The Big Blue 2013 Get Off Your Duff Challenge

[ezdays]

The Big Blue 2013 Get Off Your Duff Challenge

All right, it’s been a whole year since we had a “get something done” challenge. I’ve been talking about getting off my big fat duff and getting a few thing finished on my layout, so this is my chance, this is your chance, this is everyone’s chance to do it during our very first, “Get off you duff” challenge. Yeah, it might sound similar to ones that we’ve had in the past, but this time we want to make it realistic, do not commit to more than you think you can actually get done. For some reason, a lot of us have eyes bigger than our stomachs and we tend to put too much on our plates, so I’ll suggesting that we take a single bite-sized project for this challenge. This could be something that we’ve started and set aside for something more important, or we have those that we truly intend to start but haven't yet for one reason or another. Most often, we have the material, kit, engine or car. All we need now is one more part or a bit more time and we’re off to the races. Well, now is your chance to get the incentive to get that project done at last.

So here's the challenge; make a commitment to get something done regarding your layout or rolling stock. Resolve to do whatever it is, in three months or less. Post your intentions and progress in a separate thread, then at the end of three months, we'll have a vote to see who came closest to getting off their duffs and doing what they said they would. Be specific, but keep it simple so that you can keep your commitment., let’s not say, “I plan to finish a 4 x 8 layout from scratch”, or, ”I’m going to build a 4000-class 4-8-8-4 Big Boy out of spare parts”. That’s too general and/or a bit ambitious. Try something simpler and more obtainable. Also note that we are allowing you to enter multiple projects, just that you must finish one before you start another one.

Remember, the intent of this challenge is to get us procrastinators off our duffs and working on something no matter how small or how simple. Pick something, do it, and pick something else if you want , and do it as well.

The Rules:

1. You can enter any project on your railroad that you’ve either started and is less than half finished, or one that you’re ready to start but haven’t yet. This can be anything from building a structure from a kit, a kitbash, anything scratchbuilt, weathering or rebuilding a car or engine, finishing up your track work or even completing some other aspect of your layout like scenery or wiring. It could be simply cleaning up or rebuilding your workbench or a display cabinet. Just about anything goes as long as it’s related to model railroading, but you have to tell us at what level the project is at when you start and what the intent of the completed project is.
   
2. If you're working on a club or friend’s layout, those projects are also acceptable.
   
3. Start a thread in this forum, "Your Screen Name, 2013 Duff challenge," and describe your project in the first post. A start picture would be helpful.
   
4. You can open your thread at any time before the official starting date, which gives you enough time to decide on what you want to do. You are also free to start a project at any time before the end of this challenge
   
5. Tell us what you intend to do as part of your challenge and let us know what scale you are working in, if that’s appropriate As usual, provide us with lots of pictures of your progress.
   
6. If, before the end of this challenge, you complete your project, you may start a new one. Try to do two or three simple projects rather than one big one. You will then be judged on your individual projects.
   
7. Because we never give away anything of value away, this challenge is open to all registered members of the Big Blue Train Forum, including the staff. Let’s face it, we all need to get off our duffs after putting on all those pounds over the holidays.
   
8. This challenge is all about your project, you can have help, but you must do a substantial amount of the work yourself. You or someone else can take the photos.

The challenge starts on January 21, and will run until April 22. A poll will open after that date, so that we can pick a winner.

As usual, there are no real prizes, just bragging rights and a certificate from Big Blue showing that you won one of the top three spots.

Please post any questions or comments regarding this challenge here in this thread and we will attempt to resolve any issues here before the challenge starts. Do not post your challenges here, start an individual new thread for each one you enter.