Forum Changes

[BERT100]

Forum Change, Thoughts

 

Having read all the posts above, those on topic and off topic, the confused and concerned, the generally just worried, etc.  Then to a message I sent to iamsuperdan, in which, regrettably, I went off “halfcocked” .  That message, and the following messaging back and forth caused me to realize that the thinking going into the purposed changes are both well thought out and ultimately, member friendly.

“A sincere thank you [ iamsuperdan]  for your responses and  explanations to my concerns. You have, with good grace and forbearance made a strong case, both clear and understandable,for the changes -yes even to me.  I am now looking confidently  forward to the future of  MCM Forums.”   

While some of you may disagree, argue against (or for), aspects of the changes as they come to light, there should be no doubt that the forums will become better and more functional for us, the members.  Regardless of how the pay /tier plan comes out, I think from those responses given to my rant’s/statements/whatevers,  there will be, after the dust settles, an  MCM Forum for all that want to participate, regardless of any tier.

 

[Volzfan59]

Like I mentioned on page one, don’t mind one bit to pay a nominal fee for full access and the ability to buy and sell. Just make a way for those of us that don’t do PayPal, etc to pay. 

[Bugatti Fan]

All will soon be revealed !

[sidcharles]

3 hours ago, Bugatti Fan said:

All will soon be revealed !

 

[Jordan White]

10 hours ago, Volzfan59 said:

Like I mentioned on page one, don’t mind one bit to pay a nominal fee for full access and the ability to buy and sell. Just make a way for those of us that don’t do PayPal, etc to pay. 

You can get reloadable Visa cards at most stores for online purchases nowadays.

[stavanzer]

I thought of a change.

On the Emoji Tab in the Lower Right Corner, Could we get a "Thumbs Up" to go with the Heart.

Sometimes I don't want to use the Heart, and would rather have a Thumbs Up.

Maybe a Double Thumbs, along with the Heart for especially good news!

[peteski]

21 minutes ago, stavanzer said:

Sometimes I don't want to use the Heart, and would rather have a Thumbs Up.

Maybe a Double Thumbs, along with the Heart for especially good news!

So you want this forum to become Facebook?!

[stavanzer]

1 hour ago, peteski said:

So you want this forum to become Facebook?!

No.

I don't even know How to use facebook.

[Xingu]

1 hour ago, stavanzer said:

I thought of a change.

On the Emoji Tab in the Lower Right Corner, Could we get a "Thumbs Up" to go with the Heart.

Sometimes I don't want to use the Heart, and would rather have a Thumbs Up.

Maybe a Double Thumbs, along with the Heart for especially good news!

We have discussed updating those. Just need to see what our options are, that do not cost more money.

[Jordan White]

3 hours ago, peteski said:

So you want this forum to become Facebook?!

To be fair, Facebook isn't even Facebook anymore. It is now just Ad Engagement Farm Online.

Nothing wrong with adding more emojis, they're already here and not causing issues. Besides as I said before when they were first being introduced here, you don't have to use them, and not having them doesn't automatically mean people will instead craft a response.

Edited Tuesday at 05:58 PM by Jordan White

[stitchdup]

to be fair on the emojis, some folk were worried they would reduce engagement between members but it hasn't worked out like that. instead members that weren't commenting are now using the emojis, while previous commenters are still commenting so it worked out in all our favour as it really increased engagement. 

has anybody got any wilder ideas? this is a great time to add them, even the silly ones as you never know where someone else gets inspiration. An idea thats been tickling the back of my head is to set up challenges between ourselves and other forums for bragging rights as i'd really like to see this place become a hub for all the model forums to really build up a strong modeling community.  

[Jordan White]

2 minutes ago, stitchdup said:

has anybody got any wilder ideas? this is a great time to add them, even the silly ones as you never know where someone else gets inspiration. An idea thats been tickling the back of my head is to set up challenges between ourselves and other forums for bragging rights as i'd really like to see this place become a hub for all the model forums to really build up a strong modeling community.  

I will be honest, I think we need site-sponsored community builds, ones where you can win fun things (magazine subscription, calendar with your build on the cover & one month, site banner/header image, etc.), . Right now, the Cannonball community build is the only one that ever seems to get consistent patronage and I think the chance to win something would bring more engagement in general. 

[stitchdup]

8 minutes ago, Jordan White said:

I will be honest, I think we need site-sponsored community builds, ones where you can win fun things (magazine subscription, calendar with your build on the cover & one month, site banner/header image, etc.), . Right now, the Cannonball community build is the only one that ever seems to get consistent patronage and I think the chance to win something would bring more engagement in general. 

that reminds me, i must work on my cannonball entry

[Volzfan59]

6 hours ago, stavanzer said:

No.

I don't even know How to use facebook.

Thought that I was the only one.

[Can-Con]

4 hours ago, Jordan White said:

I will be honest, I think we need site-sponsored community builds, ones where you can win fun things (magazine subscription, calendar with your build on the cover & one month, site banner/header image, etc.), . Right now, the Cannonball community build is the only one that ever seems to get consistent patronage and I think the chance to win something would bring more engagement in general. 

There's more then a few builders here that I would NOT want to go head to head with in a buildoff. 😧

[sidcharles]

if we get an "up"

well, then, there should be a "down"

life ain't all a bowl o' cherries.

[Cool Hand]

On 8/27/2025 at 3:45 AM, Jordan White said:

I will be honest, I think we need site-sponsored community builds, ones where you can win fun things (magazine subscription, calendar with your build on the cover & one month, site banner/header image, etc.), . Right now, the Cannonball community build is the only one that ever seems to get consistent patronage and I think the chance to win something would bring more engagement in general. 

Something I seen recently was a Japanese Magazine that has build offs with a particular make or manufacturer eg Nissan Skylines. Was incredible to see all the different ways people built the various makes.

 

 

Edited 16 hours ago by Cool Hand

[Bugatti Fan]

I think a 'bragging rights' thing going up against other forums is probably might not be a very practical idea.

Other model making forums are general rather than a specialist forum as this one is so not like for like.

Also, I don't think there would be any uptake as most forums probably would prefer to do their own thing and not get into a ratings game, besides having to get someone to commit to regular adjudication on their behalf.

Edited yesterday at 06:38 AM by Bugatti Fan

[stitchdup]

27 minutes ago, Bugatti Fan said:

I think a 'bragging rights' thing going up against other forums is probably might not be a very practical idea.

Other model making forums are general rather than a specialist forum as this one is so not like for like.

Also, I don't think there would be any uptake as most forums probably would prefer to do their own thing and not get into a ratings game, besides having to get someone to commit to regular adjudication on their behalf.

its all modelling. if you can build a boat or a plane then you already know what to do.There are a lot of pro boards forums on model car/truck building and when you include the niche builders it soon adds up. My thinking behind the battle of the forums is it gives members something to watch and might entice new members to join up, which is good for the forum if it attracts advertising. I want to see model building grow as a hobby as i believe it is the best antidote to all the tech and phone based nonsense, my main thinking behind it is to make models a strong community. 

[Matt Bacon]

Personally, I’ve always thought there’s a lack of clarity on what constitutes a “Model building Q&A” and “Tips, Tricks and Tutorials”. Any Q that starts “How do I…?/“What’s the best way to..?” usually has an A made up of tips, tricks and tutorials… On the other hand, the How do I? questions are mixed in with “Which kit has this engine? Or “Does anybody make a kit of..?” Questions. I’d like to see a “Techniques, Tips and Tutorials”section  covering everything to do with building and finishing a model, and a “Kit and Hobby Q&A” covering off everything to do with kit or part availability, hobby history, model memorabilia and all of that build-adjacent stuff…

best,

M.

[stavanzer]

12 hours ago, Cool Hand said:

Something I seen recently was a Japanese Magazine that has build offs with a particular make or manufacturer eg Nissan Skylines. Was incredible to see all the different ways people built the the various makes.

 

 

I second the Motion of a Same Kit/ Same Type of vehicle Build offs. Pick either a Brand Kit which has generated a lot of excitement, or a common kit that most folks might already have.

On subject matter the sky is the Limit!

Police Cars, Dump Trucks, Blue Cars, Chevrolet Vehicles........

My favorite, Flying Cars!

Some of this already happens in the Group Build Forums, but maybe promote it more. A Banner on the top of the page when it Loads? "This Years Group Build". Higher visibility might promote more participation, and encourage more builders. As it is now, it's buried pretty deep. It should be the third line on the home page, just under the "How to use the board" entry. 

And no more than two builds going on at once.

[Ace-Garageguy]

3 hours ago, Matt Bacon said:

Personally, I’ve always thought there’s a lack of clarity on what constitutes a “Model building Q&A” and “Tips, Tricks and Tutorials”. Any Q that starts “How do I…?/“What’s the best way to..?” usually has an A made up of tips, tricks and tutorials… On the other hand, the How do I? questions are mixed in with “Which kit has this engine? Or “Does anybody make a kit of..?” Questions. I’d like to see a “Techniques, Tips and Tutorials”section  covering everything to do with building and finishing a model, and a “Kit and Hobby Q&A” covering off everything to do with kit or part availability, hobby history, model memorabilia and all of that build-adjacent stuff…

What you mention doesn't bother me, but the frequency of posters putting questions in the tips-and-tricks section and vice-versa I find annoying.

A question is a question, no matter what it's about, as long as it's modeling-related.

A tip or a trick is a statement, not a question....and these distinctions would appear to me to be self-evident.

Nothing the board management can do to correct this other than constantly police and move topics to the place they logically would go, and who has time for that?

[Calb56]

22 hours ago, stitchdup said:

to be fair on the emojis, some folk were worried they would reduce engagement between members but it hasn't worked out like that. instead members that weren't commenting are now using the emojis, while previous commenters are still commenting so it worked out in all our favour as it really increased engagement. 

has anybody got any wilder ideas? this is a great time to add them, even the silly ones as you never know where someone else gets inspiration. An idea thats been tickling the back of my head is to set up challenges between ourselves and other forums for bragging rights as i'd really like to see this place become a hub for all the model forums to really build up a strong modeling community.  

A section for Traditional builds? I read mention about customs or hot rods how about one built pre-70s tech?

[JollySipper]

On 8/26/2025 at 10:05 AM, stavanzer said:

I thought of a change.

On the Emoji Tab in the Lower Right Corner, Could we get a "Thumbs Up" to go with the Heart.

Sometimes I don't want to use the Heart, and would rather have a Thumbs Up.

Maybe a Double Thumbs, along with the Heart for especially good news!

In our list of emoticons that we can add to a post, there is a 'thumbs up!' one! I like the 'hang loose' one better! I just found them today (I usually just scroll to the bottom for the OG emojis) I may start using them myself...........  🤙

[sidcharles]

3 hours ago, Calb56 said:

A section for Traditional builds? I read mention about customs or hot rods how about one built pre-70s tech?

there's already a hole forum for that. half a dozen consistent posters and they're looking to boost enrollment.