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A couple of recent posts have touched on the subject of how the RW area is structured (although the comments are equally applicable to other areas, especially SF).
At the moment, when a Member finds an interesting model or a new variation, it invariably results in a new topic This is fine whilst that topic is active and fresh, but becomes ever more problematic as the months slip by and the contents become only half-remembered, making them difficult to search for (especially if the Board search function is having a bad day and claiming that e.g. "6a" is either too short or too common a term to search for).
One solution to this would be to parallel the structure of the "Missing, Previously Catalogued 1-75 RW Variations Area" in the "Lesney Matchbox Regular Wheels 1-75" area, but instead of one topic/model, it would be one sub-Forum/model with the individual topics contained within that sub-Forum.
There will inevitably be some cross-model discussions and these will have to be dealt with on a case-by-case basis, perhaps using a 'General' sub-Forum.
What do other Members think?

I am quite lost and bewildered as to what paralleling the RW Area Hugh with the "Missing" Posts really means, but I like that you have already closed the "missing" Posts on each model to all but model distinct discussions on new details we have found on that particular model casting......(I Think?? LOL) Kwakers

Finding old discussions is definitely a challenge, so it would be good to find some way of making things easier. I think Dick's right that casting, wheel or colour differences fit nicely into the "missing variations" area. I think we've all been guilty of stretching the original intent of this area, but the result does seem worth it for mainly keeping new variations in one place.

So what's the other RW section for? It's good for discussing features that are common to several models (recently, wheel sizes and tread patterns) or general musings, questions and finds. For me the question is whether we should continue discussing variants in the missing variations area - if that's ok, then we should encourage new posts there (at the moment, it's mainly Antonin, Dick, Bert and me, though lots of people contributed to the 30c Faun crane discussion and I know I need to get back with a new variation list!). If you think it would be better to close that down, then dividing the RW section by model would be good.

I'm off to the missing variations to post something on the 58c DAF... quickly, before anything changes! Seriously, I'm happy to go with whatever you decide, and I'll try to post in the right places too.

Glenn

We curently have Three distinct 'RW' sections. I would put them together under a general 'Regular Wheels' title. We then do the same with the Three 'SF' sections, under 'Superfast'.

Anyone looking for a 'RW' topic, thread or casting show entry will only need to go into the single section as listed on the board index.

I would leave Georges Casting Show 'As Is', although I am sure there are posts in there that would be better moved into one of the other sections.

I would condense the other Two 'RW' sections. I would also make every topic 'Sticky' once in the correct number issue order, model number 16, 17, 18 and 19 etc, etc, not mixed up which is what happens when a new post is added to the topics.

Ghosthunter.

GHOSTHUNTER wrote:I would condense the other Two 'RW' sections. I would also make every topic 'Sticky' once in the correct number issue order, model number 16, 17, 18 and 19 etc, etc, not mixed up which is what happens when a new post is added to the topics.

Combining the other two sections will obscure the structure which exists in the "Missing, Previously Catalogued 1-75 RW Variations Area" (which can be sorted by topic title, rather than date of most recent post, using the drop down menus at the bottom of the page).
Even if we were to go with all new discoveries being added to the appropriate thread in the "Missing, Previously Catalogued 1-75 RW Variations Area", that still leaves a substantial body of work in the "Lesney Matchbox Regular Wheels 1-75" area. In addition, would this proposal mean locking the latter area, either completely or just for new topics?

I've tried sorting the Lesney 1-75 section by topic title, but they still aren't in order - I think it's because some members use the # symbol next to the model number. Can we change it so they're all one type or the other? To be honest, I think it's always going to be difficult to find out everything about a model on this type of website because of the cross-model component discussions and comparisons. e.g wheels. I'm surprised each 1-75 model doesn't have it's own sticky or sub-topic area, though I really do appreciate all the effort that you guys have put into this site.

Back to the Stickies. This is the only way each model will be presented in order (Catalogue order), on the forum.

A while ago I played with the options on 'George's 1-75 Regular Wheels Casting Show' to see if they can be placed in order (which they can!), but it is upto each viewer to do the adjustment before searching for a specific model/model number and once you leave the page, it has to be done again during the next viewing, they do not stay in order so each model would have to be 'Sticky' to prevent this from happening.

Ghosthunter.

I don't think 'Sticky' works that way. My understanding is that sticky threads are always at the top of the list, but are still sorted by most recent post.

I have just posted in the 'Toy Fair News' and it was at the top of the list and seems to have always been there. It would be interesting to post something in a lower topic like the 'MATCHBOX copies etc' to see if that moves to the top of the list.

Ghosthunter.

I think it would be great if the first forum on the list wasn't "open letter to non-posters" but something that said "welcome to the forum - here's a friendly guide". We could even use this to post a weekly or fortnightly round-up of what's been going on (I think I may have just volunteered!) The aim would be to make people feel welcome and like they can contribute too.

As for tidying up the rest, perhaps we could (a) make sure that old titles make sense, so that searches are effective and (b) post links in the missing variations section to important relevant discussions elsewhere. I think (a) can only be done by moderators or the original poster, but (b) could be done by anyone. I don't think we need a major reorganisation - just a bit of housekeeping.

Glenn