By Russ Segner
Let’s build something! Announcing a contest to build a diorama for display at the Pacific Science Center Show next January. Here are the guidelines:
- 12” x 24” maximum footprint – use a 12” x 24” piece of ¾ inch pink foam or equivalent. Home Depot has 24” x24” pieces. Cut a base and use remainder to build elevations.
- Any scale
- Must have a railroad theme
- Should exhibit skills and techniques common to model railroading
- May be animated and/or lighted. No external power will be available.
- Entrant must be an active member of 4D/PNR
Entries will be judged at the Boeing Swap Meet this Fall and many will be displayed at the Pacific Science Center Show in 2020.
Here are some fine example dioramas from years past, built by 4D/PNR members:
Clearing the Cut on Jon Wilbert’s Diorama, 2017 
Cliff Aaker’s Station Scene, Platform Side, 2017
Russ
Hi,
How does one go about entering this contest? And what is the date of the Boeing Swap Meet?
Thanks.
The only thing you have to do is bring it to the Boeing Swap Meet which is usually the second Saturday of October.
Russ Segner
206 200 2211
FYI, this area translates into roughly one-third of an acre in HO scale, roughly one-tenth of an acre in O scale, or roughly one-and-a-tenth acre in N scale.
We used to conduct these diorama contests with an area of 10,000 ( scale ) square feet, no matter what your scale. This is roughly one-quarter of an acre. We used to hold these contests at the annual April Mini-Meet. The 10,000 square feet size was taken from the diorama contest rules at National and Regional conventions.
Dioramas are a good way to practice making scenery. Get away from that “bare plywood” look that is so popular. 😉