How about it Model Railroader? I really enjoyed the last one even though I did not place.
Victor A. Baird
Fort Wayne, Indiana
I would love that!
I’d be up for it. -Alex Warshal
I have a few layout design plans I would like to share.
Well we can start one right here. We name our specifications, and sent in the results to Steve or someone else, and let them pick a layout.
ROAR
Great idea. The magazine gets more articles to print without even asking for them, we get more great layout ideas and they don’t have to award any prizes. Sounds like a win-win all around.
I’ll tell you a secret. We hold contests like that if we find ourselves running dangerously low on a particular kind of article. We haven’t run a track plan contest in a while because we haven’t had a problem with people sending in plenty of track plan articles without requiring a contest.
That said, if you have what you believe to be a publication-worthy track plan, write up the article to go with it and send it in. Getting an article accepted on its own merits is probably easier than going up against dozens of other competitors in a contest.
Oh… it’s all about you, huh? [:)]
I think it would be fun for the participants. Why not do it here? You could come up with a “givens and druthers” list, post it in the forum, and let the membership submit ideas and critique the ideas of others.
Here’s an idea for a format:
- Start a thread listing the givens and druthers and let people post plans (no discussion) to that thread.
- Pick the top 3 or 4
- Start a “comment on this plan” thread for each of the top plans and let the members comment
- Read the comments and after a set time period
- Declare a winner that can then add “Winner of the summer 2015 MRR Forum Track Planning Contest” to their forum signature.
I know you have a day job, but this wouldn’t take all that much work and it would be fun. It could also be the source for a future article if you choose.
And open up myself (and the magazine) to accusations of bias and unfairness when the results aren’t to some loudmouth’s liking? [li][:'(][li] That’s a big noooooo thank you. If all you’re looking for is an informal Forum thing anyway, there’s no reason you couldn’t do it yourselves.
Based on what I know of people…
If people are sending in track plans unasked, some of them must have been, er - let me find the right phrase, “less than optimal”.
Perhaps, if someone has been keeping a “You have to see This one” folder, some of the wors…er more impressive examples could be published?
The April issue might be best.
Not many. And we don’t purchase those. We get plenty of publishable ones.
Space Mouse used to run contests like this on this forum. It takes a lot of time and effort to do that, and even with all the people who are regular here there was not really all that much participation.
I started the thread. I wasn’t interesting in having a contest here, but if you folks what to, go ahead. I’ll take up the suggeston of just doing an article.
Victor A. Baird
Fort Wayne, Indiana
It would be fun and I would give it a go.