My kit hasn’t arrived yet, but with the troubles I’m having with my left arm, that’s probably a GOOD thing. Numb digits and power tools are a pretty bad mix.
Is it “too late to start”? No. Three weeks from now it might be, but not today… or tomorrow, or even Wednesday. I’m always a little sad for those who will say “can’t” without ever trying.
Hey John why not join in the fun I have always liked the the ideas you have posted here in the past so I’m sure you could cook up something for the contest. I didn’t get my kit yet either and I’m still planning on entering. There is still lots of time to put something together either from the kit or plans from Dave.
Hopefully my kit will come tomorrow.
Todd
Mik, (and everybody): I’ve opened this thread again. I notice, Mik, you began it, back on Dec 27, on a fairly strong note of uncertainty. Then the whole challenge surprised us and turned into a pretty fair success after all. So thanks for going with it after all; I know, with a lot of help from Dave.
For the year-over-year continuation of the challengewithout burnout, maybe we should start a tradition of having winners set the challenge for the following year. Or maybe do it in consultation with whoever did it the previous year. Or with you, depending on how much you want to stay with it; it has been your baby so far.
It seems that Dave, as last year’s winner, has already got this idea underway, with all he’s done for this year’s challenge.
Like this, it wouldn’t always on the same guy’s (yours) plate. That might give the challenge a little fresh energy each year, if you feel a need for that. The guy who’s got the job would have ten or eleven months to get his act in gear.
I’m not saying I want the job; I’m actually a lazy kind of guy and don’t exactly want it, but I’m stepping up to the plate. If you you would like to go that way, I’d co-operate. I’m not volunteering the Doc either, or whoever wins best model in the new vote thread, but all that would spread it around among three guys, if they were willing too.
I guess there may be a downside; maybe some folks wouldn’t enter because they wouldn’t want to take on the job if they won. I dunno about this…
Wotcha’ think? (Mik, and everybody)
John, We actually tried that. Ralph won the first challenge, so he issued one. Then Shawn won, and Shawn, um, wellllllllll… Got pretty busy with real life.
If you want to brainstorm the subjects for next year, find prizes or even issue the challenge itself, that’s cool by me.
OK Mik.
I have an idea for next year… We can mail everybody that wants in the challenge a 24" length of 2x4, and let them go wild… Just kidding… but it does make a nice bridge support, Tire chock, Mule tamer, I even made a skate board once from one, the categories are almost endless.
Just thinking for next year…
well, there would be another way to keep the challenges going.
whoever feels like it, sends things or money to Bob.
and Bob gets the organisation pinned to his leg.
(and if he’s clever, he delegates that honor to Mik)
edit: afterthought - if it is an official forums contest, Bob could give out nice certificates to the winners.
I think it is kinda funny reading the last entry on January 6th before John opened it again that encouraged him to get into the challenge, that he still had time and in the end he won it!
No thanks needed here John just a little recognition when you are standing on that stage before the world to accept your prize maybe you will remember me in your acceptance speech LOL !!!
What I thought was so neat about this challenge was that most of us started with the exact same kit or plans for it and the variety of builds that came out of it were amazing.
Placing limits of money spent and time keep it fair and adds to the challenge.
Maybe next year we all do structures since only Dave did this year with his neat under construction house. We could all start with the same door or outhouse or loading dock and the imagination takes over from there. Just an idea.
Todd
Todd Haskins said:
We could all start with the same door or outhouse or loading dock and the imagination takes over from there. Just an idea.
Todd
I like the idea of starting with something simple, and seeing where things might go. Perhaps adding a limit of one board foot of stock in addition to the starting idea and $30.00, as well.
Could use a small cheap birdhouse as a starting point?
(http://www.schoolholidayprojects.com/images/birdhouse_5.gif)
Has merit.
Well, I’m sitting here reading all your ideas for future challenge builds - they’re good ones, too. Just so you guys know your ideas aren’t being ignored at all… I have no preconceptions; but I believe that if and when I begin to get some I should keep quiet until announcement time, right, Mik?
I’m taking on board all that you guys are saying and preparing myself to issue the challenge next year. Thinking about prizes as well.
I may even figure out a way to combine some of these ideas; it’s good to have so much lead time.
Another possibility would be to collect ideas that come out of these discussions for future builds, then each year’s winner could either pick out one from this list that we’ve built up over the years, or create their own fresh challenge.
All your ideas are very much appreciated.
Oh, and yes, Todd, your “Last Post” of Jan 6 was most encouraging, as were Mik’s, Dave’s, and Doug’s prior ones. I hadn’t thought I could build what I wanted and still qualify, so I stayed out of it for the first two weeks. Then after all that encouragement from you guys, I got moving at last. Desiring to qualify, I based the dimensional lumber of the car’s platform and deck strictly on Dave’s master plan, which he had Emailed me.
Getting me going must have seemed like pulling teeth.
For the push/pull, thanks to you all.
John I Love the Idea that you have volunteered to send us all brass Kits of a “Live Steam K37” for next years challenge. Thats really big of you, and I think that it will make you a big star on this forum. I just hope that I could get it built in only the 30 days to the challenge.
Only Kidding, I can dream can’t I? BTW buy Loto tickets
John, believe it or not, I never really think about the “build categories” themselves until about an hour before the challenge. - It’s the only way that I could fairly join in too.
The only other way to do it is to put 10 or so in a hat and pull out 2 or 3.
After a while you actually run out of ideas that inspire anybody, even yourself (but don’t result in those massive constructions that never get finished). That’s why Dave’s cars were such a Godsend this year
Also, if you read those old threads the first challenge I posted was something like $5max and two weeks to build. A lot of folks complained about the limits being too strict. We still got some interesting results.
OTOH Bart Salmons had made some challenges before mine, but they were more of the “just get off your duff and build something” unlimited kind. Some really nice major builds came out of those. You can build a great locomotive in two months… (or a down ‘n’ dirty one in 4 days when you have to, but that’s a horse of a different color!)
The big problem has always been lining up prizes. Unless you have a business where you can get/make them inexpensively, or a large library of books you don’t want to read again, it gets tough pretty fast. Again Dave and Ralph have been the salvation there. Ask Shawn about the two story outhouse prize he got - if he even remembers it.
