facebook doesnt mind how big a file is, it just compresses it for you. May be a tutorial on how to resize pics would help?

Hi Bob.
Five years ago I posted a thread on how to resize your images. It is still on the forum.
You will find it as a Sticky at the top of general discussions, and new projects.
It is extremely easy to follow even for the most computer shy person.
The only thing that I am unsure of is What the maximum sizes are now set at.
Perhaps our webmaster can enlighten us please.
Tony.

[Dave Parry]

The maximum image size for this forum is 800 x 800 px. As this forum attachment is free it is limited.

A few more things worth remembering, this website along with many others do have to be hosted on servers which have to be paid for. The LMA do have to pay yearly for our website that is why it is advert free. The likes of FaceBook, Twiter etc.. gets it revenue from advertisers, so the more you post the more attractive it is for advertiser to invest there cash with them, and judging by the last figures posted if FaceBook was a country it's population would be the size of America and Africa combined. Like it or loath it FaceBook, Twiter and the whole of the social media world is here to stay.

The drive for instant gratification for what people are doing is what drives the likes of FaceBook and Twitter, you can get a response in seconds which is why is it so popular. Forums are great but tend to be just focused on a specialist subject like ours, which means only like minded people will be looking for it. On FaceBook and Twitter you can post what you want and it will go to every Tom, Dick and Harry who has an account and has shown a passing interest whether they understand it or not. You are more then likely to get a thumbs up and a well done from them, where as on the forum you are more likely to only get a response if someone spot a flaw in your project and with the best intentions in the world some people can't take any form of criticism, so tend to say away for the forums in question.

Future
The future of the LMA and others like the BMFA, SAA and JMA etc.. is social media. Our FaceBook page is far more popular then our website and covers the population that don't have anything to do with the hobby but are interested in what we do and were they can come and see us. When I posted the Gaydon event on FB we have over 4000 hit within less then an hour. It has grown steady ever since. There will always be a place for our website and hopefully in the near future we will extend how interactive it will be, so it is not all doom and gloom just yet. We have to move with the trends if we are to establish our place in the online world, as the generations come though our hobby we would like to think the LMA will still be there.

[Peter Siggins]

Hi Dave,
I take your point on the use of facebook and the other sites,,I think contributors feel more anonymous so feel freer.
I have done three build posts on rcscalebuilder which is easier as far as pics go.Because I'm not into warbirds response is minimal for the effort of posting but I have made some interesting contacts.
I do think the LMA site would have similar response but if you think otherwise I could give it a go.The three models done ,which I still have construction pics for are: 1/4 scale Bellanca Cruisemaster ; 1/3 rd scale Piper Tripacer ; 1/4 scale Moth Minor.
What do you think ?- Pete

[Dave Parry]

Peter I can't answer how the members of this forum will responded to your build threads, I have seen in the past and present some build threads get very little response and other fair better you only have to look at Frank Fearn's P40 build, stunning but very little comments on it, Phil Clarks builds have the same response and yet the build quality and attention to detail are stunning. I would always encourage anyone to post there build threads, I would also like to encourage you to conceder sending them to me for the Journal, not everyone is a member of this forum and some don't even have a computer, I know it is hard to believe in this day and age but there you go.

All I can suggest is look though some of the build threads on there and judge for yourself if you think it is worth having ago.

[Peter Siggins]

Cheers Dave I'll give it a go in a week or so.

Pete

[robbieskipton]

I started a build thread on my 55% CHALLENGER I RECIEVED absolutely no comments not one the same thread on flying giants i had 530 comments. Rcmf 200 and finally high alpha 120 or so. As previously stated no one is intetested the forum is so insular only a few use it
. Non of the committe do except for dave parry. Look at whats on there who the hell is interested in making a tyre. Get a life and buy one. Unless its a spitfire its not interesting to anyone there are many great projects out there but why post on a site that has no traffic.Use time more wisely and use flying giants over the pond at least they support each other. Ironically the most interesting thread on site is this one

[chris-berry]

The other forums such as RCME and RCMF are certainly busier than this one. Maybe its the fact that most of those in the LMA and most who fly large models and at events/shows etc are experienced modellers and have less to discuss about things like 'learning to fly', or SAFE receivers or which lipo to use on a foamy. The general trend in the LMA is for larger, often unique scale, scratch built, petrol powered models which aren't mass market and therefore less people have things to talk about, unlike Acro-wots or park flyers for example.

Or it could just be that there is a limit to how many forums can operate at the same time, especially with the variety of facebook pages that also exist.

[robbieskipton]

Have a look at flying giants. Im not seeing foamies on there and thats an equivelant source for modelers but maybe you have hit on the point that should be muted. The lma bang on at how to tempt younger people but as of yet no real success a few family but thats the lot
Maybe its because we dont talk about foamies etc as you said could be an issue as the majority are not engaged in the witterings of the lma and so called experienced builders. Have you had a look at some of the [stop swearing Robert] that hits the flight line lately.guess what its artf. The other point the lma try to get over is its not an organisation for large models.all are welcome but i also guess that unless your model is of a certain size and costs zillions it doesnt merit conversation.As for my personal experiences. No one even aknowledges my thread here but at the shows it takes me ages to get to or leave the flight line as there are so many people interested in my models

[Dave Hayfield]

Regardless of who looks at our website...or not, I guess that organisations such as ours exist for the likes of this youtube....
'RC Flying Newbie'. Take a look, I think we have all been there

[stuart knowles 1611]

I'm a big fan of build threads, shedology, in fact anything where people are making and adapting material to modelling use. Even so, I would rarely comment on the thread unless I thought that I had something to offer. I hadn't really thought that few responses would be discouraging for the builder but I can see their point. I have followed every update of Mr Fearn's P40 and studied each pic but never commented on the thread. My apologies to him and everyone else who has taken the time to post a build thread

The rise of ARTF has an inevitability about it as many people have competing demands on their time but if the LMA were to champion anything (IMHO) it should be the cause of building something a bit different. Personally I would also champion the cause of entry level, cheap(er) models and methods. Some of the models of the 'not too distant' past were largely made of polystyrene foam and DIY shop ply that were very successful of the show circuit. They maybe weren't too pretty up close but they did demonstrate that everything didn't have to be multi thousand pound stuff that came from a factory.

[Paul Savage 1568]

I take my hat of to Dave Hayfield for putting himself on the pedestal and raising this subject. Build threads are interesting and make for good reading as long as they are progressive and reach a conclusion which ought to include the details of first flights and any technicalities or issues that the builder had to address and overcome. I also check out this website every couple of days but it has become somewhat stale and predictable with little in the way of new stuff to keep me on the site for more than a couple of minutes. Like a club newsletter, it takes a massive effort for a website editor to keep it interesting.

A website, especially one such as this, is like a national club newsletter and anyone who has tried to keep a newsletter fresh and alive will know just how much unappreciated effort it takes to get anyone to contribute to it month after month after month and thus help in keeping it going. Eventually the editor and main contributers will give up and move on and then the newsletter dies out because no one else wants to take on the role. Welcome to this website folks.

I think the real problem is that most of the LMA members are either of the silent generation of whom like to read new posts but never actually contribute to them or perhaps they don't really feel that they have anything new or interesting to offer.

If one does dare to publically say something that sounds like a moan or is slightly controversial then they are likely to be judged by that one comment for the rest of their life. Once you've written something and hit the submit button then you run the risk of being forever stigmatised by your comments.

This website along with Facebook and the model press will often concentrate on the big shows and the reports will be predicably
accompanied by a series of action shots of the same models year after year. Maybe this website could adopt a new take on the world of large modelling activities and concentrate on the grass root level of large modelling and maybe help to revitalise this important sector of the LMA world.

Personally, I would like to see more articles on the various unpublisised scale club meets or low key events that happen all over the country during the spring and summer whereas LMA members were either present or participating. The models ( and pilots) at these events are generally far more representative of the models that most of us fly from day to day and the pilots we generally fly with. The models at these events usually didn't cost zillions of pounds, they didn't take a lifetime to build and they're not the size of a small allotment so they rarely get any publicity. Maybe we should put a call out for budding photographers across the country and get them to upload a photographic report of their event to this website.

Re-sizing image file size is a must for most websites and there are plenty of free programs which make it easy to do. ( Google " reduce image file size") Sadly, everyone tends to set their cameras to their highest setting in the mistaken belief that bigger must be better and as a result, each image file size is around 3-4 mb ( 3000-4000 kbs). Try emailing three or four image files of this magnitude and you will be staring at the "sending mail" bar for a loooong time and the recipient can look forwards to an equally long wait for them to load onto their device. Simply shrinking the image size on the screen doesn't actually reduce the file size. You can take an image file size right down to just 200-300 kbs and it will still look clear and detailed on a website for it's given size. As a bonus, it will upload or can be sent by email almost instantaneously. Alternatively, go into your camera settings and set the image quality to low.

[Ken Bones]

The picture issue has been mentiond countless times and over a long period of time. Remind me again why it has to be so complicated!
Computer people seem to think we all know what they know. Fine if you are doing these tasks day in day out. But I don't and I struggle with anything computer related as I'm sure many others do.

[Dave Parry]

Hi Ken, it isn't us that makes it so complicated. it is the software that generates the forum. The LMA Forum isn't the only one that has this problem. Pictures have to be resized because the forum doesn't resize them for you unlike facebook and other popular ones it is as simple as that am afraid.

[Paul Savage 1568]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74PZ546wNeo

Hope this helps. It's the brilliantly simple little program that I use and once you've used it a couple of times then you will fly through image file resizing. It's free and there's no adware or malware attached to it.