Hello Bruce. I didn't see anything previous about options for this yearly challenge, so not sure where that is.
Anyhow, I always enjoy the challenges, so would certainly participate like all the other years.
I have a structure and a couple of boats to complete for my mini Mexican layout for a March exhibition, so would suit me.

Yes, the last few years the participation rate has certainly dropped. Just the usual dozen or so members doing the heavy lifting.
And some folks built stuff, but never showed any progress posts, just a final picture, which isn't what its about.
And some did progress posts, but only in their own separate thread, which is OK, but need to to also post some regular updates on the Challenge thread too.

I know we now usually try and make the Challenge fairly general topics to include everyone.
But maybe we need to include at least one specific topic. ie stations

But also the forum in general is not what it was. Very little new stuff happening day to day. But we are aware of this. I don't know what the answer is to that.

So I say, still do the Challenge. I'll certainly be on board.

Hey Bruce. Happy you brought up the Challenge; I was thinking about that the other day. Even though I was unable
to participate last year; this year I look forward to it so yes I would be on board. As far as categories, what you've had past
years have been pretty general to appeal to the most people.

I do agree with Rob on the amount of forum activity in general. Sadly there are hundreds of people on the rolls but a very small
percentage actually participate on a regular basis. Not sure how that could be changed.

Having done next to no modeling in 2024 (vs. hundreds of hours of 1:1 work) I'm not sure what to say. My layout mostly needs scratchbuilt and kitbashed structures and scenery at this point. My potential MMR needs three Merit-winning cars. There are a couple of signals I could build.

Bruce,

I always look forward to the challenges. They have often spurred me on to do a project I've put off. I've not always finished them in time, but fortunately nobody is keeping score.

I've got so many projects right now I'm not sure what I'd do. Deciding is part of the challenge.

Rich and Jerry have an interesting thing going on building blacksmith shop. Maybe something like that could be one of the categories, although we might not have enough interested modelers, and the two of them are now otherwise occupied.

I have a folder of plans from magazines that have always appealed to me. There can be scratchbuilding categories, kit-building, build a scene, complete a project ( I have too many possibilities there!), build a particular type of building (probably too specific) etc.

I'm just rambling on.

Mike

I have filing cabinet drawers full of ideas, shelves of kits, and boxes of projects, and then there are the gigs of files on my main computer. I suspect that I have something, somewhere that might qualify for whatever challenge might announced as long as there are no limits on size, Limits on time are more problematic.

Now getting more to participate is another problem that I have no good or workable solutions available. Maybe they need a better Muse (I keep a photo of S. Wayland on my computer screen, ) to inspire them into action?