Model railroad 'ethics'

[DKS]

Have you not noticed the same thing about some members on this board?

Yes, there are admittedly Railwire "cliques." They're more than likely a result of the fact that a number of us live in the same general geographic area, have met, and have formed personal friendships. But I doubt very much if you'll find evidence of where these "cliques" have in any way influenced how we feel about other members, or their work.

[CBQ Fan]

Yes, there are admittedly Railwire "cliques." They're more than likely a result of the fact that a number of us live in the same general geographic area, have met, and have formed personal friendships. But I doubt very much if you'll find evidence of where these "cliques" have in any way influenced how we feel about other members, or their work.

How they feel about others work is one thing, but about them personally is another.

[Mark5]

I'd say its sketchy at best

This.

[John]

I hadn't planned on commenting -- but here is my 2 cents worth

1) I teach college courses which require writing papers and other projects. When someone turns in work that they didn't do, that's unethical, and if I discover it, that paper or project earns a ZERO. Do it a second time, and you fail my course. It says so in the syllabus -- (aka rules) .. ethical behavior is the same, be it model trains, custom cars, or college papers. You follow the rules, and only take credit for your work.  Good leaders give credit to the troops. Your reward is facilitating that accomplishment. 

2) As far as entering a "purchased" module into a contest, if the rules allow it,  it's "OK" .. If the "owner" chooses to pass it off as his own, then their conscience must bear that burden. You don't have to like the result, but you must respect the rules in effect for the contest. 

3) Cliques -- They exist every where -- at work, in school, in clubs, families, and in life in general. People will self-select to others they are compatible with by many discriminating factors.  Just because some on RW (and TB, Nscale, etc) selected each other to become friends,  think alike or admire the work of others doesn't make them bad. Some will never be part of the "group", others move in and out depending on circumstances, and as long as all members receive the respect they deserve, then we should be OK.

4) I'd appreciate if one of you would enter this in a contest somewhere -- please take all the credit !!!

[CRL]

Any contest is only as good as the rules, and the quality of the judges is a direct reflection of the quality of the contest. Bad rules + bad judges = bad contest.

[wm3798]

The only contest I've ever entered was a generically described "model contest" hosted by our local Hobbytown.  I won with my kitbashed Western Maryland K-2.  Can't remember if it was best of some category or another, best railroad model, (only railroad model) got a little ribbon and a stack of junk from the store's "clearance" bin (which was probably one of those other bins...dust, for instance).

It was fun to have my work on display for the week or so leading up to the big day, but other than that it was kind of "meh".

The real prize was finding that they have discontinued selling N scale entirely, and trains mostly... the old "nobody buys it because we price it above MSRP" routine...  They're having another contest in April, and I'm toying with the idea of entering my WM Cumberland Station, but why bother? 

Lee

[superchief]

I have been to the same conventions year after year and the same guy enters the same model EVERY year. It is a nice model and good modeling work but PLEASE once you have won first place once your model should NOT be allowed in THAT contest again!!! I have salvaged pieces from other layouts and have install two of them on my current model railroad, on the fascia there is a note with the persons name and who built it and if they have passed on noting that it served their railroad until their passing. On the contest if it is a popular vote then the general public will just vote on what they LIKE (seen this TOO many times with car shows) (the most expensive or rarest car gets the vote, NOT the BEST work) But if said OWNER is entering the contest and filling out the sheet of what was done to the model and claiming it as his own this is NOT ONLY wrong but it is unethical.
                                                                                                               Just my two cents, Gordon Bliss

[Santa Fe Guy]

Ditto. What Gordon said.
Rod.

[tehachapifan]

I agree with everyone but let me play devil's advocate for a minute. Let's say you enter a contest with something you built (let's say a loco or railcar) but didn't win, losing to something you know was inferior (at least as far as work put in) and figure the judges just didn't know yours was a heavy kitbash versus a nearly stock model. Can or should you re-enter that model next year? I think I might, though I'm yet to enter anything in a contest.

[mmagliaro]

I agree with everyone but let me play devil's advocate for a minute. Let's say you enter a contest with something you built (let's say a loco or railcar) but didn't win, losing to something you know was inferior (at least as far as work put in) and figure the judges just didn't know yours was a heavy kitbash versus a nearly stock model. Can or should you re-enter that model next year? I think I might, though I'm yet to enter anything in a contest.

I think that's perfectly fine (to reenter) under those circumstances.  And in fact, that's how the NMRA National contest rules work.  Once you win a first place, you can't enter the model again.  But if you don't take first, you can re-enter the model.  That seems fair to me.  As you indicate, maybe judges didn't realize something important about your model, or maybe you will fill out the entry form more clearly the second time so they really "get it".

Gordon's point is well-taken.   Once you win a first place, please just take it and go home.   If somebody has wins a first place and keeps entering that model every year, he is either vane, a show-off, lazy, or a bully who enjoys knowing that he has one model that is so good that he can keep winning with it.  It's almost like rubbing peoples' noses in your singular flash of brilliance.

[Hamaker]

Decades ago my good friend and I decided to enter our race cars in a local car show.  He had a Lotus mk 23c sports racing car....mine was a Lotus mk. 41c formula car.  His car had a beautiful flawless orange paint job.....mine was the factory white gel-coat with blue accents made from shelf contact paper.  The judges awarded me the trophy for best paint in the race car category !  I went up and tried to explain the situation and that my friend deserved the award as my car didn't have a drop of paint on it.  They refused to listen....so I refused their trophy.  Later I was approached by the chief judge and told I shouldn't "show them up" and not to enter their show again.  I assured them I would comply.

[peteski]

I agree with everyone but let me play devil's advocate for a minute. Let's say you enter a contest with something you built (let's say a loco or railcar) but didn't win, losing to something you know was inferior (at least as far as work put in) and figure the judges just didn't know yours was a heavy kitbash versus a nearly stock model. Can or should you re-enter that model next year? I think I might, though I'm yet to enter anything in a contest.

Absolutely!  As long as you haven't taken the 1st place, you should be free to re-enter the contest.  Those the rules my model club abides by at our contest.  But first place winners are excluded forever.

[peteski]

Decades ago my good friend and I decided to enter our race cars in a local car show.  He had a Lotus mk 23c sports racing car....mine was a Lotus mk. 41c formula car.  His car had a beautiful flawless orange paint job.....mine was the factory white gel-coat with blue accents made from shelf contact paper.  The judges awarded me the trophy for best paint in the race car category !  I went up and tried to explain the situation and that my friend deserved the award as my car didn't have a drop of paint on it.  They refused to listen....so I refused their trophy.  Later I was approached by the chief judge and told I shouldn't "show them up" and not to enter their show again.  I assured them I would comply.

I think that in a judged contest, refusing to accept judges decision is not Kosher.  They thought that for some reason, your vehicle deserved it better than your friend.    Instead of refusing, you should have asked what specifically made them choose your car over your friends.

Going back to the model car contest I'm involved in, flashy or flawless paint does not guarantee 1st place.   The entire model (or car in your instance) is judged.  So other things (like the interior, engine compartment, etc.) all add up to the overall score.  Or maybe judges thought that you car better represented the cars as they are driven in the race?  I don't have all the info to make an educated guess, but like I say, refusing an award wouldn't have been my choice. And as you experienced, you were (expectedly) shown a permanent exit sign.

[sd45elect2000]

The only model rail road ethics that I'm familiar with is not to call your train buddies wives MILF's.

[wazzou]

The only model rail road ethics that I'm familiar with is not to call your train buddies wives MILF's.

lol!