February 2006 Intra-club Contest Report:
The February meeting model contest had the theme “On Line Structures”. We’re getting past the initial confusion over which Tier was which (Tier I is “Open” and Tier II for Kit-based entries only). Our members are now even beginning to make pre-entry evaluations as to which Tier gives them the best chance of victory. After all, a kit-based entry is eligible for entry in either tier. It was very encouraging to see five excellent entries in the February contest. Good modeling has survived in the BMRC.
Of the two Open entries, first place went to Jack Rummel for his 1/87th scale “Lina Industries” mine diorama, complete with a slim-gauge mine locomotive pulling three tiny ore cars. Second place went to Bob Rothe for his 1/87 scale railroad interlocking tower with complete interior detailing.
In Tier II, or for models built only from kits, first place went to Bob Rothe for the 1/87th scale water tank he built from the Suncoast Models kit. In second place was Buzz Allen’s D&RGW sand house with sand holding bin built from a Campbell kit in 1/87th scale. Third place was awarded to Roy Johnson, also for a 1/87th scale sand house, this one built from an old Alexander Scale Models kit. It’s fun to see some of these old kits actually built, and each one built very well indeed.
The Mizell’s Hobbies $10 gift certificate drawing was won by Roy Johnson (that’s three months in a row for Roy), and the Caboose Hobbies $10 gift card went to Jack Rummel. Remember, you don’t need to “place” in the contest to be eligible for the gift certificate drawing. All you need to do is enter, as the winners are picked at random from all the entries.
The theme for the March model contest, the third of the 2006 season with new contest format, will be “Steam Locomotives”. For kit-based (or Tier II) steam locomotive entries, you may enter any steam-powered locomotive built from a “kit”, so long as it didn’t come completely pre-assembled, factory-painted and factory-lettered. You may change the paint scheme, the road name, wheels or trucks and the couplers and it’s still eligible for Tier II. However, if you change or add other than the kit-supplied parts, then the entry must go into Tier I, or the “Open” class. If I were to modify my Bachmann On30 two-truck Shay, for example, with brass detail parts from Backshop and PSC to tailor it to a specific railroad, that’s going to be a Tier I entry. If all I did was add or change the road name with decals and painted the cab roof red, that could be a Tier I or Tier II entry. A fully factory built, factory painted and factory lettered Shay, with no changes to its out-of-the-box condition, would not be eligible for our BMRC model contests.
If you have questions, please call me at 303-682-9282 before the contest.
The theme for the April contest will be Off-Line Structures, or those not served directly by the railroad. Many of us have signed up to help the HO SIG by building some of the Bar Mills Models kits, so we might well have a banner model contest turnout in April. The May contest will be for Diesel and “other-than-steam” motive power.
Gerry Cole
First place Kits:Jack Rummel for his 1/87th scale “Lina Industries” mine diorama
Second place Kits: Buzz Allen’s D&RGW sand house with sand holding bin built from a Campbell kit in 1/87th scale
Third place Kits: Roy Johnson, also for a 1/87th scale sand house, this one built from an old Alexander Scale Models kit
First place Kits:Jack Rummel for his 1/87th scale “Lina Industries” mine diorama
Second place Kits: Bob Rothe for his 1/87 scale railroad interlocking tower with complete interior detailing