Judging in Progress:

Do Not Disturb!

Ivan W. Baugh

This sign greeted those of us entering the Contest Judging room at the Gem City Flyer Mid-Central Region Convention in Fairborn-Dayton, OH April 26-29, 2002 as observers. We were admonished not to talk, much less talk to the judges. I observed the judging of contest entries and took photographs of their work in progress in the almost eerie hush of the quietly working judges. Earlier at the convention, I attended the three-hour Judges Training Workshop presented by Master Model Railroaders Marty Vaughn, Howard Smith, and Dick Briggs, to gain experience and insights on judging contest entries. In this article I will share with you some of what I learned and observed in order to help all of us better prepare for Achievement Program judging.

Background

The categories and their sub-classifications recognized in the Achievement program include

• Model Railroad Equipment: Master Builder Motive Power, Master Builder Cars;
• Settings: Master Builder-Structures, Master Builder-Scenery, Master Builder-Prototype Models;
• Engineering and Operation: Model Railroad Engineer-Civil, Model Railroad Engineer-Electrical, Chief Dispatcher; and
• Service to the Hobby: Association Official, Association Volunteer, Model Railroad Author. [i]

The definitions page on the NMRA web site provides helpful insights into your preparation of your model. From this page you can link to other web pages that will guide you in preparing your entry for any of the eleven (11) categories listed above. A Master Model Railroader has earned at least one Achievement Program certificate in each of these categories: Model Railroad Equipment, Settings, Engineering and Operation, and Service to the Hobby. [ii]

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A click on the MMR logo above will lead you to a NMRA web page where you can find detailed Achievement Program information. On the NMRA web page, they describe the Achievement Program in these words: “In simple terms, the Achievement Program (AP) is a travel guide, to help you on your journey through the world of model railroading.” [iii]

How Models are Judged

Contest models are judged on these points. [iv]

Note:   Any model earning 87 ½ points (70% of the possible points) receives an award towards the modelers Master Model Railroader recognition.

The Judging Process

A team of judges evaluated all entries on one of these categories: Construction, Detail, Conformity, Finish and lettering, or Scratch building.

This team of judges began their work by looking at the documentation and printed material (including pictures) provided by the modeler. Note that one of the judges wore white gloves. This judge will handle the model during the judging process. Howard Smith, MMR, experienced the importance of not having finger prints on a model at the National Convention in St. Louis when one of his models had points deducted because of finger prints on his entry. This explains why one judge on each team wore white gloves.

After reading the documentation, printed material, and studying the photographs provided by the modeler, the judges began evaluating a model to see how well it achieves the goals the modeler stated in the documentation.

They discussed various points as they evaluated the model.

At the conclusion of the evaluation, they reach consensus on the points they will award on the category they are judging.

One judge records the team’s evaluation results on the judging form. Judges may also offer comments for the modeler. This model by Michael “Bama” Harman of Division 8 earned first place in the Off-Line Structures category as well as received the  President’s Early American Pre-1900 award.

The team then moved to another model to continue judging on their assigned category. In the following photograph, the team of judges we observed at work now evaluates another entry on the same category as they judged the previous entry: Construction, Detail, Conformity, Finish and Lettering, or Scratch Building.

In the following photograph, another team of judges evaluate a City Block entry. They followed the same procedure outlined above for the category they evaluated. In this photograph, note a judge wearing the white gloves.

Below you will find three views of the city block. This model by Ron Dietrich of Division 3 won the award for the Display, Off Line.

Non-Rail entries follow the same criteria as rail activities. Here a judge evaluated a doll dressed as a Chesapeake and Ohio On Board hostess.

The next photograph shows how the modeler gave background information on the model.

Look at the detail included in this photograph of an engine repair facility and ice house.

The next picture provides a close up shot of the icing facility.

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This entry by Bob Lawson of Division 10 won the George Muller Award (popular vote) for Best of the Best Dioramas, Judges Favoriate Award, Best in the Show award, and the President’s Award.

How Can I Get My Model Judged?

I hope these insights into what occurred during the judging process will help you prepare your entries for future contests. Please remember that contests at Regional and National Conventions provide one place for merit judging. As stated on the NMRA Achievement page, “each contest model at any level of NMRA sponsored competition that receives 87 1/2 points and has been evaluated using NMRA contest rules may be used to satisfy the Merit Award requirements for the following categories: Master Builder Motive Power, Master Builder Cars, Master Builder Structures, Master Builder Scenery, and Model Railroad Engineer - Civil.” As stated above, Merit certificates are not limited to the top model in each category. In addition to the judging that occurs at conventions, “You can set up a time to have your work judged that is completely separate from an NMRA event. You can bring your work to where the judges are, or they will even come to you! In the case of scenery, they almost have to...” [v] If you or your Division needs assistance in locating judges, contact Frank Koch, Mid-Central Region Achievement Program Chair or our Mid-Central Region President, Marty Vaughn. They will happily assist you in locating qualified judges. Mid-Central Region looks forward to your recognition as a Master Model Railroader. More importantly, Mid-Central Region anticipates seeing the quality of your work that the Achievement Program can help you achieve. Happy modeling!