Contest Worthy Builds!

Oh boy, that's a loaded question. How long have you been building?

It takes a long time to develop one's modeling skills to be able to compete on a national level. I've been building for around 20 years and I can hold my own at any local show and most regionals. I could probably do well at a national if I tried, but the fact is, I could care less.

I build for myself and myself alone. If my stuff is good enuff to take an award, great. But it's the process of building, researching and showing my models that I REALLY enjoy.

However, everyone has to decide WHY they want to build models. If you want to compete, and do so on a national level you have to, at the very least, make sure all the basics are covered:

Seams well filled and lost detail restored.
No glue marks or imperfections anywhere.
If it's supposed to be straight, make sure it's straight.
If it's supposed to be crooked, make sure it's crooked.
Your paint and decals had better be flawless.

The more work you put into a model, the better. But it had better be work that is well done.

Too many people put too much work into a model and then can't understand why they don't win. I've judged shows where an almost SOB model (Straight Outta da Box) has placed over a model with all sorts of scratchbuilt stuff added, or alotta resin and brass.

The reason is simple. It's usually a case of the guy who added all the extra stuff made a pretty bad job of it. Sloppy detail painting, sloppy glue jobs, bad masking on the canopy, bad paintjob and such. The guy who built the SOB kit did a great job, good detail painting, smooth paint job, etc. it's not always like this, but all too often it is.

So it's not necessarily how MUCH you do, it's how WELL you do it. But on the whole, most winners at a NATS are highly detailed and well done, to boot.

It's up to you to decide why you want to build. And it's up to you to decide how far you're going to take things. At one point I had decided to try and build every model as perfect as it could be. I discovered that, for me, that wasn't the way to go. My approach is to build a piece of art, and not necessarily an exact replica that's accurate down to scale dimensions or scale color.

I build what I build the way that I build because I like the way it looks.


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Thanks Blackwolf!

What an enlightening response! I have only been a "dedicated" builder for a couple of years but those out there that can turn out "museum" quality pieces really amaze me and inspire me! Take for instance this website http://www.wincol.com/ of Gerald Wingrove, ....truly amazing!

But as you say if it brings joy to the builder ...who cares! An thats basically what our hobby....aka obsesion, is about.

Thanks for not taking my comments the wrong way. So many people do...

That Wingrove fella is NUTZ!!!! That's some really great stuff. I'd like to try building things to that standard, but I'd go crazy!!!


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If I could ever get to the point where models don't look like models anymore, I could almost pass as famous. His work is absolutely incredible! I'd love to see it up close...

Steve-O, great tips. even I learned something.

Well put Blackwolf

Mike

Im no expert, but I think painting would help, :)

*ducks*

Blackwolf chucks his empty Stewarts Key Lime bottles at Ron...


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Well put Blackwolf.
Build for yourself and the rest should fall into place in time.

I agree with Blackwolf --- there's hobby, and then there's obsession....

Those Wingrove models are gorgeous. He's also unbelievably talented. But, that's obsession.

Has anyone seen the guy that builds large scale a/c out of aluminum? He duplicates the ribbing and everything. I stumbled across his stuff a couple of times on the web. But, I forget to bookmark it. And, then I can never find it again. I saw a B-17 he was working on and a Navy fighter (?) he had finished. Unbelievable!

Updated 07-07-03:

I found his website: www.rojasbazan.com/index.htm

Enjoy

Jim

I think creativity is an important factors too. Because think about it, most of the people who enter National level or above contest probably has VERY GOOD workmanship it will be very hard to judge it by that alone. Creativity can make a model stand out. If you can think of something that's totally out of the ordinary and no kits exists for it and scratch build it and do a SUPERIOR job on it, you WILL win.

There's a guy, Arle or Arlo Schroder I think his name is, (not sure on the names or spelling) who scratchbuilds big-scale aircraft. At Columbus in '97 he had a scratchbuilt F6F Hellcat in 1/16. Not many people do that kinda thing! And, of course, he's gonna win almost regardless.

I honestly didn't take a close look at this thing because there was SO much there that I wanted to get to and document and talk to the builders and so on. But from three feet away this thing looked marvelous. It definitely wasn't a three-footer. That to me is passion. Or if you wanna call it obsession... to me it's all the same.

If you haven't been to an IPMS NATS, I'd suggest going if one comes reasonably near to where you are. Regardless of what some may feel about the "evil" IPMS this is an event that both typifies all that is "undesirable", to some, about the organization, yet outshines any detrimental effect these "undesirable" qualities may have on the hobby itself; by the very virtue of the magnificent work that is usually present.

There's some real art at any NATS. Last year there was a scratchbuilt B-10 in 1/32, I forget the fella's name but this was absolutely gorgeous! (Someone emailed me to say that they saw it on my site and told me who this guy was, please do so again if you see this!) That's what this hobby has been elevated to, ART. That is, for those who choose to create it and for those who choose to view it as such.

I've got some pHotos of last year's NATS on my website, check 'em out at SPASTIC FOR PLASTIC.


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Blackwolf is right. He and I are good friends and we have judged our fair share of shows together. I hate to disagree with you hou_ge2000 but creativity has very little to do with award winning models, especially at national level and even good regionals level. Deciding winners almost always comes down to the first two items judges look at, basic construction and paint / finishing. There is no such thing as a perfect model and experienced judges generally will find the faults. All the fancy paint or nifty bases (which shouldn't be considered when judging) will save a model if a wheel is on crooked or one wing is higher than the other.

Keeping all this in mind you have to reconsider as Blackwolf said, Who are you building for?

Yeah, I think blackwolf nailed it right on the head. If researching them and putting them together gives you pleasure, it doesn't matter if the models you build are not IPMS NATS worthy...that is, of course, unless you're trying to sell them like eBay Bob

I returned to scale modeling after a long absence around 1987. My first build was Monogram's 1/48 A-10. It took me several months to finish but I thought I was really doing a good job on it. Compared to how i had approached modeling as a kid, I believed I was really kicking butt. Then, I bought a Finescale Modeler magazine. Uh-oh! It featured Bob Steinbrun's YP-80, built out of the Monogram F-80. Wow! I quite suddenly realized that I was light years away from such work(and most probably, never would even approach that level). No disrespect to Mr. Steinbrun, but, since then I've seen many models by many modelers that equaled or eclipsed his incredible work. I was buying kits whenever I found them, and one day my son (21 now) said, "I guess you know you'll never live long enough to build all those at the rate you're going now" THAT was sobering. Just a while later, I read a comment from one of the FSM editors to the effect that one could build a few models, possible contest winners, spending huge amounts of time and effort OR one could have a display case full of good models. I chose the latter route. Oh I still spend a little more time on detailing on some kits, some get less, but the satisfaction of finishing a model and stepping back to admire it, or showing it to friends, remains sweet. Decide for yourself where the satisafaction lies for you and then build accordingly. Another sage modeler once saifd that he built 4-footers; if they looked good from four feet away, he was happy. Yeah, I've built a few 4-footers I'd guess; but when I look at my display cabinet with my collection of 1/48 aircraft, I'm a happy modeler, and isn't that what this "hobby" is about? Thanks for your time, Gary.

Hey guy's; here another problem, you have a Knothead of a judge who is critical on everything but has know clue on how the real thing works, this happened to me at a Las Vegas IPMS show back in '83, I spent about 100+ hrs on a Hasegawa F-16A, I made the kit with some corrections to the gear bays, and struts and cockpit & seat of couse I'm going to make it look just like the real things because I've worked them on active duty and was stationed at Nellis AFB then, but this one judge didn't know his butt from a hole in the ground made a list of "things" he thought were wrong with the model, he said the A/B section should be black(in reality their white/black stained) the ACES II seat was not on the real A/C, we know all AF A/C flys with the ACES, and the paint scheme should be different, I approched the judge and asked him if he had really seen the fighter in person he said NO well I explained to him that I worked the airframe and that all the mods where in accordance with the maintenance manuals diagrams, the next thing I know I'm disqualified from the contest for questioning a judges decision, so I no longer enter my kits in any IPMS contests anymore! I build them just for me and for a few people who hire me to build the kits for their collections and I get great praise from them, so thats why I'd rather do it for me and no contests, also I've seen some of the models that where updated so much they look to goddy and cluttered, to much to look at, I feel that if you are going to enter the kit in a contest make to this specifation KISS, Keep It Simple-Stupid(no attack to our fellow readers & modelers, it's for me) and I think that'll make it big for you
also to remember to take your time on the project and research the subject your doing but don't get to carried away

Cuda,

Sounds like you ran into one of the typical pompous-ass types that seemed to proliferate IPMS shows back in the day, and who still show up now and again. These are the self proclaimed (and acclaimed) experts who know everything. And it doesn't matter if you know just as much because they knew it first. You know the types...

Anyhoo, the situation you described seems a bit drastic, but I was just getting into the hobby in '83. Things were different back then than they are now. Tossing someone out of the running because they disagreed with the judges is absolute BS and, I might say, not very likely to occur nowadays. At least not on a regional or national level.

It's the local shows you sometimes have to watch, some of these guys get swelled heads because they're running "the big show". They think they're gods sometimes and that they can do no wrong, and that their word is law, regardless of the subject. It's these types that help to give IPMS a bad name. They think they're hot stuff cuz they're running a little model show...

I got news for those types, I don't brag or boast often, but they should come and check out a show called BuffCon. THERE's a show. It's fairly judged, it's the most professionally run local show I have ever come across and it averages 500-600 entries a year. Three times now we've had over 700 entries. There are few pompous-ass types in our club and we try to make sure that they don't call the shots because we're proud of our record, our accomplishments and our traditions.

I wouldn't let that one incident keep you from participating in IPMS shows. If I had been in your position, I'd have asked to speak to the head judge. Or, better yet, I would have waited until all the judges got together to judge best-of awards and I would have publicly embarrassed the SOB by describing the situation and the way he handled it. But don't let a DADS like that keep you away from the shows. Because if that's the case, then he wins.


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Well put Steve. I could not have said it better!! .
I build for myself and if one turns out good enough for a show then I'll enter it.
Usually if I concentrate on an a/c for a show, 9 out of 10 times somin will go wrong(after a certain point the rush factor comes in) so hey if it gets done in time fine and if not why lose sleep over it right!!
That reminds me, I remember one show were I built a 1/72d Martlet in all Azure Blue. The judges came up to judge and one who was VERY outspoken pointed out to my plane(where other people could hear) and said there was no such plane painted in that color scheme. After that was said he pushed it to the side and continued.
At first that bothered me but I did the research and yes that particular plane existed.
Basically he had the foot in mouth disease...... Did that stop me from entering contests Heck NO!!
Just have fun and believe me you will enjoy building a whole lot more
Flaps up,Mike

Hey thanks guys for the same feelings about some dumba** that has a bigger mouth then brains or experiance, I've was with an IPMS club in Lincoln Ne, and they really treated me with respect and wanted my input for some projects and even wanted me to judge their kits on realism from my background but I'd preffer to see all the ausome work you folks do and enjoy the hard work,
Like I said I will not go above & beyond the judges capablities of knowledge again or be belittled by a dumba** who has their head in their outdoor, but I think in time I'll produce a contestant for a local show or 2
buy the way: you all rock in my book

Accuracy aside, can you guys tell me some typical physical flaws with models that do not win competitions. The most common would probabily be paint and decals. How do judge decide which models are better than others. In another word, what are the qualities that a good paint job and decals should have?

I heard one judge say that often a simple setting for a model like a plane parked on the tarmac -no support gear or personel -can win over a better built model on just a plain base. It makes it interesting for the judges to see the model in its element. And it's common for the big winner at one show to get no awards at all at another show.

And like everyone else says, just have fun with it.

It depend on the Judge, if you are blessed with a good judge he'll look at the finish( if airbrushed or hand brushed) for detail(if seen{like cockpits, engines & bays, and landing gear bays & struts) and if the model is authentic in appearance IE the B-17F Memphis Belle, if the kit is not painted by the A & N standards of the day then they doc you points, and if they see flaws in the construction(like gaps between parting lines, & missing panel lines) they'll doc you points--now I hope you get the picture, they look for authencity & quality of your subject-if you are doing military equipment- now in fantasy subjects then the requirements are slightly different it all depends on your subject being real or fantasy, also if you are doing a Diorama you'll need to weather the subject to match the background, here's a good example I'm in Iraq right now and most of the armour dioramas don't look anything like the real thing, the tanks are heavaly dusted the greens look like tans that how bad the dust is here and to make it look correct you need to project the same type of weathering to make it look like a photograph in time, but the bottom line is make sure all panel lines are not damaged, all seems are not visable, all interior items are painted correct and show details that all--------and remember to have fun, and at first Keep It Simple,
you do not want to over load the simple minded judges, or pay the price as I did

Well, as regards basic stuff that you look for while judging:

1) Basic construction is paramount. It has to be put together well with all seams cleanly filled (no traces showing) and no glue marks or sloppiness anywhere. Also, things like canopies have knocked many a model out of first place because they were put on crooked. Ejection seats too. I can't tell you how many models I've seen (whether judging or not) that were beatifully built and painted, but had alotta things put on or in crooked. Speaking of paint...

2) The paint must be well done. Orange peel and sandpaper finishes won't cut it. Smooth paint with good clean demarcation lines between colors on a camo scheme is essential. If you're doing a bare metal bird, make sure no scratches are showing through the paint.

Detail painting is just as crucial as the overall paint job. Wheels are a good example of where alotta fellas fail; the separation between wheel and tire has to be perfect. No ifs ands or buts about this type of stuff. It has to be done cleanly. Also, a well painted or badly painted cockpit WILL make or break a model.

3) Decals, for the most part, must look painted on. This can sometimes be difficult, especially with some of the thicker decals. Silvering must be non-existant and no upside down stars and bars! The big problem is usually the thickness of the decals showing, even if there's no silvering or other problems. This can't always be helped, but it is a factor in judging. One way to avoid this is to ditch the kit decals and get some good aftermarket stuff. Most kit decals are only good as kindling for the campfire anyway...

4) Finishing must be carried all the way through. Some folks don't like to weather their models. That's fine with me, even though, to my eye, they look unfinished that way. But what's worse to me than an unweathered model is a partially weathered model. Alotta guys seem to put chordite and exhaust stains on a WWII fighter and leave it at that. Or they may put some really ugly paint chipping all over the place. But they don't do anything else.

Also, the weathering has to be done just as nicely as the rest of the model. It can't be sloppily done. I've seen many a model where a guy used washes and let the stuff drip all over the place and didn't bother to completely clean it up. And pastels often times look like they're just dusted on and left laying on the surface of the model. 'Ya gotta work that stuff in.

Now, presentation of the model, ie: a base, should be totally irrelevant unless it's a diorama. So many people have said to me that it's impossible to ignore a base. Bull. Maybe for them it's tough, but not for me. As a judge, I consider the model and nothing else. It's rather easy to do, actually. I dunno, maybe I'm one of the few who can differentiate between the model and the base.

Now I usually put my stuff on bases. I do so because my aim in building a model is not to impress a judge at a model show, but to satisfy myself in creating a piece of art. I really don't care what anyone else thinks, but if someone likes what I've done great. If someone doesn't like what I've done, too bad. Their loss.

As far as my bases go, I use them for a number of reasons; 1) the aforementioned personal satisfaction 2) ease of handling of the finished model 3) I don't want judges picking my model up.

This last is a pet peeve of mine. I don't like ANYONE touching my models. So hopefully a model being on a base will trigger the thought in a judges head that, "hey! this thing's attached, and I shouldn't touch it 'cuz it might break..." But everyone knows the world is full of stupid people, and lotsa these are judges at model shows. I really enjoyed ripping a new one for the head aircraft judge at a regional a few years back 'cuz my P-47 got yanked off the base, leaving the landing gear. That was fun.

Anyhoo, I got off on a tangent there. Put a model on a base if you so desire, but don't do it 'cuz you think it might help you win. Do it because you wanna do it. Although, with some of the DADS types that are judging out there, a base probably would help you win. But that's not how it should be.

Okay, here's a good example of a model that cleans up at shows, but really shouldn't. This falls under the realm of accuracy, and has nothing to do with the basics. I just have to get this one off my chest.

This rather well-known fella (no names) built a 32nd MiG-21 of the Czech Air Force. Some of you may know the funky gray splinter scheme carried at one time by Bort 7701:



This guy did a nice job on his model. It's not the finest piece of work I've seen, but it's a really nice build. However, he put the national insignia on the wrong way, similar to the upside down stars and bars you see now and again.

On Czech AF aircraft, the Insignia on the tail should have the white portion on top, red on bottom and blue forward. On the wings, the blue is forward, the red is on the inside and the white is on the outside. This is not open to interpretation, that's how ALL Czech AF aircraft were marked.





This fella messed this up on the model BIG time. He's got the white portion on the wings facing forward and the insignia on the tail are not only cockeyed, but if I remember right, they're cockeyed differently on either side!

I don't wanna post a pic of the model, cuz I don't want to put the guy down; he did a good job overall and it's a nice model. But it keeps placing first just about everywhere it goes and has taken a few best-ofs, including regionals and last year's NATS.

Now to the point of this rambling. I simply mentioned this as a demonstrative example proving that IPMS judges are not infallible (or as knowledgable as they sometimes profess to be, or are commonly percieved as being) and that some guys win simply because of who they are. And that's coming from an IPMS judge...


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Ah yes. The politics involved with "blind" judging. Sometimes a person's name carries more weight than a person's ability.