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I think now that I've done enough work on the rest of the site, there's enough of a framework available for me to finally build this thing.
The Bluesmobile Guide is actually only a sub-section of another part of the site (name to be determined).
This section will feature the following 5 elements:
- Bluesmobile parts (essentially links to Amazon Auto Store)
- Bluesmobile Trader (links to all the Bluesmobiles For Sale threads in the forum)
- Bluesmobile Forum (just a list of the last 10 or so topics in the Bluesmobile forum, to boost activity)
- About the Bluesmobile
- Bluesmobile Guide
About the Bluesmobile will eventually have details on the original car, filled in by the fans here who are experts. Maybe what type of spotlight the car had, or other specific information to help replica builders. Potentially also articles on building replicas, as well as facts about the cars used in the movie.
The Bluesmobile Guide (which really needs a namechange), will be a place for fans to post their Bluesmobiles and provide specific information about it.
The cars will be posted into 4 categories:
(not the final version of this page)
Click on the category and you'll see a listing of the Bluesmobiles.
Click on the Bluesmobile you want, and you'll get a page like this:
Bluesmobile Design :: Blues Brothers Central
I think the mockup I've provided should explain what we're aiming for, but there's a few small points.
Firstly, the Bluesmobile ID will be a way for us to track every Bluesmobile we encounter. If someone posts a photo of a Bluesmobile they saw on the forum, one of our experts might be able to identify it and say "That's Bluesmobile TBB7104!". Or perhaps someone who is thinking of buying one on eBay can use it to find more info about the car and it's previous owners (if available). I'm also going to provide the option for VIN's to be added, so that we can search the database for them. That way even if a car is modified we'll be able to track it down in the system. It might also help prevent the same car from being listed multiple times in the Bluesmobiles for Sale forum.
I believe the VIN's will be hidden, so that only the moderators and owners can see them. If someone wants to know about the car they just bought, and if they can't find it in the database, they could email the VIN to a mod to search for them.
Members can post their photos into 3 categories, exterior, interior and construction (which can include "before" shots if applicable).
Videos might also be useful, it's always great to see the car in action (and hear the engine!).
Finally, the red bar at the top of the page indicates that the car is currently for sale. The text simply links to the thread in the Bluesmobiles for Sale forum.
In the case of Bluesmobiles being sold/traded, I'll have an option available for members to transfer ownership of their car's database page to another member (pending confirmation and approval by moderators I guess).
Also, I'll try to figure out a way of adding a Bluesmobile without an owner, so we can add replicas that aren't owned by members. Then if the owner joins, they simply have to prove ownership and we'll give them control over the page (if they want it).
My ultimate goal would be to have a database of every fan owned/built Bluesmobile replica in the world
If (and I stress the 'if') I ever build a Tribute Band Database, it would hopefully link to the Bluesmobile Guide, so tribute bands could show off any cars they use as part of their act.
Please provide any feedback or suggestions you have about anything I've discussed above!
(Topic moved to Bluesmobiles forum to get feedback directly from Bluesmobile owners!)
It's a SUPER idea...anything I can do to help, just let me know!
