I’ve often looked at competition winner’s models and marvelled! But the question for me is what do judges look for in deciding what makes a winning model? Is it the quality of the painting, the lack of seam lines, accuracy or something else.
Any ideas?
All of the above [:)].
Regards, Rick
During the '93 Nationals in Atlanta, I got to sit in on a judging forum hosted by one of the head judges, Walt Fink. He made the statement that almost ALL of the kits that don’t make it to the winner’s circle can be attributed to flaws in basic construction; and having judged at both local and regional IPMS contests, I can vouch for his statement. I have never judged a kit based on the merits of its paint job, weathering, or after market detailing. It has always comes down to which kit has the fewest basic construction mistakes. Seams not eliminated, mold lines, visible ejector pin marks, unfilled sink holes, bright shiny glue spots, fingerprints, and silvered and crooked decals are some of the problems seen regularly. Basic construction can also go further. Since I’m an armor builder primarily, I also notice road wheels that don’t touch the tracks; tracks that aren’t parallel, and engine vents and hatches that are open, but have nothing inside.
If you are interested in contest rules and judging criteria, try going to the IPMS website at www.ipmsusa.org Keep in mind that some shows (e.g., AMPS and the big figure show at Valley Forge, PA) don’t use IPMS rules for their contests, so if you decide to enter in a non-IPMS sanctioned show, check ahead of time so you’ll know what to expect at those convenings.
Hope this helps a little.
Gip Winecoff