Many people are creating RC bulletin boards. Is this the wave of the future? Is this want we need more of?

There are always going to be those who want their own board or want to try and do it better. Darwinism I guess. What many will realize (even I had no idea when I started) is that there is ALOT more involved in running a site like this then anyone can imagine. Unless you plan on spending 100% of your time (not 8 hour days...16 plus hour days) they rarely thrive. Member demands, support and cost rise significantly once traffic increases. Not a big deal for boards with few members or few posts but start to get big and the dynamic changes quite rapidly.

RCU was created to try and bring all these 3rd tier boards and RC sites into one place. There are efficiencies in both running a site that has an enormous member base that benefits members, guests and also eventually making it worthwhile for the owner(s) to justify the time and expense necessary to run it.

I've spent almost 2 years full time, 6-7 days per week and 16 hour days typically and so far have not profited a dime on RC Universe. Matter of fact there is still some hefty debt to payoff for hardware and development before I'll see my first dime of profit. In essence I've been working for free for almost 2 years full time + and will likely not take a dime of profit for the next 6-18 months unless a HUGE amount of people join/upgrade this site. So for all those RCU wannabee's...be forewarned and don't say I didn't tell you upfront what the future could hold if you want to be the next RCU. The road isn't the easiest one and isn't paved with riches (despite the optimistic accounting attempts made by many on other sites who said RCU would make me a multi-millionaire - if only they were correct....). I'll be happy if I can make a living at it and have a few RC toys to play with.

Yes-
Should there be only 1 magazine, 1 book, or 1 type of flying to choose from ?????

I think he means dozens and dozens of new sites...there are some major magazines out there but imagine if 5 new ones came out every month? I think that is the question he is asking.

I found RCU searching for information on RC Aircraft, I browsed for a long time before joining.

RCU has been a great site, I prefer it over many others, it just has a more dedicated appeal and approach to the sport.


Do we need more RC sites?

Yes it helps to spread the hobby and hopefully gain the intrest of the youth, this is too good of a hobby to 'not share'.

While I am all for competition, I am also in favor of some plan to reduce the number of places to go and gather RC information. For the cost of installing a BBS, I think it would be more pleasing for everyone concerned to give that money to RCU and then allow the team here to instal a forum for the site. This should be a win/win for everyone. Just an Idea.

Well geistware, it would be like saying that since we all get Model aviation free from the ama with our paid dues, there should be no other mags like RCM or Scale RCM or any other. They should all focus on making MA better. It won't happen. With RCU you have a lot of great people giving input, but you have a lot of people who don't like the format, or something else about the site, so the newrcu or TR or RCF or many other sites show up and fill the void for some. Many of them won't make it, a few will. The diversity is good. I hang on about 4 boards. This one and TR are more active than the rest, but I personally get a lot of enjoyment out of having more than just one. The diversity is good, and when I get tired of the attitudes on one, I can turn it off for a while and go to another and come back later when the need hits.

I think you will see a lot of the other sites dissapear over time, but there will be a few that will make it, which will keep all of them in check and make them all better in the long run.

I thought BBSs died with advent of the internet. But I guess a BBS and a forum is essentially the same thing: a place to ask questions, get answers, adn generally have a conversation.

Yes, runnign a forum is a lot of work. Being one who'se done it, I know. And of course, there is a cost involved. finding as server with space, registering a domain name, and ultimately buying the software to run the bulletin board. Not to mention the hours spent in front of teh keyboard!!

As for them all popping up, I beleive it's one of those things that people have to prove for themselves; one will always think they can do it better.

But as the various iterations of this site, and the other major ones we've seen (RCO , RCA) they get too big, and eventually collapse on themselves if not properly managed / funded. Or throught eh lack of interest, they die off..

We will always see them come and go. Depends on the intend and dedication of teh host, and the dedication of the people to come in. It's initiallya great idea, with enthusiasm behind it. A peak in users visiting teh site, then the visits drain off, seeing that there is no real new content. and eventually it just beocmes a hole in your wallet..

(We get more people for the free stuff we offer, than anything else. our last posted message was back in September...)

O.K. you work on the site 6-7 days a week, 16 hours a day. Since you are "working for free" as you say, on the site, you must have a regular job to pay the bills and purchase the equipment. So...when do you sleep?

The proliferation of RC Bulletin Boards will level itself just as the manufacturing of kits and RC supplies has done. The best will last, the rest will fade away when the people who create them have had enough flak or unsupportable expense to make them give up. Having tried the manufacturing and designing of kits and found that the needs of supporting a family couldn't be done on what came in was less than went out I sold to the first offer. The attempt was moderately successful and my buyer later sold to a large kit builder and I saw my designs and kits advertised in the major magazines. It was sorta fun but it didn't pay off.

It's just another medium for communication, and a more interactive one at that.

There are many focuses (focusi?).

I created a very small one for our club site years ago, simply to help members co-ordinate their time at the field with others (subject matter experts/ friends). It's self-cleaning (posts remain for a finite number of days, yet I've never seen it empty) and has been very popular/successful.

I have no desire to expand it beyond it's current capabilities or profit from it. I just wanted something lightweight and maintenance free.[8D]

I know donations are a way to support the RCU. I donated a while back and will again, but my question is what can we do as members to make this BBS better?

Its in the Secret Sauce"

This Buletin Board has a good balance of contributing members, some kidding some hot-heads at times and some very commited to helping, and operated by those who have a huge love for the sport and a willingness to promote it.

The best way to support it is to visit it often, click on a few ads with or with-out Beautiful Blonde Models with long legs (still prefer Red-Heads)

And do what you are doing, make suggestions and ask questions.
Spread the word and support the hobby's growth, the more that become interested in rc the more that will surf the web looking for a good site.

I hope that RCU will grow ten fold, add more research capabilities and become the best place to find answers, help and info on RC.

I don't have a regular job anymore. I gave it up along with all income for almost 2 years now. Matter of fact the site has me out of pocket so if you net it all out I've spent probably about 8000 hours plus and $10's of thousands of dollars out of pocket which is all debt to developer and for hardware to run RCU. Is it a risk? Of course. Nobody forced me to do it but I will keep the faith that modelers want something better instead of fly by night come and go amateur websites. If I'm wrong I will lose big. If I'm right I'll make a living running RCU.

As far as sleep. I get about 3-6 hours typically per day. It isn't much but it is something. Unless somebody is willing to make these types of investments you end up getting the sort of sites that flounder about. Only through dedication and listening to members can you exceed at this sort of thing.

Oh..and as far as these forums having a few glitches...we are still on our "beta soft launch" period and fixing or enhancing the site. We have major improvements coming this week that will bring back just about all of the functionality of our old forums. We had planned for this but delays do happen. In case anybody had not noticed...we have never had our "grand openening" announcement. This launch period is a time for us to fix and fine tune the site before our coming out party. I do want to thank everyone for their patience and support during this longer than anticipated live beta period.

I hope you announce the start-up date in time for me to rent a Tux

Sounds like another thing we have in common, I average 5-6 hrs sleep per night. I used to try all kinds of things to sleep longer, then I realized, "Hey, that's all I need!"

So I use those extra hours while everyone else is still asleep to build, write, do computer stuff, et cetera. (Which is why I can often be found on line, or in my office at 4 or 5 AM)

for me RCO and now RCU have brought the different worlds of modeling together and made the world smaller.
what this means is now you guys know what a Limbo Dancer is, and we know what a 4*40 is. at last we can sample planes and styles from different countrys. this rarely happened in the past unless "you knew a mate of a friend whos sisters boyfriend has a friend who knows a guy in the US"

Marc, I know you have done this but you need to give your wife a big kiss and a thank you from the guys in the RC hobby. Many women would not understand the devotion as well as opportunity that this forum proposes. She is special to understand!