Hi Chopper,
I will rate this forum according to a rubric that I have planned for forum reviews at W-T.
Colors/Font: 14.5/15 - This color scheme is both unique and effective. I love how the green, black, blue, and even a touch of orange have all been blended together into this wonderful forum. I only have one suggestion, and that is to cut back on the black a bit. Perhaps you could change the links to some other color, since your text is already black. Play around with it, and let me know how it goes.
Images: 9/10 - Overall, the images are very appropriate for the scheme as well. The new/read icons are perhaps some of the best that I have seen on a vB, and almost every icon looks somewhat "sci-fi". My only suggestions are to work on the logo at the top (at the moment, I really do not like it). Also, the logos for your partnering forums/sites aren't showing up - perhaps because their URL is: file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/wayne/Desktop/WTLINK.gif.gif.
Layout: 8.5/10 - First, I must say that what you have done so far is great. You have taken the standard boring vB layout and turned it upside down, and I am impressed! What just amazes me is how you have revamped the entire system of displaying posts within a topic. And better yet, it hasn't hurt the speed.
However, there are a few downfalls. With all these hacks, I have also found the forum very confusing to navigate. I do not understand why the Site Stats and Quizzes are placed in that particular section, and various things have become slightly more difficult to find, such as the topic of a post or the Edit button. I must also mention that the header of your forum looks rather messy when one enters a topic.
Other Customization: 10/10 - I am impressed by the hacks that you have installed. The store and the donate images definitely stand out, as they should, and they are certainly great features. The forum descriptions are short and concise, and you've got some creative titles there as well. I love how you have also prepared a section for Site Statistics and Quizzes as well. But what I love most: how you changed the word "Posts" to "Photos" in the Tech Gallery header category.
Service/Moderation: 5/5 - Wow! Announcements and sticky threads are everywhere, and you explain articulately the forum rules and exactly how the forum is moderated. A definite A+ here!
Overall: 47 x 2 = 94%
Webmaster-Talk Adjusted: 9.4
