Ned in Vegas Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 I recently wrote a long blog comparing the two top online model kit stash managers, My Hobby Info and Scalemates. I compared them on features, utility, ease of use, and a variety of other criteria. If you're interested, you can read this blog at: http://barnettoutofthebox.blogspot.com/. In a nutshell, I found that My Hobby Info (http://www.myhobbyinfo.com) was created to serve as a stash manager - it's what they do, and they do it well. Scalemates http://www.scalemates.com/ was created to be one feature of a full-featured modeling community, a "Facebook" for modelers. As such, the stash manager isn't the number one focus, and I found it harder to use. Not a lot harder, but harder. Since I only wanted the stash manager, I chose My Hobby Info - however, I'm also a member of Scalemates and use it when I want to see galleries or walk-arounds, or to participate in forums. What do you think? Ned in Vegas Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lancer512 Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 What impressed me on Scalemates was the kit database with each kit's lineage. That's also the reason why I signed up there for free. Stash management is nice to have, but at home I am using my own Exel spreadsheet with more information for that purpose. I agree that is is easily available from other locations with internet access, as I do not carry my spreadsheet with me in the shops. I do not use their community at all anymore, as I can not get used to that kind of "newsfeed". I just contribute to the kit database. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Crazy Snap Captain Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 (edited) Same with me. I have my own spreadsheet with pivot tables so I can sort by scale, manufacturer, subject matter, type (example, kit, cockpit set, PE, decals etc) and other fields. That way when I start a project I sort by subject matter, say F-16, and then all the parts that I have come up. I've had instances where I have either forgotten to utilise an AM part that I had or double ordered. Really helps. Edited February 26, 2014 by Crazy Snap Captain Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lucas C. Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 I've tried both, and there are aspects of both that I like and dislike, much like Ned. For now, I'll keep my main stash listing in a LibreOffice database, but will consider duplicating it on MHI or SM for backup purposes. Scalemates: What I like--I uploaded nearly all of my stash into Scalemates because I found its search engine fairly easy to use and its database very extensive--it was only missing one of my kits. I usually search by product number, and I had no problems finding the exact kit--often it would be either the only hit or one of a handful of hits. I also love the very large AM database Scalemates has--it's handy for when you need to find out if there are related products. I've found the actual adding of items to the stash almost as easy as with MHI (but not quite)--you click on the green bar next to a search hit, click on stash, and click on add. You can then search again, right from the same window--this makes the process of adding to the stash very quick. I also like the ability to create projects that include a kit (or more!) and several AM items. Finally, I like the ability to add new kits and AM items--this allows the database to grow quickly (and you can correct items that aren't quite right). What I dislike--I've also uploaded some of my AM products, but I don't like that I can't assign AM products to a specific kit; they just get dumped into your stash. SM tried to group them with the kit they belong to, but some AM items are universal, so they just get dumped into a category (often a counter-intuitive one, or one different from the one listing the kit they are intended for). I would like to be able to link AM items to a kit, like in MHI. I also dislike the inability to change the stash categories in SM or to create additional stash lists. SM decides for you where a kit goes, and some of those decisions are not exactly kosher (a Mini Cooper kit listed in the same category as a Bundeswehr Wolf kit and the RB Model US Antenna bases set?). You also can't assign prices paid or dates of purchase to specific kits. The one thing about its search engine I dislike is that it tries to give you suggestions, and as soon as its starts trying to do this, you can't hit Enter to start the search (at least on my browser)--this is irritating, as I either type fast, or have to use the mouse. My Hobby Info What I like--Its ability to create different stash lists is a big one. I also love the ability to assign AM items to a kit. Adding kits once you have run a search is very easy--just click a button. The ability to narrow a search is useful, as is the ability to search your stash for a given kit. Listing a price and date acquired is a cool and useful feature. What I dislike--I'm not enthused by the kit selection; it's OK, but it has limitations. I also don't like that to add kits you have to request that they be added--you provide the same info on the kit that would end up in the listing in SM, in any case, so it would be more efficient (and the database would grow faster) if users could add kits on their own. I am not keen on how MHI handles completed kits--they go into a separate list (that's good), but they are not deleted from your stash or marked as completed in the main stash listing (that's not good). I would prefer that they either be removed from the stash listing and placed in the completed kits list, or marked as "completed" in the stash. I would like to see MHI add AM items to the database--this would be a big plus. Minor niggles--While not a major issue, one added boost in functionality would be the ability to assign AM items to more than one kit (decal sets, for example, can often be used on several kits). Another one would be the ability to assign a status to items--"building," "part built," "for trade," etc. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
thegoodsgt Posted February 27, 2014 Share Posted February 27, 2014 Excel meets my needs. Just create and maintain whatever metadata you need for the kits in your stash. Get a (free) Dropbox account and you can access your list anywhere you go. And it backs up your files in the event one becomes corrupt. Steven Brown Scale Model Soup Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Grant in West Oz Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Excel meets my needs. Just create and maintain whatever metadata you need for the kits in your stash. Get a (free) Dropbox account and you can access your list anywhere you go. And it backs up your files in the event one becomes corrupt. Steven Brown Scale Model Soup Complete agreement here Steven. Any duplication in my stash is deliberate since the advent of smart phone and cloud. G Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lucas C. Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 I've worked with Scalemates and MHI some more, and I have to say that I'm now leaning heavily toward Scalemates for online stash management. It turns out Scalemates has some of the features I had marked it down for--you can assign prices paid, dates purchased, and even locations and postage costs by clicking on the "Buy" link. It's not intuitive what the "Buy" link is for, but once you know, it is handy. The one drawback is that the info is not visible in the stash listing--you have to click on the link for each kit or AM item to see how much it cost. One change implemented since I last wrote is that the search suggestions no longer block the "Enter" key, so my searches run faster. Scalemates in general seems to be implementing changes and improvements very frequently, which I like. The interface is still somewhat confusing and has a learning curve, as opposed to the simpler one in MHI. My primary stash management remains an offline database, but if Scalemates improves in a few key areas, I may just make the switch. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted April 21, 2014 Share Posted April 21, 2014 I personally use an excel spreadsheet. I don't feel the need to share my stash with the world nor do I need to access it online. I haven't learned pivot tables but, with apprpriate fields, I can filter on and find damn near anything. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
breadneck Posted April 30, 2014 Share Posted April 30, 2014 Scalemates. Very happy i found it. Very helpful for me when trying to find the item number for a specific kit. Kit reviews may also be listed there, but not always. Seems very comprehensive. When i start using one such site, i stop looking for others.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Joel_W Posted April 30, 2014 Share Posted April 30, 2014 Interesting thread. I only have a small stash by any standards: 12 kits. I use Scalemates to help locate kit reviews. Didn't even know that it can help with the availability of AM parts. Will have to re-visit the site and spend some time there. Joel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TimVereecke Posted August 2, 2014 Share Posted August 2, 2014 Thx for the feedback on scalemates! In the last months we worked heavily improving the usability and quality of our stash management features. Also searching our reference database (150.000 kits & aftermarket sets) is so much more intuitive with the new search engine. @ned: looking forward to an updated review, except that the site is hosted in Belgium is about the only thing which is still valid after our relaunch ;) Enjoy the working week! Tim Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.