Hello All
We at the EXPO are considering some minor changes.
So I would like to get some feedback about possible changes so here we go
Eliminating 2 categories
Modular ( NO ONE Enter in Pittsfield)
Photo ( very small entry pool 2012 approx. (6) 2013 ( 4)
Here is the big change and please give me ALL FEEDBACK POSITIVE & NEGATIVE
BIG DIO LIMIT ON SIZE
As of now we are thinking of 2'x3' or 3'x 3'
Personally I think 2'x 3' is perfect
Easy to transport, average model can achieve in a reasonable time frame, can be incorporated into a home layout.
So please be honest so we can make a informed decision
Thanks
Quote from: robertseckler on January 17, 2014, 01:31:40 PM
Hello All
We at the EXPO are considering some minor changes.
So I would like to get some feedback about possible changes so here we go
Eliminating 2 categories
Photo ( very small entry pool 2012 approx. (6) 2013 ( 4)
I may be prejudiced, but I would like the photo contest tried one more time. I have a "killer" photo I took on our trip on the Cumbres & Toltec in 2009 that I am just dying to show.
I would have entered more than the one in Lancaster in 2012 if the rules had been more concrete. I asked ahead of time, but never got a response as to maximum print size, "prototype" or "model". I was under the impression that they were to be of models, but the overall winner was of a prototype.
11"x14" matted overall, not framed, color: model
11"x14" matted overall, not framed, color: prototype
For the large dio, why put a restriction on size. If the modeler has a certain size picked out I'm sure he has made transportation plans. If its space concern, would it be better if the entrants said how large there dio would be? That being said. I will conform to what ever rules are set in place.
Perhaps the votes can be divided into the square footage of the large dioramas. You know, if a 100 sq. ft. (scale) diorama gets 100 votes then it gets 1 vote/sq. ft. If a 200 sq. ft (scale) diorama gets 100 votes then it gets 0.5 votes/sq. ft. and so on. That way diorama size shouldn't be too much of a concern 'cause it evens out the field.
Jaime
Quote from: NEMMRRC on January 17, 2014, 09:01:22 PM
Perhaps the votes can be divided into the square footage of the large dioramas. You know, if a 100 sq. ft. (scale) diorama gets 100 votes then it gets 1 vote/sq. ft. If a 200 sq. ft (scale) diorama gets 100 votes then it gets 0.5 votes/sq. ft. and so on. That way diorama size shouldn't be too much of a concern 'cause it evens out the field.
Jaime
Very nice thinking. You must have a mathematical mind...
Why not limit the big dio to a certain square footage? 10 square feet, it's big enough to put a lot of detail in, and not so big as to take the judging committee 2 weeks to go over without missing lots of the minutia that entails well thought out diorama. It's also a size that can still fit into an average layout, and easily transported.
Examples: 60" X 24"; 48" X 30"; 96" X 15", 45" X 32" ...
Quote from: PHQRR on January 24, 2014, 07:44:55 AM
and not so big as to take the judging committee 2 weeks to go over without missing lots of the minutia that entails well thought out diorama.
In the past the model contest has been a popular vote contest. There has been no judges except to break a tie. The winners are chosen by popular vote. Every registered show attendee gets one ballot. The model with the most votes wins.
But I'm sure it takes a while to run through all the models picking one's favorite. I don't vote at these contests because I'd rather take the time I'd use "judging" each model to just enjoy the show. I'm not advocating others do what I do. I'm just saying I don't vote at the contests.
Jaime
Quote from: PHQRR on January 24, 2014, 07:44:55 AM
Why not limit the big dio to a certain square footage? 10 square feet, it's big enough to put a lot of detail in, and not so big as to take the judging committee 2 weeks to go over without missing lots of the minutia that entails well thought out diorama. It's also a size that can still fit into an average layout, and easily transported.
Examples: 60" X 24"; 48" X 30"; 96" X 15", 45" X 32" ...
Thanks for all the feedback
AL
The problem w/ dio of the size you suggest is space limitations.
Also if someone did one say 48x 30 it would need its own table to display and that alone makes the model stand out and give is it a unfair advantage.
This is why I asked for input!!
Again Thanks
I agree with Rob, a limit of 36"x36" is plenty big for a diorama. Anything much bigger, Well, You may as well have a layout contest. I feel in this case, it's not the size that matters here. We shouldn't be looking for how big it is, only how good it is. Don't you think?
Sam
All
OK It is Official
Big Diorama Size will be
36"x 36"
We are calling it Yard by Yard
So this means NO Side can be Larger than 36"
Any questions??
Thanks Robert. Works for me.
The "SQUARE YARD CONTEST" ?
Or Yard by Yard
Are we building models here, or sellin' carpet? ??? ??? ???
If your going to change things, and I agree. One of the areas you should consider is sticking to the rule. In the 2x2 dio how does a crane win that clearly extended outside the 2x2 boundary?
Hey Guys, Is there any chance of providing an area for display for someone not wanting to enter a contest category? If space is very limited then that of course would answer that question! Thanks.
Ken- I'm sure the answer is yes because they have had "display only" in all of the previous ones I have been to, and I've only missed one in seven years or so (counting CSS's). They are apparently meeting today, so we should hear soon.
Quote from: KKarns on October 14, 2014, 05:34:11 PM
Hey Guys, Is there any chance of providing an area for display for someone not wanting to enter a contest category? If space is very limited then that of course would answer that question! Thanks.
Yes Ken, we will make some space available for non-contest displays, I am not sure at this point how much extra room we have, but I am sure we can accommodate a fair number of displays.
Good timing, we have a meeting tomorrow and we can address it then, thanks for asking the question.
Hal
Hal,
Thanks for the reply and appreciate you checking into it. Looking forward to a great show and appreciate the work you folks do...
Ken
Boycott!
Picket!
Discrimination at it's worst has reared its ugly head at Expo.
N scalers get 36"x 36" as do O scalers?
Unfair.
Predjudiced.
Biased from the git go.
Perhaps I should not weigh in as I have no chance of being a participant.........
First....... the size description should be simple enough........ yard by yard....... foot by foot... what ever......... but nothing can hang over the edge.
But to a more significant issue (to me) is who is (or are) to be the judge?
Popular vote is volatile and highly capricious. (Big word for this forum) .
I watched a good paint job on a stock Japanese brass loco beat a great scratch built model at a recent competition.
Popular voters have no idea what they are looking at and are easily swayed by "flash and dash".
More recently a well painted and somewhat well detailed G scale locomotive of current production from China beat in a popular contest, a scratch built locomotive that scored over 115 points in a parallel judged competition.
A group of competent judges may be selected in advance with the approval of the organizing body of the event is probably best for this sort of thing.
Just my thoughts.
see ya
Bob
Quote from: BandOGuy on October 15, 2014, 09:24:31 PM
Boycott!
Picket!
Discrimination at it's worst has reared its ugly head at Expo.
N scalers get 36"x 36" as do O scalers?
Unfair.
Predjudiced.
Biased from the git go.
What's unfair about this, the N-scale diorama can use what it is best in more and vaster scenery in equal space where as the O -scale can use it's advantage in detailing.
What would be unfair is if the space allowed would be scale. There is not any chance at all for an N-scale diorama if it would have to limit to 9x9 in this case competing with an O scale diorama that is 36 x 36 and could be detailed right up to nails sticking out of planks and things like that.
I presume you have not done any detailing in N-scale , try it , you'll find it to be a lot more difficult then in O-scale if you want to achieve the same detail. Luckily for N-scalers it's not all about detail . It's about trains and structures being dwarfed by scenery , endless trains going through scenery.
This is a photo of a part of Michael Rose's N-scale Georgetown and Allen Mountain, I encourage everyone to take a look at his thread on nScale.net,
http://www.nscale.net/forums/showthread.php?25595-Georgetown-amp-Allen-Mountain-Railroad (http://www.nscale.net/forums/showthread.php?25595-Georgetown-amp-Allen-Mountain-Railroad)
I must admit his layout space is a dream for almost any Model Railroader , not just an N-scale MR.
(https://modelersforum.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gamrailroad.com%2Fimages%2FN%2F2014%2F2014_07_23_02.jpg&hash=f8ca524983980a4be1660519a97b715064d3f6c2)
Quote from: robertseckler on January 27, 2014, 08:56:01 AM
All
OK It is Official
Big Diorama Size will be
36"x 36"
We are calling it Yard by Yard
So this means NO Side can be Larger than 36"
Any questions??
It's a little late to start thinking about changing things I think most of us are well into our dioramas., but you bring up a good point. Maybe the next Expo they can limit size according to scale.
Sam
Quote from: ollevon on October 16, 2014, 06:45:07 AM
Quote from: robertseckler on January 27, 2014, 08:56:01 AM
All
OK It is Official
Big Diorama Size will be
36"x 36"
We are calling it Yard by Yard
So this means NO Side can be Larger than 36"
Any questions??
It's a little late to start thinking about changing things I think most of us are well into our dioramas., but you bring up a good point. Maybe the next Expo they can limit size according to scale.
Sam
No , that's exactly what they shouldn't do.
Quote from: Janbouli on October 16, 2014, 06:56:15 AM
Quote from: ollevon on October 16, 2014, 06:45:07 AM
Quote from: robertseckler on January 27, 2014, 08:56:01 AM
All
OK It is Official
Big Diorama Size will be
36"x 36"
We are calling it Yard by Yard
So this means NO Side can be Larger than 36"
Any questions??
It's a little late to start thinking about changing things I think most of us are well into our dioramas., but you bring up a good point. Maybe the next Expo they can limit size according to scale.
Sam
No , that's exactly what they shouldn't do.
OK, it was only a thought. What do you think, they should do?
Sam
Howdy,
I've had the luxury of attending many of these shows. The contest room is always a big surprise. You never know what someone will bring. Some years there are no large dioramas. Some years there are no passenger cars. Some years there are so many large dioramas the contest room gets too crowded. One thing is certain, you want to give modelers as much leeway as possible for them to bring their best models. There is a "wow factor" that the crowd wants/expects or else the crowd will stay home.
The show organizers have to make a decision, stick to it and roll with the punches.
You'd need to ask the contest chairperson directly why there was a choice to put size restrictions.
Personally I don't vote at these things so I don't care if it is popular vote or judged. I do know that some of the plastic model contests I have attended they CLOSE the contest room for hours so the judges can judge. Well I'm sorry but I paid good money to travel to to Nowhere, PA* to see some great modeling. I don't want to be shut out so the judges can argue if a wagon-side triple chute flat crane trolley had 15 rivets per door or 17 rivets per door. Who cares!?
Again, you've got to wow the crowd otherwise they will stay home.
But hey, I'm just an opinionated model railroader so take what I say with a grain of salt.
Jaime
* ;)
Sure hope there will be pictures posted on this.
Quote from: Chet on October 16, 2014, 09:46:16 AM
Sure hope there will be pictures posted on this.
'Cause we love pictures.
Jaime
I'm just thankful to the EXPO organizers for having the b%**# to make the hard decisions!! ;D ;D ;D
I definitely wouldn't want to have to make this decision!
For everyone else - just buck up, live with it, and have a great time enjoying the EXPO!!