With all that has happened lately with Horizon hobbies, MTH Lawsuit, and the general disapearence of kits in general. I have started to become well shall we say disallusioned with the hobby. No I do not plan to leave model railroading But rather set my own course.
That has led me to wonder about the possibility of hosting a scratchbuilding compitition. What I am proposing is an open invitation to submit to a central location scratchbuilt models as well as articles detailing their construction. After the model has been photographed and the articles copied, have all entries posted to a website where then the modeling public can vote for their favorite model and the models returned to their owner. (I am still hashing this out, I may go with submission of photographs of finished model. Eliminates the whole shipping of models back and fourth) I propose 6 Catagories for the models. Locomotives, Freight cars, Passeger Cars, MOW cars, Buildings, and Mini-scenes. Then there will be a best of show award as well.
The models can be done in Any scale, of any prototype. Or if you want to wing it no particular prototype at all. The object is to have fun and show people like MTH, Horizon, and those that choose to do away with kits that there are still ways to ejoy this hobby beginning with a very basic elemental skill. Scratchbuilding.
There would be some ground rules so that everyone can play fair.
Models could not be started before a set date.
Models would have to be completed before a set date and articles submitted at yet another set date after that.
3 Modeler my use some basic neccissities. Like Doors Windows, Trucks Couplers, Motor, Drive train, and decoders but other than these items, the models would have to be completly scratchbuilt.
Models can be of any type and not of a complicated nature. This is like an NMRA contest where the winner is chosen on a point system, but rather what the public deems to be good mode
I’m in if I have enough time. If the due date could be pushed back into March…
I like the ideas of pics best. One question though regarding #3. What if I want to do a MoW car that was a revenue service car modified for MoW? Can I purchase an undecorated shell or repaint a decorated one and then go from there? I don’t think that their is anyway that I could go completly from scratch yet. So maybe a kitbashing catagory as well…?
This would probably be my first scratchbuild, but this give me a good excuse to give it a shot!
Step away from the RTR stuff and no one will get hurt!
Seriously, I think it would be a great idea. You’d definately have to make it a long term thing, maybe have the finals in June or July. But the conrtestants would have to submit a monthly photo to show progress?
I’m still very much a novice at scratchbuilding, but learning more. A couple years ago I started into TT scale, where there is no such thing as ready to run. Heck, the older kits would almost qualify as scratchbuilding- a wood floor, wood roof, maybe some cast car ends and wood or cardboard sides. You mess up the first one, but they get better as they go! But I want to try building a caboose to match an Erie RR one. Maybe the contest will give me a jolt to get started on it!
Do you think that if their is enough interest Model Railroader might even get involved? Although like the idea of just the people on this board a lot!
I like the idea of a long build too. June would be great! We could even have people submit a starting picture of the initial materials and say a local newspaper. It would keep people honest, but more importantly provide a before and after!
BTW, would only one submission be allowed? As I think about this, there are several different cars that I would like to try.[:D]
I have not set a start date for construction or a due date for the photos. I just had this idea and am wondering what people think.
In Regard to Dough’s comment about kitbashing. I would like to keep it to what I deem pure scratch building. (I know that some kitbashes involve alot of scratchbuilding) Meaning on your mow car example in the spirit of what I am trying to do, You can use factory made trucks and couplers. But in terms of what I am trying to do. The resto f the car would be scratch built. However do not be dismayed. THe project can be comparitivly simple. (Like a Tie car, [which would be a retired flat car, maybe with a jib crane for helping ties off]) I am not looking for NMRA contest winners. Just oringinal pieces that didn’t start as a Ready to Roll piece of equipment or a Set on the layout structure.
Oh well, I better get started praticing if I’m going to even have a respectable showing in this…I don’t have a clue how to go from nothing, but maybe this will be a good way to learn. I’m still interested, but we shall see what I can come up with…
I am sure you can use a simple tool shed on your layout of some kind.
Chose your medium. Wood, plastic, or what ever you have on hand.
Step 1. cut out two rectangles. These are your sides. If you want them to be a specific dimension get out a scale rule and measure so you cut to the correct lenght and height.
Set two. Cut out two pentagon shapes. Make sure that two sides are opposite one another and are as long as the short dimension of your two side pieces. Make the length across the bottom to the desired lenght and cap off the pentagon at the top to determin your roof pitch. (If you have ever made a gingerbread house your well ahead of the game)
Step 3 Cut out your doors and windows. If you have door and window castings measure them to make sure what you cut out is the right size.
Step 4. Brace your interior. Using 1/4" X 1/4" (Assuming this is HO) and make a frame around the walls. Lay a 1/4 post at each end and run a 1/4 cross member between them. Besure to rout the cross members around doors and windows. What you are wanting is a basic framing to prevent the wall from warping. Besure when you do the ends save a 1/4 on the outboard so you can glue your walls together without this unsightly inteior bracing sticking out.
Step 5 Glue your walls together. In the corners place 1/4 inch squre piece of bracing to ensure a strong glue joint.
Step 6. Glue in Doors and windows.
Step 7. Cut and glue roof.
Step 8. paint structure.
Step 9. when done place on layout.
I hope this basic project is eneugh to get you started. If your shed does not come out like you want your not out much money, and only a few hours effort. Try it again and learn from your first experience.
Oh my God, somebody is actually proposing that we BUILD models???
What happens if we actually become craftsmen??
I mean this is like 1950 stuff, actually building things from pieces, actually having to do research, actually having to be able to fabricate things, how retro.
The next thing you know the NMRA will give out awards for those people actually able to build their own models!
Dave H.
Scratchbuilding and kitbashing his way back to 1905.
I agree. The hobby isn’t fun with all of this garbage going on. To make matters worse, my last four railfanning trips were disasters, it’s starting to get very annoying.
I’m all for a bit of scratchbuilding show and tell. I suggest an “all in” date of July 4th, for symbolic reasons as well as my tendency to sloth.
Also, not to sound like a broken record on the topic: I think it best to have two catagories, one for teens and first time scratchers, another “open” to all comers. Of course I’d not INSIST teens submit in the teens catagory. My aim here is to not overwhelm anyone first time out.
Please tell up what happened on your railfanning trips. Four bad trips?! That’s extreme!
If you don’t want to reply on this thread than perhaps you could post a new thread/poll on "railfanning trip experiences - ". Poll Categories maybe something like: Amtrak, Historical Society, Museum, Club etc. or the question wouild be Would recommend to friends , not recommend to friends, etc,. You get the picture!
Thanks Greyhound. One thing about the research though. Are there any books or websites that would offer at least rough demensions of cars? I was sitting here trying to measure a picture and then divide the length out to get its scale…Is their a better way?[;)]
I even went to Trinitiy’s website, and they have a few more demensions than the side of the car gives. That is a pretty cool site by the way. I’m not thinking that anybody would be too happy if I showed up in a railyard with tape measure in hand…
Here is an idea for a contest and it is borrowed from something my cub scout troup did, oh around 1960 or so. We were each given an odd assortment of stuff in a bag and told to “do something” with it. Maybe given each contestant the identical bag of bits of balsa and some brick paper and file cards and other odd stuff and see who has the most imagination to make something of it. I predict that the modeler with the best collection of articles by E.L. Moore and a wood burning tool might win this one!
Dave Nelson
I imagine dougal thought his last trips were diasters was because all he saw was NS black.[:D][:D][;)][:p] (just kidding) What really happened, dougal?
I really like the idea too. I have been working on casting Virginian style battleship gondolas, and have thought of making a mold for the modern style Thrall cars. I would scratch the master just to avoid copyright hassles, but where would the castings fall? Would they then be scratchbuilt, or kits? Are we looking also at quantity versus quality? Still some good questions to work out, but I am all for it! I think I’ll hold off on the Thrall cars, just in case…
Most of the major model railroading magazines publish drawings of cars and buildings. In addition if you search e-Bay for “railroad books” or “Train-shed Cyclopedia” you can find books with nothing but prototype plans and pictures.
Thank you all for your input. I like the idea about having a Teen/first timer class as it then gives a more level playing field for those whom this would be their first attempt at scratch building and for those who are old hands at it.
There are some peoples questions I would like to answer so please bear with me.
In regards to rdal1964
At this time I am not able to set a due date. I have only thought this up yesterday. I still need time to get a receiving and processing system set up, as well as contact some people and see if they are willing to donate prizes.
As for your tendency to be a sloth, I know the feeling. Being in college I have not had time to wrap up a simple painting project. Its been sitting on my worktable for over a year now.
As for Dough
[quote]
QUOTE: Originally posted by Dough
Thanks Greyhound. One thing about the research though. Are there any books or websites that would offer at least rough demensions of cars? I was sitting here trying to measure a picture and then divide the length out to get its scale…Is their a better way?[;)]
I even went to Trinitiy’s website, and they have a few more demensions than the side of the car gives. That is a pretty cool site by the way. I’m not thinking that anybody would be too happy if I showed up in a railyard with tape measure in hand…