Large Scale Central

Anyone see the “Small Layout Contest” in this month’s GR?

Anyone see the “Small Layout Contest” in this month’s GR? Anyone here thinking of entering it?

http://grw.trains.com/~/link.aspx?_id=031C8C1409CC44CCA87351313402E8A7&_z=z

Last time they did this I inquired but was more or less politely told they were looking for GARDEN layouts, and that they would only accept professional quality photos no less than 5 billion pixels, so I didn’t bother, and haven’t bothered much about it since. But here we go again and this time I am tempted to send in the pizza if for no other reason to be a bit of a PITA about what they consider “small”.

The last grand prize winning “small” layout was as big as my whole godddaamm 20’ x 40’ double car garage with attached studio! That REALLY irked me, as nice a layout it was, it wasn’t very small, it only looked small because it was 7/8 scale. Who knows, maybe that was one of the smallest layouts they did get? I dunno, who knows what they actually received as entries. We never saw any overall list or thumbnails of all the entrants. One thing I liked about Uncle Russ’s rag was that when they held a contest, he published a thumbnail of every entry, no matter how wonky.

I know large scale eats space like few things can but I have to wonder what they will get this time around, but I have seen many interesting SMALL layouts, many of them, all online, but few are here though, most are in Britain, Europe or Japan where GRs readership isn’t so high. So it will be interesting to see what get submitted, USA doesn’t do “small” very well. Remember, the grand prize winner last time, was from one of their few readers in the Eurozone.

Third place for a small garden railway went to Ray Dunakin? His layout is superb, but “small” is not an adjective I would apply to an entire hillside of custom placed stones! Ray’s layout is large to say the least.

Clearly the word small has no meaning in this context.

Greg

Really Ray was third? Sheeoot I just noticed that on the contest listing! I thought his layout was a stand alone publication. I know rays layout is in a very confined space on the hillside. maybe thats what they consider small. but like i said, who knows what got enetered, US doesnt do 'small" well,

Yep I think I need to enter, just to be a pain in someones neck

Have you ever visited Ray’s place? Confined is not a term you would use… overwhelming might be, huge, impressive, or just wow!

Seems that they had very few garden railways would be my guess.

Greg

Vic, put some moss in the middle of the pizza, then it will qualify as a “garden.” Or, get some ideas from tabletop “fairy gardens.” That will really tighten their jaws. (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-innocent.gif)

Steve Featherkile said:

Vic, put some moss in the middle of the pizza, then it will qualify as a “garden.” Or, get some ideas from tabletop “fairy gardens.” That will really tighten their jaws. (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-innocent.gif)

I think there might be some mold growing on the underside, I certainly know there is a spider tenant occupying it (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

Vic Smith said:

Steve Featherkile said:

Vic, put some moss in the middle of the pizza, then it will qualify as a “garden.” Or, get some ideas from tabletop “fairy gardens.” That will really tighten their jaws. (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-innocent.gif)

I think there might be some mold growing on the underside, I certainly know there is a spider tenant occupying it (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

Good enuff fer gummint work.

If y’all pitch in $ I can get mine snuffed up a bit and enter…its 13x30

Edit: not sure why my smiley didn’t show…posted from phone :slight_smile:

A bonsai tree. Don’t plant it just set it there. Or maybe some of that potted bamboo.

On a little more serious note maybe approach them about a feature on Large scale micro layouts. Now after seeing pictures of Ray’s for the first time I actually thought to myself that it is a small garden layout. I am planning 10 by 50 outdoors and consider that small. When people start talking about needing 2000’ (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)radius curves as min for turning their trains I think mine will be small with 8.5’ max dia. But small and your pizza in my minds eye are two very radical different concepts. You and Shawn have inspired me and I am no longer thinking about but am designing my indoor micro (which will be huge by the pizzas standards at 9.5 X 6). I think this is a viable topic and more people should be made aware that Large Scale does not have to mean 8’ min dia. curves and an outdoor garden. When I first got into it and began asking question and was given advice I would never have thought you could do what you have done.

So please suggest it. I would even subscribe to a magazine that even in part addressed this facet of the hobby.

http://www.twogreenthumbs.com

I use these guys from time to time for “stuff.”

Steve Featherkile said:

http://www.twogreenthumbs.com

I use these guys from time to time for “stuff.”

I think on more than one occasion I think I have told you I don’t like you. Now my head is wandering on how to do a live terrarium on the upcoming micro. i was already considering running water.

Devon Sinsley said:

Steve Featherkile said:

http://www.twogreenthumbs.com

I use these guys from time to time for “stuff.”

I think on more than one occasion I think I have told you I don’t like you. Now my head is wandering on how to do a live terrarium on the upcoming micro. i was already considering running water.

I serve at your pleasure, Sahib. (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif)

(http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-smile.gif)

Hey will you be at the train show Sunday. Chuck told me about it and I actually can make it.

I saw that ad in GR and I remember the last similar contest. Small is a relative flexible word so it is up to the modeller/author to decide if theirs is small. I have thought about entering but my RR which has about 550’ of track isn’t that small to me.

I have considered entering the “yard” which can be run separate from the rest of the RR. At about 32"wide by 20+ feet that is small.

There is a lot of work to entering the contest such as writing the story, photo taking and submitting. With small projects I have E mailed Marc the photos and text. With the amount of photos needed to enter this contest one would use Dropbox.

I say if you consider yours to be a “small” but interesting RR I say go ahead and enter. Even if you don’t win your RR could still be featured.

Devon Sinsley said:

(http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-smile.gif)

Hey will you be at the train show Sunday. Chuck told me about it and I actually can make it.

I’ll be there with our module. Bring sumpin to run.

You have to have sumpin to run in order to bring it. All I have that will go is my tender or my MIK car and both are link and pin so we would have to tie them on.

Interesting! I could contact some of the German buddies for whom I designed “smallish” track plans with a definite theme. Hmmmmmm…(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-undecided.gif) (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-undecided.gif)

Greg Elmassian said:

Third place for a small garden railway went to Ray Dunakin?

That’s gotta be a goof, because I didn’t even enter the contest.

Here’s the real third place winner: http://grw.trains.com/how-to/projects/2011/12/the-ambledown-valley-railway

Ray Dunakin said:

Greg Elmassian said:

Third place for a small garden railway went to Ray Dunakin?

That’s gotta be a goof, because I didn’t even enter the contest.

Here’s the real third place winner: http://grw.trains.com/how-to/projects/2011/12/the-ambledown-valley-railway

That’s what I thought Ray, I remember your layout being a featured layout but not as part of the contest. Someone goofed.

Ahh… try the link in the first post Ray, says you were 3rd place in 2010… I did not notice the fine print under the picture.

Greg