Creating A Database

The first thing you need to know before you start to create a database, is in which categories you will put your models.

I work with 4 categories, as you can see on the site:

1.FOR SALE.
In this category i actually séll miniatures for real. People can choose and buy brand new scale models, brandnew and in the original unopened box. Often, new items will be added on a weekly/monthly base. I don't buy these models to make extra money, i am not a collector or reseller of new items, but sometimes i will buy a small lot of totally brandnew cars, which i will put up for sale.

2.SHOWROOM.
In the showroom i will put brandnew scalemodels for my projects. I will build scalesized cardealerships and actually put these new cars in the showroom. I have opened the original packaging and threw these away, because i don't like collecting paper and cardboard. :)

3. MUSEUM.
My museum is actually several 'in-between' stations for car models.
One part is reálly a museum, people can look and wonder about older models.
The next part is a secondhand car-lot, nice modern cars in tiptop shape.
The third part is reserved for cars in projects, ready for use in a diorama.

4. JUNK YARD.
The junkyard has also two sections:
the first being an actual junkyard for scrapmetal, car parts and recycling with a scalemodel real working carcrusher.
The second part is the junkyard garage. Here scalemodels wait to be repaired or completed wth other or selfmade parts, with a carlot for cheap cars for sale.

5. WANTED.
The last category is the car models i am looking for, in any state.
But since i have no information on forehand, this category doesn't appear in the database.

For the first four categories we need to make labels for the fields, to put all the data in. I always make lots of pictures of all my scale models, so for me it is important to put the corresponding image together with the data in the database.
What fieldlabels do you need? I use 12:

A. PHOTO
Field for inserting a thumbnail image of the car.

B. YEAR
The year the car actaully appeared in real life. Nót the year the manufacturer made this scalemodel. So, a Honda Accord made in 2007, but the 1984 model is labeled as 1984.

C. BRAND
The brandname of the real car.

D. MODEL
The modelname of the real car.

E. COLOR
The outside color of the car. Also, specify metallic paint.

F. INTERIOR
The color of the interior of the scalemodel. Use 'Chrome' for a chromed interior or 'None' for no interior/seats.

G. SCALE
The scalesize the manufacturer used to create this model. Notice the tiniest differences in size/scale (e.g: 1:64, 1:65, 1:67, etc.).

H. MANUFACTURER
The name of the manufacturer of the scalemodel, nót the brandname of the real car.

I. COUNTRY
The country of the manufacturer of the scalemodel, nót the country of the real carfactory.

J. CAT.#
The catalogue number from the manufacturer of the scalemodel.

K. STATUS
The current condition of the model car. I use 11 different conditions, from best to worst:
#0 = MINT CONDITION, UNDAMAGED IN UNOPENED ORIGINAL PACKAGING
#1 = MINT, UNDAMAGED, UNUSED
#2 = MINT, UNDAMAGED, USED
#3 = NEAR MINT, UNDAMAGED
#4 = SURFACE SCRATCHES ONLY
#5 = MINOR BRUSES, CHROME AND PAINT DAMAGES
#6 = SMALL DENTS AND BRUSES, PAINT DAMAGES, DEEP SCRATCHES
#7 = DAMAGED PARTS, BEND WHEELS, BEND CHASSIS
#8 = FIRE DAMAGE
#9 = MISSING PARTS, WHEELS, DOORS, HOODS, WINDOWS, ETC.
#10 = HEAVY DAMAGE, BROKEN PARTS, BEND, HEAVY DAMAGE


L.PRICE
The buying price when you bought the scalemodel.
If you bought a lot of 100 cars for 15,00, then the price of one model is 0,15.

Now knowing that, you can go and create your database. :)