There are four requirements for individual success in the Achievement Program: A. An interest in participating B. NMRA membership C. Decent modeling skills, including the ability to scratchbuild D.

Marty McGuirk wrote: Bill Schneider again showed us test shots of the Rapido meat cars, saying that only some "minor details" remain to be fixed. The cars sure look good. Tangent has a new run

Hi Marty, Yes, Matt had the B&O M53s in several paint variations, and Bill Schneider had the Rapido meat reefers. Both looked very good, and the Rapido cars even had brake bleed rods. I think those

Marty, A fellow posted his photos on another list. There were photos of the B&O cars setting on a table with a bunch of others. Clark Propst Mason City Iowa

On Thu, 14 Jul 2011 10:59:13 -0700 (PDT), Benjamin Hom wrote This is certainly true. I don't speak for all RPMers nor do I have any control over their behavior individually or collectively. However,

I've been nose down in work for the last few weeks, and was unable to attend the National Train Show - or frankly see any of the show coverage anywhere. Any updates/sightings/"I've held it in my

And be aware - you'll find little or no consitency amongst the various AP chairpersons. Like the one who told me that "kit built cars don't qualify for the AP Merit award for rolling stock - you need

Joel, There are two ways to have your work merit judged, NMRA contests, and Regional or Division merit judging. Each Division has an Achievement Chair and each Region has an Achievement Program

Mike Fleming wrote: Mike, you may not know this, but NMRA officials repeatedly treated RPM with great disdain and even hostility at NMRA National after National in the 1990s and in some cases

On Thu, 14 Jul 2011 12:46:35 -0500 (CDT), Joel Holmes wrote I have no idea. Well actually I have some idea, I presume it would have to be at an NMRA event of some sort. Most RPM meets are not.

On Thu, 14 Jul 2011 10:35:02 -0700, Anthony Thompson wrote Jimmy Booth prodded me back in the roaring 90s to give Sn3 a try, even took me on some really fabulous layout tours at Madison in 97. I

Mike Fleming wrote: "The NMRA model contests have had and still have a purpose, and I find it very distasteful that many of you are trashing it. I would also find it distasteful on an NMRA group if

Well said, Mike. That pretty well covers it, perhaps we can move on now to Steam Era Freight Car Issues and concerns. Pierre Oliver

Andy, How does one get judged for NMRA achievement programs? Joel Holmes

I have done my best to stay out of this one but sadly here goes. The model contests and AP program were created to to help model railroaders inprove their skills. Has it been perverted or distorted,

Andy Harman wrote: Reminds me of a PCR contest a few years back when there was a Yosemite Valley log car in the contest. Naturally one's first thought is, "Jack Burgess," but it was S scale, so

On Thu, 14 Jul 2011 06:21:45 -1000, WILLIAM PARDIE wrote They probably couldn't figure out how to bundle it with a "boxcar sound module" so they could get $100 for it so they dropped it. Andy

Another detrimental aspect of contests that may not have been mentioned are the indirect effects of "so-and-so always wins" syndrome. At the aforementioned 1988 N&WHS convention, Dean Freytag brought

On Thu, 14 Jul 2011 09:19:24 -0700, Jack Burgess wrote It was merely a suggestion that might provide useful information to the NMRA. The NMRA seems interested in "fixing" the contest, when the

I cannot speak from personal experience having avoided the NMRA contest arena and not knowing how Bob Hamm's reforms have worked, but one of my other objections (in addition to those stated so