 bumpygreen
model aerodrome
This is the fascinating name of a new
magazine-style web site set up by three keen aero-modellers from
Hertfordshire, UK, whom, I think, are Grot, Choddy and Chinman!
Launched back in August, by the look of
it, and already attracting large numbers of visitors, the site announces itself as being the outcome of "a dream
to build a community for aero modellers from all walks of life,
interested in all the different aspects of aeromodelling and of any age
to work together to create a web site with a huge amount of
content."
With aims not so very different from
those of ModelFlight, including the same strong desire for
reader-participation, it's not surprising to find that the content
is also fairly similar, although these boys are a bit more ambitious in
setting out to carry such a huge volume of material and with the
inclusion of live web content in the form of a forum and chat room.
 This
is Bumpygreen's very attractive homepage with more than a hint of
professionalism in the web design. It is easy enough to move around the
site, although it is one that I find just slightly confusing because
there are two main navigation menus to contend with. There's a
whole set of features set out across the top of the homepage, with
another navigation menu down the side, with most buttons then opening up
yet more options!
An unusual feature of the chat room is the
intention of having scheduled guests from well-known companies to answer
questions, and the Bumpygreen team are also in residence twice a week.
There is also a feature called Outings where the team go out and
visit companies, shows, shops and clubs and report back.
Included on the main menu are sections for Beginners,
Reviews, Articles and a Gallery of readers' models plus more
detailed information of models belonging to readers and the team on the Hanger
page (a slight mis-type there, I suspect). Grot,
Choddy and Chinman give nothing away about themselves, so, despite the
friendly feel to the site, there also remains a certain feeling of
anonymity. The response to my guest book entry gave the same impression
as it was very much an automated one, but I guess the high level of
visitors makes it difficult to maintain an equally high level of personal
contact. The
nearest we get to maybe, perhaps, knowing something about them is the
fact that the site has an Our Services page offering (a)
factory-produced embroidery of hats, T-shirts, fleeces and sweatshirts
to clubs and manufacturers, (b) web design and (c) promotional video
production. Perhaps I should go for a ModelFlight baseball
cap or T-shirt - would anybody buy it, I wonder? It's
a great site and from my humble little spot in cyberspace, I presume to
wish it well! If you visit it, I'm sure you will enjoy it! http://www.bumpygreen.co.uk |
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If YOU have a personal web
site of model flight interest for us to enjoy or have come across one
that you found of particular value or interest (including commercial
sites), then please let me have the URL and we can feature it here.
There's so much good stuff out there, but it's so easy to miss it!