Why I was pissed off about Winterfest

[jimmygolds]

don't blame you for being pissed Dan,your sw1500 is outstanding!

[Dave Schneider]

That said, this thread makes me a bit uneasy.  A few years ago I'd be joining the chorus of bashing this other guy's model, but these days I want to be better than that.  We know who and what we are here, and I don't know that this is what we'd want in our external-facing forum.  I also don't know this guy's story or circumstance, nor is he here to defend himself, so at worst I'll say Daniel's modeling shows a considerably higher degree of skill and observation of the prototype.

Very well stated. That was my first thought... well second, after agreeing that Daniel's models were deserving of greater acclaim. 

Best wishes, Dave

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Dave, this guy mentioned somthing to the effect of "I once put a stock model in the contest because I knew I would win"

You really have to meet him to truly understand.

I'm not one to bash another modeler, but if you don't try, you shoudn't win. Stencil paints for weathering and dull cote on window glass is not trying.

I'm not just pissed for myself. There was a very nice CN GP9 that should have been mentioned too.

[Denver Road Doug]

Very well stated. That was my first thought... well second, after agreeing that Daniel's models were deserving of greater acclaim. 

Best wishes, Dave

Yes, I say you look at this as an opportunity to bank some karma, and avoid the sour grapes.   Just my two cents.

(it is quite obvious about the superior models in this case.   Great job.)

[Packer]

I don't blame you for being upset. The two models you showed are far better looking then that thing. Were they serving alcohol at the event? (jokingly)

No, it's BNSF.

Technically it's a Warbonnet/Super fleet; so it's kind of santa fe. But it's still a partial foob.

[SirTainly]

You were robbed! The obvious brush strokes of brown paint that are being passed off as weathering on the BNSF loco really shouldn't be winning anything IMO.

[wcfn100]

The MTL Giraffe car could win a popular vote contest. 


Jason

[bbussey]

Unfortunately, you have to discover how the contest will be judged ahead of time and plan accordingly.  After I had not even placed or showed in some of the N Scale Collector convention contests after they switched to popular-vote, I built the Whitehead & Kales ATSF tri-level enclosed auto rack for Hartford in 2007.  It was colorful with big bold print (the "shiny object" theory), had the big name recognition (Santa Fe) and it was scratchbuilt (to attract the hard-cores).  It won easily.

[MichaelWinicki]

Unfortunately, you have to discover how the contest will be judged ahead of time and plan accordingly. 

That's the one right there.

I'd like to know what the motivation was of the judges... Obviously they had some sort of criteria in their minds when they selected the winner.

Were any of them N-scalers?  They may not have even known the amount of effort that was put into doing the CR switcher.

[Rich Reinhart]

You got hosed, it was by far the best piece on the table...

[Dave V]

Dave, this guy mentioned somthing to the effect of "I once put a stock model in the contest because I knew I would win"

You really have to meet him to truly understand.

I'm not one to bash another modeler, but if you don't try, you shoudn't win. Stencil paints for weathering and dull cote on window glass is not trying.

I'm not just pissed for myself. There was a very nice CN GP9 that should have been mentioned too.

I agree...  It was less about your post than some of the posts that followed.  I'm not defending what won, of course.  You clearly should have.

Popularity contests among model railroaders is a whole other level of pathetic, is it not?  ;D

[jnevis]

I guess if the fine print said "weathered with only paint..." MAYBE. But at least they entered the contest.
That said, I'm not a great modeler, hell barely OK, so won't be found entering anytime soon.  

I have learned a lot from seeing what is up on this and other boards.  Daniel, and others,  has always been helpful with tips and inspiration.  I have a ConCor/Kato SW1200 and Atlas MP15 shell parts for an SW1500 conversion based on his example (I just can't find my article any more).  Thanks Daniel.

[David Leonard]

Daniel, your models are outstanding. The care and workmanship that goes into your projects is superb. If I did work that good and entered it in a contest, I'd be insulted that the "thing" was even allowed entry. 

Others' comments about popular voting in such competitions are right on. I imagine two factors work against appropriate judgment of true craftsmanship: (a) eyecatching (even if stomach retching) models are more noticably altered from stock models, and people fall for it (especially if they don't know much about modeling or prototypes) and (b) you may not have had enough "friends" in the building to stuff the ballot box. We might want to add (c) that people are generally stupid, but the jury's out on that, and we'll just have to wait to see how they vote!

But I don't think you'd feel that much better if one of your entries won, and the "thing" came in second!

[wm3798]

With all due respect for the decorum called for by Rev. Dr. Major Dave, I have to say, that BNSF model looks like the guy put it in an aquarium with a bunch of lizard turds and a hand grenade.

Your SW1500 is clearly superior, and I'm sure the CN Geep should have placed better too.  By the way, who was the "public" that voted on this... Clearly Model Railroaders were not included...

Lee

[Dave V]

Lee, ask me on FB or in the Crew Lounge and my tone would be rather less diplomatic!