your portal to more fun in scale model railroading
your portal to more fun in scale model railroading
Below, all the text in bold is the actual requirement. All else is additional interpretation to help you with understanding the intent and options available to you to fulfill that requirement. When in doubt, contact the National AP Manager at achiev [at] nmra.org.
First, let's define what is meant by "Motive Power": it is any type of steam, diesel, or electric locomotive, traction unit, maintenance vehicle, or other type of self propelled vehicle that runs on rails. This includes everything from speeders to streetcars to Big Boys. It does not include things that are powered models of unpowered vehicles (like hand cars) or unpowered models of powered prototypes (like dummy locomotives).
Contact your Regional AP Manager if you have a question about which category a particular model would fall into.
1. Build three scale models of railroad motive power, one of which must be scratch built. Motive Power is defined as a locomotive or a self-propelled vehicle. (Models made of LEGO bricks and similar materials are not considered scale trains and are not eligible for AP evaluation.) To qualify as scratch built, the motive power must contain the following scratch-built items as applicable:
a. Steam Locomotives: frame, boiler, cab, tender frame, body, either valve gear or main and side driving rods.
b. Other Motive Power: body, frame, cab, power truck side frame, pantograph or trolley poles where appropriate
All models must be capable of self-propulsion on track of the same gauge as the model. Power trains for all models may be commercial motors and gears. All models must be superdetailed either with scratch-built parts or with commercial parts as defined in the "DEFINITIONS" Section.
The following parts are specifically excluded from the scratch built requirement.
- Motor
- Gears
- Drivers and wheels
- Couplers
- Light bulbs and electronics
- Trucks
- Paint, decals,etc.
- Bell
- Marker and classification lights
- Brake fittings
- Basic shapes of wood, plastic, metal,etc.
("Basic shapes are things that builders of the prototype would have used as raw materials. For example an "I" beam would be a basic shape; a commercial door or window casting would not.)
The term "scratch built" implies that the modeler has done all of the necessary layout and fabrication that produces the final dimensions, appearance, and operating qualities of the model.
This is a good statement of the intent and spirit of the 'scratch built' requirement. Notice that it does not say that the use of a few commercial detail parts will disqualify the model as being "scratch built". In general, the same standard applies that is used in contest judging: "Completely Scratch built" means that 90% or more of the model by parts count was scratch built. (But you do need to scratch build the listed in requirement 1-A above.) Taking an existing model and modifying it to be a powered model is not considered "scratch building." Examples of this would be taking a passenger car and converting it into a trolley, or a box car and converting it into a box-cab locomotive. These do not meet the definition or the spirit of the term "scratch built" given above.
2. Earn a Merit Award of at least 87.5 points with each of the three scale models of motive power either via an NMRA sponsored contest or AP Merit Award Evaluation.
3. Submit a Statement of Qualification (SOQ, see below) which includes the following:
a. Attachment giving detailed descriptions of the models.
b. Identification of the scratch-built features.
c. List of all the commercial components appearing on each model.
d. The materials used in building the models.
e. Verification of the Merit Awards. (photocopies of the certificates)
Copies of the plans you used to establish conformity are NOT required, but many people do submit them, and they are reviewed by the person evaluating the model for confomrity.
Photos of the model are helpful, but not required.
Contact the AP Committee General Manager at achiev [at] nmra.org, or your Region or Division Achievement Program Manager for more information.
Also refer to the article "Master Builder - Motive Power," NMRA Bulletin, December 1992.