Touche David.
The dollar limit only applies to those participating in the challenge for ‘bragging rights’. I would mos likely violate the limit because I have not been in the hobby (large scale) long enough to have a junk box. I run almost all of what I have. I bought a couple of Piko coach bodies a year ago for a future bashing project, but don’t have anything in mind yet to go under them. I would have to destroy something to have a junk box to work from.
Bob C.
Good point David. I was thinking of building something that ran on rails under its own power but if everyone wants to head off in the “this is a door” build something around it direction that could be pretty cool too. It’s certainly keeping with the low budget challenge.
It seems we all have very different ideas about this challenge.
When is this supposed to go down? Just wondering.
S
Over at that other forum I believe the challenges were there before here, I maybe wrong and that doesn’t matter but I distinctly remember one of the challenges being based off of something you found in your house that was not a train item and turn it into a train item. I never got to participate and had to fall away from the hobby before I could participate in the next one.
I was amazed by what people came up with. When I heard the challenges were here I joined. I love the low budget build on the fly with what you have attitude. Starting with a door was a cool idea. And the budget does limit (I meant even)
the playing field. I think if your in it to build a museum piece your probably in the wrong challenge (and from what I have seen no one here thinks that).
So I can’t wait to play. Just need that pin nailer.
Scott et al.
I will issue the challenge in Miks name on January 1st, as tradition dictates. Issuing the Challenge is in its self a challenge. We all seem to model in a different “G” scale. And I for one really know the true size difference between a full size door in 1:32 scale and 1:20.3.
Have you ever seen a set of 1:20.3 trucks under a 1:32 box car. ROTFL!! And yet it will run around on all of our tracks.
I do try to keep the rules quite liberal, so as to not restrict anyones creativity to much. I think that the 2015 Challenge will open the door for everyone to partake. Start thinking outside of the box for the next 53 days, and you might be ready for the Challenge to begin.
And always Rule #1 governs everything.
G scale? what’s that?
Gauge one track, rubber scale… 1:20.3 , 1:29. 1:32, 7/8ths scale…
Part of the problem with any motorization is that unlike a few years ago when there were several inexpensive options for drive train, today almost everyone of them no longer exists or has become price prohibitive. MDC, Aristo …phooosh and with them their inexpensive drive blocks from the Hustler Centercab and FA1, LGB costs its weight in ivory, USA blocks are hard to find and pricey at that. I wish Stompers were still around, they’d be right up Allens alley. The only options really left are the HLW Mack, Bachmanns are too expensive to really be considered.
Unless someone knows a low price ($50ish?) option I don’t see we can make the powered part anything more than an option for those who might have something set aside. We need something that can be a starting point for many options like a cowcatcher or something. Lets see what Dave cooks up.
KISS. KISS. That’s what Mik’s Challenge was all about. I liked the door thing because it was pretty much scale INdependent. I liked the flatcar kit for the same reason. I could build a 1:32 item for my own RR.
I’m not an expert builder. I will take the challenge, but it has to stand up to weather. For me, that means no small/fragile parts. No hot glue (stuff falls apart). Items has to be strong enough to withstand rain and heat, mud and cold.
So far I’m not sure any of the suggestions would result in such a robust model.
KISS. KISS. That’s what Mik’s Challenge was all about. I liked the door thing because it was pretty much scale independent. I liked the flatcar kit for the same reason. I could build a 1:32 item for my own RR.
I’m not an expert builder. I will take the challenge, but it has to stand up to weather. For me, that means no small/fragile parts. No hot glue (stuff falls apart). Items has to be strong enough to withstand rain and heat, mud and cold.
So far I’m not sure any of the suggestions would result in such a robust model.
Dick Friedman said:
KISS. KISS. That’s what Mik’s Challenge was all about. I liked the door thing because it was pretty much scale dependent. I liked the flatcar kit for the same reason. I could build a 1:32 item for my own RR.
I’m not an expert builder. I will take the challenge, but it has to stand up to weather. For me, that means no small/fragile parts. No hot glue (stuff falls apart). Items has to be strong enough to withstand rain and heat, mud and cold.
So far I’m not sure any of the suggestions would result in such a robust model.
Dick, the durability issue is why my gas station (last year’s build) didn’t have all the details I would have wanted it to have. It has to live in Fair Haven full time. That is, once the town of Fair Haven has been laid out and built.
I know my costing was well below the $ figure stipulated. From memory I believe my build for last years Mik’s Challenge was zilch - if you discount the time spent building the model. It has been outdoors since March and has stood up well this year to the weather, only a slight re-gluing on the coal bin has been needed.
Alan, I do not remember the cost of my build. I think it was like less then $5 for another tube of glue. And I have saved up more “roofing material”, just in case I need it for this build. If not, I will need it for the company houses I am planning on building.
As far as using motors in the challenge go when I built my MAC speeder from the gondola kit I bought and hacked up a cheapo RC car. This gave me the RC controls, a battery box, 2 lights and the motor for under $10. It works pretty good on the flats but needs more power on the steep grades. The rest of the build came from bits and pieces, I used a golf tee for the horn for example.
There is a photo of this car on the first page of this thread also here is a link to a video. The speeder is seen in the beginning.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gR2QinuwjCw
Dick Friedman said it best this challenge is all about K.I.S.S . It is meant to be fun while allowing us to flex both our imaginations and modelling skills. By keeping the cost limit under $30 it allows more guys to join in the fun. You can build some amazing things for half that money if you put your mind to it.
I believe that everyone who enters and finishes their build is a winner.
I only spent $29.99… and ‘won’ not just my freight building, but the motivation to do the Passenger Depot too! Oh no, I didn’t win a prize, per say, but my railroad did!
Long over due, they had been pondered to well… ‘some’ day.
I can’t wait to see what direction my motivation will take this year.
John
I know my challenge last year came to $28, only because I needed very specific figurines (chef) and details (any idea how hard it was finding a G scale waffle? LOL) I was going to buy a neat dollhouse cash register but that would have bumped me way over the limit so it got carved out of balsa instead. I like the challenge of making something from nothing.
Just think. we are fast approaching the fifth page and we haven’t even seen the rules yet!
I’m glad the size of my junk box(es) this year has grown!
Doug, but we know that rule #1 is that we are to have fun.
As a previous participant I have had a lot of fun with the projects and learned new skills and techniques. I like the idea of a piece of rolling stock, however what ever is decide I’m still in 
I’ve got ideas, but I need to know the “official” theme. Can’t wait to jump into this and see where it takes me (all of us)
i would like to see us do a project with a bobber caboose or something like that…
Dave if you need prizes this year I can make up a bundle of scale cedar lumber for ya ti give away?..