Kootenay Express 2019

Information

The Convention will have full Achievement Program Evaluating, Regular Contest (both Non-Rail and Rail), and an area for Prototype Display with the following restrictions:

1. ALL entrants in the Model contest  MUST be an NMRA member in good standing.
2. The Photo Contests will be for prints only ( i.e. NO Slides)
3. There will not be a Railroad Pass Contest
4. Non-Rail Categories will be - General, Needlework, and Railroadiana
5. A People’s Choice vote  will be available for all registered attendees.
6. Entries that have previously won First Place in a PNR or NMRA Contest may not be entered again.
7. NO sales will be permitted in the room.

The SPECIAL CONTEST this year will be a “THUMBS CONTEST”  based on either a piece of rolling stock (no Motive Power) or structure of the entrant’s choice. Structures must be no larger than 6”x 6”

ALL Entries for AP evaluation and/or Contest MUST be on legibly filled out NMRA Forms #901 AND #902.No exceptions. These are  available on the NMRA Website

Categories

Models may be submitted for judging in the following regular contest categories:

1. Steam locomotive: All types of steam locomotives. Entries must be powered.
2. 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.
3. Passenger car: All types of cars in passenger service other than cabooses, traction or maintenance of way.
4. Freight car: All types of revenue freight cars, including express and company service cars other than M of W.
5. Caboose: All types of cabooses, including M of W.
6. Maintenance of Way: All types of non-revenue equipment not included in categories 3-5 above, all types of trackwork, all types of non-revenue railroad off-track vehicles.
7. Structures: All structures, other than trackwork, without significant scenery. Scenery, if any, is not judged.
8. Displays: All dioramas or groups of models displayed with significant scenery.
9. 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.

Required Forms

To enter the Model Contest, entrants must complete  separate NMRA From 901 AND 902 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 a NMRA Form 902 and or written description, depending on which category 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, Levity and Ingenuity. 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.

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 either:

• Jack Hamilton, MMR, PNR Achievement Program Manager
• To Be Decided– PNR 6^th Division Achievement Program Representative

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:

1. General (any non-needlework art & craft: e.g. painting, drawing, sculpture, woodcarving, photomontage, etc.)
2. Railroadiana – Same as General but must have a Railroad Motif
3. Needlework - (same as General Kit Built, 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 NMRA Form 901 and 902 for each entry submitted.

Awards

Awards shall be given for first, second and third place in each category.

• General-original, General-pattern and General-kit
• Railroadiana-original, Railroadiana-pattern and Railroadiana-kit
• Needlework-original, Needlework-pattern and Needlework-kit

People’s Choice 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 display-only items are eligible for the popular vote and will be identified with a numbered tag for this purpose.

Modules will be considered to be models in the Popular Vote Contest.

Awards

A Popular Best of Show plaque will also be awarded for the item that receives the most votes regardless of category.

In Summary

We hope the above contest opportunities encourage all convention attendees to participate in at least one contest. Certainly everyone can participate in the People’s Choice Contest just by completing and submitting their ballots. For those who do not wish to enter any of the formal contests, we ask you to bring and display examples of your craftsmanship for the mutual pleasure of all attendees.

Jim Little, MMR

Contest Chair