alterview

After more then 100 hours of work, I finally launched the new Carendt.com website yesterday. A new Small Layout Scrapbook post will follow somewhere this week!

In the course of about a year, I converted the whole website from a static HTML website, to a readable, dynamic, maintainable and easily expandable website. It was a lot of work, but given the reactions I have already gotten, it was surely worth it!

The main issues with the old website were: 

  • Hard to read for some people (because of the choice of color)
  • Not very nice to read on tablets and mobile phones
  • Hard to maintain (HTML by hand, and a lot of manual labour (resizing pictures, adding links to index pages, etc)
  • Very outdated looks

I think I resolved all those issues with this new website, and I hope you will enjoy it just as much as I will!

Also, feel free to share this info on the forums or websites you are active

Thanks!

 


For those who are interested: The platform I used for the website is WordPress, because I have a lot of experience with it, is easy to expand and makes publishing a breeze! Hit me up if you want more info

For those of you who will miss the old website, I have also made that available from a link in the footer of the new website.

Reply 0
LPS L1

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!

That is one of my most favorite model railroading sites.

I can't wait for some new scrapbooks

SKOTI

Building a layout featuring a "what if" L&PS railway and any other shiny/grimy trains I can get my paws on.

lps_hea2.jpg 

 

Reply 0
Dave O

Very Nice ...

... Thank you for all of your time and effort to save this wonderful archive (and keep it going as well).  

 

Reply 0
JR59

Thank you!!!!!

Great news for our hobby! Most appreciated!

Reply 0
joef

Yes, this is great

Yes, this is a great hobby resource. Gee, I love the internet!

Joe Fugate​
Publisher, Model Railroad Hobbyist magazine

[siskiyouBtn]

Read my blog

Reply 0
lnxlnx

Link doesn't work

When I click the link in the topic post to carendt.com, all I get is the homepage for alterview  i.e. http://www.alterview.nl/

 

I can access pages inside the site e.g. http://www.carendt.com/small-layout-scrapbook/but if I select the home menu option on any page it goes to the alterview.nl page.

 

 

George

Reply 0
Virginian and Lake Erie

Very slow to load on I mac.

Very slow to load on I mac. every other web site and or page goes very fast by comparison. I think the site still needs some work. I remember the old site, used to pop in from time to time and look at the track plans. It would be nice if you just had some track plans and a link from them to the layout page. Many times a small plan can be added into a larger one to add some interest or as an industrial element.

I'll check back later, maybe you will have it working better the next time.

Rob in Texas

Reply 0
jarhead

New website

I went to check it out, I spent an hour looking at it. They should rename it the "Magnetic" Website. It is awesome, better than ever. Thank You

Nick Biangel 

USMC

Reply 0
cnwnorthline

Excellent work

It's been awhile since I've seen so many new cardstock models.  They look great.  Just curious how come the factory is only available in the big bundle?

Reply 0
BrianM

Great Update

Thanks for all the hard work you put in to provide us with such a great update to this useful and interesting information.  I also spent a pleasant hour exploring different sections and articles.  FWIW the site pages load very quickly and the links all function on my MBPro (OS X Safari, latest version).

Reply 0
alterview

Re: Link doesn't work

@George That could be a caching problem, have you tried clearing your cache or tried another computer or browser?

Reply 0
alterview

Re: Excellent work

Unfortunately, I can't answer that question for you since the cardstock models aren't on Carendt.com. Please try to contact the seller (Carendt.com just links to the offer).

Reply 0
alterview

Thanks

Thanks for all the kind words!!

Reply 0
lnxlnx

Re: Link doesn't work

It is working fine this morning. Strange things computers!

 

Thank you for updating the site.

 

George

Reply 0
numbersmgr

Much Improved

Gert

Like I said the other day in my reply to your notice to subscribers - your new look is just great.  And it seems that you have more pictures of each layout than before. 

I can't wait for the new content.

Thank you for your hard work.

Jim Dixon    MRM 1040

A great pleasure in life is doing what others said you were not capable of doing!   

Reply 0
Michael Tondee

Thank you!

I much appreciate the time you have put into Carl's site and it looks like others do as well.  I dream of having a big layout someday  but right now I've only got a spare room sized one and even it overwhelms me at times.  I've always loved going to small layout scrapbook to look at what folks are doing in limited space. It's great inspiration. With the sad news of Carl's passing, I wondered what would become of things so I'm very happy to see the work you've put in.

Michael

Michael, A.R.S. W4HIJ

 Model Rail, electronics experimenter and "mad scientist" for over 50 years.

Member of  "The Amigos" and staunch disciple of the "Wizard of Monterey"

My Pike: The Blackwater Island Logging&Mining Co.

Reply 0
UPWilly

Hmmm! Why ...

... does the link in the OP take my browser directly to the alterview hosting web site home page?

 

Bill D.

egendpic.jpg 

N Scale (1:160), not N Gauge. DC (analog), Stapleton PWM Throttle.

Proto-freelance Southwest U.S. 2nd half 20th Century.

Keep on trackin'

Reply 0
lnxlnx

Why...

Looks like there has  been a few teething problems as the whole world tries to access the new site.

 

See http://www.carendt.com/news/troublesome-website-launch/ for more details.

 

George

Reply 0
Dave O

Wow ...

... going the extra mile!  

It is good news to see that the new website been so well received; a bit unfortunate that I am certain is has become more burdensome to maintain.  Anyhow, congratulations, and thanks again for all you have done.  

Reply 0
Joe Walder PRR 2277

Issue on the "Home" page; other pages do work

I'm not sure why, but as a few folks have already pointed out, if you click the link that Gert originally posted, you will get a "404 Not Found" error & a blank page.

If you use any of these other links I have below, you can see the rest of his site (but don't click on the "Home" button there or you'll get the dreaded "404 Not Found" error again - then just click your browser's back button & you'll be able to see the site again).

Anyway, here's the direct links:

The News page: http://www.carendt.com/category/news/

The Small Layout Scrapbook page: http://www.carendt.com/small-layout-scrapbook/

The Micro Layout Design Gallery: http://www.carendt.com/micro-layout-design-gallery/

The Articles page: http://www.carendt.com/articles/

Finally, his Shop page: http://www.carendt.com/shop/

Clicking on any of the above links will get you directly to his site.

Gerk: you need to fix the Home page because that's the link you posted that goes to a dead page. Either way, great job!

Talk to you later,

Joe

Reply 0
alterview

404 errors

I hope that the 404 errors on the homepage are fixed now. Please let me know if you are still having problems!

Reply 0
Bernd

Works OK

Having been a participant in the development of the new site as a beta tester I can say that it's working A OK now. Using Windows 7 with Internet Explorer 11.

Bernd 

New York, Vermont & Northern Rwy. - Route of the Black Diamonds - NCSWIC

Reply 0
dkaustin

New Material?

Just curious if you have added any new material since Carl's site went dormant after his passing? Is that even in your plans or are you just maintaining Carl's creation? What plans do you have for the site? Curious minds want to know! Den

n1910(1).jpg 

     Dennis Austin located in NW Louisiana


 

Reply 0
alterview

Re: New Material

Hi Den (and anyone who's interested),

New material will be added! I'm currently working on a new scrapbook update, that will be live one of these days. The plan is to continue with Carl's old update scheme (at least one update per month). If you want to be informed of website updates, please subscribe to the newsletter on Carendt.com

Please submit your layout updates to me if you want to be included in a following scrapbook update I'm interested in anything that can be nice for my readers. So don't let it hold you back if you don't have a micro/small layout!

Thanks!

Kind regards,
Gert Wierbos

Reply 0
Matt Forcum

Fantastic!

This site was pivotal in getting me back into the hobby again!  It's great to see the new incarnation!  Very nice indeed and very easy to navigate.  Great work!

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