2007 Turkey Creek Division Modeling Challenge

by Rusty Rails

Here we go again! For the 4^th Annual Modeling Challenge, you must build a diorama or display of four square feet or less. This is the theme voted on by the members attending the May meeting last year. If this idea sounds familiar, it should, because it is essentially the same as the “Square Footer” challenge held in 2004, except that now you are allowed to develop up to four square feet.

So, what can you build on four square feet? In G scale, you could fit a small locomotive servicing facility, small industrial area, or simply scenery effects of some sort. In Z scale, you could probably model the Kansas City West Bottoms. In N, HO, S, or O, you’ll be somewhere in between, with possibilities only limited by your imagination.

There is no restriction on how high your scene can go, so you can model a mountain or a twelve story building. If you’re into Colorado mining, you could put an ore mill on a mountain side with tracks at the bottom for cars to pick up the refined ore. If coastal railroading is your bag, then a pier scene may be for you. Another thought might be a scene with an overpass with a train on the lower and upper levels.

If you’re into city scenes, you could model the backside of some trackside tenements with Mrs. McGurty waving at the engineer while she’s hanging out laundry. Another scene that would be interesting would be a station with passengers waiting for a train or perhaps boarding a passenger train.

There is no restriction on the diorama, except that the base cannot exceed four square feet and, of course, it must fit through the door of the meeting room! So……it can be 2’x2’, 1’x4’, 6”x 8’, ands so on. Can it be smaller? Sure. If you already have a base you want to use and it’s less than four square feet, that’s fine. Do you have to have a train on the diorama? Nope. It’s up to you what to include.

The judging will be by popular vote, so crowd appeal will be important. The event will take place at our June 26^th meeting (not the May meeting, as usual), so you will have an extra month to construct you entry. There will be three places awarded for this challenge, plus awards for the “Most Creative” and the “Most Whimsical” entries. So, if you’re entering a diorama, start thinking about your model now. There is plenty of time, but don’t put it off. This will be another fun event!