Contests
Volunteers and Contest Judges Needed!
Volunteers are needed to judge contest entries on Saturday and to provide security in the Contest Room Thursday through Saturday. Model contest judges earn two (2) time units towards their AP Association Volunteer Certificate. Volunteers will earn units prorated to the time invested. Contact the Contests Chair, Giuseppe Aymar, MMR, contest2022@pcrnmra.org, or the Volunteer Coordinator, Cliff Baumer volunteers2022@pcrnmra.org if you would like to assist in this very important function.
Contest Room Schedule
(Subject to review and approval)- Thursday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM Open for viewing and submitting entries
7:00 PM - 9:00PM Open for viewing - Friday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM Open for viewing
7:00 PM - 9:00PM Open for viewing - Saturday
Closed for Contest Judging 3:00 PM - 5:30 PM Pick up contest entries provided judging is completed
9:30 PM - 10:00 PM Last chance to pick up all Contest entries
Contest Forms
Every entry requires at least one form to be entered in all Contests. Models and modules to be judged also need the appropriate judge's score sheet.
All of the required contest forms may be downloaded from the PCR website Contest Information page. (This link takes you to the PCR Contest forms website). It is strongly recommended to complete the forms prior to arriving at the convention.
After the forms have been downloaded and filled in for each item to be entered, bring the forms and the item(s) to the Contest Registration Desk, where each entry will be assigned a number and entered into the appropriate contest category. Please bring all entries at the same time.
Blank forms will be available onsite and those working in the contest room will gladly help in the filling out of entry information, if asked.
NMRA Achievement Program
Models achieving 87.5 points or better will receive an Achievement Program Merit Award, regardless of what place it finishes in. Only NMRA members in good standing are eligible to receive AP Merit Awards.
Remember that some AP certificates require some qualifying models to receive a Merit Award. This is a perfect opportunity to complete those requirements. Go to the NMRA website to view the requirements. If you have questions about the NMRA Achievement Program, contact:
Giuseppe Aymar, MMR, Redwood Empire Division Achievement Program Chair
Jack Burgess, MMR, PCR Achievement Program Manager
Model Contest
Requirements
- An entrant in the model contest must be a member of the NMRA in good standing.
- Commercial model builders may not enter model contests.
- Entries that have won First Place in a PCR or NMRA contest may not be entered again.
Classes
The Model Contest includes five 5 classes:
- Open: Anyone meeting the requirements above may enter the Open class.
- Kit:Anyone meeting the requirements above may enter the Kit class if the model is kit-built, kit-bashed, or cross-kitted. A kit entry is generally defined as one built using components, packaged together for commercial sale, although the entrant may modify or supplement such components.
- Novice: Anyone meeting the requirements above and has not previously been awarded: (a) more than 87.5 points in the contest category being entered, (b) more than 100 points in any model contest category, (c) model contest Best of Show, may enter the Novice class.
- Teen: Anyone 13 through 17 years old may enter the Teen class.
- Youth: Anyone under 13 years old may enter the Youth class.
Categories
Models may be submitted for judging in the following regular contest categories:
- Steam locomotive: All types of steam locomotives. Entries must be powered.
- Diesel and Other Locomotives: All locomotives except steam or traction, including heavy electric locomotives. Entries must be powered; multiple-unit entries must have at least one unit powered.
- Passenger car: All types of cars in passenger service other than cabooses, traction or maintenance of way.
- Freight car: All types of revenue freight cars, including express and company service cars other than M of W.
- Caboose: All types of cabooses, including M of W.
- Maintenance of Way: All types of non-revenue equipment not included in the categories above, all types of trackwork, all types of non-revenue railroad off-track vehicles.
- Structures: All structures, other than trackwork, without significant scenery. Scenery, if any, is not judged.
- Displays: All dioramas or groups of models displayed with significant scenery.
- Traction and Self-Propelled Cars: Self-propelled cars, and all models of electrically powered equipment except heavy electric. Models must be powered; multiple-unit entries must have at least one unit powered.
Entrants may indicate if they wish to be judged in kit-built, scratch-built, novice, teen (13- to 17-year-old) or youth (under 13-year-old) subclasses.
Required Forms
To enter the Model Contest, entrants must complete a separate PCR Model Contest Entry Form Cover Sheet for every model submitted.
These forms will be collected in the Contest Log Book in chronological order with the Contest Claim Check attached. Entrants will be required to sign the claim check at the time the model is returned to them in good order at the end of the contest. Proxy entries will be accepted.
For any contest model to be formally judged, the entrant must, at a minimum, complete and submit the model with either a Model Contest Entry Form - Open, Kit, & Novice OR Model Contest Entry Form - Youth, depending on which class is being entered. This form may be accompanied by supplemental information, plans, photographs, etc., that the entrant feels will help the judges appreciate the model.
Failure to provide a Model Contest Entry Form will result in the model not being formally judged as part of the Model Contest. In this case, the model can still be displayed as a Showcase (display) item that will be a candidate in the Popular Vote portion of the contest, along with any other models submitted for display only.
Awards
A plaque will be awarded for Best of Show. A plaque and blue ribbon will be awarded to first place winners in each category. Ribbons will be awarded for 2nd and 3rd place finishers. Honorable Mention Certificates will be awarded for models which score over 87.5 points, but do not place among the top three in any category. Models achieving 87.5 points or better will receive an Achievement Program Merit Award, regardless of what place it finishes in.
If there is only a single model entered in any category except the Novice classes, and that model earns fewer than 35 points, we will not award a first place award for that category. This is being done to try and encourage modelers to present their best effort, rather than to just enter a category that is unsubscribed only to get an award plaque. Our goal is for modelers to share their best work with our members at the convention.
Module (Portable Layout) Contest
Requirements
An entrant in the Module Contest must be a member the NMRA in good standing.
Commercial model builders may not enter module contest.
Entries that have won First Place in a PCR or NMRA contest may not be entered again.
Categories
Modules may be entered in one of two categories:
- Individual module
- Group Module
To distinguish modules from the above Diorama/Display category in the Model Contest, evidence should be submitted to show modules are capable of being connected to other similar modules as opposed to just being a demountable portion of a layout. Modules will be judged using the same criteria as used for judging the Diorama/Display category in the Model Contest. Modules will be also eligible for the Popular Vote Contest (see below).
Required Forms
To enter the Module (Portable Layout) Contest, entrants must complete a separate PCR Portable Layout/Module Contest Cover Sheet for each module submitted. For any contest module to be formally judged, the entrant must, at a minimum, complete and submit the module with a PCR Portable Layout/Module Contest Entry Form. This form may be accompanied by supplemental information, plans, photographs, etc., that the entrant feels will help the judges appreciate the module. Failure to provide the Portable Layout/Module Contest Entry Form will result in the module not being formally judged as part of the Module Contest. In this case, the module can still be displayed as a Showcase (display) item that will be a candidate in the Popular Vote portion of the contest, along with any other modules submitted for display only.
Awards
A plaque and blue ribbon will be awarded to first place winners in each category. Ribbons will be awarded for second and third place. Honorable Mention will be awarded for modules that score 87.5 points but do not finish in the top three.
Photo Contest
Requirements
An entrant in the Photo Contest must be a member of the NMRA in good standing. Prototype and model railroad theme photographic prints only (no slides), sized and mounted according to PCR Photo Contest Judges and Participant Guide.
Each print must be at least 5x7 inches and no larger than 8x12 inches and must be mounted on a rigid mounting board for ease of display. Said mounting board shall be no smaller than 11x14 inches and no larger than 12x16 inches.
Commercial photographers may not enter the Photo Contest.
Entries that have won First Place in a PCR or NMRA contest may not be entered again.
Maximum Entries
An entrant may enter a maximum of three prints in any one category and a maximum of six prints in total. The entrant must have exposed the original negative or digital image.
Categories
Photos may be entered for formal judging in the following categories:
- Model Black & White
- Model Color
- Prototype Black & White
- Trains in Action
- Track and Structures
- Working on the Railroad
- General Rail Subjects (distinguishable from the previous four categories)
- Display
An additional category is available for showcasing any print of any subject that the entrant does not wish to be formally judged. Prints in the latter category will still be eligible to participate in the Popular Vote Contest (see below).
Required Forms
To enter the photo contest, entrants must complete a separate PCR Photo Contest Entry Form for each photo submitted.
Awards
Best in Show, first, second, third place and honorable mention will be awarded, when appropriate. Plaques and blue ribbons will be awarded to first place photographers in each category. Ribbons will be awarded for 2nd and 3rd place. A plaque will be awarded for Best in Show.
The "Best in Show" awards for Model and Photograph (the only two "Best in Show" awards) are not based on votes but are judged competitions. The "Best in Show" model is the judged model that scores the highest points total and the "Best in Show" photograph is picked by the photo judges from the first-place photos in all categories. In both cases the "Best in Show" winner is promoted and the entries below them are moved up in their categories.
Arts & Crafts Contest
All registered convention attendees and accompanying family will be eligible to participate in the Arts & Crafts Contest. The contest categories will be:
General (any non-needlework art & craft: e.g. painting, drawing, sculpture, woodcarving, photomontage, etc.)
- Kit Built (commercially available kit; includes plans/instructions and materials)
- Open (existing plans/instructions; entrant acquires materials separately or entrant's own design)
Railroadiana
- Kit Built (same as General Kit Built, except entry must have a railroad motif)
- Open (same as General Open, except entry must have a railroad motif)
Needlework
- Kit Built (same as General Kit Built, except entry is type of needlework - e.g. knitting, embroidery, needlepoint, etc.)
- Open (same as General Open, except entry is type of needlework - e.g. knitting, embroidery, needlepoint, etc.)
Required Forms
To enter the Arts & Crafts Contest, entrants must complete a separate PCR Arts & Crafts Contest Entry Form for each entry submitted.
Awards
Awards shall be given for first, second and third place in each category and subcategory:
- General-original, General-pattern and General-kit
- Railroadiana-original, Railroadiana-pattern and Railroadiana-kit
- Needlework-original, Needlework-pattern and Needlework-kit
Popular Vote Contest
All registered convention attendees will receive a ballot form in their registration packet and will be eligible to participate in the Popular Vote Contest. All contest models, photographs, trains, craft items and Showcase display-only items are eligible for the popular vote and will be identified with a numbered tag for this purpose.
- Model
- Favorite Train
- Photography
- Arts & Crafts item
Awards
Plaques will be awarded for the model, photograph, train and craft item that receives the most votes in its respective category.
Ingenuity and Levity Contest
All registered convention attendees will be eligible to participate in this contest. The contest judges will make one award each for ingenuity and levity incorporated in any entry in any of the above contest categories. These awards will be made at the discretion of the Chairman.
Awards
A plaque will be awarded to the most ingenious and most humorous entries.
Switching Contest
All registered convention attendees will be eligible to compete in the Switching Contest. This will require the entrant to reposition cars on a typical "Timesaver" switching layout in the least time.
Awards
Plaques will be awarded for first place and ribbons for second and third place winners, where applicable.
Showcase, Display Only
This is a non-competitive event for models, modules, photos, and arts & crafts. Entries may be complete or in process. Entries may be submitted in the following categories: Models: These include all models as designated by the categories of the judged model contest. However, other model and layout-oriented items may be permitted, such as mechanisms, control panels, etc. at the discretion of the contest chairmen.
- Photos
- Train
- Arts & Crafts
Awards
Entrants shall be given Certificates of Appreciation
.Contest Entry Pickup
Contest entries may be picked up from the Contest Room after judging is completed Saturday or 3:00-5:30 PM and after the Awards Banquet, but no later than 10:00 PM. No exceptions please!
We hope the above contest opportunities encourage all convention attendees to participate in at least one contest. For those who do not wish to enter any of the formal contests, please consider bringing examples of your craftsmanship to display for the mutual pleasure of all attendees.