[Dennis David]

Hi guys a bunch of people at SCI have been tossing around the idea of setting up a slot car database that would contain information on RTRs, parts, motors, etc. Measurements, maybe links to reviews, all the odds and sods that are recorded about these toys we play with but get lost in the ephemera. I was wondering if this is just more idle chatter or whether this maybe something of value.

The idea is that I would set it up on my new slot car site. I have a database and PHP all set up plus I do these types of databases for a living. I would make it available for a select group of contributors to maintain. The information would then be available via reports and search screens for all. I could also make it available to other sites in some manner to be determined.

Any interest or should I forget the whole thing?

 

[Scott B]

Interesting and very useful to old and recent slot car nuts, but a lot of work to build and maintain.

 

[Moqtev]

Hi Dennis!

I think its a very good idea. It would make it so much easier to find what spareparts to use and compare the cars.

Morten

 

[Dennis David]

Not to hard to build but yes it would have to be a cooperative effort to maintain. In fact the idea would be to have an informal group of users with contributor access.

 

[PeteN]

Dennis, I think this would be great! Unfortunately, I'm a relative newbie to this, so I'm not sure I could contribute much, but I would use it!

 

[slik]

Hey there!

I think this is a great idea Dennis. Of course transferring the great idea into reality can be somewhat harder. No matter, most of the best things take effort.

I was toying with the idea a while back of trying to set up some sort of high quality photo database of every slot car available, ever! All would be shot against plain white backgrounds for uniformity and the person who took the photo would be credited. Maybe this idea could be incorporated?

I would gladly offer my help but to be honest I have enough on my plate at present and simply would not be able to find the time unless I don't sleep!

Good luck with this very bold project.

Cheers,

Julian.

 

[MR MAX]

Great idea! Then we could all check it when a new interesting slot car comes out to see what it's advantages and disadvantages are.

 

[Maltese]

Interestingly, I know that the retail folk always get hit with questions like: Will these tires fit on my...??

It may be much to ask, but a cross reference of what parts fit on what might be great. I know that Scaley does not allow other manufacturers to use the Scaley name as a tire they replace, so perhaps an independant source such as this could give their "opinions" on the matter.

-Maltese

 

[Swissracer]

Excellent project Dennis, one that could lead onto other ideas - Interested, keep in touch

 

[goldfish_samurai]

Dennis,

This is a terrific idea. I'm sure there are enough people on SF who are able to help and contribute. I would be willing to lend a hand if I can!

 

[howmet tx]

Go for it, Dennis!
Whatever you need, let us know. I can easily imagine the benefits we could all get.

 

[abie321]

There is a publication that was edited by Robert Schleicher I believe, that has incredible detail of cars and parts upto 1967 - have it somewhere in my boxes - if needed can scan and send to you....... ?

 

[R Livingston]

What do people want out of a database?

Lists of everything made, and everything that is no longer made.

That is a monumental task. My contribution can be in the form of a database I have been compiling of motor armature resistance (ohms across the commutator plates) as well as manufacturer's claims of RPM and torque, when available. There are 50 motors listed at present. Most are vintage.

People also want tire interchangeability tables, or maybe the sizes of all those tires/wheels. More monuments. Maybe links to Professor Motor's tires and wheels pages should be contemplated.

 

[Dennis David]

All,

I have been going back and forth on this but it does look like there is some interest here. So let me start to think about the database schema that will support all of the information that we may want. For now if any of you have created lists, tables etc that maybe of use send them to me at [email protected] I will take a look at the data in building the tables. I will need help though in importing the data as I don't have any time to do that. The entire app will be done using PHP and SQL so if there are any PHP experts out there drop me a line.

Alan drop me a line and tell me about these "visions" that you are having.

 

[McLaren]

If you can give us a taster and I like it, I'll help you with all I can. But it's got to be super user friendly. Some people have problems with this forum...

Mclaren

 

[meshers]

excellent idea...although i have poor computer skills ( webpages/databases etc ) i'm pretty good with a digital camera and have approximately 120 + shelf queens that would be more than willing to pose for my lens...i'd be happy to donate the images to your database together with any basic measurements required...
all this will take time obviously...
a slotcar database with info on each car's details/measurements/ a few photos/ liveries/release numbers/released markets covering all the manufacturers past and present would be an extremely useful resource tool for both collector and racer alike and if made widely accessible to the slotcar community would definately contribute to the hobbies expansion...
hope this idea gets off the ground...

 

[Swissracer]

This thread is almost exactly a year old. Did anything happen further Dennis?

 

[Daryl]

Great idea, how did I miss it for a year. Your F1 database is the gold standard.

 

[Farrout]

This is something I would be interested in supporting, if only in the limited area where I have some (if not exhaustive) knowledge as I have built mini-lists for my slot car club of certain types of cars. See my club website for a starting point

Stephen

 

[timark]

I think this is a great idea but there does not seem to have been any progress.

6 months ago I had a crazy idea of creating a virtual club for members to design, build tracks and post times in challenges. In order for this to work the club needed a car database. It would take a single person a long time to build one, so I designed it with the ability for members to add new records then pass them onto a librarian to manage. In order to encourage this I've added a members show room where members can reference a car from the database, then add modifications and their own photos.

Whilst the club is not yet launched you can take a peek at http://www.scracingclub.com/scracingclub
I didn't want the club to rely on advertising to fund it so I've set up a donnation option and will probably be adding a modest anual membership subscription if there is not enough through donations. Anyway let me know what you think.