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INFORMATION REQUESTS
SMAKR POLICIES, SUGGESTIONS, TIPS, FAQ, ETC!!
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REFERENCE Highlights: Humbrol Chart | Opinions on Kit Manufacturers | Terms On SMAKR | Scales Discussion
***** ***** ***** BEFORE YOU SEND ME THAT EMAIL!! ***** ***** *****
Are you about to send an email to ask about an item, or piece of information you are looking for? Perhaps get some tips for your next project or finding out about a kit not reviewed on this website? Browse the headings below to see if there is an answer here as I genuinely cannot respond to every email I get and this might save you time writing and waiting around for a response that might not come!
Due to the huge investment of time in running SMAKR I am not in a position to be able answer masses of email queries - there are plenty of other avenues on the Internet which can be utilised. There are also plenty of things I just cannot help with, and typically these seem to be the most commonly asked questions!
So before sending me that email please check the following to see if your question is answered here.
Please read the following
paragraphs
if visiting this page for the first time, it provides some important
background.
Last updated 31 May 2006
Preamble : Time is precious and a lot of it is used on SMAKR. When I was receiving the same questions over and over and not always able to answer the queries I received, I thought that it was best for everyone concerned that a type of FAQ page be written to try and win back some of that spare time for other things - including more updates for SMAKR!!
I certainly do not wish to offend anyone, but those of you who run a web site will appreciate the amount of mail one gets, how much time is spent on the site and how often the question has been asked before.
I hope this page answers your question and saves you from spending time writing an email that may or may not be answered :-)
SMAKR is a KIT REVIEW site and a free information source managed by one person who has full time commitments of work and studies, and other (non aircraft kit) interests as well.
To get the most from this page, browse the heading topics and click on them to go to that section of the page. For PC users, press Ctrl+home to return to the top of the page.
Now, be warned! If you do send an email query when the answer appears below, you may not get a response.
Note : In most cases... "I" means SMAKR, "You" means you the reader - obviously in context of the question.
What email address should you [the reader] send an email to me?
Do I have spare parts I can send you (instruction sheet, set of decals, etc)
Can I check a book or magazine reference/article for you (do I subscribe to any magazines)?
Who makes a kit of this aircraft (or aftermarket/decal sets)?
You don't like SMAKR backgrounds and fonts - can I change them?
Tips and techniques: What do I advise you to do.... How do I....?
Do I know of any good painting tips and cross reference charts?
Where did I get an image from .... (aircraft photos, images included in reviews etc)?
Opinions on Kit Manufacturers (Origins of a kit - reissued and reboxing queries):
Do I exchange links? Will I post a link to your site? (and link inclusion in reviews polidy)?
FORTUNECITY LOGOS, WALLPAPER & COOKIES:
My decision in choosing FortuneCity's web hosting service was based on a number of factors that made it best suited to my (& SMAKR) needs, most notably that it is free (SMAKR is NOT sponsored in any shape or form!). Two major drawbacks from this, however, are the FortuneCity Logos and pop-up adverts (see separate heading below) that annoy all of us! The bottom line is that we just have to put up with these restrictions in order to be provided with a free web hosting service!
To see all of the SMAKR images on your computer you must have "Cookies enabled" on your system. FortuneCity imposes this requirement on all visitors to their sites. If you do not have Cookies enabled then you will simply get FortuneCity logos instead of SMAKR images. This is not something I have any control over or impose myself, and is part and parcel of going with a free web hosting service. If you have a complaint, then direct it to FortuneCity.
Beware that if you are using a work computer, have anti virus software installed, run utility programs to get rid of pop up advertising and/or run a firewall on your system, the security settings/options for any or all of these will probably override your own desktop settings regarding enabling cookies. This is something you will need to sort out yourself or seek technical computer assistance with to see SMAKR in all its intended glory. Sorry, but I cannot help you with this.
ANNOYING
POP UP ADVERTS
Why SMAKR does not have its own web hosting service
Why do I continue to use FotruneCity:
Believe me I find them annoying too!! But as stated in the Fortunecity logo section above, this is simply one of the drawbacks of having a free web hosting service. SMAKR does NOT get any money from these pop up adverts, not a single cent - they are fully FortuneCity's revenue making services for them in order to provide a free web hosting service. If you have a complaint take it up with FortuneCity!
You can get programs and internet browser utilities that will prevent pop-up advertising windows from opening, and this may be an option (but obviously check to see if the program doesn't do other things, like override your cookies settings!).
In order to get rid of these adverts I would have to have my own web hosting service, and the fees and costs associated with maintaining this service is just not worthwhile or sustainable in continuing to provide a free resource to you.
I often get emails saying why do I put up with FortuneCity pop up adverts and logos etc. Frankly, it is because it offers me the best and most suitable service I can get for free in order to bring you this site for free. If that is an issue for you then please go elsewhere. The contribution I make to the hobby and bringing this site to you is massive as it is and I just do not have the financial resources to fund my own service. Sites that charge also need to fund contributions, membership, subscriptions etc, and this is something I want to avoid. The site continues to be for free, but unfortunately the pop up adverts are here to stay.
GOT
A QUESTION OR NEED ASSISTANCE ABOUT ANY MODELLING TOPIC
TRY
THE NEWSGROUP, AN ONLINE FORUM OR ANOTHER INTERNET SITE!
Remember, SMAKR is a Kit Review site, and I am not the author of all the reviews on this site. I am also only one person, and my advice may not always be the best, I am still learning the craft like everyone else!
A lot of helpful modelling folk lurk in the rec.models.scale newsgroup. I strongly recommend posting your query there, as many other modellers will probably read your posting. You may get varying and better opinions and more accurate information than I might be able to supply you as one person.
If you do not access a newsgroup service, try one of the many other modelling sites that can provide assistance or are dedicated to certain information you may be looking for.
Use an Internet Search Engine (eg: Google) to find other sites
A hobby store can help find you a kit, I cannot.
A modelling magazine might be able to assist with other modelling related queries
An aircraft specific site might be able to answer a query in reference to that aircraft
Some Internet sites have an online discussion board or forum so try also posting your query there.
DO I KNOW WHERE YOU CAN GET HOLD OF A KIT?:
No! Absolutely Not!!
I am sorry but I generally ignore these requests now as I get so many.
It's a very common request and in nearly every single case it is not something I can help with because I reside in Australia! I also live in a country town, 400 km from my nearest city!! Very hard for me to visit a hobby shop in the city as it is.
Most of you live overseas to me, so it is pointless asking me to find a kit for you in the local hobby store! I run a kit review site, not an online hobby store, so if you are looking for a kit, please try a hobby shop! Many of the larger online hobby stores have searchable databases.
Please note that due to the nature of running a site such as mine, absence of sponsorship and for a number of practical and specific reasons, I will not recommend or endorse any online hobby shops. It is far too dangerous an issue to get involved with. I will only point you in the direction of hobby shops I know about and it is up to you - I generally do my shopping locally, not on the internet. You can always post a message in rec.models.scale newsgroup or in an online forum on another internet site and ask others their experiences with a particular online shop.
What email address should you [the reader] send an email to me?
If you need to send an email, whether it be a review submission, broken link notification or other reason:
ALWAYS send emails to smakr1@optusnet.com.au as this is the email address that is managed specifically for this site. You might find other email addresses for me on this site in older reviews et al (I think nearly all of them have been changed) but this email address is the only one I use for SMAKR. Send it elsewhere and it is unlikely to be read by me. If you spot a wrong email address please let me know so I can fix it.
ALWAYS include a relevant subject topic or your email may not be read and passed off as SPAM - see next heading regarding why emails are sometimes not read...
WAS YOUR EMAIL READ? WHY DID I NOT RESPOND?
YES - As a general rule of thumb I read EVERY email that comes into my Inbox sent to SMAKR providing it does not appear to be SPAM or is suspected to contain a virus (and I always err on the side of caution!). My email address is obviously in a lot of address books out there and I get HUNDREDS of messages daily, most of them viruses and spam, so to be sure that your email will be read, you must observe the following:-
When sending an email - Put in a relevant subject line - I cannot stress that point enough! I will not read messages that appear to be spam or might contain viruses. I have probably missed a few emails because this simple rule was not adhered to by the sender.
So DO NOT include subject lines like the following:
Leaving the subject blank (that guarantees it goes straight into the Spam bin!)
include my email address "smakr1@optusnet.com.au" or the full url of one of the pages on my site (a common spam trick)
Include common phrases used in spam emails such as : "Hi how are you", "Hello SMAKR1", "Greetings", "Regarding your web site", "Urgent, I need help" etc.
Most importantly don't put in a subject line that states simply "Query" which unfortunately is a lot of the spam and also genuine messages received - one contained a virus and I have just had to put that subject on my list of spam emails to be automatically deleted
Don't use the word "Urgent", "Important", "Help" by itself in the subject line, it will be passed off like the Query note above.
If you are not sure of a heading, just write "Kit Review query" or "SMAKR review" or the name of the review you are writing about. If your message is urgent, then by all means use the word urgent, just make sure other words accompany it. For example - Urgent, Kit Review Query.
As you can appreciate I get hundreds of emails daily of which a high percentage are spam/viruses. So I have to cull these out by simply scanning over the subject lines in the first instance. All emails that look genuine are read. Unfortunately I can only respond to a small amount of emails (or I would never get around to publishing Kit Reviews!) which is why you are reading this page! If you are specifically expecting a reply make it clear in your message you want a reply. And please wait at least a week before even thinking about following up with a second request. It does take a few days at the best of times to read and respond to most emails as I do not use the Internet every day.
Given this is a Kit Review site you would naturally expect that this is an area that I should be able to assist with? Well, in most cases yes - but please remember that many reviews are written by other modellers so asking me information on a review should be contained to any reviews I have written - I will obviously only personally be able to help you with one of those.
If you do have a query about a review I have written, bear in mind that any answer I provide will be based on memory. I do not keep boxart or instruction sheets any more. If you are looking for what reference I used, again this will have to be based on memory or what is stated in the review, as my library is vast and I can't always pinpoint the exact article or book I retrieved certain information from, as usually it is gleaned from many at once! As time goes on of course this sort of detail is hard to remember.
If you have a query about a review written by someone else please contact them directly - their email address will be shown beside their name on the Review. If this simply says "rec.models.scale" which is the default value under SMAKR privacy policy for those who have not given expressed permission for their email addresses to be shown, you may send the query to me and I will forward your email directly onto the reviewer (which means divulging your email address) and ask they contact you directly. Note that this will be sent to the last known email address I have of that reviewer. It is also purely at the discretion of the reviewer if they reply either directly to you (or through me if that is their wish) so I cannot guarantee you will get a response - it's entirely up to them. Many reviewers write to contribute to the site and prefer not to get involved with discussions. That is there choice, please respect that, and try other avenues if your request is not responded to. I certainly cannot control the behaviours of others and please note that obviously any response does not necessarily reflect my opinion.
WHY
IS THE REVIEWER'S EMAIL ADDRESS NOT SHOWN?
Why does it say "rec.models.scale" after their name?:
This is covered a little bit in the heading above on querying a review. Under SMAKR privacy policy I will not publish the reviewer's email address unless they have given expressed permission. That's why a lot of reviews simply say "rec.models.scale" as the default value, basically meaning that if you have a query it is probably best directed at the newsgroup. Most reviewers prefer simply to email their review contribution to SMAKR rather than being contacted by other modellers with queries etc, it is simply their choice which is something SMAKR respects. SPAM crawlers also surf the net for email addresses on web pages which is a fact of life and another reason that deters contributors from allowing their email address to be displayed.
WILL
I PHOTOCOPY, SEND OR SCAN
STUFF:
Reference material, boxart, photos, model images, instruction sheets etc
No! Absolutely Not!!
I do not own a scanner so I cannot scan items of reference or instruction sheets for you. Please do not ask me to scan stuff for you. I rely on friends and relatives to use a scanner for my own purposes only (hence some of my inbox reviews including sprue scans etc). It is a choice that I don't own a scanner, partly due to space but also justification in actually needing one.
I do not hoard boxart or instruction sheets so do not ask me about photocopying and sending a particular instruction sheet. Unfortunately a combination of getting far too many of these requests and the need to free up some space to store more bought kits (!!) saw the need to dispose of a lot of these materials. If you need an instruction sheet scanned, sometimes someone in rec.models.scale newsgroup may be able to assist if you ask there. A good subject line would be "[AIR] Help, instruction sheet scanned for <name of kit here> please"
I will not copy reference material either. As stated above, I have a vast reference library and I generally use a number of references at once when modelling a subject, rarely just one. On top of this, finding and copying reference material is extremely time consuming (even seemingly simple requests), and I do not own a scanner. So please direct your request elsewhere.
DO I HAVE SPARE PARTS I CAN SEND YOU, AN INSTRUCTION SHEET, SET OF DECALS, etc
No! Absolutely Not!!
I am not in the business of hoarding material and again I stress this is a Kit Review site not an online hobby store! Most of my instruction sheets are binned once used. I do not hoard spare parts other than those which I may need to use and certainly do not keep decals any more (again they age, or the ones I keep I use!). There are sites on the Net which can get this for you, please pursue those.
CAN
I CHECK A BOOK or MAGAZINE REFERENCE/ARTICLE FOR YOU
Do I subscribe to or recommend a magazine service?:
No! Absolutely Not!!
I don't run the site to do research for others other than through the reviews I write, which is a big enough contribution to the hobby :-)
I do not subscribe to modelling magazines as such so please do not ask if I can check out an article from Sam, SAMI, FSM or whatever. For my personal choice, the type of magazine I subscribe to fits under REFERENCE - that is pictures of aircraft, information about aircraft, etc. I do pick up other magazines and books of interest from time to time from newsagents, bookshops and hobby stores - whatever takes my fancy, but I do not subscribe to any magazine.
Almost all of my research on a particular subject comes from various sources at once, I rarely rely on only one reference item for all the information (unless it is the only one available!) because the more information... the more informed my research is, and it can be based on the consistency between various sources. My reference library is huge so I cannot even begin to suggest individual items without devoting a new web page to it, but my main sources of [book] research come from (in no particular order):
World Aircraft Information Files (Aerospace Publishing)
Warplane and Airplane magazine collections (again Orbis/Aerospace Publishing)
Series of "In Australian Service" books (Stewart Wilson, Aerospace Publications)
Series of aircraft collations eg: Hunter, MiG-15 & Sabre; Spitfire; Mustang etc (Stewart Wilson, Aerospace Publications)
Encyclopedia of World Air Power (circa 1980, consultant editor Bill Gunston)
Jane's encyclopaedia of Aircraft (various publications and years)
The Complete book of Fighters (Lifetime publications)
Aircraft of World War II (PRC - various authors)
The Great Book of World War II Airplanes (unknown)
Model Aircraft Monthly (Comsam publications)
Fighters of the United States Air Force (Military Press)
Flying Colours (unknown)
Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft Models, 1/72 (1988, Airlife Publishing Ltd) - Thank you Guy Pitchford for this gift!
and a whole damn lot of others!
Do your own research. You may need to approach the publisher or editorial of the magazine if you are trying to track down a particular article. If you are trying to find a particular book try one of the many online book stores.
I don't mind providing an opinion on a book I own if you want to ask about what's in it before you buy it.
WHO MAKES A KIT OF THIS AIRCRAFT - AFTERMARKET & DECAL SETS:
This site specialises in Kit Reviews - it is not an online magazine. I do not compile a massive database of aftermarket sets nor which manufacturers cover what aircraft and what scale etc. Like most modellers, I generally do my research when I pull the lid off a kit to start on a project. Other than what is contained in the Kit Reviews themselves, I recommend you use the online hobby stores and various search engines tracking down the information you are after in this regard. You could also post a message in rec.models.scale newsgroup to find out if an aftermarket product is available.
Being a Kit Review site, many reviews are written "out of the box" - basically meaning only the kit parts, decals etc are used (not aftermarket sets etc) although some do, and will specify this in the review.
Another point to make here is that I predominantly model in 1/72nd scale. So it is pretty pointless asking me about kits and sets for anything in larger (1/48, 1/32 etc) , or smaller (1/100, 1/144 etc), scales.
I DON'T LIKE SMAKR BACKGROUNDS & FONTS - can you change them?
I realise from some feedback that the background on some pages may not be perfect for you. I have set the pages up with the images I chose and there are no plans at this stage to change any (although in time they probably will be changed). You also need to bear in mind that your own settings may affect the readability of text on your system. If you have active visited hyperlinks set to "dark grey" then this of course will be hard to read on a background image that is grey and so forth. From my system, and others where I visit the site from (friends, family, work etc) all the background images and text read fine. I realise that I cannot satisfy everyone with your own individual preferences, and some of you will have genuine difficulty. It is just part and parcel of reaching a far ranging and very large audience. I can only apologise and suggest you change some settings on your browser for active links to be displayed in a different colour or even change your default font.
The main set of fonts used on SMAKR pages are Arial; Georgia; Garamond and Times New Roman, which are all available from Microsoft.
TIPS
AND TECHNIQUES:
WHAT DO I ADVISE YOU TO DO TO...... HOW DO YOU DO.....?
Or assistance in other parts of modelling
As much as I would like to help out with and pass on tips and techniques to everyone who asks - it is just not possible. There are a number of varying reasons for this, specialising in different scales for one, the amount of time I already spend on SMAKR in my spare time for another, and of course different proven ways of doing things.
There are a couple of pages on this site which have modelling tips, please feel free to browse and read. There are lots of ways to do things and any answer I can provide in an email will be on that page. If you are looking for modelling tips or assistance in other modelling areas check out some of the other modelling sites or post a message in the rec.models.scale newsgroup and ask for opinions. As I said in the opening headings on this page, I am only one modeller and the advice I give is MY experience only and it may NOT be the best. We all have different methods and different successes.
Here's a couple of examples why I don't provide tips, techniques or assistance, as such is problem of giving out free advice sometimes:
One modeller asked me how he should clamp the fuselage on his Spitfire Mk.V while the glue was drying (basically his exact words). A few days after informing him I use rubber bands he responded with a very abusive email because the rubber band had fused to the model and he could not get it off! He was never going to visit my site again. Why? In his original email he omitted to tell me his kit was resin and he was using super glue!! This highlights problems when you don't provide all the information and I make quite reasonable assumptions based on the information given.
I hand paint canopies, I never (well almost never) mask them. This is because I have a genuine knack of being able to successfully hand paint canopies on most kits without any problems and therefore they are generally the last part glued onto my kit. How many of you out there can do that? This highlights that the way I do something is quite often different to the way others do it. We are all individuals and have individual preferences and skills.
PAINTING TIPS AND CROSS REFERENCE CHARTS:
Again, it is not possible to pass off painting tips etc for a number of varying reasons. There are so many ways of doing things etc that you should make an informed decision based on any research you have carried out, tips from a number of other modellers etc.
I am happy to tell you what colours I used on a project providing I can remember! (best to look at the kit review as I often tell you my choice of colours there). This does not mean it is absolutely correct, it is what I have done based on my own research. I cannot tell you which colours you should use on an aircraft - you should research this information yourself. I am not always right, and often I paint on the basis of how exactly I want a model to look rather than say a historical perspective.
Shades and colours are also a contentious issue in modelling circles and I do not profess to be an expert in this area. Opinions differ widely so all I can suggest is making an informed decision based on all the available information you are able to obtain from a wide range of reference sources (books, internet sites, newsgroups, reviews, etc). Olive drab for USAAF aircraft 1941-1944 and the exact shade of Foilage Green on RAAF aircraft are just two examples of contentious schemes that will invoke hours of debate among any passionate modeller!
Unless it is a kit I have built (see paragraph above) I will NOT provide information on what colours to use on a particular project. This is a kit review site, not an online magazine or historical reference section.
My choice of paint range is Humbrol Super Enamel so I cannot tell you what best Tamiya colour to use!! If you are looking for a Humbrol paint match then why not simply go to the Humbrol paint chart cross reference table on SMAKR - there is a link at the top of this page you can access. Please also note the disclaimers on that page. It is provided as a useful guide only. If the match is not there please do not send an email asking for a match, the Humbrol cross reference chart contains the complete information I have on matches.
Also, one final tip. If you own an old Humbrol tin like HB9 and you scan the page but can't see it, try using the "find" feature on your browser. Sometimes we miss things when we are looking down the page.
TRYING
TO FIND AN ONLINE REFERENCE? WHERE CAN YOU FIND ....?
TRY THE SEARCH ENGINE!
If you are looking for something online - a reference point for a particular aircraft you are modelling on or a store that stocks a particular kit, then try using one of the many search engines. My personal choice is www.google.com for searching the web. Most of my reference material is taken from books (usually many at once), not the internet, and I do not keep a database of handy reference sites on the Net. I often look up projects as I am working on them and do this through the Search Engine. Once I have obtained the information I am looking for, that's usually the end of it. Sites also move around or cease to exist which is another reason for not keeping details of them all the time.
Some SMAKR reviewers will actually provide the online reference sites they accessed for a particular project - so check out a few reviews on a particular aircraft type you are interested in (reference notes are usually at the bottom of the review) to see if any are listed in these reviews.
Another place I visit is Tony Mattalino's modelling links, a link to his site can be found on my links page.
WHERE
DID I GET AN IMAGE FROM....
AIRCRAFT PHOTOS, IMAGES INCLUDED IN REVIEWS:
A number of reviews include photos and other images, often gleaned from other pages off the Internet or out of reference material. It is a condition of review submissions that any images included in reviews have been "cleared" by the reviewer in that they can be published, in otherwords they have gained permission to include in their review and thus be published on SMAKR.
As a full disclaimer, SMAKR does not accept any responsibility for the accuracy or permission granted on any images published in reviews. This is the accountability of the author and the assumption is that permission has been granted.
If you see an image that is copyrighted or your own and you have not granted permission, or the information depicted is incorrect, please feel free to get in touch with me as I am happy to make corrections etc as required. Email address of the reviewer may be provided where circumstances warrant this so you can follow up the matter with them.
The only exception to the above is in regard to boxart. These are unashamedly taken from various parts of the internet, from other modelling sites, hobby shops etc. As these are specific to identification purposes and reviews, there is no need for acknowledgement of sources. In many cases the boxart are scanned by the reviewer anyway.
Please remember that SMAKR does not gain any money or generate any profit/income, so images are not being used in a commercial venture of any nature whatsoever.
OPINIONS
ON KIT MANUFACTURERS
Origins of a kit - reissued and reboxing queries:
I love debating or talking about my experiences with certain kit manufacturers, but to curtail the number of emails on this subject I have set up a comprehensive and informative set of opinions and views on a number of manufacturers on my Kit Manufacturers Opinions page - again, just look at the top of this page for a link and you can find out my (and other modellers) opinions on a wide range of Manufacturers! Remember the page is simply that, a compilation of opinions, so must be read with that in mind.
I can't tell you if a particular kit is/has been reboxed or reissued by another manufacturer. While there are some I know about, I don't know about all of them. This information is best sourced in a review written on that kit or directed a modelling forum or hobby shop. I don't keep an archive or database about this sort of thing.
I also only model in injection molded plastic, so I cannot give opinions on resin or vacform kits. However, other modellers have kindly donated some comments and advice on the kit manufacturers page on this site. Please note the disclaimers as detailed on the page.
Also see navigation problems and pages/images not loading sections below (as some links may not be broken).
I do appreciate it if you inform me of a link anywhere on my site which is broken and not working. Just let me know by email and I will investigate and [attempt to] fix it. But make sure you tell me what the link is you are trying to access and importantly the page from where you are trying to access the link. Sometimes there are lots of links in a review, so telling me a link doesn't work in "x" review is not enough info for me to follow up. I will not spend hours investigating a link that appears to be working - and will by default only look at the Index page in the absence of further advice.
SMAKR NAVIGATION PROBLEMS:
Also see broken links section above and the pages/images not loading section below.
If you click on a link that seems to point to a page offline you will get a page not found error. Check the URL - if it says something similar to "file:///c:/applics/websites/smakr/reviews/72nd.htm" then the link is wrong. Please let me know of the problem so I can fix the link.
Remedy - copy the folder and document name (shown above in blue italics, or anything after "smakr/") and insert it after "http://www.fortunecity.com/meltingpot/portland/971/" and that should load up the correct page for you. In this example you would add "reviews/72nd.htm" onto the end of http://www.fortunecity.com/meltingpot/portland/971/ which will get you to the right page.
Tip - Other than the "index" page which is .html (where you have the big SMAKR jetplane logo and invitation to enter the site) every extension of each page ends in .htm on SMAKR.
PAGE NOT FOUND ERRORS & PICTURES NOT LOADING:
If you encounter a Page Not Found error and the URL is correct it does not necessarily mean the page does not exist! There could be "gremlins in the system" or a few others accessing the page at the same time as you. Before writing me an email saying the page is missing, please "refresh" or "reload" the page first and make sure you are still connected to the internet! Sometimes the page will load okay the second time - if it doesn't come up then you can let me know that it appears to be a broken link. Congestion or problems with FortuneCity might also mean that the page is not available for a few hours.
This can also occur with some images in reviews (where some images load and others appear not to be there), especially if you have a few open browser windows or the review has quite a few images to load. Right click on the image and select "show picture" and wait a few moments for it to load - or press refresh/reload. Then if it doesn't work again, please feel free to report it as a broken image link.
However (just to confuse you!!), please note that I have removed some images from the site to reclaim some space that was being eaten up, so there will be some reviews where the images are no longer available. Boxart, sprue and decal images (for inbox reviews) and the reviewer's finished model images, if they are included in the review should load if there is a link there.
CAN I ADVERTISE MY MODELLING EXPO & OTHER EVENTS?
Again I do not wish to put any noses out of joint but the hobby in Australia is not as big and exposed as it is elsewhere in the world (Europe, USA, etc). For this reason I am more than happy to post up "adverts" of any Model Expo, hobby exhibition, or even a significant annual club meet providing it is occurring in AUSTRALIA. The idea is basically to do my little bit to support the hobby here in Australia. There are plenty of avenues available for UK, USA etc hobby expos to be advertised elsewhere, plus there are much more of them than what we get down here!! Please do not ask me to post overseas advertisements.
Note that anything posted is at my absolute discretion in any manner I so choose (usually a large announcement may appear on the News page, a smaller one on the What's New Page). If you demand that something has to be published in a certain way or certain fashion and are not flexible, I will not publish it.
I am also particularly interested in SOUTH AUSTRALIAN events to be posted on the site. Basically, just send me an email with the details and I will consider it for posting.
DO
I EXCHANGE LINKS? WILL I POST A LINK TO YOUR SITE?
And Link inclusion in reviews policy:
Please understand that SMAKR does not have a link exchange policy.
I get hit with so many emails asking for link exchanges, most of which are either of commercial in nature or nothing to do with modelling aircraft (let alone kit reviews!) that I have decided to take this stance. It is also quite time consuming checking out all the links that people send me, and I just do not have time to pursue this.
I run a large web site with lots of daily visitors so it is only natural people want a link on my site. My links page is small for a reason and I want to keep it that way.
You are welcome (and I do appreciate it) to add a link on your site pointing to SMAKR, please hop onto my Links page and see the instructions at the top. But you are under no obligation to do so, and the choice is fully yours.
If you are someone who wants a link to your site on my links page, purely because you have sent in an image or some other small contribution to SMAKR, this is not acceptable and if this is a condition of your contribution then it will be refused. SMAKR already credits images wherever possible and will leave any URL or copyright embedded into the image if that has been included. I am also more than happy to include a link under the image or somewhere else on the page. Believe it or not, your site is therefore more likely to be visited by people actually interested if they read it in a review!
Please note that because of the large number of link exchange requests I get, I generally do not respond to them (because if they were genuine exchanges they should have seen the information about this policy on my links page!!). However, if you know of or run a site you feel will be of interest to me feel free to let me know about it as I am more than happy to visit other modelling sites of interest and relevance! I get many of these emails too, so this will of course only be done when I get some free time to enjoy and I can't always guarantee this will occur as I will only visit sites relevant to me and my modelling preferences.
Got any more suggestions to add to this page, or commonly sought queries and information? You are welcome to let me know. Please remember to check this page for an answer before sending me an email, it might save us both a bit of time and help keep SMAKR a regularly updated resource for you!
As a last resort, if you need to ask a query or your answer isn't here, remember smakr1@optusnet.com.au! I do read all relevant emails and I do my best to answer most of them.
Thanks for taking the time to browse this page, I hope you found out what you were looking for.
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