As we announced a bit over a week ago, this year BMR will again run the OcTRAINber contest. Just like last year we have chosen a subject that will hopefully get as many of our fellow trainheads out of their comfort zone and build some truly original and special models. So, let us officially introduce you to the contest and let’s get rolling!
OcTRAINber
First of all, the name. It’s called OcTRAINber, if somebody had not noticed yet. Why OcTRAINber? Well, because it’s a great intermediate month between SHIPtember and Novvember. Also, TRAINS.
“The Foreign Challenge”
Second of all, the subject of this years OcTRAINber. Why the Foreign Challenge? Well, because it tickles the mind and sparks creativity if you look abroad every now and then. Of course, it’s great to build the prototypes you see rolling around in your own country every day and which whom you most probably are very intimate with. However, since OcTRAINber is all about getting out of your comfort zone, looking abroad and building from new uncharted territory is a great way to do so.
The Rules
The Rules have already been announced by Glenn in the previous OcTRAINber post, but for completeness’ sake we have pasted them here again:
- “Foreign” is defined as: Any locomotive, rolling stock, structure, or other railroad-related item that was NOT designed or used in the native country of the builder. So, being from the Unites States, I (being Glenn) could not enter legitimately with a United States locomotive such as a Santa Fe F7. I’m sure you get the point.
- Entries must be original models. No stealing.
- We are making no rules for the scale you choose to model in. We are welcoming models of 6, 7, and 8 studs, and anything in between or beyond! However, we appreciate detail and accuracy. Reasonably sized models are usually better for that, but we don’t knock anything or anyone with serious skill.
- NEW BUILDS ONLY. We are willing to accept anything unpublished or anything that was not published before September 1st 2018 as new. We want to inspire and promote a challenging build, entering an old model doesn’t quite work in that regard.
Third party parts
BMR has always been positive towards third-party parts, as long as they have any way of added value to the hobby. So the rule of thumb is simple:
Lego: Yes
Third Party Parts: Yes
Clones: No
Points
Points will be awarded in three categories: Credibility, WIP Story and the Foreign Factor.
First of all, credibility of the prototype. This means we will be looking at how much the build represents the real life prototype. This means the quality of the build, but potential scale etc. If you are sending in a fantasy model, we will look at how credible the build is; would it fit in, does the backstory make sense? (Please note that this means an entry does need to be based in the Real Life in some way, so no fantasy universes like Star Wars etc)
Second of all, the WIP story. This refers to both showing off your building process, but also to how and why you decided to model a certain prototype. The better the story and the more updates you give and the more elaborate your building story is, the better. (Also, feel free to cross-post these pictures in our WIP-thread while you are still building!)
Third and last, the Foreign Factor. This is all about the building-out-of-your-comfort-zone part. The more exotic and the more foreign for you as a builder, the better it is. Are you (like me for example) normally a European stock builder, but have you now decided to model something US, even though you have zero experience in building this far abroad? Well, that obviously gives you more credit than modelling some Spanish stock if you are from Portugal for example, or building something Canadian if you are from the US. Same goes for the even more exotic places!
The Judges
This contest will have four judges. Why four? Well, because last year we also had four. However, different than least year, this year we will have a new guest judge from Europe who has some good experience in building truly foreign trains, but who also wrote the critically acclaimed “The Lego Trains Book“. The judges will therefore be, in no particular order:
Timeline
We will be accepting entries from Midnight on October 1st (being right now!) to midnight on November 1st (meaning October 31st, at 23:59 PDT). There is possibility of a grace period to ensure those that need that one final Bricklink order have a fair chance
Entries
Entries are to be send in ONLY via our own BMR Flickr! There are two discussions; one for the Real Life entries and one for the Digital entries. This is the ONLY place we will be looking for entries, nowhere else. Sending photos to us on social media or showing us in person do not count as entries.
Next to that, please also add your pictures in the pool! Also, we have a special thread for WIP pictures, just to keep OcTRAINber going. However, do keep in mind that pictures in this thread don’t count as entries!
The Prizes
No contest without prizes! Just as last year we have some really nice prizes from several outlets. Which prizes specifically will be made public as soon as possible, so to keep the hype train running for a little bit longer!
Spare Parts
We here over at BMR are very, very excited about OcTRAINber 2018: The Foreign Challenge and we are looking forward to all those entries. We are really looking forward to see what the community has to offer in terms of creativity and we hope that all of you will be stimulated by this contest to finally build that one foreign prototype of a train / loco / wagon that you always wanted to build, but never did.
Also, if there are any things that aren’t fully clear, you can always reach out to us by posting your message below.
All aboard OcTRAINber!