±Recent Visitors

Recent Visitors to Com-Central!

±User Info-big


Welcome Anonymous

Nickname
Password

Membership:
Latest: cgsimpson
New Today: 0
New Yesterday: 0
Overall: 6645

People Online:
Members: 0
Visitors: 760
Total: 760
Who Is Where:
 Visitors:
01: Community Forums
02: Community Forums
03: Community Forums
04: Community Forums
05: Community Forums
06: Downloads
07: Member Screenshots
08: Community Forums
09: Downloads
10: Photo Gallery
11: Community Forums
12: Community Forums
13: Home
14: Community Forums
15: Community Forums
16: Community Forums
17: Community Forums
18: Community Forums
19: Photo Gallery
20: Community Forums
21: Home
22: Community Forums
23: Community Forums
24: Photo Gallery
25: Community Forums
26: Home
27: Community Forums
28: Home
29: Community Forums
30: Community Forums
31: Community Forums
32: CPGlang
33: Community Forums
34: Photo Gallery
35: Community Forums
36: Community Forums
37: Community Forums
38: Community Forums
39: News
40: Community Forums
41: Community Forums
42: Community Forums
43: Home
44: Community Forums
45: Community Forums
46: CPGlang
47: Community Forums
48: Community Forums
49: Photo Gallery
50: Home
51: Member Screenshots
52: Community Forums
53: Community Forums
54: Community Forums
55: Community Forums
56: Community Forums
57: Community Forums
58: Community Forums
59: Home
60: Community Forums
61: Home
62: Community Forums
63: Photo Gallery
64: Community Forums
65: Community Forums
66: Photo Gallery
67: Community Forums
68: Community Forums
69: Home
70: Photo Gallery
71: Member Screenshots
72: Community Forums
73: Community Forums
74: Community Forums
75: Community Forums
76: Downloads
77: Community Forums
78: Community Forums
79: Community Forums
80: Community Forums
81: Member Screenshots
82: Community Forums
83: Photo Gallery
84: Community Forums
85: CPGlang
86: Home
87: Downloads
88: Home
89: Community Forums
90: Photo Gallery
91: Community Forums
92: Community Forums
93: Home
94: Photo Gallery
95: Home
96: Community Forums
97: Community Forums
98: Photo Gallery
99: Community Forums
100: Community Forums
101: Community Forums
102: Community Forums
103: Photo Gallery
104: Community Forums
105: Community Forums
106: Downloads
107: Community Forums
108: Community Forums
109: Community Forums
110: Community Forums
111: Community Forums
112: Community Forums
113: Downloads
114: Photo Gallery
115: Downloads
116: Downloads
117: Community Forums
118: Community Forums
119: Community Forums
120: Community Forums
121: Community Forums
122: Home
123: Community Forums
124: Photo Gallery
125: Member Screenshots
126: Community Forums
127: Photo Gallery
128: Photo Gallery
129: Community Forums
130: Photo Gallery
131: Home
132: Home
133: Community Forums
134: Photo Gallery
135: Community Forums
136: Community Forums
137: Community Forums
138: Downloads
139: Community Forums
140: Photo Gallery
141: Community Forums
142: Community Forums
143: Home
144: Community Forums
145: Community Forums
146: Community Forums
147: Community Forums
148: Community Forums
149: Community Forums
150: Downloads
151: Community Forums
152: Home
153: Community Forums
154: Community Forums
155: Photo Gallery
156: Community Forums
157: Home
158: Downloads
159: Community Forums
160: Photo Gallery
161: Community Forums
162: Community Forums
163: Community Forums
164: Community Forums
165: Community Forums
166: Home
167: Community Forums
168: Photo Gallery
169: Community Forums
170: Community Forums
171: Home
172: Community Forums
173: Community Forums
174: Community Forums
175: Home
176: Downloads
177: Community Forums
178: Community Forums
179: Community Forums
180: Community Forums
181: Downloads
182: Photo Gallery
183: Community Forums
184: Photo Gallery
185: Downloads
186: CPGlang
187: Community Forums
188: Community Forums
189: Community Forums
190: Your Account
191: Community Forums
192: Community Forums
193: Photo Gallery
194: Community Forums
195: CPGlang
196: Community Forums
197: Photo Gallery
198: Community Forums
199: Photo Gallery
200: Community Forums
201: Community Forums
202: Downloads
203: CPGlang
204: Community Forums
205: Photo Gallery
206: Photo Gallery
207: Home
208: Community Forums
209: Community Forums
210: Community Forums
211: Community Forums
212: Member Screenshots
213: Your Account
214: Community Forums
215: Community Forums
216: CPGlang
217: Community Forums
218: Community Forums
219: Community Forums
220: Community Forums
221: Community Forums
222: Community Forums
223: Downloads
224: Home
225: Member Screenshots
226: Photo Gallery
227: Community Forums
228: Photo Gallery
229: Community Forums
230: Community Forums
231: Downloads
232: Community Forums
233: Downloads
234: Photo Gallery
235: Downloads
236: Community Forums
237: Community Forums
238: Community Forums
239: Community Forums
240: Community Forums
241: Community Forums
242: Home
243: Community Forums
244: Community Forums
245: Community Forums
246: Community Forums
247: Home
248: Photo Gallery
249: Photo Gallery
250: Photo Gallery
251: Home
252: Statistics
253: Photo Gallery
254: Community Forums
255: Community Forums
256: Community Forums
257: Home
258: Community Forums
259: Community Forums
260: Community Forums
261: Community Forums
262: Photo Gallery
263: Community Forums
264: Photo Gallery
265: Photo Gallery
266: Community Forums
267: Photo Gallery
268: Community Forums
269: Home
270: Photo Gallery
271: Community Forums
272: Community Forums
273: Community Forums
274: Community Forums
275: Photo Gallery
276: Photo Gallery
277: Community Forums
278: Community Forums
279: Community Forums
280: Community Forums
281: Community Forums
282: Home
283: Community Forums
284: Community Forums
285: Photo Gallery
286: Home
287: Home
288: Community Forums
289: Community Forums
290: Community Forums
291: Member Screenshots
292: Your Account
293: Community Forums
294: Photo Gallery
295: Community Forums
296: Photo Gallery
297: Community Forums
298: Community Forums
299: Community Forums
300: Community Forums
301: Community Forums
302: Photo Gallery
303: Community Forums
304: Photo Gallery
305: Community Forums
306: Community Forums
307: Your Account
308: CPGlang
309: Community Forums
310: Photo Gallery
311: Community Forums
312: Community Forums
313: Photo Gallery
314: Photo Gallery
315: Home
316: Community Forums
317: Community Forums
318: Downloads
319: Photo Gallery
320: Photo Gallery
321: Community Forums
322: Community Forums
323: Community Forums
324: Community Forums
325: Downloads
326: Photo Gallery
327: Home
328: Community Forums
329: Home
330: Community Forums
331: Home
332: Community Forums
333: Community Forums
334: Community Forums
335: Community Forums
336: Home
337: Downloads
338: Photo Gallery
339: Community Forums
340: Downloads
341: Community Forums
342: Community Forums
343: Community Forums
344: Community Forums
345: Community Forums
346: Photo Gallery
347: Community Forums
348: Community Forums
349: Community Forums
350: CPGlang
351: Photo Gallery
352: CPGlang
353: Community Forums
354: Community Forums
355: Photo Gallery
356: Downloads
357: News
358: Community Forums
359: Community Forums
360: News Archive
361: Community Forums
362: Community Forums
363: Photo Gallery
364: Community Forums
365: Community Forums
366: Community Forums
367: Downloads
368: Home
369: Home
370: Community Forums
371: Community Forums
372: Community Forums
373: Community Forums
374: Your Account
375: Photo Gallery
376: Photo Gallery
377: Community Forums
378: Community Forums
379: Community Forums
380: Home
381: Community Forums
382: Home
383: Downloads
384: Community Forums
385: Photo Gallery
386: Community Forums
387: Home
388: Community Forums
389: Photo Gallery
390: Community Forums
391: Photo Gallery
392: Community Forums
393: Community Forums
394: Community Forums
395: Community Forums
396: Search
397: Your Account
398: Photo Gallery
399: Downloads
400: Community Forums
401: Community Forums
402: Community Forums
403: Photo Gallery
404: Community Forums
405: News
406: Photo Gallery
407: Downloads
408: Photo Gallery
409: Home
410: Community Forums
411: Community Forums
412: Community Forums
413: Community Forums
414: Community Forums
415: Community Forums
416: Member Screenshots
417: Photo Gallery
418: Community Forums
419: Community Forums
420: Community Forums
421: Photo Gallery
422: Community Forums
423: Community Forums
424: Community Forums
425: Community Forums
426: Community Forums
427: Community Forums
428: Home
429: Home
430: Community Forums
431: Community Forums
432: News
433: Community Forums
434: Community Forums
435: Community Forums
436: Photo Gallery
437: Community Forums
438: Community Forums
439: Downloads
440: Home
441: Community Forums
442: Community Forums
443: Community Forums
444: Community Forums
445: Community Forums
446: Community Forums
447: Community Forums
448: Community Forums
449: Community Forums
450: Photo Gallery
451: Community Forums
452: Community Forums
453: Photo Gallery
454: Downloads
455: Community Forums
456: Your Account
457: Community Forums
458: Member Screenshots
459: Community Forums
460: Community Forums
461: Community Forums
462: Community Forums
463: Downloads
464: Photo Gallery
465: Downloads
466: News
467: Community Forums
468: Community Forums
469: Photo Gallery
470: Community Forums
471: Photo Gallery
472: Community Forums
473: Home
474: Community Forums
475: Photo Gallery
476: Community Forums
477: Home
478: Downloads
479: Community Forums
480: Community Forums
481: Photo Gallery
482: Community Forums
483: Community Forums
484: Home
485: Community Forums
486: Photo Gallery
487: Home
488: Statistics
489: Community Forums
490: Community Forums
491: Downloads
492: Community Forums
493: Search
494: Community Forums
495: Home
496: Your Account
497: Community Forums
498: Photo Gallery
499: Community Forums
500: Community Forums
501: Community Forums
502: Community Forums
503: Home
504: CPGlang
505: Photo Gallery
506: Community Forums
507: Home
508: Home
509: Community Forums
510: Photo Gallery
511: Community Forums
512: Community Forums
513: Home
514: Community Forums
515: Home
516: Your Account
517: Downloads
518: News Archive
519: Home
520: Photo Gallery
521: Community Forums
522: Community Forums
523: Photo Gallery
524: Photo Gallery
525: Community Forums
526: Photo Gallery
527: Community Forums
528: Community Forums
529: Community Forums
530: Community Forums
531: Community Forums
532: Home
533: Community Forums
534: Community Forums
535: Community Forums
536: Downloads
537: Downloads
538: Photo Gallery
539: Community Forums
540: Photo Gallery
541: Community Forums
542: Community Forums
543: Photo Gallery
544: News
545: Community Forums
546: Photo Gallery
547: Community Forums
548: Community Forums
549: Photo Gallery
550: Photo Gallery
551: News
552: Downloads
553: Community Forums
554: Photo Gallery
555: Community Forums
556: Community Forums
557: Statistics
558: Photo Gallery
559: Community Forums
560: Community Forums
561: Community Forums
562: Community Forums
563: Downloads
564: Downloads
565: Home
566: Downloads
567: News Archive
568: Photo Gallery
569: Community Forums
570: Community Forums
571: Your Account
572: Photo Gallery
573: Community Forums
574: Community Forums
575: Community Forums
576: Community Forums
577: Community Forums
578: Community Forums
579: Downloads
580: Photo Gallery
581: Community Forums
582: Community Forums
583: Downloads
584: Photo Gallery
585: Community Forums
586: Community Forums
587: Community Forums
588: Community Forums
589: Home
590: Photo Gallery
591: Home
592: Photo Gallery
593: Community Forums
594: Community Forums
595: Home
596: Community Forums
597: Community Forums
598: Community Forums
599: Home
600: Community Forums
601: Community Forums
602: Community Forums
603: Community Forums
604: Community Forums
605: Downloads
606: Community Forums
607: Community Forums
608: Community Forums
609: Community Forums
610: Community Forums
611: Community Forums
612: Home
613: Community Forums
614: Downloads
615: Community Forums
616: Community Forums
617: Photo Gallery
618: Community Forums
619: Community Forums
620: Community Forums
621: Home
622: Community Forums
623: Community Forums
624: Community Forums
625: Downloads
626: Community Forums
627: Community Forums
628: Community Forums
629: Downloads
630: Community Forums
631: Community Forums
632: Community Forums
633: Photo Gallery
634: Community Forums
635: Community Forums
636: Home
637: Community Forums
638: Community Forums
639: Downloads
640: Downloads
641: Community Forums
642: Photo Gallery
643: Community Forums
644: Home
645: Community Forums
646: Community Forums
647: Community Forums
648: Community Forums
649: Community Forums
650: Community Forums
651: Community Forums
652: Community Forums
653: Photo Gallery
654: Home
655: Community Forums
656: Member Screenshots
657: Downloads
658: Community Forums
659: Statistics
660: Community Forums
661: Community Forums
662: Community Forums
663: Community Forums
664: Community Forums
665: Community Forums
666: Member Screenshots
667: Community Forums
668: Photo Gallery
669: Downloads
670: Photo Gallery
671: Photo Gallery
672: Community Forums
673: Downloads
674: Community Forums
675: Community Forums
676: Community Forums
677: Community Forums
678: Community Forums
679: Home
680: Community Forums
681: Home
682: Community Forums
683: Your Account
684: Home
685: Community Forums
686: Photo Gallery
687: Photo Gallery
688: Community Forums
689: Community Forums
690: Home
691: Community Forums
692: Community Forums
693: Downloads
694: Community Forums
695: Community Forums
696: Community Forums
697: Home
698: Community Forums
699: Community Forums
700: Downloads
701: Photo Gallery
702: Downloads
703: Community Forums
704: Community Forums
705: Photo Gallery
706: Photo Gallery
707: Community Forums
708: Photo Gallery
709: News
710: Community Forums
711: Community Forums
712: Community Forums
713: Community Forums
714: Photo Gallery
715: Community Forums
716: Community Forums
717: Community Forums
718: Community Forums
719: Community Forums
720: Downloads
721: Community Forums
722: Community Forums
723: Community Forums
724: Community Forums
725: Community Forums
726: Community Forums
727: Photo Gallery
728: Downloads
729: Community Forums
730: Community Forums
731: Community Forums
732: Community Forums
733: Community Forums
734: Your Account
735: Home
736: Photo Gallery
737: Community Forums
738: Downloads
739: Your Account
740: Photo Gallery
741: Community Forums
742: Community Forums
743: Photo Gallery
744: Community Forums
745: Community Forums
746: Community Forums
747: Downloads
748: Community Forums
749: Community Forums
750: Community Forums
751: Community Forums
752: Community Forums
753: Community Forums
754: Home
755: Community Forums
756: Community Forums
757: Community Forums
758: Community Forums
759: Community Forums
760: Photo Gallery

Staff Online:

No staff members are online!
PreservedTanks.com
The AFV ASSOCIATION was formed in 1964 to support the thoughts and research of all those interested in Armored Fighting Vehicles and related topics, such as AFV drawings. The emphasis has always been on sharing information and communicating with other members of similar interests; e.g. German armor, Japanese AFVs, or whatever.
Go to page 1, 2, 3 ... 11, 12, 13  Next
Post new topic    Reply to topic    Printer Friendly Page     Forum Index ›  AFV News Discussion Board

View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
TrevorLarkum
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Sep 16, 2007
Posts: 1596
Location: Northampton, England
PostPosted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 10:19 am
Post subject: PreservedTanks.com

I've put together a new website to put online the contents of my books on preserved tanks. I've started by putting up Preserved German Tanks 1: A7V to Panzer IV first. The site's still a bit rough, but I thought you guys might be interesting in seeing it even at an early stage:

www.preservedtanks.com

I've got loads of information backed up that I can use to update the books, and I'll add that soon - after that I hope you guys will be up for helping me with any remaining corrections/updates required.

I've also revamped the existing site at Armour Archive. The idea is to keep the commercial stuff (selling books) in a separate site from the preserved tanks information so people can just browse. I'll upload some more of my free PDF booklets soon too.

Any feedback appreciated. As the sites develop I'll post some more info in this thread.

_________________
Trevor

Dr Trevor Larkum
Preserved Tanks: PreservedTanks.com
Armour Archive: ArmourArchive.co.uk
EVs
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website
Maple_Leaf_Eh
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 517

PostPosted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 11:49 pm
Post subject: Re: PreservedTanks.com

There is a narrow course that old school academics followed to establish their credentials. Publish or perish was the only choice. Printed books were vital (in the vitality, sense of the word) to a scholar's knowledge and in return acceptance. Nowadays, free on line content is the expectation, and few people seem interested in building personal libraries. Why pay for something, when everything imagineable is just as available on line?

Your principle of gathering data, sorting it into categories, forming conclusions from that data, and proceeding out into the world with new ideas is stock in trade for an academic. I will be looking forward to your posts and to your page. This forum has had some substantial academic contributors, as has George Bradford's parallel paper AFV News publication. Which I admit to not having paid to subscribe to in several years ...

TW, BA (Hist, Bishop's 82)
Back to top
View user's profile
Joe_D
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 29, 2006
Posts: 2066
Location: Razorback Country
PostPosted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 1:27 am
Post subject: Re: PreservedTanks.com

Maple Leaf said:
Why pay for something, when everything imagineable is just as available on line?


But it's not, not really. Too many of these on-line fact sites are filled with bad info or are supporting a particular point of view, many times bending the truth or out right lying. The real shame is when some well intentioned person erects an info plaque based on a web search for a VFW, or in some case a museum for a particular vehicle, the bad info is now taken for fact. "It must be because I read it at the museum."

Prime example is the unnamed M113 advocate that some of our DG members have dealt with in the past.

Joe D
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
palic
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Mar 03, 2006
Posts: 172

PostPosted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 2:41 am
Post subject: Re: PreservedTanks.com

Hi Trevor,
you can add some data to your blog: the vehicles seen during transport are BVP-1 (Czechoslovak-made BMP-1) and 9K113/9P148 Mobile ATGM Launcher (with Konkurs ATGMs) on BRDM-2 chassis (NATO Code AT-5 Spandrel).
Back to top
View user's profile
bsmart
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 23, 2006
Posts: 2523
Location: Central Maryland
PostPosted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 7:41 am
Post subject: Re: PreservedTanks.com

- Maple_Leaf_Eh
Nowadays, free on line content is the expectation, and few people seem interested in building personal libraries. Why pay for something, when everything imagineable is just as available on line?



But 'free online content' is only there as long as someone is paying the bill. There have been many snippets (or whole rivers) of information that I know I have seen online but are either no longer there or have been lost in the electronic equivalant of the Mississippi River at full flood stage.

One example was the 'AFV Interiors' site that was so popular it couldn't find a home that could handle the traffic.

Then there is the way we access information. Although in the last year I have finally begun to listen to books on CD during my commute (I finally realized that listening to traffic reports doesn't do much good when there is no viable alternative route Crying or Very sad ) I still have a book at my bedside that I try and read some from every night before I admit that I am actually asleep, one in the truck that I am working through at lunch each day and yes two that I grab when I am heading to the bathroom (The one at work is a thinner paperback that slides inconspiciously into a pocket Rolling Eyes )

This is all in addition to the time I spend looking at content online.

Each method has it's advantages and disadvantages.

_________________
Bob Smart ([email protected])
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail
JimWeb
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 1439
Location: The back of beyond
PostPosted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 10:42 am
Post subject: Re: PreservedTanks.com

[quote="bsmart"]
- Maple_Leaf_Eh
Nowadays, free on line content is the expectation, and few people seem interested in building personal libraries. Why pay for something, when everything imagineable is just as available on line?


But 'free online content' is only there as long as someone is paying the bill.


Some people would turn grey and die at the thought of how much money my web site costs me each month - I have had to resort to a web server at home to cut costs as there isn't a free ISP in existance that will carry 12Gb and I still have to pick up the bill for the excess traffic. Hopefully I will be able to switch to an SDSL line soon so it will ease a little.

Those people that don't care are usually the ones who go all apoplectic when you dare suggest a cash contribution would help the site out...

_________________
TTFN
Jim

If your not a member of JED then your
not serious about anything military..

***********************
www.jedsite.info
JED Military Equipment
***********************
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website ICQ Number
the_shadock
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: May 27, 2006
Posts: 2865
Location: Normandy, France
PostPosted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 11:36 am
Post subject: Re: PreservedTanks.com

Same "problem" for me, my 2 websites are free for visitors. I publish free galleries of AFVs on the Tanks in France website, and my aim is to picture each tank that is in the "France Historical AFVs Register".

It's quite expensive for me in petrol/gas, museums fees to pay and overall it requires a lot of time.

But what would I do if I didn't do that? Well I prefer to do that instead of watching stupid things on the TV !!

Pierre-Olivier

_________________
soldat_ryan @ hotmail.com

Looking for photos of Sherman manufacturer's plates
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail Visit poster's website MSN Messenger
JimWeb
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 1439
Location: The back of beyond
PostPosted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 5:31 pm
Post subject: Re: PreservedTanks.com

I did run the site as a subscription site for a while - what killed that wasn't the complaints about it being a sub-site but the fact that passwords & logins were constantly being posted on crack sites. I'm having a change of tactics now and going for the 'subscribe for enhanced content' route I think but thats going to be a long time coming...

I still have about 15 cubic metres of images and notes to add to the web site - less the stuff which comes in on a daily basis. And your right adding stuff to the web site beats the hell out of watching some of the mindless drivel that appears on the TV!

Now if I could only persuade every regular visitor to the site to donate just $1 per month I would be able to afford a T1 line....

_________________
TTFN
Jim

If your not a member of JED then your
not serious about anything military..

***********************
www.jedsite.info
JED Military Equipment
***********************
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website ICQ Number
Doug_Kibbey
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 23, 2006
Posts: 4678
Location: The Great Satan
PostPosted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 6:12 pm
Post subject: Re: PreservedTanks.com

- Maple_Leaf_Eh
This forum has had some substantial academic contributors, as has George Bradford's parallel paper AFV News publication. Which I admit to not having paid to subscribe to in several years ...

TW, BA (Hist, Bishop's 82)


This forum also facilitates, via links to some of the websites cited in this thread (among others) and some direct downloads a not-insignificant amount of content and reduction of mis-information by informed participation (mis-impressions are usually quickly corrected, generally in a tactful way).

Contributions to Com-Central hosts by AFV Forum members have not exceeded three, and it might only be two.
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
JimWeb
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 1439
Location: The back of beyond
PostPosted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 8:03 pm
Post subject: Re: PreservedTanks.com

Speaking of contributions - I assume that Aberdeen have abandoned their building plan?

_________________
TTFN
Jim

If your not a member of JED then your
not serious about anything military..

***********************
www.jedsite.info
JED Military Equipment
***********************
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website ICQ Number
Tichenor
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Dec 06, 2007
Posts: 461
Location: Antwerp
PostPosted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 4:40 am
Post subject: Re: PreservedTanks.com

Hi Trevor
My first reaction was d**n the same layout I'm using for my database , witch is still under development, but so wat. It isn't the layout of the site that counts but whats published on it, and that seems to me a great source of reliable information.
Let the next chapter come!
Michel
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
TrevorLarkum
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Sep 16, 2007
Posts: 1596
Location: Northampton, England
PostPosted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 6:55 pm
Post subject: Re: PreservedTanks.com

Thanks everyone for the response! I posted at lunchtime, checked again at bedtime, and the thread was empty. I thought it would die without trace - but I guess it was just the effect of different time zones. The fact the site has had 500+ visitors in its first week is a huge encouragement (though I suspect you gentleman are the largest part of that!).


- Maple_Leaf_Eh
There is a narrow course that old school academics followed to establish their credentials. Publish or perish was the only choice. Printed books were vital (in the vitality, sense of the word) to a scholar's knowledge and in return acceptance. Nowadays, free on line content is the expectation, and few people seem interested in building personal libraries. Why pay for something, when everything imagineable is just as available on line?

Your principle of gathering data, sorting it into categories, forming conclusions from that data, and proceeding out into the world with new ideas is stock in trade for an academic. I will be looking forward to your posts and to your page. This forum has had some substantial academic contributors, as has George Bradford's parallel paper AFV News publication. Which I admit to not having paid to subscribe to in several years ...

TW, BA (Hist, Bishop's 82)


Thanks Maple_Leaf_Eh for the comments, I'll take them as positive. That is, I can agree with both points of view - that doing substantial, detailed ('academic') research is the right way to go. And that everyone expects everything to be free on the Internet. I hope I have chosen the right course by having an entirely free website containing valuable information on preserved tanks that is accessible to everyone. At the same time, the serious enthusiasts and researchers will not complain about paying $20 for a book that holds the same information, because that is a permanent and useful tool (especially once you start including your own notes and cross references, etc.). Not to mention, that I actively wish to encourage people to go exploring areas containing preserved tanks (e.g. the Normandy area in Preserved Tanks in France) and so the books are a convenient pocket size for handy reference. You just can't do the same with a website, however portable your laptop.

My view of, and experience in, these matters is probably unusual, being both academically qualified and an ex tank troop leader - I think it gives me a unique viewpoint that I try to bring to bear in my work. Having also been doing it for 25 years also provides its own perspective. The fact that my day job is software development and that as part of it I am currently learning database management is serendipity, and something for which I will be eternally grateful.


- palic
Hi Trevor,
you can add some data to your blog: the vehicles seen during transport are BVP-1 (Czechoslovak-made BMP-1) and 9K113/9P148 Mobile ATGM Launcher (with Konkurs ATGMs) on BRDM-2 chassis (NATO Code AT-5 Spandrel).


Thanks for that, palic, that is exactly the kind of precise detail I strive for. I have expertise in many areas, though particularly Second World War German tanks, but Soviet infantry vehicles (nevermind Czech variations) is not one of those areas. Many thanks for the information; I have added an update to the blog entry.


- bsmart
- Maple_Leaf_Eh
Nowadays, free on line content is the expectation, and few people seem interested in building personal libraries. Why pay for something, when everything imagineable is just as available on line?



But 'free online content' is only there as long as someone is paying the bill. There have been many snippets (or whole rivers) of information that I know I have seen online but are either no longer there or have been lost in the electronic equivalant of the Mississippi River at full flood stage.

One example was the 'AFV Interiors' site that was so popular it couldn't find a home that could handle the traffic.


I agree entirely, and particularly mourn AFV Interiors which was way ahead of most sites in terms of quality and integrity. I think longer term the answer has to be advertising, like Google, so long as it is done carefully and sensitively. I would be only to happy to visit AFV Interiors if it was still around whether it was funded by adverts or not.


- JimWeb
Some people would turn grey and die at the thought of how much money my web site costs me each month - I have had to resort to a web server at home to cut costs as there isn't a free ISP in existance that will carry 12Gb and I still have to pick up the bill for the excess traffic. Hopefully I will be able to switch to an SDSL line soon so it will ease a little.

Those people that don't care are usually the ones who go all apoplectic when you dare suggest a cash contribution would help the site out...


I understand completely, and don't envy you having to host storage-hungry video footage - something I have no plans to try!


- Tichenor
Hi Trevor
My first reaction was d**n the same layout I'm using for my database , witch is still under development, but so wat. It isn't the layout of the site that counts but whats published on it, and that seems to me a great source of reliable information.
Let the next chapter come!
Michel


I'll take that as a compliment - thanks! I'm more than happy to discuss technical details and help people out with stuff.


Thanks everyone, for your responses. Tomorrow I'm at Duxford and will update preservedtanks.com with new pictures as soon as I can after I'm back:

duxford.iwm.org.uk/ser...Event.2126

_________________
Trevor

Dr Trevor Larkum
Preserved Tanks: PreservedTanks.com
Armour Archive: ArmourArchive.co.uk
EVs
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website
Dontos
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 3436
Location: Vine Grove, KY
PostPosted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 10:03 pm
Post subject: Re: PreservedTanks.com

I've wanted to weigh in on this topic, but have had some reservations.

Reference material has not been a particular problem, but my personal collection has primarily been digital copies. Over the past several years that I have pursued the research trail on the Ontos and other topics, I have been fortunate enough to aquire original printed books & manuals. I am a firm believer of printed references, which help to prove a sound base for topic discussion.

I have yet to aquire personal copies of the Hunnicutt series (due to many factors) but would gladly accept any printed reference material as donations to the "Dontos Collection" ( this especially includes any of the Hunnicutt series) Mr. Green

It is my opinion that reliance on electronic media (internet), is a short-cut, which can provide mis-information due to flawed or false references based on tainted agendas or opinions.
Having seen first hand such 'agenda' based information & mis-information based on heresay, causing chapters of military history to be lost to time thru ignorance.
This has been part of my motivation in some of the work I have completed, and continue to work on.


As for the Internet:
I have posted several sites which are a bit amaturish, however free. Although quite restrictive in webpage content, I strive to present quality content and user friendly appearence & functionality. The convience of being free allows me to provide information for those (5 or 6 other Ontos nuts) who might be interested.

My use of websites came from my interest in publishing some of my work, but initial rejections by several publishers, lead me to my current website presentations. Admittedly, my 'Ontos history' website's content is not representative of the depth of the information that I have dug up, but there doesn't seem to be a sizable market which warrent enough interest.

My personal satisfaction has come in my association with the veterans who served on the vehicle, and they are very appreciative of my efforts, as their service & sacrifices have been brought out of historical obscurity and hopefully preserved for furture generations as a part of Marine Corps History & Armor History.

Sorry for my ramblings, (:roll:) but I felt compelled to add my 02 cents to the subject.

Regards,
Don
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail Visit poster's website AIM Address Yahoo Messenger Photo Gallery
Maple_Leaf_Eh
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 517

PostPosted: Sun Jun 15, 2008 1:47 pm
Post subject: Re: PreservedTanks.com

Good debate guys.

If I had to draw a line in the electrons, my paper library is a curse and a blessing. The digital one is a luxury. Access to content is entirely controlled by the site owner. Even last night, I wanted to send a message to a fellow vehicle restorer whose address was through a favourite website. It was down for some reason and I had to wait until it came back up to make contact.

I agree that internet content is 'prejudiced' and almost designed to be treated lightly. Unless a page's content can be archived, dated and retrieved, it is lost into the ether. Believe me, knowledge management is a huge concern in the three and four-letter agencies.
Back to top
View user's profile
TrevorLarkum
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Sep 16, 2007
Posts: 1596
Location: Northampton, England
PostPosted: Sun Jun 15, 2008 7:11 pm
Post subject: Re: PreservedTanks.com

Back from Duxford - had a great day! I took 261 photos, plus 26 video clips of tanks during the MV show, so it's likely to take a few weeks to get it all catalogued and organised. Tomorrow I'm away to Norway for a couple of weeks. Next week I'm on a training course in the East of England, but will try to come back via the Muckleburgh collection.

In the meantime, in honour of our hosts, here are a couple of wingy-thingy pics (scaled down to 800x600):






To keep the armour connection, some impressive radio-controlled models driving around:




_________________
Trevor

Dr Trevor Larkum
Preserved Tanks: PreservedTanks.com
Armour Archive: ArmourArchive.co.uk
EVs
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic    Reply to topic    Printer Friendly Page    Forum Index ›  AFV News Discussion Board
Page 1 of 13
All times are GMT - 6 Hours
Go to page 1, 2, 3 ... 11, 12, 13  Next



Jump to:  


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You cannot download files in this forum