Seldom has a new motive-power model been so perfectly designed for use in a micro layout as the new Factory Direct Trackmobile model that started shipping in April 2008. It's tiny, attractive, colorful, and packs enough power to haul a string of 4 to 7 HO scale boxcars. The prototype is used on railways across the world.

So this web site, dedicated to very small layouts, is proud to sponsor a layout design contest using the Trackmobile as the basis for a micro layout design!

Everyone can enter (except Carl Arendt)! NO purchase is necessary. Official Contest Rules are on this page. The Contest Info Page contains all the information and measurements you need to design a micro layout for the little Trackmobile.

The GRAND PRIZE is — what else? — a DCC-equipped Trackmobile model, ready to run! FIVE RUNNERS UP will each receive an exclusive CD-ROM disk archive of this entire web site to date, including all layout entries.

The contest is open as of 1 May 2008. All entries must be submitted before Midnight, 31 May 2008, U.S. EDT (GMT - 4 hrs). ONLY ONE ENTRY PER PERSON WILL BE ACCEPTED.

You're cordially invited to enter your design. Read the Rules carefully, check out the Contest Info Page, and get started on your entry TODAY!

Goal of the Contest
is to design a micro layout taking advantage of the very tiny size of a Trackmobile model to accomplish as much railroading as possible in the smallest possible space.

Layout Size Limit
is a surface area no larger than four square feet (576 square inches or 3716 square centimeters). Measurements must include all fiddle yards, staging yards, and any other hidden gadgets such as turntables, traversers (transfer tables), sector plates, and cassettes. For calculating area of circular elements, pi may be assumed to be 3.14 (Area = pi x radius squared). There is no limitation to layout height.

Layout Scale
will most likely be H0 (1:87 on 16.5mm gauge), as the Trackmobile is modeled in that scale. However, any other scale is acceptable, but you will need to demonstrate any alterations of the Trackmobile required to suit the different scale.

Contest Entries
must include a scale track plan (dimensioned drawing), and optionally may also include one other illustration — a photo, drawing, diagram, or any other illustration (your choice). All digitized graphics should be in JPG or GIF format, suitable for the Internet. Explanatory text may not exceed 250 words; English language is preferred but not required. The text should include the layout's name and dimensions, as well as the entrant's real name, preferred handle (pseudonym) if appropriate, and city/town and country of residence.

Everyone except Carl Arendt is eligible to enter. Only one entry is permitted per person.

Entries must be received in Pittsburgh by midnight, U.S. Eastern Daylight Time (GMT - 4 hrs), 31 May 2008. They may be transmitted by e-mail to (replace parenthetical, capitalized words with symbolic equivalents), or by postal mail to Carl Arendt, 1415 Old Meadow Road, Pittsburgh PA 15241, USA.

Important Notes:
NO PURCHASE IS NEEDED to enter or to win. Sufficient data are provided elsewhere in these pages to design a micro layout using the Trackmobile without owning one. You also need not construct a layout to enter — this is a design competition, not a modeling contest. It will be helpful, however, if your layout plan is as accurately drawn as possible (though it need not be made with a CAD drawing program). Hand-drawn layout designs are acceptable. They may even be digitized by such simple means as photographing with a cell phone camera! Helpful hint: be sure your design will fit in the space as you have drawn it.

Judging
will be by popular vote between 1 June and 30 June 2008. All entries will be digitized and presented anonymously on a ballot page in chronological order of their receipt. Readers may select their top five choices. The layout receiving the most votes will be the winner. Votes will require real names and only one vote will be permitted per person. Everyone except Carl Arendt will be eligible to vote.

Winners
will be announced on or about 1 July 2008.

Prizes
will be awarded. GRAND PRIZE will be a DCC-equipped Factory Direct Trackmobile model, ready to run. FIRST FIVE runners up will receive CD-ROM copies of this entire web site to date, including all archives and complete layout entries (Grand Prize Winner will also receive a CD-ROM).

Questions
should be directed to Carl Arendt at . Any clarifications made during the contest period will immediately be posted to this page for everyone's information.

For more information
and helpful hints to assist your layout design see Contest Info Page.

Disclaimer: Factory Direct Trains, Inc. has no involvement in this contest, and Carl Arendt has no connection with the firm other than as a customer.