Division 9 Is Hosting A Modeling Challenge For Its Members!
The date for the Modeling Challenge has been set for the Membership Meeting scheduled on February 21, 2026.
This modeling challenge is very simple. Select a model railroad car or cars from your collection (or purchase cars at a future train sale or by some other method) so that you can create a scene with it, in its new use and life.
This can be a railroad car in any scale and any type of railroad car. The key part of the modeling challenge is the railroad car is now being used in a different use, as compared to its original purchased use.
It should be built on a display that is one foot by one foot up to two feet by two feet. Foam or wood or something else is your choice for the display base.
There are no rules for this modeling challenge, only recommendations.
- Base size for the display, so it can be shown at a Division 9 meeting at the Kalamazoo Bridge Club
- Any scale of railroad car can be used. More than one railroad car can be used in the display.
- The railroad car(s) in the display are in a new use as to what it was originally purchased for.
- Type of railroad car chosen, can be any type. Caboose, open hopper, covered hopper, box car, refrigerator car, passenger car, flat car, stock car, intermodal well car, engine (steam or diesel), tank car (low pressure or high pressure or cryogenic), as examples.
- Photos of examples – real railroad car examples and model railroad cars examples will be in the Division 9 newsletters through December 2025.
- Be creative and use your imagination! Nothing is unacceptable!
- Electrical lighting and electricity can be used in the display.
- You can enter more than one display in the challenge.
- There will be no judging of the displays, just the sound of “oohs and aahs” when people look at the displays!
- Maybe you can find a permanent home or place on your layout for your car(s) on your layout to get more use out of your display ideas.
- Again, have fun! Be creative, use your imagination! If you look around in the real world, railroad cars are found in all kinds of “second uses or lives”.
Watch for further announcements as to exhibition dates. Examples of 2nd use lives appear on the next few pages.