OcTRAINber 2020: Dioramas, Dioramas Everywhere is GO!

[raised]

 

Due to COVID-19 a lot is different this year. However, we didn’t want the community to miss this years OcTRAINber due to that. So, we decided that for the fourth year in a row, OcTRAINber will go on!

This years theme will be “Diorama’s, Diorama’s Everywhere”. Like the previous installments of OcTRAINber, the idea of this building challenge is to actually challenge builders. To get us out of our comfort zones. We Trainheads build a lot of trains, but we tend to put less emphasis on the stuff that goes next to a train, the stuff that really makes or breaks a picture. And, we must admit, most of us at BMR do exactly the same. In fact, almost all of my pictures are just trains with a white background… So, we decided that building train themed dioramas should be the ideal theme for this years OcTRAINber.

After last years OcTRAINber (The Technic Challenge) we did a little evaluation to find out what things we could improve upon. Two really stood out: The re-introduction of a Digital Builds category, and an extended timeframe to plan and build. And since you, the community, make OcTRAINber, we decided to go with both.

So yes, that means OcTRAINber officially starts today!

The idea is simple, from today onwards you as a community have one month of pre-building in which you can already do your planning, post your WIP stories or just start hyping yourself up. Everything is allowed to do already as if it would be last years OcTRAINber, with one small difference: The Entries page will only go live on October 1st.

Rules

Just so you have some guidelines on what to build, we have made a set of rules that should be enough to get you building. The first two rules are a bit different from previous years, where we had some really though rules about what qualified as an Entry. This gives builders more flexibility, hopefully you will also be able to apply this!

• We will keep the idea of what a “diorama” is on purpose as vague as possible. Just go all-out with your creativity.
• Every diorama must have some form of track, and some form of a train. It’s an Bulding Challenge hosted by Brick Model Railroader after all. Just go all-out with your creativity here as well.
• Entries must be original models. No stealing. This also means no MODs (thus also no sets), only MOCs.
• Third party parts are allowed, clone bricks aren’t. We know this can be a thin line, just walk it wisely.
• We are making no rules for the scale you choose to model in. We are welcoming models of 6, 7, and 8 studs, and anything in between or beyond! However, we appreciate detail and accuracy. Reasonably sized models are usually better for that, but we don’t knock anything or anyone with serious skill.
• NEW BUILDS ONLY. We are willing to accept anything unpublished or anything that was not published before August 1st 2020 as new. We want to inspire and promote a challenging build, entering an old model doesn’t quite work in that regard.
• Entries MUST be made on our Flickr group in the appropriate thread. This is the ONLY place we will be looking for entries, nowhere else. Sending photos to us on social media or showing us in person do not count as entries! These threads will open on October 1st.
• We will be accepting entries from Midnight on October 1st to Midnight on November 1st (meaning October 31st, at 23:59 PDT). There is possibility of a grace period to ensure those that need that one final Bricklink order have a fair chance.
  NOTE: If this is the case, please let us know at least one week (ie. 7 days) before October 31st, so that everybody has a fair chance to use this extension.

Categories

This year there will be three categories you can enter in, depending on the size of your diorama: Small, Large and Huge.

• Small: 1 – 2 32*32 baseplates
• Large: 3 – 6 32*32 baseplates
• Huge: 6+ 32*32 baseplates

Depending on the number of Entries we will decided wheter we will do three seperate categories for digital builds, or just one (in the first two years of OcTRAINber there were significanty less Digital Builds compared to Real Life Builds).

Entries

Keep in mind that OcTRAINber is a ‘quality over quantity’-building event. This means that we rather encourage you to build one amazing build than several sub-par ones. That’s why, just like last year, we will restrict the number of entries to only one per person.

Just like last year, we want to encourage you to show off your WIPs this year as well, to make OcTRAINber really a month that is all about trains within the Lego community. Therefore, extra credit will be given to the best WIP stories and/or pictures during the event.

However, other than last years, the WIPs can be posted from September 1st onwards, so that we in fact have an extended WIP pictures period of two months.

Points

Points will be awarded in three categories: Credibility, WIP Story and Diorama Factor

First of all, credibility of the prototype. This means we will be looking at how much the build represents the real life prototype. Both the diorama itself, but definatly also the train that is on it. If you are sending in a fantasy model, we will look at how credible the build is; would it fit in, does the backstory make sense?

Second of all, the WIP story. This refers to both showing off your building process, but also to how and why you decided to model a certain prototype. The better the story and the more updates you give and the more elaborate your building story is, the better.

Third and last, the Diorama Factor. This is all about how you build your diorama. is it extra funky, does it have strange connections, is everything build on it’s side, is everything off grid… The more creative, the better, but as always with OcTRAINber, it’s about quality first, and quantity second.

Prizes & Winners

We haven’t finalized on prizes yet, but since this is a building challenge, we will for sure have some, just like in previous years.

We will pick the winners after we have announced the official close of the competition and have stopped accepting new entries, which will be some time after November 1. Once the judges (who, just like last year, will be announced in an upcoming article) have come to a sound conclusion regarding the winners, we will post one final article announcing them, and then we will be in contact with those winners regarding their prizes.

Final Words

So, that’s it for now. OcTRAINber has officially started, even though it’s just September. Now the only thing you have to do is start building, and show those diorama’s everywhere! Happy OcTRAINber!

 

(crossposted from https://brickmodelrailroader.com/index.php/2020/09/01/octrainber-2020-dioramas-dioramas-everywhere/)

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Since announcing OcTRAINber 2020: Diorama’s, diorama’s everywhere, we have seen a lot of enthousiast reactions, which we are very glad about. This post is the first follow-up post, and several more will most probably follow in the coming weeks, to keep the well-known Hype Train going.

Podcast

As part of this years Challenge we will host a BMR Podcast this Sunday over at Youtube, be sure to check it out!

The Fourth Judge

As has become tradition, OcTRAINber is judged by a panel of three BMR Judges, combined with one Guest Judge. Just like last year the BMR Judges will be Cale Leiphart, Glenn Holland and yours truely.

Our Guest Judge this year will be Falk, who is better known as Bricknerd over at Flickr. Falk is very skilled in building little dioramas that – if his train designs weren’t so awesome – would surely stand out in any build!

Clarifying the Rules

We also however received some requests for clarification on the rules, which we would like to give.

First of all, let us say one thing: For the last three years OcTRAINber has been a building challenge that both challenges and brings out the creativity. For this reason we on purpose stay vague on the rules, because we like to see exactly that creativity.

1. Diorama?

The first question was about what a diorama actually is. It’s always a bit shady difference between the two, but with layout it at least implies that some form of operations is possible, whereas a diorama can be totally static. However, as is the case with most layouts; if you just take a part of it, it becomes a diorama quite fast.

Google has the following definition: “a model representing a scene with three-dimensional figures, either in miniature or as a large-scale museum exhibit.”

The emphasis here lays on the scene part. Other than a layout, a diorama is a scene that tells some form of story. That story can something big like a train robbery, but can also just be a field of green with cows. Just as long it’s a scene, it’s fine.

2. Train & track?

In the rules it is stipulated that every diorama needs to have some form of train and track. This being a Brick Model Railroader hosted Building Challenge this is kind of a must-have. However, different than the last three installments of OcTRAINber, the train & track don’t have to take center stage this time around.

That means that for the first time in the history of OcTRAINber, you are allowed to enter a Lego train set, a MOD or any other Instructions-based third party design. However, the choice to do so has to be an integral part of the diorama. This means that instead of judging the trains for their build, taking a look at them and how/if they fit or enhance the scene will be how they are viewed.

Just for an example, take this motorized diorama by bogieman that has a minifig loading crates into a boxcar designed by Jeffrey Fonda over at BTD. That’s a build where one would say having the train there is essential to the story of the scene, and that level of integration will be scored higher for tying it all together.

3. Movement?

Last year OcTRAINber had the “Technic Challenge” theme, where it was all about movement. Even though this year is about diorama’s, the whole ‘scene’ thing that is part of a diorama does mean that if some movement is ‘necessary’ for the scene, it is for sure allowed.

4. Procedural Building?

As we found out in last years survey, a lot of builders were not able send in their Entries because for the first time we lacked a Digital Builds-category. Here at BMR we are very much in favour of IRL builds, because that’s in the end the best way to grow our hobby: To show those trains and let them run! However, we understand that not everybody is able to have huge piles of Legos laying around, let alone have the space for a full Diorama. Therefore, we have decided to allow Digital Builds this year again.

We know there are some things happening in the Digital World with Procedural Builds, which means you could technically build amazing pieces of nature with just one click. However, because a diorama is so much more than some pieces of rock, we don’t see a bit problem in this. We will however keep an eye out on this, so that it won’t take over the creativity (and fun) of this building challenge.

(if more questions will come in, we will add them to this post)

(crossposted from https://brickmodelrailroader.com/index.php/2020/09/05/octrainber-2020-podcast-judge-rules/)

Edited October 8, 2020 by raised

[raised]

Update: WIPtember is over, time for OcTRAINber! The respective entry threads have been opened, see below:

OcTRAINber 2020: Real Life Entries - Small

OcTRAINber 2020: Real Life Entries - Large

OcTRAINber 2020: Real Life Entries - Huge

OcTRAINber 2020: Digital Entries

 

Spoiler

Later today / tomorrow another post over at BMR will follow with the most exciting part of this contest: The prizes! And they are pretty good again this year, I can assure you of that!

 

[raised]

OcTRAINber 2020: Entries are open + Prizes

October 7, 2020 raised Leave a comment Edit

It’s already October 7th, and that means OcTRAINber is in full swing! We have seen some pretty amazing WIPs in the last month that show us extending OcTRAINber to also include SepTRAINber seems to have been a good idea, which we are very glad of!

Entry Threads @ BMR Flickr

As of several days ago, the entry threads have officially been opened up over at the BMR Flickr. Because most probably not everybody had been aware of this, due to a lack of proper update functions on Flickr, the threads will be shown underneath:

Real Life Entries – Small

Real Life Entries – Large

Real Life Entries – Huge

Digital Entries

As you can see, we have seperated the Real Life Entries in the three respective categories. We have chosen not do so for Digital Entries, becuase in the end BMR always tries to stimulate IRL builds. So if you enter a Real Life build, you have three times more chance of winning!

Prizes!

Now, what would OcTRAINber be without prizes? It would just be OcTRAINber, but without prizes. And thats no fun. So, just like the previous three years, we have reached out to some of our favourite third-party L-Gauge related suppliers. We are glad to say the again reacted very positive, which means this year we can again give away a lot of amazing prizes!

PFx Brick + XL Speaker Package (x2!)

This prize was donated (twice!) by Fx Bricks, and includes the following:

• PFx Brick 16 MB (new injection molded case!)
• XL Speaker (new injection molded case!)

Bricktracks R104 Switch Pack (x2!)

BrickTracks has decided to donated their amazing new R104 switches this year, also twice!

• Bricktracks R104 Switch (Left+Right) and connecting tracks

BMR Knuckle Couplers (x4!)

All winners in their respective categories will get a pair of BMR Knuckle Couplers of their choice. Winners can choose one of the respective four versions:

• 747Z Coupler Pack
• 743Z Coupler Pack
• 747S Coupler Pack
• 743S Coupler Pack

Lego Crocodile Locomotive

And, like every year, we also have the current Lego Train Set as a prize. This year that means obviously the 10277 Crocodile Locomotive! And this year, this set will be sponsored Brick Model Railroader!

• Lego 10277 Crocodile Locomotive

Extra prize: OcTRAINber Printed Bricks!

We don’t have a sample yet, but all winners of OcTRAINber 2020 will win a printed brick, commemorating their win in OcTRAINber 2020. This will be a one-off product, which will finally give the winners some visual bragging rights. We are very excited by this extra prize, and hope to show the design of the Winners Brick as soon as possible!

Wrap up

So, that’s it from us at the moment. Good luck with building, and happy OcTRAINber!

 

(crossposted from https://brickmodelrailroader.com/index.php/2020/10/07/octrainber-2020-entries-are-open-prizes/)

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Also, if you guys want to lurk over all the amazing WIP stories that are being posted, I highly recommend checking out this Flickr thread:

https://www.flickr.com/groups/3699484@N23/discuss/72157715899565241/

Happy building, happy OcTRAINber!

Edited October 8, 2020 by raised

[SteamSewnEmpire]

Why is Diaorama's possessive?

[raised]

1 hour ago, SteamSewnEmpire said:

Why is Diaorama's possessive?

 

 

But seriously, most probably because I'm Dutch and in our language the plural of Diorama is with apostrophe - S.

 

Thanks for noticing though!

 

Spoiler

Fascinating to see how it took over a month after my initial post before somebody noticed

 

Spoiler

FTFY

and

 

 

 

Edited October 8, 2020 by raised

[SteamSewnEmpire]

34 minutes ago, raised said:

 

 

But seriously, most probably because I'm Dutch and in our language the plural of Diorama is with apostrophe - S.

 

Thanks for noticing though!

 

  Hide contents

Fascinating to see how it took over a month after my initial post before somebody noticed

 

  Hide contents

FTFY

and

 

 

 

I didn't see the original post, heh. And I wasn't trying to be snarky - was just wondering if it was, like, dioramas owning other dioramas somehow. 

Edited October 8, 2020 by SteamSewnEmpire

[raised]

32 minutes ago, SteamSewnEmpire said:

I didn't see the original post, heh. And I wasn't trying to be snarky - was just wondering if it was, like, dioramas owning other dioramas somehow. 

Happy to hear you saw it now! ;) I'll keep it in mind for next years theme though, maybe a diorama in a diorama isn't such a bad idea after all!

[SteamSewnEmpire]

2 hours ago, raised said:

Happy to hear you saw it now! ;) I'll keep it in mind for next years theme though, maybe a diorama in a diorama isn't such a bad idea after all!

I think they did that on an episode of Community.

[rday1982]

I'd love to take part by building a viaduct scene in Studio and rendering it. But I absolutely refuse to sign up for Flickr. I guess I could build it anyway, and just not share it...

[raised]

Over the last two months we have seen an amazing amount of WIP stories and entries for this years installment of OcTRAINber. We are really very happy to see so many Builders having fun with this years contest!

As we had communicated in our previous posts, there was a possibility of a Grace Period, if it was deemed necessary. In the last two days we have received several such requests, and thus we have decided to indeed do so.

Seeing how far most of the non-finished entries are, we think one extra week should be enough for everyone to finish their buids. This means we will extend the deadline to Saturday November 7th, 23:59 PST.

Everyone currently contesting can make use of this extension, meaning that if you in the next days decide on any changes in your already submitted build, you are allowed to do so. Just re-upload your entry in the respective threads (edit your post, or just enter your entry again with a note that we should judge this version of the build, not the previous one).

Good luck with the last days to all!

[Vilhelm22]

@raised Any idea when results will be announced?

[raised]

7 hours ago, Vilhelm22 said:

@raised Any idea when results will be announced?

My bad, I should have posted sooner. We are currently in the process of judging the entries. I expect us to reach a final verdict before the holidays!

[Vilhelm22]

16 hours ago, raised said:

My bad, I should have posted sooner. We are currently in the process of judging the entries. I expect us to reach a final verdict before the holidays!

Thanks - looking forward to it!