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EDanaII


1/16/2008 10:51:16 AM 		OK, so I got a little time on my hands and I'm just goofing around. I also needed a little CSS experience, so I decided to make a recommendation of what this site should look like. Honestly, I don't expect anyone to take this seriously, and I doubt that anyone has the time to do it even if they do.

That said, here's a suggestion for how the site should look:


Enjoy. 🙂



Phoenix


1/16/2008 1:10:33 PM 		Gets my vote Ed your suggestion looks great lets do it.
Dale

improvise, adapt, overcome
Paul Bellamy


1/16/2008 6:39:52 PM 		I was thinking along similar lines myself Ed, but you beat me to it. 😉

If you've done the coding, would this be an simple edit for Kele to apply?
Sorry, I'm not up to speed on php myself, I just scan the php coders' forums when I need to.

(Coders.. pah. We were Programmers in my day. 😉 )

All the best,
Paul

Paul Bellamy

Kele


1/16/2008 7:06:06 PM 		If you can turn this into a phpbb style then we'll be happy to implement it


swinny


1/17/2008 3:11:24 AM 		This looks really great Ed

Well done
Andy

_______

My adoption graves http://www.remember-our-heroes.nl/us_401stBG.htm
EDanaII


1/17/2008 9:23:52 AM 		Thanks guys. 🙂 All I did was make some very simple modifications to the main page.


@ Kele

I'm not sure what you mean by "phpbb style."

What I did was modify the CSS stylesheet and some gifs/jpgs to achieve the look. If the "style.css" is what you are refering to by "phpbb style" then it should be no problem. All that should be needed is copying the style sheet and the images I modified to the appropriate places.

However, I only made modifications to the main page. I have no idea how these mods might appear on any of the other site pages. It's best that they be tested on all. If you are busy (which I'm assuming you are) -- and since the phpBB software is free -- you can pass me a copy of the site, I can test my modifications on that.

Ed.



donaldbyers


1/17/2008 12:44:40 PM 		http://www.phpbb.com/support/documentation/3.0/

This is the documentation for Version 3 Ed.....

Sgt. Donald C. Byers, 613th Bomb Squadron, Togglier, 42-97344 Carrie B II, KIA 08/24/1944.
Phoenix


1/17/2008 1:49:37 PM 		You guys have successfully baffled me now but I still say "do it", someone, please?
Dale

improvise, adapt, overcome
EDanaII


1/17/2008 5:20:43 PM 		Patience, Dale. If we're gonna do this, we need to do it right. 🙂


@ Kele

OK, reviewing the documentation that Donald provided, I think there is a way to do this without impacting either of us too much. First, reading this documentation page tells me that everything needed is packaged in the "Styles" directory. If you send me a zipped version of the "prosilver" style, I'll modify as needed and send it back renamed. Once you install it, without installing it as the default theme, I (and whoever else is willing) can test it by changing our profile preference to the new style. Once everyone is happy with it, you can set it as the default style.

My email address is in my profile, just send it there.

Ed.



EDanaII


1/18/2008 11:32:08 AM 		I hope everyone noticed the shield that I used in the image above. I took this idea from an issue of the PFG where there was an image of a shield with the 401st's yellow stripe and emblem. For further modifying the new site, I'm proposing that forum symbols should look like this:
  • Forum Unread: Old ; New .

  • Forum Read: Old ; New .

  • Forum Read Locked: Old New .

  • Forum Linked: Old New .

  • Subforum Read: Old ; New .

  • Subforum Unread: Old ; New .


For the topic icons I'm considering a propeller. For "hot topic icons" I'm considering making the propeller spin.

Once again, I'm goofing around. If anyone has different suggestions, I'm more than willing to hear them. Bear in mind, however, I am no artist, and doing these is, in fact, stretching the limits of my abilities. 🙂

@ Paul Bellamy

Paul? I know that the 401st used various methods to communicate with each other, such as flags and flares and such. These could also be used for some of the icons on the site. Do you have any suggestions?

Ed.



donaldbyers


1/18/2008 5:35:55 PM 		Don't know if the spinning propeller I sent will work in this phpBB or not but sent one to ED. These styles look really good. Remember that Kele will be gone for a couple of weeks.

Don

Sgt. Donald C. Byers, 613th Bomb Squadron, Togglier, 42-97344 Carrie B II, KIA 08/24/1944.
EDanaII


1/19/2008 9:26:03 AM 		Not only is Kele gone for a couple weeks, but (as I mentioned above) I'm no artist. It's gonna take some time while I figure out how to do some things.

Everyone is welcome to make suggestions on how to tweak the site. Feel free to make them.



EDanaII


1/23/2008 6:11:55 PM 		As promised, for the Topic Read icon I've created a propellor: .

For hot topics I've created a spinning propellor:

Unfortunately, these images are so small they don't quite achieve the effect I was going for, since I used motion blurring to create a spinning effect:

Yea, I know the above image bounces a little bit. I'm still working on it. 🙂

Also, since gifs don't do alpha transparencies, the background color in my gifs must match the background color of the page. Since, at present, the background color can change when the mouse hovers over it, it presents some more problems for me.

So, I'm not a 100% satisfied with these images.

Thoughts? Comments? Criticisms? I'd love to hear 'em.



EDanaII


1/24/2008 11:58:21 AM 		Updated the images, above. I like these a little better, but would still like to hear opinions.



Phoenix


1/24/2008 4:26:13 PM 		Looks fine to me Ed I aint no computer expert in anyway shape or form so whatever you come up with is fine by me and just wish to encourage you on your journey.
Dale

improvise, adapt, overcome
Paul Bellamy


1/24/2008 6:57:08 PM 		Hi Ed,

Sorry, I've been "otherwise occupied" for the last few days.
Your work's looking great, the new spinning prop is really nice, and it's even rotating in the right direction. 🙂

Regards the flags and flares signals, they would have changed every day or so (other than the double-red for wounded on board), so to use them here in their original manner would be somewhat confusing. 😉

All the best, and keep up the good work,
Paul

Paul Bellamy

Jackie Sharp Sheflin


1/25/2008 10:00:51 AM 		I like the suggestions for the appearance of the site. I think it would make the site more interesting to visitors and would make keeping track of posts easier to note and or find.

I have also been watching with interest the posting of pictures and notes about the poster in a signature box. I think this is also interesting as you have a better idea of who the other members are and their relationship to the 401st.

I have been wondering if setting up the off site avatars would make it easier for those who do not understand all the technical issues needed to set up this kind of signature. I must confess.....I am one of them.

Maybe this is another way to make a nice change to the forum. Any comments or suggestions?

Jackie


EDanaII


1/25/2008 2:17:16 PM 		Thanks for the encouragement, guys. 🙂


@ Jackie

I think the addition of avatars is a nice (but not necessary) feature. I do believe, as you suggest, that it would be a good substitute for signatures. You do have to be careful with the use of too many images on a site as it can drive up bandwidth and storage, and I have no idea what the bandwidth/storage allowances are for this site. All that said, I don't see this place as anything but a low usage site, so I think, at the very least, the use of avatars can hurt.

BTW, it's not that difficult to do "sigs" like Don and I have done. All you need is an image, a place to store it, and an IMG tag. I'd be more than willing to help you with one, Jackie. Just as I did for Don.


@ Paul:
Your work's looking great, the new spinning prop is really nice, and it's even rotating in the right direction. :)


Well, I had a 50% chance of getting it right, now didn't I? 😉 More seriously, looking at the props of a B-17, it's not too hard to infer the direction of rotation, and I'm just nerdy enough to have taken the time to look.

Regards the flags and flares signals, they would have changed every day or so (other than the double-red for wounded on board), so to use them here in their original manner would be somewhat confusing. ;)


I'm not looking to use them exactly as they were used. I'm just looking for symbols that could be used on this site.

For example, in looking for ideas, I came across this site. This guy actually sells reproductions of B-17 instrument panels and some of the detail I see there gives me ideas for other possible icons.



EDanaII


2/22/2008 12:09:25 AM 		Well, I've not be lax in my efforts to come up with a new look for the site. I've managed to download and install the software that runs this site on my computer. I've been tweaking and refining the appearance and have come up with a better look for the site.

Here's a sample:


I'm thinking I can finish this sometime next week, and then pass it off to Kele. I'm assuming the next step will be that Kele will install it as an optional style and anyone who wants to test it can give it a try. I'm assuming a couple of week of playing with it and we can make it the default.

As always, Enjoy!

Ed.



swinny


2/22/2008 1:34:00 AM 		Ed , I can say only one thing and I don`t know if its Englisch 😃

WAUW.

You have done a really great job , it looks excellent.
Andy

_______

My adoption graves http://www.remember-our-heroes.nl/us_401stBG.htm
donaldbyers


2/22/2008 9:47:32 AM 		All I can say is Wooooooooooooo Hoooooooooooooooo it looks great and you are doing a great job.

Bombs Away 😃 😃 😃 😃 😃

Sgt. Donald C. Byers, 613th Bomb Squadron, Togglier, 42-97344 Carrie B II, KIA 08/24/1944.
Jackie Sharp Sheflin


2/22/2008 8:16:29 PM 		Ed,

What you have done is amazing and it look great! The only thing I can't quite tell about is the green color. It might be because I am so used to the blue though. Great work and I love the plane and the squadron patches.

Jackie


Phoenix


2/23/2008 7:44:53 AM 		Ed,

Great job I think it looks top drawer but just to put some of that famous British reserve on matters any reason for choosing "Maiden USA" not trying to get on Georges' good side are you? could we have "Mary Alice" her replica is only an hours drive from us???!!!!
Only joking with you pal, great job.

All the best

Dale

improvise, adapt, overcome
EDanaII


2/23/2008 10:25:42 AM 		Thanks guys. 🙂

I'm actually quite pleased at how this is coming along considering I'm not anywhere near an artist. But, then I'm mostly using simple tricks and techniques to get this done.


@ phoenix

Actually, I was going to take a picture of my model of the Hard Seventeen and use it when I remembered that there was a color photo of the Maiden USA on the site, so I used that instead. I might still use an image of the H17, so, no, I'm not suckin' up to George. 😉

Hey, if there are any color photos of any other 401st planes, please let me know. I might have a use for them on this site.


@ Jackie

What's your concern with the green color? Just wondering. I chose Olive Drab because that's one of the colors used by the 401st, and with all color choices I'm concerned with how it stands out and/or whether or not it's easy to read against, so please feel free to voice any concerns you might have.


@ swinny

We got that word, Andy. We just spell it a little differently. 😉

Ed.



EDanaII


2/25/2008 11:41:49 PM 		OK, all.

I mentioned to Dale that I might do a logo using the model I made for my father. Here it is:


Not radically different than the first logo, but the good points about this version are:
  • I don't have to worry about copyrights.

  • The image quality is better than the image of the Maiden USA.

  • Propellers look better.


Things I don't like about it:
  • It's not a real plane.

  • You can't see the tail stripe.

  • Image is smaller than Maiden (I guess I can make it bigger).


Of course, I could pose the model like the Maiden, but that would take some more effort. Not that I'm against that, but I'd have to get the it back from dad and photograph it at a particular time of day.

So, anyone got any preference?

Ed.



donaldbyers


2/26/2008 9:39:45 AM 		Well if I had my rathers it would be the first plane as the angle is better and shows the tailsection of the aircraft. Also the second plane it a tad smaller I know that can be fixed but the angle is just not right for me.

Don

Sgt. Donald C. Byers, 613th Bomb Squadron, Togglier, 42-97344 Carrie B II, KIA 08/24/1944.
EDanaII


2/26/2008 12:33:12 PM 		I actually like the picture of the Maiden better too. I'm just not happy with the faded tail-stripe and how the propellers appear in the final image. I think I'll play around a little more and see if I can't enhance both of them.



donaldbyers


2/26/2008 8:07:29 PM 		I can understand that also. I guess it is just the angle of the plane that gets me the most. 😂

Don

Sgt. Donald C. Byers, 613th Bomb Squadron, Togglier, 42-97344 Carrie B II, KIA 08/24/1944.