Computer or web site for record

[itisgood]

Hello,
Not too long in the future I will need to begin to record the build. What are some good programs or web sites for recording time and pictures?
Thanks
Dave

[hydroguy2]

kinda depends on what you want.

1. Simplest is snap a few pics and pencil in the dates in the margins of the Vans instructions.

2. Full blown website

3. something in between. I use KitlogPro.....AND I save the pictures on my computer.

[itisgood]

I was thinking that the computer was the way I wanted to go, however using the instructions and putting a picture along with the time would be good too.
Dave

[dons]

Hi Dave,

I started out using KitlogPro, but after a few months just stuck with taking a lot of pictures and putting dates beside things in the manual as a backup (the camera time/date stamps everything). About every six months I make two dvd's with all the photos and store them at different addresses. I believe are documentation requirements are more stringent here, and this was ok with our inspection system.

Web sites are great to document your work and help others, but they can be a lot of work. I'm sure those that have done them feel a great sense of pride (and rightly so) in the fact so people watch their progress and can benefit from their experience. I'm sure it becomes a just another part of the build process in which a sense of accomplishment can be had, and a sense of accomplishment is a big part in staying motivated in such a large undertaking.

[Spike]

My thought, websites are great for figuring out how the "other" guy did something. So, use other websites and for yourself, keep it simple.

[BSwayze]

I like to write and the idea of a website appealed to me. But I'm not a computer or website guru so I didn't know what to do. KitLog is a great program but it does have some limitations and a more confined structure. I'm not knocking it. It's probably the best thing for many people. But I wanted to be able to do something a bit more extensive. So I got a program called Dreamweaver and learned how to use it. I bought an older version on eBay for a fraction of the cost of the newer version, figuring I don't need all the latest bells and whistles. No regrets there.

It was a big learning curve, but almost as rewarding as the project itself. Yes, it takes time. But for me it's worth it. I also keep all my photos backed up on a separate drive and a written log as well. I refer to my written notes when I update the web pages. It's amazing how in just a few days the details of what you did on a given day begin to escape your memory. Even if nobody else ever saw my web page, I like the idea of having a photographic documented log of all my work.

[Bob Barrett]

I used a calender in my shop with fairly good size squares for each day. I would write in the hours each day and a note about what I did on which part. ie: rudder, vertical stablizer, or wing ribs etc. Drill, deburr flaps etc. Then I periodicly photo various things. When I started my project in 1999, digtal camera's were not common. Therefore I used 35mm the whole ten years. I would get double prints and stored one copy in my free standing shop and one in the house. I also periodicly tranfered my calender notes to an Excel spread sheet. I ideally it should be done once a month but sometimes it was once a year. I printed a copy of the spread sheet and inserted it in my photo album along with captions for each picture. I took both in for my repairman's certificate and that did the job.

[Cherokee Driver]

I'll "Pitch" expercraft.

First of all...I am not a computer guy.
Expercraft does the work for you. NO CODE to learn. I can log my entry in less than a minute (if I want a short entry) and a couple of minutes if I want to down load some pix. It is all about picking from drop down menus and filling in boxes...then hit enter. I can make entries from any computer with an Internet hook up.

Did I mention it is FREE?

It has other features like expense tracking and projected completion dates.

Part of your custom page is a mini website, pre-organized to include a section about your shop, tools, tips, etc. It is basic and not very customizable...but has all I need.

Some will argue that we should be spending time building rather than entering stuff on a web site. Here are my thoughts on that.

1. The few minutes a session I spend on the computer actually pushes me to be in the shop. After all, now I have people checking in on my progress and this is definitely pushing me along. This can be motivating.
2. I benefited from other builder's websites...so I feel an obligation to pass on what I can to others...fair is fair right?
3.There is a sense of pride that comes from other's compliments when I do good work (I think that was in December, last year...it was a Saturday). And that is motivating as well.

EASY, FAST, FREE

Great printable log, Financials, guestbook...Gosh I love it.

CD

http://websites.expercraft.com/eseverson/

[BSwayze]

Eric,
I checked out your web site and your progress. Nice! Sorry for the duplicate entries in your guest book. It kept telling me it failed the spam test.

[bruceh]

I've done enough blogging and web site creation/maintenance to know how big a pain it can be (and time suck).

For my project I am keeping it very simple. I set up an account with SmugMug for photo sharing. It costs $60 a year for unlimited
storage of photos/videos and I can have it host my domain name. It gives me a place on the web that I control, and a reliable backup for the 18000 or so photos I've taken in the last couple of years.

You can set up categories, sub-categories and galleries for each part of the build. Captioning the photos is a simple click, then start typing.
I use the MacDaddy application to upload my photos from my PowerBook to the site. Very Simple!

You can also easily get a link URL for any of the photos you have uploaded in a wide variety of sizes. This makes sharing photos on a site
like this a piece of cake. I'm really happy with SmugMug's support and service.

Check it out at the link in my signature.

[704CH]

I just went to blogger.com powered by google. Its free, super easy, and acts as a blog as well as a builder log. Just sign in and make updates when you need to. Almost like keeping a log in Word or other Office type product. Its really easy, looks pretty professional, and does the job. All the pics you post are saved in your account on Picasa automagically as well. You also get a free domain with it. The only problem might be that it is housed on Google servers and true "IP" ownership of your content can be in question.

http://www.704ch.com

[Cherokee Driver]

Bruce,

Thanks for your visit and thanks for your comments.

I have been out of town for a week and I logged in to expercraft and was hit with a surprise. It is no longer free.

I have not checked my e-mail yet to see if they plan on billing current members. It is now 4.95/ month. This is pretty disappointing. I don't begrudge someone from making money from their work... so I understand that at some point they need to recover their costs and make some money.

Unfortunately this does not appear to be a free option for a build log.

[Spike]

... It is now 4.95/ month. This is pretty disappointing. I don't begrudge someone from making money from their work... so I understand that at some point they need to recover their costs and make some money.

With full transparency I have to let you know i haven't read their reasoning, etc. I will say however that they might not be making that much money. Hosting costs of sites, bandwidth charges, etc. can be quite expensive. They might just be to the point that they can no longer carry that burden on their own.

Spike

[Cherokee Driver]

I trust you are right Spike.

I hope my comments are not taken wrong. Expercraft has a good site...the fact that they wish to charge new users does not change that. I can tell you from my perspective it is a site that is easy to use and allows me to share my build. I simply wanted to clarify my post which was, at the time of writing believed to be accurate, when I said it was free. That has now changed. I hope they are successful because it is a good product.

I do know that there are some sites that I would not hesitate to support...others that I would have to think twice about.

If the day came that I had to pay a nominal fee for say www.rivetbangers.com I would not hesitate to do so. (That is how crack dealers work...just a taste then they have you coming back for more. ) I don't think I could handle rivetbangers withdrawal.

That is why I wear the rivet banger hat at OSH, [ http://www.cafepress.com/rivetbangers ]

and I will offer up a beverage at the Otter for both Spike and Patti. That is the least I can do!

CD