'And the categories are...'

Posted in the comments last week by B 0-4-4-0;

'Never mind the scoring, etc. Lets just get as much NZ120 stuff as we have that looks realistic (and that has never been entered in a competition before) and submit it in an appropriate category.'

I fully agree with this. So just what are the categories that you can enter your pride and joy in?

2.1 Locomotives. Says it all really. By far the most popular of the categories. Also I think one of the hardest marked by the judges, judging by the 2010 convention results. Not sure how my Cb would fair in the section, and quite honestly how any NZ120 loco would fair. Oh and locos get extra points if they can move under their own power? I would have thought it was a prerequisite for entering? As another aside, steam locos seem to fair better than the infernal combustion engine for some odd reason.

2.2 Self propelled. Anything that isn't a locomotive that can still move without the finger of god pushing it. Railcars etc. Not a large category (no entries in 2010).

2.3 Passenger rolling stock, 2.4 freight rolling stock and 2.5 non- revenue rolling stock. I've lumped all these in together as they are all pretty similar. Not overly sure how well an NZ120 model would compete in these as well, but may well find out with one of the J sheep wagons on an etched chassis.

2.6 Trains. Minimum consist of a powered 'unit' and 2 others. Just ideal for the scale provided that you can dredge up enough stock for a decent sized train. At Porirua I entered my unit coal train of 2 Dc's and 7 Cb's The problems came on the public open day when all the competition winning models were to be displayed in a separate room, and it took me 5 minutes to sort out that I actually needed them to run on Otaki to Cass, where they put in a good 8 hour work day. All a bit confusing really. I thought that they were meant to run...

2.7 Rail plant. anything on rails not covered by 2.1-2.5 above. Jiggers snowplows etc. No entries last time round.

2.8 Permanent way. Signals and track. Last time round some amazing models from my friend Graham Venning did very well here and in the rest of the competition.

2.9 Line side vehicles. Trucks and stuff.

2.10 Bridges. Only allowed to include minimal scenics.

2.11 Structures. other buildings. I've got a suspicion that this is one that will start being dominated by the laser cut wood brigade in the next few years (if not this one) as it has been one of the more active areas applying the technology.

2.12 Scenes. 'Composite models forming a scene or diorama'. It can pay to limit the size of this. I once entered Cass (all 16' of it), and I think finished 2nd behind a sawmill. last time won by a model of a cabbage tree (which went on to win a few of the cups as well, despite having a Railmaster cast sheep on the base).

So, there you have it. start sorting out which models you will be bringing and make sure that the painted finish is up to scratch as well, which was one of the failings i noticed looking at the photos last time round. I'm wondering how I will get the smell of sheep into my J for that extra dimension...

Something else I've noticed, there no longer are 1st, 2nd or 3rd awarded in each category, instead a certificate with a colour (which I think has always existed). It was nice to know if you had finished in the top 3 (or 2 in the smaller categories), but maybe its my decades of playing in wargaming competitions where everyone knows where they finished.