Enter The Blue Comet Award Loco Design Contest
We’re looking for a paint scheme idea that will stand out on a layout, complement the look of the diesel and caboose, honor the achievement of the Blue Comet winner, and be fun for visitors to see in operation.
Design the Blue Comet Award Engine and Caboose!
- Prize: The person who submits the design chosen for the Blue Comet Award Train will receive their choice of an M.T.H. RailRoaders Club Premier or RailKing five-year membership (worth up to $275.00). The winner will also be honored at the presentation of the 2017 Blue Comet Award at the October 2017 York TCA show.
- Entry deadline: All entries must be received at M.T.H. by midnight Eastern Time, February 28, 2017. Winners of the Locomotive & Caboose Design Contest will be announced by March 31, 2017.
- Story behind your entry (optional): We encourage you to use the free-form “Story” field on the entry form to tell us the story behind your design — how you came up with the idea, any prototype paint schemes that inspired your idea, what you tried to accomplish, etc.
If you wish, you may also submit your design’s story as an attached Word doc, or in printed format if you submit your entry by mail. - Employees of M.T.H. are not eligible to participate.
- All entries will become the property of M.T.H. and may be used to promote the O gauge hobby in newsletter articles, emails, catalogs, or other media, as well as articles in various model railroad publications. Entrants will be credited whenever their submissions are published.
- Questions about the Blue Comet Award Locomotive & Caboose Design Contest may be emailed to bluecometaward@mth-railking.com. Please include “Blue Comet Design” in the subject line.
- Judging criteria: We’re looking for a paint scheme idea that will stand out on a layout, complement the look of the diesel and caboose, honor the achievement of the Blue Comet winner, and be fun for visitors to see in operation. Remember that the GEVO locomotive features operating charging lights, which you can see in operation here.
Note that artistic talent will not be a factor in judging this contest. Submit your ideas, and we will handle execution of the winning idea! - Blue Comet Insignia: The M.T.H. Blue Comet insignia, shown below, must appear on either the engine or caboose (or both) in your design.
- How to enter: Complete the form to the right and upload one or both of the following:
A written description of your design idea and/or
Sketches of your idea, using the downloadable and printable locomotive and caboose plan drawings on this page.
Entries may be submitted digitally by attaching a Word file and/or scanning or photographing your sketches and submitting them with the electronic entry form to the right. Sketches should be in high-quality jpeg or PDF format.
Alternately, you may download, print and complete the entry form and submit it with hard-copy text and/or sketches, by mailing your entry to
M.T.H. Electric Trains
ATTN: Blue Comet Train
7020 Columbia Gateway Drive
Columbia, MD 21046
All entries will be acknowledged by email within 72 hours of receipt. If you do not receive an acknowledgement, please email us at bluecometaward@mth-railking.com and include “Blue Comet Design” in the subject line.
