Awards will be given to the First, Second and Third Place winners.
You can compete in the following categories:

• Best Structure
  The Structure Competition is open to structures of any scale. You structure does not have to be railroad-related to qualify. Structures can be scratchbuilt, kitbashed, or from kits.
  
• Best Diorama
  The Diorama Competition is also open to any scale. Dioramas should be railroad-related, and must include finished scenery. As with the Structure Competition, dioramas can include structures that are scratchbuilt, kitbashed or built from kits.
  
• Best Photograph of a Model
  Entries should be of model railroad structures or dioramas, and can be color or black and white. Photos can be altered through electronic means. Digital and film-based photographs are eligible. Slides, transparencies and negatives are not eligible. There is no minimum or maximum limit to the size of photos that can be entered in the photo contests. The quality, content and technical merit of the photographs is what will be judged.
  
• Best Photograph of a Prototype
  Entries should be of railroad related structures that once existed, or are still in existence. Photos can not be altered by any means electronic, or otherwise. Photos can be either color or black and white. Photos that are sepia toned, or toned with chemicals to preserve their image, are also eligible. A notation must be made indicating this on your entry form. (available at the event) Digital and film-based photographs are eligible. Slides, transparencies and negative are not eligible. There is no minimum or maximum limit to the size of photos that can be entered in the photo contests. The quality, content and technical merit of the photographs is what will be judged.
  
• The Square Foot Challenge Contest
  Entries must be model railroad-related structure dioramas of any scale, but must be displayed on a base that measures 12” x 12”. There is no height restriction. No portion of the display can overhang the base.
  
• The Peanut Butter Lid Challenge Contest
  Size does matter, especially in this contest! Entries must be built on the lid of a peanut butter jar. Any scale structure is eligible for entry. The peanut butter lid can be no larger than 4". The structure may not hang over the lid. The structure does not have to touch the lid.

General Rules

All contests are open to all paid attendees of the Show. All entrees should be turned in and be registered no later than the cutoff time which will be 3:00 p.m. on Friday November 14 , 2008. All entries will be on display until the close of the Show on November 14, 2007 , and then displayed again from 9:00 a.m. until about 3:00 p.m. on November 15, 2008 . After that time, entrants may re-claim their items.

Voting will take place beginning on Friday. Paid attendees of CSS08 are given 1 ballot per person/family to vote for their favorite entry in each category. The staff of CSS will count the votes Saturday after 3 pm. The top three point totals for each contest category will receive an award at the Awards Banquet on Saturday evening.

The contestants have to enter their own work. They must build the structure although any vehicles, locomotives, rolling stock or figures may by built by others.

Attendees can enter as many contests as they wish, but can only have one entry per category. Contestants will be asked to fill out a brief form that describes the entry, how it was built, or in the case of the photography contests, where and how it was photographed.

Contestants will be asked to sign a waiver that allows photographs of their entries to be published at a later date.

Contestants should note that this is not an NMRA-sponsored contest, and no points will be awarded towards any NMRA certificates.