Development of www.parkflyers.org.nz - Your ideas and help needed

[jackosmeister]

Heya,

Following on from discussions that seem to be going nowhere fast ,and getting way off topic, on the NZMAA email Newsgroup, and the fact that the likelyhood of anything changing being slim to nil, I would like to continue the discussion here, and get some ideas out there, and get some ideas myself... with hopefully a more receptive, less bogged down in what has been done/happened in the past.

The general idea of the story is this -

The NZMAA's website is essentially a list of rules, and I think there is a need/opportunity for a more balanced national site where its members can contribute more, and gain far more from it. Club website are often very poorly updated, and very focused on one area of the hobby (there are exceptions obviously), and I believe the solution isnt at the club level, as nowhere near all of the aeromodelling community are NZMAA members. It needs to be a national thing.

I would like to propose the idea for a regularly updated website that includes a forum, buy/sell exchange, competition in NZ, guides for newbies and the parkflyer crowd, and generally more focus on the fun of flying planes, less (but still some) focus on the rules/PC crap :) As well as photos/videos from the NZ model plane scene. Obviously you would be encouraged to join the NZMAA, but its by no means mandatory to participate, as currently it doesnt really support the parkfliers in NZ.


Please supply your thoughts and ideas, willingness to help get it going, constructive criticism, the works. If the idea doesnt seem to be supported it wont get off the ground


Chris

[matwelli]

Sounds like a good idea in principle.

We need to cater to the parkflyers out there, and get them involved in a collective (much as offroadexpress did for the 4wd community) to help each other out

How many newbies are out there, brought a cheap RTF from trademe, but need some guidance/info etc to really enjoy the hobby, and who will never join the NZMAA.

Its a heck of an undertaking, a "wikki" style may be the easiest to implement, allowing a large number of contributors.

I will put my hand up to help out.(not sure how :D )

Cheers

Mat

[jackosmeister]

We need to cater to the parkflyers out there, and get them involved in a collective (much as offroadexpress did for the 4wd community) to help each other out

How many newbies are out there, brought a cheap RTF from trademe, but need some guidance/info etc to really enjoy the hobby, and who will never join the NZMAA.

Its a heck of an undertaking, a "wikki" style may be the easiest to implement, allowing a large number of contributors.

Exactly man, good to see at least someone gets it :) It is a big undertaking, but if many people get involved in small chunks it isnt that big a thing too do, and would be a massive benefit.

Merog designs has offered to lend his skills http://www.merogdesign.blogspot.com/

A wiki style idea is good! Im just having a read about mediawiki now

[kneedrag]

Been thinking along the same lines. I have been playing with a portal on my desktop catering to the newbies looking to learn but finding the clubs intimidating or just plain don't want to join one.

Hopefully by the weekend I should have the basic outline up and running.

[jackosmeister]

Sweeet as Rob, Im way over my head looking at all this server stuff tied up with mediawiki or the likes - But that is more your forte ? I fix planes for a living, not much for writing code :)

Im not even sure how I can help, but am amped to give it good shot at least!

[kneedrag]

I am not much into coding either. The portal I am installing is all community based. You sign up and then you can post articles, ask questions get answers upload pictures etc.

It is the same portal hosting solution I offered free to all the NZMAA clubs. So if you are willing to spend sometime answering questions/helping newbies learn all for it.

I also have a foamy mustang which I hook up to a buddy box system which I teach people to fly on. Why this and not a trainer. Well I don't have a trainer and by the time someone learns how to fly a low wing profile they should have most of the skills needed to start flying most ARF for beginners out there.

When it is up I will let you know the web address.

[matwelli]

Sounds good guys, im in !

Twitter is another good tool, can be used to quickly upload updates, info etc, I use it for my site

[jackosmeister]

Your the man Rob! Whats the plan? Do we have a name? That would probably be the first step :) Any ideas? It would be good to try to stay away from the likes of model flying NZ etc so we avoid confusion with the NZMAA's scheme.

- Off the top of my head...

ModelAddictsNZ, Radio controlled aircraft NZ, Flying Kiwis, The flying kiwi portal :) ummm....

Im more than happy to contribute articles, advice, stuff ive found etc. Id say I know enough about modern electrics to write something of a layman's guide to it, and have about 20 ARF's under my belt, so can comment on them.

Judging from the number of emails/pm's ive got in the last 24 hours, I think we will have plenty of contributors and supporters.

Id would be good to get merog to do us some graphics etc, maybe a logo''s buttons etc.

Another idea - Once shes up and running, why dont we fire off some stickers advertising the site and go plaster them around the place :) I'll look into it further and am happy to fit the bill.

Hopefully in a few months we can have something to be proud of.

By the way of trainers, this is another area in which clubs seem to be way behind. Dont know if youve flown the average AT40 trainer, they suck, Personally I think foam is 100% the way to go learn, a bottle of foam safe CA and a roll of tape and there is not much you cant fix in 5minutes. I learnt to fly fixed wing on a foamy PZ trojan, awesome machine. AT40's feel sluggish, floaty, underpowered.. The playstation generation has quick thumbs!


Keep the wheels rolling.

[The Merog]

Hey Jack,

Wait a second. After looking all these fire balls of enthusiasm of all these guys, I can say that...

I am a professional in graphic designing (Photoshop) and XHTML/CSS perfect and strict.

So, I can construct a perfect site (functional), but we need a coder to code the "Action scripts" for "server side execution" (Eg. Php/Java/Asp.NET/My Sql..etc).

And I can create not mere a website, but a site with all creative concepts, an Out-of-the Box design. I am ready to do all the designs for the print campaign too!

It's all for Jack!
See you...//MEROG

[kneedrag]

Perfect the portal I use uses template and I can never get my head around the CSS part of things. So I can get the portal up and you can make it look good. ;-)

Jack was thinking something along the lines of flightschool. I have an existing domain kneedrag.org was just going to bung it onto that on so it would be flightschool.kneedrag.org but if someone is willing to donate a domain I can host it.



I am a professional in graphic designing (Photoshop) and XHTML/CSS perfect and strict.

[jackosmeister]

Kick ass!

Im looking at digitally printed full colour vinyl stickers 75mmx150mm, around 250 of em, plenty to slap on the signs at known flying parks, car bumpers etc. The company will print any design we supply.

Ive got some geek friends in the industry in NZ who may be able to help with a domain, Ill give them a buzz and see what we can work out...

I like the flight school idea, but it could be a bit limiting in the future, I agree that focusing on the newbies is a big part, but not all people who would be interested would be newbies, there is a big gap for experienced people as well that isnt covered by anything in NZ. Bruce Simpson (aka the rocketman/xjet/homebuilt cruisemissile guy!) has some good ideas -

What's needed is something a little broader with an acceptance of the fact that there will be lots of modellers who fly plastic-electrics, ARFs and other types of models that the "grumpy old men" often regard with some scorn :-)

We also need a forum which is devoid of commercial pressures -- so we can say "hey, this ARF I bought from xyz is great/crap" as applicable or "there's a great deal going down at abc.com right now". I'm aware that this kind of thing is frowned on in the NZMAA list as the organisation doesn't want to offend those who might advertise in MFW and/or who sponsor national events

[kneedrag]

Well this will not be a commercially aligned site so yeah honest reviews on products will always be welcomed.

I have been looking at making a decent trainer based off a Formosa with a few features such as gyros to help in the beginner with options of turning them off as the student get more apt at getting there handling right etc.

Currently I put people up on a Mustang Foam profiled plane which is hard for a newbie to fly and reasonably fast but forgiving with a buddy box attached. ;-) I figure if you can fly that you should be able to fly most beginners to advanced level planes by the time I let them go solo.

My main aim is cheap and fun and not frustrating for newbies.

[jackosmeister]

kneedrag - Dont know if youve looked into scratchbuilt foamies, ive built a few (haha - like 30...) But there are many which cost about $10 too build a simple airframe, and are the perfect park-trainer. Ive got 2 prototype combat planes in the build, just waiting for my foam cutting man to do the wings. They are more aligned at park combat, but with a few tweaks you have yourself a trainer, throw in a cheap rate gyro and you have yourself a a really stable small foam ugly stik. Dont know if youve heard of a Das Elle Twig (S.A kit), but I measured shauns one up and built a CAD replica. They should both be ready in a week, bind one to your tx and have a fly if you want.

As all scratchbuilt plans should be, they are free...
This is all stuff more to go on the site but her she is -


Back on topic -

We need a name for this site people - Let the suggestions fly.

[kneedrag]

Yeah I have built a few scratch built foamies. A whole different topic. I just don't have time to build things anymore. ;-) prefer flying. BTW the ASW28 foamy glider was the quickest build I have ever done. was built before the 2cell lipo was charged and it is starting to be the most fun plane I fly with. It is not perfect but hey for what it is I love it. ;-) I need to find more planes like that.

I specifically want to train people on a low wing trainer. Why because it is hard for them to fly. Gyro will make it easier but the problem I have come across most newbies don't want to learn on a high wing piper looking plane.

That and as I said before by the time they walk away they can usually fly anything. Some people might even need to go a step back and use a high wing trainer once they figure out hey this is hard but most people I have had it just took and afternoon for them to get basic circuits right. There have been some hair raising moments as guys forget up from down but that is why I let go of the little button and save the plane from meeting the tree gods.

Now I really need to get to the office. ;-)

[matwelli]

Low wing trainer RET

If you want fun, build a dartxs, 23 wingspan, any newbie can fly it on low rates, or a bit more scale how a about a p51D reno racer style, still RET

[kneedrag]

Nice looking plane... ;-)

[matwelli]

hey - thanks

Can confirm it works as a trainer - took a workmate out to fly at lunchtime, never flowen before, and he flew it ok (with me saying "left, left, LEFT!" etc), he hasent even been on a sim, so we did lazy 8s out in front untill the lvc cut in.

AUW 180 grams, from 1 sheet of 400 by 900 epp :D

[jackosmeister]

Another Idea -

Ill call up the auckland area councils and endeavour to get a list of park field bookings, at least the main ones. Makes it much easier than go drive around until you dont see any cricketers :). If people in other areas of the country are interested in doing the same thing we will have a pretty handy free resource that no one else has....

More name ideas -

Amp'd model flying guide, Park flying portal, The NZ Model Flying Portal, ummmm someone must have some good ideas :)

[kneedrag]

flyingfoam.org.nz

launchpad.org.nz

[jackosmeister]

Launchpad.org.nz - I like it... Unless we get some serious kick ass name before the end of the night, Id go with it. It gives us lots of options, has a cool ring too it, covers the newbie thing without being patronising.

[kneedrag]

Yeah lets see what comes up if there are other better names then we go with that one in the morning.

[The Merog]

Hay Jack,

No no no wait, wait... I've got some more names...... Let me express... am creating almost a list... wait a minute.

Merog

[The Merog]

Dear Cris,

Here are some from my dreams...

wingmen.org.nz

floam.org.nz

wingers.org.nz

offway.org.nz

wifo.org.nz

airwagon.org.nz

foampad.org.nz

wingpad.org.nz

menoff.org.nz / offmen.org.nz

RAW.org.nz (Radiocontrolled Air Wagons)

SWAD.org.nz (Special Wings And Dynamics)

That's for now..... Hozzat?

(I have some Out of the Box logo concepts too with these names...)

Awaiting your reply..//MEROG

[matwelli]

parkfly.org.nz

parkflyers.org.nz

sorta sums up the target audiance, both newbs and experianced foam crashers alike

[kneedrag]

Go here to chose your preference of site name.

I will be checking the voting at 10pm tonight and registering the winning domain.

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1023054#post11878881

[The Merog]

Go here to chose your preference of site name.

I will be checking the voting at 10pm tonight and registering the winning domain.

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1023054#post11878881

Dear Kneedrag,

Are you asking people to vote the names, which we (you, me and matwilli) have proposed?
And can I too vote for a name?

MEROG

[The Merog]

Jack,

have you seen those names, being proposed? I need your opinion. Please reply...

MEROG

[jackosmeister]

Yup - Vote away :)

[The Merog]

Voted.... but it seems only 4 votes till now, and it seems "launchpad.org.nz" wins!

[jackosmeister]

Still a few hours to go man, it could change :D

Writing an article on electrics... 2000 words and Im barely started. Hopefully its not all rubbish!! :D Ill get a few experts to review it on the website to make sure I havent stated anything dumb.

[kneedrag]

Man you are a daemon.. I have another conf call at 9:30pm to 10:30pm then I will register the domain and start making stuff go live. Hopefully in about 24hours we will have a platform to start putting stuff on.

Managed to sneak a few hours in gliding this evening. Had 2 ASW28 in the air.. looked so great... A passer by commented how quiet they were do I put it in a dive behind us and wizzed it past us... His response was WOW but it is still so quiet compared to other planes.

But I suppose compared to my 2.6m DG the 2m ASW is much quieter

Still a few hours to go man, it could change :D

Writing an article on electrics... 2000 words and Im barely started. Hopefully its not all rubbish!! :D Ill get a few experts to review it on the website to make sure I havent stated anything dumb.

[Kevinator9]

Support for those of us who fly heli's as well? (Hope thats not a tainted word round here :p )
I go to a club but I like to take my little electric heli to some parks to fly... would be cool to get all the parkflyers together at one point (ie parkflyer event)... Could be something to organise with the initiative of the new site...

[kneedrag]

Heli's more than welcome. I know planes better than heli's if I can find someone to help me with my Heli great. ;-)

If it is RC and lifts of the ground it is welcome. ;-)

Support for those of us who fly heli's as well? (Hope thats not a tainted word round here :p )
I go to a club but I like to take my little electric heli to some parks to fly... would be cool to get all the parkflyers together at one point (ie parkflyer event)... Could be something to organise with the initiative of the new site...

[jackosmeister]

What if it carries beer?

Yup i was drinking when I did this.. Note that the can is a fosters, didnt want to spill anything decent.

See why I shouldnt be allowed to play with helis :D

[kneedrag]

You are far braver than I am with a heli... I am damn scared of those blades. Still trying to find a nice way to implement a dead mans switch.

[jackosmeister]

Haha notice I dont fly helis anymore, they scare the bejubus out of me, that hurt like a *&(*^(* :o

Support for those of us who fly heli's as well? (Hope thats not a tainted word round here :p )
I go to a club but I like to take my little electric heli to some parks to fly... would be cool to get all the parkflyers together at one point (ie parkflyer event)... Could be something to organise with the initiative of the new site...

Helis are more than welcome man. The whole idea is to get a community started that doesnt just include NZMAA members.

www.parkflyers.org.nz it is

What about the slogan "Tearing up the sky at your local park" :)


Do you have enough to work with Merog? show us what you got - I cant wait :)

[kneedrag]

http://www.parkflyers.org.nz/ is up in placeholder mode.

Have a scoot over there and have a look. As soon as I get the relevant modules installed I will open it up for the beta testers. ;-) To start going wild.

Merog I will forward you the default templates at that stage and you can have a look at how you can make them special for us.

It is getting late and I need to get up for another early morning meeting so I have to stop here for now, but the server side stuff is all done I think for now.

[The Merog]

AM READY WITH MY HOT KEYBOARD AND MOUSE...

LETS TEAR UP THE SKY... LETS GO!!!!!

But guys, look ... we have 6 hours time gap. Sun sets 6 hrs early there in NZ, than here in INDIA.

So when you expect out put from me, generally as I work at night and upload to you in the morning, It may be afternoon to you when you see it.

LETS ROCK THE SKY FROM LOCAL PARK.....LETS GO!!!!

MEROG

http://www.parkflyers.org.nz/ is up in placeholder mode.

Have a scoot over there and have a look. As soon as I get the relevant modules installed I will open it up for the beta testers. ;-) To start going wild.

Merog I will forward you the default templates at that stage and you can have a look at how you can make them special for us.

It is getting late and I need to get up for another early morning meeting so I have to stop here for now, but the server side stuff is all done I think for now.

[kneedrag]

Go have a go and play around, we shall call this the public beta.

http://www.parkflyers.org.nz/

[jackosmeister]

Good work man! First post edited to reflect the name.

[The Merog]

Hey guys,

Wheres the work I need to do? And the first post is very good. And is the membership is only for NZs? Not for someone like me from another country?

Awaiting your reply...//MEROG

[jackosmeister]

Haha, you are more than welcome to join up man!

What ideas do you have in the way of making it pretty? Some sort of aviation theme that isnt too messy, is nice clean clear, without being boring :) go for gold!

We need some sorta logo now. Something that can go on the site, as well as the stickers.

[The Merog]

Hey its me ya merog! I'll do that! Just now ve seen msg from kneedrag! Just downloading the template! I'll come up with logo too! Tell me what should the logo represent?
Awaiting reply//merog

[jackosmeister]

Its all yup too you Merog, I could draw up some ideas for you - but im sure youve got some better ones anyway. Reading back on this thread you'll see what the sites aim is, see what you can come up with out of that. Perhaps a few rough ideas and then we can do the vote thing again, whatever suits you, im sure it'll be good.


Rob - Any chance of getting a resource link stuck in the menu? it might be a better place for the "novel" on electrics, and the councils park bookings etc etc.
Maybe a guide to park conduct and ettiquite (sp?) would be a good idea, not rules but just a set of common sense guidelines to make sure we dont get nasty emails addressed to us from people with planes stuck in their fences/person.
It could get a bit messy in a forum as posts get stuck on the end of them.

[kneedrag]

Logo should represent park flying. In the mean time I put a scaled down pic of a Harvard in there.

[kneedrag]

I am really impressed at how fast this site has grown in 2 days.

Shows there is a definite interest in parkflyers in general.

Keep up the good work.

[jackosmeister]

Oath. Good work, its amazing how quickly stuff can happen when people willing do do stuff get let off the leash :)

Im looking forward to what merog can do, and to getting some stickers printed and slapped on the boots of cars, signs at parks etc. I think that will start to get us some serious traffic.

With 250 vinyl stickers, im wondering what is the best way to distribute them, im happy to slap up some around auckland. Maybe we can send say 25 too a volunteer in each major centre?

[kneedrag]

I was thinking of sending a few to a few hobby shops to send out free with there orders. I am sure there customers would love some free stuff like stickers. Wonder if the shops will go along with this sure they should not have an issue.

[The Merog]

Can anybody provide me some high res Images of the park flying in NZ, I need to incorporate in the web page.

Images should be-

High-Res, Exclusive to our Moto of Park flying, of NZ...etc

Awaiting your reply...//MEROG

[jackosmeister]

What about some of robs? Ive PM'd you the address.

The full photos are BIG, so PM rob if you want the BIG versions.

Some of the photos of the landing approaches in front of the house at macleans, or the Green PA addiction hovering in the blue sky look good.

Ive got shedload more photos too. What exactly is in your mind and Ill try hunt something down that meets your needs


Speaking of blue sky. Its perfect outside. Time to go fly!

Chris

[The Merog]

Enough Chris, Enough!

They are of enough Resolution on the link you sent me.

Thank you, am on my way!

[matwelli]

Send me 10-15 if you like, I will put one on the car, and the rest in kits when I sell them.

I was thinking of sending a few to a few hobby shops to send out free with there orders. I am sure there customers would love some free stuff like stickers. Wonder if the shops will go along with this sure they should not have an issue.

[matwelli]

Hey , can you also do a 100 by 40 (or whatever) of the logo so I can stick it on my site and link back.

Cheers

Mat

Can anybody provide me some high res Images of the park flying in NZ, I need to incorporate in the web page.

Images should be-

High-Res, Exclusive to our Moto of Park flying, of NZ...etc

Awaiting your reply...//MEROG

[matwelli]

Speaking of blue sky. Its perfect outside. Time to go fly!

Chris

Lucky Bugger - windsock at just over a 45 today, only got one flight in at the club (we fly at teh local aerodrome)

[kneedrag]

I must admit I could not have asked for better weather this weekend. We have really be spoilt here in Auckland. I have had 3 days of almost solid flying my neck is killing me from looking up.

Took my profile mustang up after I charged her battery and she got a sudden burst of speed. Must be the new balancing charger I am using although that pack I did not balance as I didn't have an adapter. Either way I was having fun flexing her wings as I pulled insane G's... If there was a pilot in there I would have felt sorry for him. Got to love high rates.

Links back and forward to the sites would be great. Anything to generate traffic.

[kneedrag]

BTW if you do a search on google for "parkflyer nz" this thread is the first listing on the google with a nice link to our site.

Next goal to get our site to the top of Google I submitted it for crawling the other night so lets see how quickly she climbs...

[matwelli]

Just checked, three of our new members (weldingrod, willzilla and zkmad) are guys I emailed yesterday to sign up :D

[jackosmeister]

Good stuff! Yup, seriously awesome weather. Hopefully it sticks around for a bit

We had some massive thermals moving across the strip today Rob, your glider wouldve been in space. They looked exactly like twisters - Easily 200 feet high (and that was just the dust!)

[The Merog]

Dear Chris and Rob,

Please check the Logo, I've created, which is completely hand drawn(Except the fonts) and Brand New.

I want your opinion. Don't worry about my brand's water mark, I put that for security, as i am posting it in this public forum.

Upon the confirmation, I'll send the Full Original .psd file for print, and scaled down formats for various web purposes.

Awaiting your reply...//MEROG

[The Merog]

Dear Chris and Rob,

Please send me the High-Res images for those I attach here.
If the file size is too large, attach for my mail ID: merog_designer@yahoo.com (Only mails of designing purpose are allowed), If you need personal ID: themerog@gmail.com

Awaiting your reply...//MEROG

[jackosmeister]

Merog - I really like that logo, You are good at what you do!

Ill let rob email you the pictures. Maybe he can scale them down a touch, at full size they are about 6 meg each.

By the way, I expect to see the merog design signature on the site!

[The Merog]

Thanx alot Jack,

Thanx for your compliment! I am always at your disposal to offer my creative services.

//MEROG
Merog - I really like that logo, You are good at what you do!

Ill let rob email you the pictures. Maybe he can scale them down a touch, at full size they are about 6 meg each.

By the way, I expect to see the merog design signature on the site!

[kneedrag]

Yeah A+++ on the logo...

Merog is there are particular size you want the images. Reason I am asking is as Jacko said they are about 5-6meg each. Took me a week to mail them to Jacko. ;-)

I have not problem mailing them if you are prepared to get spammed.

[The Merog]

Thanx rob for your A+++,

All the need is to prepare some graphics for our site. It includes, cropping, clipping, rendering etc, which needs a pixel level work, for professional output.

So, I need some 800x600 (Presently they are of 640*426).

And tell me if I should send you the original logo file and the scaled down one for our site header(tell me the resolution of the present header space of our site) .

Awaiting the images and the web site file system, you will send....//MEROG
Yeah A+++ on the logo...

Merog is there are particular size you want the images. Reason I am asking is as Jacko said they are about 5-6meg each. Took me a week to mail them to Jacko. ;-)

I have not problem mailing them if you are prepared to get spammed.

[kneedrag]

Yeah I can do 800x600 they are currently 4000x something.

If you can send me the full sized logo then I can downsize it this side for the logo on the top left corner, until we get the new template sorted.

Will pull the images out my library tomorrow and downsize them all for you and forward them along.

[The Merog]

Dear Rob,

The psd files are too large to get uploaded here, tell me an Email ID, so i can send it!

Please find the attachments of the .jpg of the logo...
Parkflyers Logo Full.jpg

am dying to see it on our site!

Reply me when received...
Awaiting your reply...//MEROG

Yeah I can do 800x600 they are currently 4000x something.

If you can send me the full sized logo then I can downsize it this side for the logo on the top left corner, until we get the new template sorted.

Will pull the images out my library tomorrow and downsize them all for you and forward them along.

[kneedrag]

Logo upload on the site... have a look and let me know what you think.

[The Merog]

Rob,

I think it needs a little bit care in scaling down the image.

Try this image file, which I have attached here and let me see how it looks!

Awaiting...//MEROG

Logo upload on the site... have a look and let me know what you think.

[kneedrag]

Have a look now... I uploaded the wrong one, being doing stupid things tonight. I had to crop the image a bit to shoehorn it into the template.

Let me know what you think now.

[The Merog]

Yeah,

Rob, Now It's just 100% perfect! After building all the graphics, the back ground will be in uniform with that of logo.

See you with the Mock site stuff....//MEROG

Have a look now... I uploaded the wrong one, being doing stupid things tonight. I had to crop the image a bit to shoehorn it into the template.

Let me know what you think now.

[jackosmeister]

How's she coming along merog, I cant wait to see what youve come up with.

How are those little foamies coming along too?

[The Merog]

Jack, PM Sent, please check!
How's she coming along merog, I cant wait to see what youve come up with.

How are those little foamies coming along too?