your portal to more fun in scale model railroading
your portal to more fun in scale model railroading
If you are building a model railroad, you have to have track. Installing and building track is what this achievement award entails.
It is not necessary to scratchbuild all the track work. Commercial track can be used to satisfy some of the requirements. Section C requires scratchbuilding, also the models built to satisfy the requirements of Section C must be must be judged for a merit award. However the models constructed for section C do not necessarily need to be part of your railroad, these can be separate items on individual pieces of homasote or wood.
In addition to many books and magazine articles on track plans and track work, there are videos on model railroads that can give you ideas and helpful hints. Check with your local hobby shops and the magazine ads. The annual index of magazines is another good place to rind support information and construction assistance. And don't forget the Kalmbach Memorial Library.
Drafting a track plan, for section A of the requirements, is a fun item to visualize and do.
In section B there are many options to select six from. It is important that the track work constructed have appropriate ballast, drainage facilities, and roadbed profile.
Section C, usually presents the biggest challenge. This is the section where the judges will evaluate the elements for a Merit Award. Therefore your work must meet the required quantity and quality prescribed. Some modelers may need to practice their skill in cutting rail, filing, spiking, soldering and constructing scratchbuilt track models. A fellow modeler, familiar in these areas, will be another good source of instruction and advice.
First, do only what is required. Do not read into the requirements any extra restrictions or demands. The descriptions for Civil were clarified as much as possible to enable every modeler to understand what is asked for. Then concentrate on what you need to do for the Merit Award required in section C. Make sure the track geometry, rail, transitions and easements are smooth. Be sure to allow room for drainage ditches. Every railroad has them. The turnouts must have mechanical ground throws or switch machines (electrical operation is not required). Bridges and trestles should include piers and abutments. Ballast, rail weathering, tie staining and weathering are scenic elements and are not required, but they do improve the overall effect in the judges' viewpoint in scoring.
If you do not get 87.5 points, ask the judges where the deficiencies were. Fix whatever they recommend, then rework the other parts to improve all the elements. Now you are ready for another evaluation, either by the same judges or new ones.
2019 AP Manager Frank Koch note: This article was written when there was a scoring matrix to determine Merit level work. Around 2017, the crtieria for a Merit Award in Civil was changed so that there are only three (3) pass-fail criteria: scratch build all elements of the track, the track meets standards as measured by the appropriate gauge, and a self-propelled locomotive will successfully traverse all routes. Meet these three criteria and you and your track earn a Merit Award.