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Anaheim Contest Results

We celebrated a great contest in Anaheim with 95 model entries, or more than double the number in Detroit. In fact, in terms of the numbers of overall entries, models, photos and modules, we bucked a three-year downward trend going back to a high in Seattle. I think this is great and I am hopeful of even more in Hartford, particularly with the model event choices comprising Model Showcase (non-competitive) and People's Choice (popular vote), as well as the traditional judged contest. The charts following this introduction list all of the winning contest entries.

Detail list of entries and scores at Anaheim Contests

Frequent contest winner Duane Buck took the Gold Award (Best-in-Show) with an A-B-A brace of beautifully done Great Northern F-3s. We teased him that they're the same units entered repeatedly over the years. Not so! A quick check of past contest photos revealed an A-B set entered in 2006 were FTs and an A-B-A set of F-7s, in 2001, all distinctively different. Duane, my hat goes off to you. You are not only a master builder, but a prolific one at that.

We did encounter a couple of goof ups in the judging and subsequent handling of results that I'd like to acknowledge and correct. Both resulted in point ties, two for first places and one for a third place. Now, let me say the following, that as a matter of contest policy we break ties. Why? Because we award plaques: a first, second, and third in each category, which of course are pre-ordered so they are available for presentation the day after the judging. Taken together they represent a considerable expense to the NMRA, but are a very nice award for the winners. If we were to allow ties, then we would not have the second plaque to hand out and have to order extras after the fact, and this is just something we are not able to do.

Now, how do we break ties, and I want to be clear about this. It is not taken lightly, and it is not done arbitrarily. When a tie is discovered, typically early evening on Wednesday, (remember the awards are given out Thursday morning), the Chief Judge is apprised. He then gathers as many of the team leaders (or secondly team members) as we can muster, and the two models are re-evaluated. The one that is deemed to have the edge is increased by one point and the tie is broken. In all cases we try to have a minimum of three people sign off on the re-evaluation.

The ties that I allowed in Anaheim resulted from quite different circumstances. When we added the scores in On-line Structures, we had a first place tie between Alan Barnes and Charles Day. The tie scores went into the database and onto my presentation list; both being listed as first place winners. However, by virtue of the order of the names on the list, Charles' was mistakenly awarded a second place while Alan got the first place, and that was my error and mine alone.

When this was brought to my attention (Thursday after the Awards Ceremony), I acknowledged the error and awarded Charles the second first-place award. This was noted in the subsequent issue of Scale Rails showing photos of the winners. Both models are absolutely worthy, and I'm sure both men can find room on the platform for each other.

The second instance involved several models in the Steam Locomotive category entered by Allan Wallace. During the course of judging Wednesday afternoon, several loose sheets describing how Mr. Wallace almost totally scratchbuilt all of the models, were misplaced and not considered in the evaluation of that factor. Unfortunately, as a result, he incorrectly received very low scores in scratchbuilt. After thoroughly reviewing the matter, including finding the missing sheets, and interviewing two of the three members of the judging team, as well as receiving special permission from President Mike Brestal, we raised his scratchbuilding scores, resulting in one of his models tying for first place and another tying for third place. These awards were not disclosed in the Scale Rails article, so I am very pleased to announce Allan's awards for two very fine models, and I know that the other award winners in this category will join me in congratulation Allan on his success's.