ATTN: Contest Pros!

[zackattack]

I have entered a few shows so far and done pretty well and this August I am going to enter the IPMS Nationals in Colorado. I am taking one finished jet, one in progress, and an armor piece. I posted this to see what everyone knows about how the judging works. What aspects do they look at? How are certain things weighted compared to others? Do they do a scorecard so you are able to see what you need to work on in the future? Anyone out there placed in a big show like this one? Any info is appreciated, thanks everyone!

[terrysumner]

Go here...this will answer most, if not all of your questions! It's too big of a subject for a simple reply.

http://www.ipmsusa.org/competition_handbook/CH_index.html

[thegoodsgt]

The three biggest issues that will knock you out are the hardest to get right:

• Seams
  
• Alignment
  
• Glue marks
  

You have to have these nearly perfect to place even third. Only when you can get these right can we talk about detailing, painting, and weathering. Judging is ruthless! (In a good way.)

Steven Brown

Scale Model Soup

[Cyrus Tan]

The three biggest issues that will knock you out are the hardest to get right:

•Seams

•Alignment

•Glue marks

You have to have these nearly perfect to place even third. Only when you can get these right can we talk about detailing, painting, and weathering. Judging is ruthless! (In a good way.)

Agreed! Basics are very important. In addition to what Steven posted, I'll add silvered decals, finger prints (believe it or not, I've seen this) or a fogged up canopy will take you of contention as well. Bases that include a carrier deck or a tarmac with figures and vehicles won't be judged (only the aircraft) unless you enter the model as a diorama. Hope this answers some of your questions?

[Jay Chladek]

Well, what others have said already is excellent food for thought. Having a couple flaws won't necessarily disqualify a model from placing, but if it is entered in a very populated category such as say 1/48 single engine WW2 prop (which ALWAYS gets split into axis and allied and axis usually has a split for JUST Me-109s), you really have to be on your A-game. That being said, if every model entered in a specific category has a noticeable flaw, then it becomes a deal where the models with the fewest flaws place.

Other thing is do NOT worry about adding a lot of aftermarket or photoetch to a model in an attempt to score brownie points. A well constructed and finished out of the box model will usually trump a model with etch or resin on it if a flaw is detected because more work means more potential for flaws. Don't be too much of a stickler for accuracy as well since chances are the judges may not know or care if your model might have the most accurate paintjob representative of the full size piece (documentation helps, but ultimately they are judging the model, not the documentation). Now if your model survives the cut and it is part of say five or six models vying for one of three places, THEN the aftermarket goodies or more accurate paintjob might come into play, but ONLY if the seams are filled, the details look sharp, the paint looks even and the decals are down with no signs of silvering (and the overall finish and presentation looks even).

Most important thing though is regardless of where your model places is to HAVE FUN! An IPMS Nationals is a great place to meet new faces and chat about models. Give yourself time to enjoy it and don't get so wrapped up in how well you perform (or don't perform) in a contest that you miss out on the other things.

Also, I wouldn't worry about taking any work in progress stuff either unless there is a table set up for it and/or live in the local area with a short commute. Believe me, if you are travelling, storage space for the trip home is going to become a priority as you likely will have your luggage (and or car if you drove) crammed with vendors room goodies.

[Neptune48]

Well, what others have said already is excellent food for thought. Having a couple flaws won't necessarily disqualify a model from placing, but if it is entered in a very populated category such as say 1/48 single engine WW2 prop (which ALWAYS gets split into axis and allied and axis usually has a split for JUST Me-109s), you really have to be on your A-game. That being said, if every model entered in a specific category has a noticeable flaw, then it becomes a deal where the models with the fewest flaws place.

Other thing is do NOT worry about adding a lot of aftermarket or photoetch to a model in an attempt to score brownie points. A well constructed and finished out of the box model will usually trump a model with etch or resin on it if a flaw is detected because more work means more potential for flaws. Don't be too much of a stickler for accuracy as well since chances are the judges may not know or care if your model might have the most accurate paintjob representative of the full size piece (documentation helps, but ultimately they are judging the model, not the documentation). Now if your model survives the cut and it is part of say five or six models vying for one of three places, THEN the aftermarket goodies or more accurate paintjob might come into play, but ONLY if the seams are filled, the details look sharp, the paint looks even and the decals are down with no signs of silvering (and the overall finish and presentation looks even).

Most important thing though is regardless of where your model places is to HAVE FUN! An IPMS Nationals is a great place to meet new faces and chat about models. Give yourself time to enjoy it and don't get so wrapped up in how well you perform (or don't perform) in a contest that you miss out on the other things.

Also, I wouldn't worry about taking any work in progress stuff either unless there is a table set up for it and/or live in the local area with a short commute. Believe me, if you are travelling, storage space for the trip home is going to become a priority as you likely will have your luggage (and or car if you drove) crammed with vendors room goodies.

To add to what Mr. Chladek said, it's all about execution, not WOW factor. Remember, the more stuff you add to the model, the the greater the chances of something going wrong.

In an absolute dead heat between two otherwise perfect models, maybe the judges might figure in degree of difficulty, but only as a tie breaker in extreme cases.

Good luck!

Bruce

[zackattack]

Thank you very much for all the info, exactly what i was looking for. I am very much looking forward to the show and expo and meeting people and the whole world. Jay, i will be taking my (currently under construction) hopefully finished by then f-35. A work in progress would be an interesting table though- and one we could all easily enter Im sure!

[dragonfly]

As others have said, "get the basics perfect!"....balls on alignment, nonexistent seams, no decal silvering, flawless paint, etc. Forget about after market/scratch built extras, wow factor, and degree of difficulty. These things mean nothing to IPMS judges. Do it right, and more times then not, you score hardware.

jerry

[DutyCat]

One thing that contests are starting to award credit for is scope of effort. This is because some folks have "wised up" to fact that the simplest thing, with the least potential for mistakes, can win you an award. Why would you award a 1st place for something that was a very easy build with almost zero potential for mistakes? So in my view at least, a model should be judged as a sum of its parts, not just what has the fewest gigs. As an example, lets say I built a simple, monochromatic missile...say Revell's Snark. A little bit of putty work and solid paint job. Almost impossible for a competent modeler to screw that up. No glass. Simple decals. No ordnance. Perfect build. Lets say that it gets entered against a Monogram 1/72 Space Shuttle full stack, with corrected windows, full tile job, textured tank, resin engine bells, hand assembled card stock launch platform with mission specific custom graphics,...all properly researched and painted....but wait, I see a tiny 1/8 inch seam shadow on the leading edge of the vertical stab. Oops, that's a gig. You're outta there! Snark wins! In my book, the shuttle wins.

Now this is an extreme example, in order to make a point.

Edited February 21, 2013 by DutyCat

[zackattack]

I see both sides to that point. The master modeler at my local model shop has encouraged me to pay attention to both the macro and the micro. When i began modelling a few years back (seriously anyways) i would focus on the largest aspects like just putting the kit together, then doing a good sanding/filling job, then a respectable airbrush job. As time goes on every few models i try to incorporate a new challenge like photo-etch, then resin cockpits, then scratchbuilding. As my new skills grow my older talents continue to sharpen. I keep photos of my favorite modellers work hanging around my desk (john vojtech especially) to remind me how far i have to go. Bottom line is i enjoy every build i do or i box it for later (just ask my F-15C w/splinter paint scheme).

[Rodney]

A lot of good input and I would like to add one suggestion that I haven't seen yet.

Volunteer to judge at a couple of contests. This has helped me improve as a modeler and the contest organizers usually need the help. Learning what the judges are looking for and how they go through the process is a great learning experience to make you a better modeler. For example, it's one thing to say 'get rid of seams' and another to see how judges look across the surface from multiple angles and use their flash lights to find them. I had a much more critical eye after seeing that.

Also, at one of the Nationals I went to, there was a class on judging.

Rodney

[Rodney]

One thing that contests are starting to award credit for is scope of effort. This is because some folks have "wised up" to fact that the simplest thing, with the fewest potential for mistakes, can win you an award. Why would you award a 1st place for something that was a very easy build with almost zero potential for mistakes? So in my view at least, a model should be judged as a sum of its parts, not just what has the fewest gigs. As an example, lets say I built a simple, monochromatic missile...say Revell's Snark. A little bit of putty work and solid paint job. Almost impossible for a competent modeler to screw that up. No glass. Simple decals. No ordnance. Perfect build. Lets say that it gets entered against a Monogram 1/72 Space Shuttle full stack, with corrected windows, full tile job, textured tank, resin engine bells, hand assembled card stock launch platform with mission specific custom graphics,...all properly researched and painted....but wait, I see a tiny 1/8 inch seam shadow on the leading edge of the vertical stab. Oops, that's a gig. You're outta there! Snark wins!In my book, the shuttle wins. Now this is an extreme example, in order to make a point.

While I agree with your point, have the IPMS rules been amended to reflect this? I haven't seen this before at an IPMS contest.

Rodney

[DutyCat]

While I agree with your point, have the IPMS rules been amended to reflect this? I haven't seen this before at an IPMS contest.

Rodney

IPMS clubs are not totally bound to IPMS rules. Most use them as a solid guide, but modifications can be made. We had scope of effort at Jaxcon this year, and I might have won an award as a result. I had a figure in the monsters category. See here. Although there were many good, well finished models in the class, many were resin, with simple assembly steps, some minor clean up, and a good paint job. I emphasized on my entry form that mine was a traditional plastic kit, not resin. I also did some custom graphics on the base. I think scope of effort was a factor.

The main thing is if you are not using IPMS rules 100%, then you publish what you are using. There is discussion right now at IPMS about updating the rule book. Changes can often originate with chapter input.

Edited February 21, 2013 by DutyCat

[loftycomfort]

If all I care about is building the simplest kits resulting in flawless models in order to win contests, then I'd only be building eggplanes. LOL.

Personally, I build my contest models with all the details thrown in (the wow factor) because that's what pleases ME, and I build them with as little flaws as my abilities would allow because that's what the JUDGES want to see. If I lost to a "simple execution" model, it's ok because I entered the contest knowing that I'm at a theoretical disadvantage - it is something I accepted so no surprises there. If I won, then I'd have the double satisfaction of having built a superior model in all aspects.

Terry

[Steve N]

If all I care about is building the simplest kits resulting in flawless models in order to win contests, then I'd only be building eggplanes.

Hehe..I actually placed at the Nats a few years ago with an Eggplane, although it was hardly Out-Of-The-Box:

Zero Eggplane Article

I've been lucky enough to place at the Nats several times now, and almost everytime it was with a clean, mostly OOB build. While I can certainly understand those who want to included "scope of effort" in the judging criteria, I'm a bit uncomfortable with it. Judging is already rather subjective, without adding those kind of intangibles to the equation.

SN

[Rodney]

IPMS clubs are not totally bound to IPMS rules. Most use them as a solid guide, but modifications can be made. We had scope of effort at Jaxcon this year, and I might have won an award as a result. I had a figure in the monsters category. See here. Although there were many good, well finished models in the class, many were resin, with simple assembly steps, some minor clean up, and a good paint job. I emphasized on my entry form that mine was a traditional plastic kit, not resin. I also did some custom graphics on the base. I think scope of effort was a factor.

The main thing is if you are not using IPMS rules 100%, then you publish what you are using. There is discussion right now at IPMS about updating the rule book. Changes can often originate with chapter input.

It would be great if a catagory was created that encouraged adding detail and opening up panels. I love seeing pictures of the contests in Europe where many of the models have open panels and exposed engines.

Rodney