However, the Queen's loyal subjects in the UK, Australia and to a lesser extent Canada are under represented in the image category. Likewise, I'm looking for Japan, Taiwan and South Korea. If any of ya'll have some images of ships, aircraft, subs from these nations, I'd be interested in adding your work to the next DB 3000 update. Also, I would like to start including weapons in the next update. If you are interested in helping, here are some guidelines for the images:
1) Keeping image sizes down to around 250 KB each is helpful. We are going to be doing a lot of images, and file size will eventually become an issue. It also helps speed the loading process when the images are displayed. If you don't have the ability to make the images smaller, I can do that for you. However, it will make my job easier if you can do it.
2) Image sourcing: If possible, if you can put either the source of the image in the image file itself, using a program like Adobe, that would be great. I personally use Adobe Elements and put the website and copyright information (if any) using the "File Info" function. If you don't have Adobe, including a .txt file with the image name and source of the image would help us.
3) Ideally, I would like the images to reflect the actual unit, i.e., the image used to display a P-3C Update 2.5 is not a P-3C update 3, but is in fact an Update 2.5. However, this goal might not be achievable right away. If you see a unit that is misrepresented in the database, or if you have to use a more generic photo to represent a platform, then try to note that in the .txt file, and we will flag it for possible replacement once a more accurate photo representation becomes available.
4) For right now, continue to post the images to the Matrix forum. I'll pull them from there, resize them if necessary and incorporate them into the next database image update. I'll also add your name to the credits in the DB 3000 text file. Also, send a email to my inbox, just to make sure that I see your upload. In the near future, I'm hoping to get a single thread to post the images.
On another issue, I would also like to begin to develop the description file in the database, and could use community help on this project. If you are interested in helping out with this, simply write a .txt file containing the proposed text, and name it with the database designator. For instance, the Soviet Komar PTG is Ship_250. In my opinion, the entry should include information that is not already listed on the database file, and should be sourced. For instance, this is a proposed entry for the Soviet Komar missile boat:
The Soviet KOMAR class Guided missile boats were the world's first guided missile boats. They were built on the P-6 torpedo boat hull and had an all wood-hull construction. On 21 October 1967 Egyptian Navy Komar class missile boats sank the Israeli destroyer Eilat in the first combat use of P-15 Termit anti-ship missiles.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Komar-class_missile_boat; Polmar, Norman, Naval Institute Guide to the Soviet Navy, pg. 245
This would appear in the database viewer like this:
