7th Annual N Scale Vehicle of the Year Awards

[cfritschle]

I need help with selecting the nominees for the N Scale Vehicle Association’s Seventh Annual N Scale Vehicle of the Year Awards.  The voting for the awards will take place at the National N Scale Convention in Hershey, Pennsylvania in June.  However, provisions will be made for absentee voting if you are unable to attend the convention.  In keeping with tradition, six nominees are needed in each of the two categories; the New N Scale Vehicle of the Year and the Enhanced N Scale Vehicle of the Year.

To qualify for the New N Scale Vehicle of the Year Award, the model must be 1:160 scale (or at least marketed and labeled as 1:160 scale) and have been made with all new or substantially new tooling, and the initial release of the model must have been between January 1, 2010 and April 30, 2011. 

To qualify for the Enhanced N Scale Vehicle of the Year Award, the model must be 1:160 scale (or at least marketed and labeled as 1:160 scale) and have been made with existing tooling or mostly existing tooling.  The model may have been enhanced with something as simple as a new paint scheme, or the model may be the result of some new tooling combined with an existing model.  The initial release of the enhanced model must also have been between January 1, 2010 and April 30, 2011.

If you could nominate up to three N scale vehicles in each of the two categories, it would really help determine which model vehicles were the most popular with N scale modelers.  Each “nomination” you make for of an N scale model vehicle will count as a preliminary vote for that model.  The six models in each category with the most preliminary votes will be on the final ballot.  You can record your vote “publicly” (and campaign for your favorite models) by responding in this thread, or you can vote privately by sending me an email with your list of choices.  The last day to nominate a model (cast a preliminary vote) is May 15, 2011.

In case of a tie in the preliminary voting, model vehicles that have NOT already received an N Scale Vehicle of the Year Award will receive preference.  The prior winners are listed below:

2005 New N Scale Vehicle of the Year – Athearn Ford C canopy cab fire truck
2005 Enhanced N Scale Vehicle of the Year – Classic Metal Works IH R-190 semi-tractor with reefer trailer
2006 New N Scale Vehicle of the Year – (Tie) Athearn John Deere 7820 farm tractor and Classic Metal Works IH R-190 semi-tractor with stake bed trailer
2006 Enhanced N Scale Vehicle of the Year – Athearn 28-foot pup trailers with converter dolly
2007 New N Scale Vehicle of the Year – Athearn Mack Model R cement mixer truck
2007 Enhanced N Scale Vehicle of the Year – GHQ Ford L-8000 snow plow
2008 New N Scale Vehicle of the Year – Athearn Mack Model B dump truck
2008 Enhanced N Scale Vehicle of the Year – Athearn Mack Model B cement mixer truck
2009 New N Scale Vehicle of the Year – Wheels of Time Mack C-49 transit bus
2009 Enhanced N Scale Vehicle of the Year – Classic Metal Works 1954 Ford F-350 RR MOW truck with utility bed
2010 New N Scale Vehicle of the Year – Athearn Flxible Visicoach intercity bus
2010 Enhanced N Scale Vehicle of the Year – Woodland Scenics Ike’s Ice Cream truck 

A previous winner of the New N Scale Vehicle Award does not qualify for the Enhanced N Scale Vehicle of the Year award, if the only enhancement is a new paint scheme. 

Carter

[cfritschle]

For those of you that did not get a chance to attend the Saturday night banquet, the winners of the N Scale Vehicle of the Year Awards are as follows:

The Classic Metal Works 1953 Ford Country Squire won the New N Scale Vehicle of the Year Award, and the Athearn Ford C Fire Rescue in new paint schemes won the enhanced N Scale Vehicle of the Year Award.

Carter

[pmpexpress]

Train Cat Model Sales Wilson's Auto Ramp

[James Costello]

Which year was the Kato Volvo semi released?

[cfritschle]

Which year was the Kato Volvo semi released?

James,

The initial release of the white one was in 2009.  However, the red and blue ones were released in 2010, so they could qualify as enhanced N scale vehicle models.

Carter

[James Costello]

James,

The initial release of the white one was in 2009.  However, the red and blue ones were released in 2010, so they could qualify as enhanced N scale vehicle models.

Carter

Thanks Carter. Do the Deluxe decal set(s) qualify as an enhancement?

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Looking back, I don't recall much being introduced in the last year. Some Willmodels stuff but thats about it.

I guess I would have to go with the CMW bus.

[cfritschle]

Thanks Carter. Do the Deluxe decal set(s) qualify as an enhancement?

James,

While the decals do a great job of enhancing the Kato Volvos, they really don't qualify as a vehicle model.  Did you want to nominate the Kato Volvo for the Enhanced N Scale Vehicle of the Year?

Carter

[cfritschle]

Looking back, I don't recall much being introduced in the last year. Some Willmodels stuff but thats about it.

I guess I would have to go with the CMW bus.

Daniel,

Thank you and I have recorded your nomination/vote of the CMW GM TD 3610 transit bus.  And while the number of models is down, my preliminary survey showed approximately 15 new N scale models released from January 1, 2010 to April 30, 2011 and about 24 enhanced N scale models released from January 1, 2010 to April 30, 2011 without including any of the cast resin kits, which would also qualify for the awards.

Carter

[cfritschle]

See the 2nd post in this thread to find out which models won.

It was great to meet many fellow Railwire forum members at the convention.  I had a great time and I hope everyone else did too.  The local convention committee members did a fantastic job, and they made all of us that traveled to the area feel very welcome!

Thank you so much!

Carter