Hi all,

I'd like to post a reminder concerning the data entered when submitting images to the database. We've always run a fairly loose critea here, with either myself or the screeners editing or adding data to submissions as we look at them when it's been missing or incorrect, and have rarely rejected a image for data alone. Sometimes this can be quite straighforward for a single image, but when faced with the more obscure subject, or a large quantity with similar errors, it can take a considerable length of time.

I've been keen to tighten this up for sometime now, and I've posted several links that aid identification of aircraft serials to the forum previously. However, we're still receiving a large percentage of images that have either quite clear errors, or the data has been left blank, even when in many instances the information is quite clearly visible. I've now started to reject a number of these where I feel little or no attempt has been made to provide as much information as was possible.

Now, I don't want to give the wrong impression here, as it's certainly not my intention to start rejecting large numbers of images for minor typos or where the photographer appears to have done the best possible with the data available. Like many others here, I upload images at the other database sites as well, and know from my own experience that their expectations in this area are far more stringent, with the slightest mistake/omission resulting in a rejection. That's not the idea here at all.

We'll provide as much help as possible where we can, but we want to get away from the assumption that the data will be added/fixed by the screeners and myself. If there's a large quantity of images uploaded with the same mistakes/omissions I'll probably edit a couple up and point the photographer towards these as a example. In all cases I will let the photographer know why the image has been rejected. If it's just one or two, then I'll correct those, again letting the photographer know what they will have to address the next time they upload. I've rejected/screened a few from several photographers in this manner in the last few days. As I say, the intention is to get the information as efficently as possible.

I've linked several of these sites before, but here's a reminder;

This is THE database for US military serials, from all services and timeframes. Virtually all my US queries go straight to here.

http://home.att.net/~jbaugher/

A UK site similar in style as the above.

http://www.ukserials.com/index.php

Scramble's military database. This covers most air arms worldwide, although it does vary in it's coverage. This is in the free part of the site and is easy to use.

http://www.scramble.nl/milbase.htm

I find the three sites above usually give me the answer, and they're all easy to use, but if you are still stuck for specific serials and codes on a airframe, then even googling what you know from the image often comes up with the answer. It's usually the case that somebody has photographed the same aircraft as you somewhere and has uploaded it to one of the databases, although the results obviously can't be completely guaranteed.

Any queries on the above, by all means let me know.

Gary Stedman

Database Editor

Thanks for that one Nathan, I wasn't familiar with it so that will come in quite handy in the future. If anybody wants to add any other sites that can be used for reference please do so.

Gary

Thank's the great database links!:wink