Contests for 2023

THE MODEL CONTEST BOX:
     Another fun season of sharing our model railroad treasures and talents with others is upon us. As in the past, the contest will have two categories; a model that conforms to the contest for the month and the other category is the “mini module” or most often referred to as a diorama. A division member may enter one or the other category, but not both.

     The voting will be a little different. The ballot will have a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place to mark your choice for each of the categories. If an entry receives the most votes in 1st place and also receives the most votes for 2nd place, the higher place will be awarded to the entry but the 1st place winner will not be eligible to receive the 2nd place award.

     Points will be awarded as follows; 4 points for 1st place, 3 points for 2nd place, 2 points for 3rd place and 1 point for participation. I know rules can be a pain, but without them, we would have a corn field meet which would be chaos and yelling. We will leave that nonsense for the politicians.

I will list the different contest subject matters in a minute, but first I want you to know that some months will see a contest that is quite open for interpretation for the solution to the challenge. Other months will be more specific and not all contests will involve steel wheels on rails. Somethings will change and others will remain the same; for example, the ballots will give you the opportunity to vote 1st, 2nd, and 3rd but we will continue to have two categories; models and dioramas.

The March Model Contest was a yard office which could be of any size. The challenge was met with yard offices that varied in size from that of a converted outhouse to a multi-purpose, two story building. As one person wrote on their ballot, "All the entries were worthy of first place". I agree, but after the ballots were counted, our first-place winner in the model category was Joe Kurilec. Jim Grell, with his lit entry, took second place and the model from Don Glass came in third place. The dioramas had some great entries with first place going to a new participant, Craig Butler, who built a Reading Railroad two story yard office, with a weight scale office complete with controls, on the side of the structure. Second place went to Art Bumpus with his fine model and third place was awarded to "Mr. Cherrios" Dave Lawler.

I would be willing to guess that most of you that are reading this consider yourselves model railroaders. I would further believe that in your collection of railroad stuff, there is at least one open hopper car. Some of you I know have over a hundred. So, take one of those open hopper cars and load it with something other than coal. Next thing to do is pack that car up and bring it to the April Model Contest. Please reframe from adding authentic aroma if you are modelling a garbage load. I am looking forward to seeing you and your hopper at the contest table in a few weeks. So, hop to it!

The April contest is an open hopper car purposed for something other than coal. The last contest of the season is the May contest of something that would be found on a military train consist. Well, troops, we have our orders, so let's get a roll on it.

"April is an open hopper car purposed for something other than coal."

"May is a military train. Something that would be found on a military train consist."

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