Before the winner and honorable mentions are named, I'd like to thank all of the particpants, sponsors, OGR, and last but not least all of the followers of this thread who gave encouragement! All of the entries were awesome, and the judges had fits deciding who to give the nod to.
Winner
Transit Modeler
This was the hands down favorite of the judges. Here's what was said about the layout: "What we liked: Everything! Great attention to details! The trains and the trolleys were great. The cars and people added life to the scenes. The new fallen snow in town gives the plows something to work on. Even the houses have Christmas lights on them."
Honorable Mentions
CH
LMS Lines
Graz
PD
Congratulations to all!!! Please send an email to stewartogr@yahoo.com with your contact information so I may disseminate it to the sponsors.
All Entrants
Save those photos and layout building documentation for submittal to OGR. Publication of your material will earn you some train money Contact Mr. Miller for further details.
On a personal note, I believe this photo should be on the cover of a Christmas card!
Again, thank you everyone for making this contest a success!
The Winter Wonderland and Holiday Layout Contest
Deadline: December 26, 2011, at 11 p.m. EST. Entrants will post at least 5 pictures of their layout in this thread. The Winner, Honorable Mentions, and Special Category Winners will be announced on January 7, 2012.
Rules:
1. Deadline to post pictures is December 26, 2011.
2. Post a minimum of 5 pictures of your layout.
3. The layout must be completed in an area not to exceed 50 sq. ft.
Users do not need to use all 50 sq. ft. The size was decided upon to allow the construction of any shape layout the modeler wishes to build.
4. The layout may be layed out on the floor (Carpet Central), built on benchwork, or built on a table.
I recommend that modelers who build their layout on the floor use some type of underlayment (such as wood, foam, or posterboard) to help keep track of space used and to provide areas for scenery. Additionally, this will help prevent carpet fibre from entering gears and wheelsets, and will keep grease and oil from dropping onto the carpet or floor.
5. All surface area of the layout must be sceniced. Christmas trees, Nativity scenes, Menorah's, and other holiday decorations count as scenery and must be within the boundaries of the layout.
6. The layout must incorporate gingerbread, fruitcake, or candy canes.
If using gingerbread, I suggest making more than you will need and to have a glass of milk on hand.
7. A winter snow scene must be present on some portion of the layout.
I realize in some parts of the world, Santa comes in a stagecoach. Feel free to model your part of the world during the winter/holiday months, but you must model snow on some portion of the layout.
8. Use your imagination and have fun!
Hello fellow forumites! There has been quite a buzz on the forum lately concerning Christmas layouts. If one stops to ponder for a moment, it's not hard to determine why this hobby has a fascination with trains and holidays. It was during this time of the year that many of us received our first train set as a child. We also gathered together with family and friends for celebration, raising voices in laughter and story telling. As humans, we associate feelings and events together. That's why we are drawn to putting up a layout during the holiday season, even only if temporary: To rekindle the magic and warmth of our memories, while creating new ones with a new generation of family and friends. And with this contest, your friends list has just grown a wee bit longer as we exchange tips and ideas during this contest.
You will notice that some of the rules are more relaxed and some weren't included at all from the last contest. The nature of the contest itself will tend to those matters. Focus on enjoying the contest and involving family and friends in the planning and building stage!
This contest is open to O gauge (3r, 2r, 3rs, Proto48, On30, On3) and S gauge.
Award Distribution:
One Winner
Four Honorable Mentions
True Scene Ground Crew Category (See Rules for Special Awards)
RCS Rail Layers Category (See Rules for Special Awards)
Rules for Special Awards
Please ensure that you read both the Rules for Special Awards and Sponsored Awards sections for full compliance.
True Scene Ground Crew Category To compete in this category, users must use True Scene Modeling products in the construction of their layout. Users must submit a brief summary of how the product was used and post at least three pictures of the product on the layout in addition to the required five layout photos. One winner will be chosen by True Scene Modeling. View the special offer for Winter Woods and Alpine Snow.
RCS Rail Layers Category To compete in this category, your layout must use RCS switches and track. Entrants must write a brief summary of how RCS products were used and post at least three pictures of RCS products in addition to the five layout photos. One winner will be chosen by Ross Custom Switches.
Judges Panel
Myself
Dave Allen
Evan Designs
True Scene Modeling
Ross Custom Switches
We have received a new sponsored award! Thank you Dave Allen for your work on finding another great sponsor! Darstaed and Trains Hoover will award 3 Private Owners Vans to the winner. Here is a sample of one of ten vans to choose from. Click on the picture to go to the Trains Hoover Advan webpage.
I am honored to debut Evan Designs new Colored Light String!!! Click on the picture or follow the links in the Awards section. Another home run by Evan Designs!
Sponsored Awards
Sponsored by Dave Allen from the OGR forum: The winner will receive $100.
Sponsored by Evan Designs: The Winner will receive a copy of Model Builder with Brickyard, a Welding LED Kit, a Fire LED Kit, and the new Colored Light String. Each Honorable Mention will receive both the Welding and Fire LED Kits.
Sponsored by True Scene Modeling: The winner of the True Scene Ground Crew Category will receive three bags of Bulk and/or Modeler. The Overall Winner and four Honorable Mentions will receive one bag of Modeler. View the special offer for Winter Woods and Alpine Snow.
Sponsored by Ross Custom Switches: The winner of the RCS Rail Layers Category will receive a switch with a value not to exceed $100.
Sponsored by Darstaed and url=http://www.trainshoover.com/products/]Trains Hoover[/url]: The winner will receive three Private Owners Vans
UPDATES
September 19, 2011 - Updated Award offering from Evan Designs.
September 4, 2011 - Changes in the wording and numbering of the Rules have been made in order to simplify them and to make the language uniform.
September 2, 2011 - True Scene Modeling has a special offer on bags of Alpine Snow and Winter Woods. Tips to assist you in making winter scenes are included with each bag.
Original Post