BMRC MODEL CONTEST SCHEDULE & RULES

For 2008

2008 Schedule

Month              Category/Theme

Jan                   Freight rolling stock

Feb                  Track structures (bridges, trestles, over/under pass, etc.)

March              Open.  Anything goes - even non-RR models.

April                 Off-line structures (houses, stores, etc.)

May                 Railroad owned structures

June                 Open.  Anything goes - even non-RR models.

July                  MOW equipment, including cabooses

Aug                  Locomotive Servicing (water/coal/sand towers, etc.)

September        Open.  Anything goes, even non-RR models.

Oct                  Industries served directly by railroad

Nov                 Passenger rolling stock

Dec                  Model of the Year Contest.

 

This year, we are moving to a contest system which is designed to accommodate as many modeling styles as possible, with no bias towards any particular style.

 

There will be 8 meetings with category oriented contests (see schedule below). There will be two contests per meeting (Kit built and Scratch built), as defined below. Models are required to conform to the specified category for the month.  Dioramas and/or modules intended for layouts will be welcome, but the central theme/component shall be indicated on the entry form to establish which contest should be entered. In addition, there will be a Show & Tell table, which will be totally open. There will be no judging or awards for Show & Tell entries.

 

Per the schedule, there will be 3 meetings with open categories. Again, there will be a Kit Built contest and a Scratch Built contest at each meeting. The entries can be in any category including non-railroad models (planes, cars, ships, etc.).

 

General Contest Rules. All entries in any contest must be crafted entirely by the entrant and must have been constructed within the past two years. Only one model can be entered in any one contest each month. If a model has been awarded a 1st, 2nd or 3rd place award in any past BMRC contest, it cannot enter any subsequent contest. A model that has not won an award can be entered in no more than one subsequent contest.

 

Judging will be by “popular vote” of the members and guests during the meeting break.  Persons judging a model should consider how well it fits the month’s theme, along with judgment of modeling skill and quality, originality and presentation.  Models may be entered in any scale, and may include any materials.

 

 With four or more entries in a contest, 1st thru 3rd place ribbons will be awarded.  With three entries, only 1st and 2nd places will be awarded.  With only 2 entries, only a 1st place ribbon will be awarded.  When there is only 1 entry, by definition there is no contest, and no award will be made. The modeler is free to move the single entry to the Show & Tell table and also to enter it in subsequent contests.

 

The 1st, 2nd and 3rd place awards will be established through a weighted tally system where a 1st place vote receives a weight of three, a 2nd place vote receives a weight of two and a 3rd place vote receives a weight of one. In case of ties in the weighted totals, the winner of the most 1st place votes will take precedence, etc. If this fails to produce a clear winner, ties will be resolved with a coin flip.

 

Kit Built Contest.  Any model which started as a kit (an assemblage of parts and plans/instructions leading to a specific configuration) must be entered in the Kit Built contest. The kit can be modified and/or enhanced as desired, but it remains a Kit Built model, even if dramatically different than the original kit-specified configuration. If significantly kit bashed, it will be to the modeler’s advantage to bring evidence of the extent of modification or a picture of what the model would have looked like if not modified/enhanced.

 

Scratch Built Contest. This is essentially any model that did not start as a kit. It can start with detailed plans developed by someone other than the modeler, but all parts must be separately fabricated/procured. The use of commercially available parts and assemblies such as trucks, couplers, brake wheels, decals, doors, windows and human figures are acceptable. As a general guideline anything included in the Walther”s catalog under “Scratch Building Supplies” and “Super Detailing Parts” is acceptable for use. Kit and RTR models can be used in diorama/module entries, as long as they are in supporting, and not primary roles and are clearly identified as such on the contest entry form.

 

Ready-to-Run (RTR) Models and Built-up Structures.  Members are encouraged to bring these to illustrate new product releases of rolling stock, especially nice structures, etc. However these cannot be entered as stand alone models in any contest. It is recognized that sometimes, for display purposes, it is desirable to have an RTR model in a supporting role. Examples might be an RTR bulldozer or army tank mounted on a Kit Built or Scratch Built flatcar, or included in a diorama. This is permissible as long as the RTR is not the central theme of the entry, but is only in a supporting role. To assist the judges, all such RTR models should be clearly identified on the contest entry form

 

Diorama/Module.  A “Diorama” is an assemblage of one, or more individual models which is set in an appropriate environment. The environment should be the creation of the modeler, but can be based upon a photograph of other existing graphic representation. The individual models within the diorama can be Scratch Built, Kit Built or RTR. If RTR, they should be not be the central focus of the diorama, but should serve a supporting role and be clearly marked as noted above. If an individual model has been awarded a prize in a previous contest, it can still be incorporated in a subsequent diorama, again providing that it is not the central theme of the diorama. Conversely, an individual model, which was not the central theme, in a diorama can be removed from the diorama and incorporated in a future diorama or be entered in a subsequent contest as a stand alone model, even if the diorama had won an award.

 

Modeler of the Year Award.  Points will be awarded as follows:  a 1st place win will receive 3 points, 2nd place gets 2 points, and 3rd place gets 1 point. No points are awarded in the Show & Tell category. The highest total point score from those contestants having entered six or more contests will become Modeler of the Year.