Here it is, the project that has been in the works since January, and which I’ve been cagey about since around Monday. Turns out this is an echo from two years ago, and I’m launching yet another Gunpla related venture.
This is Gunpla DB, short for Gunpla Database, an English-language search engine and repository for all existing Gunpla models. It checks Bandai Hobby and Amazon for the most accurate and up-to-date information on Gunpla models, their specs, how much they cost, and where they are currently available.
Well, that’s the pitch. We’re still in beta, so we have exactly 890 of the 1,300+ existing Gunpla created since 1980. And we need help before we can expand. Here’s how you can use the site now:
- Is something not working as expected? Send us some feedback.
- Is there an additional feature or a way you’d really like to use the site that doesn’t exist? Send us some feedback.
Soon we will also allow users to contribute their own information and images! For now, we’re relying on a database algorithm we’ve been perfecting for the better part of six months. Hence the sometimes-blurry images—thumbnails are way more reliable than high resolution.
This project would not have been possible without John, who first came up with the idea after yet again asking me to use my basic Japanese skills to search for a Gunpla in Bandai’s database, and wondering why there wasn’t a site that would allow him to do it himself. But the real MVP of the project was our developer, Crimm, who provided all the database know-how that you see here and put countless hours into the project. We hired Crimm to help us with our vision, but his tireless work honestly became the vision.
So please, check out our labor of love. Just be gentle, since it’s still a work in progress!
2 Comments.
[…] and fan projects. While I’ve been working on my blog and my books and, most recently, the Gunpla database, you’ve been building cool stuff in parallel. It’s reminded me that blogging isn’t a […]
Nice work, looks very thorough already. Congrats on accomplishing this. What kind of back-end do you guys use?
Some recommendations:
– higher resolution images if at all available
– Some content explaining Gunpla and the purpose of your service very briefly + a nice visual or something. I understand the target audience knows what it is but still to add some spice and to assist your ranking in Google. Along with all the detail pages you’ll have a nice long tail in Google Search. Plus it’ll also aid social sharing.
– Speaking of social, I’d add share buttons (and/or links to your own social media profiles if you have them) on the homepage too.
– Something like a “browse our collection” call to action button on the homepage. Maybe people don’t yet know what to search for (though I did find the X Gundam entries”-link in the footer eventually)
– Not particularly easy to do (jQuery helps) but showing live results while you type in the search box. Would make the whole service you provide so much more convenient, and fast.
Anyway, keep up the good work!