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Introduction to the NMRA National Contest

Welcome to the new and improved contest! We have an expanded menu of contest events from the traditional NMRA judged contests including Model, Module, Photo, Pass and Arts & Crafts to the People's Choice Awards, a direct entry, popular vote contest and the Model Showcase, a non-competitive, display-only event.

Whichever you choose, we on the National Staff take our jobs very seriously and are dedicated to bringing you a positive and rewarding experience. It makes no difference to us whether you are a well known veteran or a first timer, your entry will be judged on its own merits.

For the Judged Model Contest, we have a well defined, matrix-based point system administered by experienced judges using the AP Judging Guidelines. Your model is evaluated against these criteria rather than one model against another. We are blind to scale, gauge, road name, type of model and methods and materials of construction. We regard only what you have set out to model and how well you succeeded. In addition, we provide positive feedback in each of five areas stressing how you can improve your skills. Judges are always available to answer questions and chat with you.

The People’s Choice Awards and Model Showcase provide nice alternatives to the judged events and are intended to be a little more casual. Paperwork is minimal in either case, who you are and what the model is. The winners of People’s Choice Awards are selected by your fellow attendees. The more impressive your model is, the more votes it gets. The Showcase is just for fun. Bring your model to share. They’re all winners.

We sincerely hope one of these events will stir your blood and get you excited enough to bring an entry. But read on there is much more including a note from Director Charlie Getz, help with the contest forms, the who, what and where of the contest and finally the detailed rules and judging guidelines for all of the contest events. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call, write or email me.


My e-mail address is: contest@hq.nmra.org.

My Postal address:

Bob Hamm
NMRA National Contest Chairman
460 Grand Ave.
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

 

Thanks!

Bob Hamm, MMR
NMRA National Contest Chairman