Who is interested in...?

We haven't had a Photo Contest for a while and I thought we might change up this time around and have a Scratch Building Contest. Is anyone interested? Rules are simple. Wood, plastic and metal allowed. Anything not built by you is not allowed. No kits or kitbashing parts. Preformed metal tubing is of course allowed. You must create the piece. Cheers, Jim CCRR

Would Micron Art windows be allowed?

PRR, No, because this would open up a can of worms. Of course you may make windows and frames by scratch building out of metal, wood, or plastic. This topic is not an easy one given the rules. Should be fun if we get enough entries. Cheers, Jim CCRR:)

It sounds interesting, but... Are you planning to put under one umbrella scratch built buildings, bridges and trestles, vehicles, construction and farm equipment, railroad cars, various track components, turntables and turnouts, locomotives? Obviously they're not in the same league. Are factory made trucks wheels and chassis OK? Or scratch building means structures only?

Lajos

What ever happened to the PB&J Lid contest? Who won? Where are the entries!! Did I miss it?

Go Scratchbuilders!!

Hobo Tim

Lajos, Good points. Scratch building is scratch building. Every thing has to be scratch. If that means only structure then that's it. Maybe someone can be really creative and reinvent those wheels. Cheers, Jim CCRR:)

Tim, Beverly stated that she wanted the "contest" to be non competitive and simply an avenue to show what could be done in 3". No winners, no losers. Cheers, Jim CCRR:)

Socalz44 wrote:

PRR, No, because this would open up a can of worms. Of course you may make windows and frames by scratch building out of metal, wood, or plastic. This topic is not an easy one given the rules. Should be fun if we get enough entries. Cheers, Jim CCRR:)

Socalz44 wrote:

Lajos, Good points. Scratch building is scratch building. Every thing has to be scratch. If that means only structure then that's it. Maybe someone can be really creative and reinvent those wheels. Cheers, Jim CCRR:)

Jim, I hate to say it, but you've already opened up a can of worms here. For instance, I call my crossing flasher here "scratchbuilt," but it wouldn't qualify because the light targets were swiped from a TrainCat searchlight signal kit, and the ladder came from some Micron Art kit.



In fact, just about everything I've scratchbuilt (except maybe for the Shay crankshaft) makes use of some commercial components. And excluding trucks, couplers and wheels from the competition goes contrary to traditional scratchbuilding contests. So, I don't envy you for trying to figure out where to draw the line and come up with rules that make sense.

David K. Smith wrote:

In fact, just about everything I've scratchbuilt (except maybe for the Shay crankshaft) makes use of some commercial components.

Ok Dave, then your signal tower is banished banished banished..........

In the spirit of 'true scratch built only', I think that we laser owners would have to eliminate anything cut from the laser as that gives too perfect a piece sometimes.

In my case, the item I want to build could be built one piece at a time using nothing more than hand made components.

Now, what about the base that you may want to put the structure on? Again in my case, the item I wish to use for a base is all natural and nothing would be done to it except to glue pieces onto it.

What about scenicking it? Can we use commercial ground foam, rock, dirt, et?

Dave is right, the rules have to be spelled out much plainer.

David and Loren, All good points. Actually, if David never said anything about lighting in his signal he would have been alright! This is only a preliminary discussion on whether members want one at all. I need at least six entrants but more the better. This is a chance for all members to see how there entry stacks up. If one finished well down the list I think that seeing what his/her peers come up with is educational. At least this is how I view these things. I'm always striving to learn from my betters. See my MU question. I'm thinking we may not have time for this before the Z Convention and if we want a contest it will be in May. Rules will be defined when we know there is interest. Ground covers, sticks and stones and weathering products will be allowed. Laser cutting will probably be too apparent in the judges eyes and may cloud their judgement on voting day??? Cheers, Jim CCRR:)

Here's something that's completely scratchbuilt from index card and a piece of balsa wood for the base.

Thom

Now that's what I'm talking about! And if you wanted to make window glass out of your extra plastic sheet in your MTL loco box then that is ok too. It was not made to be a window glass so I consider that scratch.building. Cheers, Jim CCRR:woohoo:

Count me in, sounds like fun since thats all i have been doing lately.lets get the ball rolling

Steve aka "Slugger"

Jim,
There is a contest at the convention so folks who are attending need to go ahead and build something now for your contest and also to enter the MTL contest.

Here's the scoop........ Please notice #10 especially.

Model Contests

Show off your modeling skills by entering into one or many of the contests at this year’s convention. Entries must be dropped off between 10am - 10pm on Thursday, April 29th. Judging will be held on Friday and winners will be announced and displayed on Saturday.

Contest Categories:

1. Best Diesel Engine
2. Best Steam Engine
3. Best Freight Car
4. Best Passenger Car
5. Best Intermodal
6. Best Weathered Freight or Locomotive
7. Best Train Consist
8. Best Structure
9. Best Diorama
10. Best Scratch-Built


Peoples Choice (all categories)
Judge’s Best of Show (all categories)

1st – 3rd Place Awards for each category.
Contest open to attendees only.

Loren, I mentioned this previously about the convention. That's why I felt there would be not time to squeese something in here. What think? Cheers, Jim CCRR:)

Socalz44 wrote:

Actually, if David never said anything about lighting in his signal he would have been alright!

Don't ask, don't tell? Hmmm... sounds like potential trouble. I think I'll sit this one out.

David K. Smith wrote:

Socalz44 wrote:

Actually, if David never said anything about lighting in his signal he would have been alright!

Don't ask, don't tell? Hmmm... sounds like potential trouble. I think I'll sit this one out.

David,

If the rules are defined as all scratch built, then those are the rules. Folks will follow them. I mean, who's going to cheat on a Z scale contest? Count yourself in, dude

Sad to see anyone sit this out. This is my idea of scratch built. Yours may be different. Thats the beauty of this whole thing. Maybe I should just make it wood only? That may help the lawyers in the group come to a decision. Cheers, Jim CCRR:unsure:

I love this subject. Now, we all talking about modeling, and about the possible finest of that. Soon, I have to resign as the ugliest, nastiest, most hated critical voice. I'll do it with a big smile.

Lajos

David K. Smith wrote:

Don't ask, don't tell? Hmmm... sounds like potential trouble. I think I'll sit this one out.[/quote]

That's right Dave, if you don't want to upset the political scene, we must always be PC.

Loren