Judging

Post a reply

Confirmation code
Enter the code exactly as it appears. All letters are case insensitive.
Smilies
:smallsmile: :wave_1: :big_grin: :thumbs_up_1: :heh: :cool_1: :cool_2: :woo_hoo:
View more smilies

BBCode is ON
[img] is ON
[url] is ON
Smilies are ON

Topic review
   

Expand view Topic review: Judging

Re: Judging

by Admhawk » Thu Aug 26, 2010 6:34 am

glue mark wrote:Dave, Darren, thanks for the information. Is it ok for a ship model to be entered at the same meet two or three years in a row, or must it have been built within the past year or so? Are scratch build and kit build separated for judging?
I'd like to attend one of these big shows in the Mid Atlantic region. Are there dates and locations posted somewhere?
Thanks!
Rusty
IPMS is set up so that there are local shows, regional shows and then the big National show once a year. The idea is to enter in your local club show, if you win, go on to the next level and if you win, go to the nats. That isn't really followed as some people build and go straight to the nats.

Like Timmy mentioned, once a model has won at a certain level, it's not suppose to go back. You have to be an IPMS member to enter at a National contest, but I don't think you need to be at the lower tier contests. Joining a local IPMS club is helpful as you get to meet local modelers, get lots of advice and get to see what others are building. Annual membership is pretty inexpensive.

If your ship doesn't win, you can enter it as many times as you want. But if it doesn't win for several times, why keep entering it? I've never been much of a contest guy, I've always built for my own pleasure, striving to get better with each model. I never entered a contest until I was in my 30's. Then after I won at a nationals contest, I've never entered since. To me it's about meeting friends(new and old) and seeing others workmanship.

Categorys are posted on the IPMS website as well as rules and a listing of local club chapters. At local shows, there may not be enough entries to have all categories listed, but at the Nats, there is a category for scratchbuild, but I don't think it's for ships only.

http://www.ipmsusa.org

Re: Judging

by Dave Wooley » Thu Aug 26, 2010 3:30 am

glue mark wrote:Dave, Darren, thanks for the information. Is it ok for a ship model to be entered at the same meet two or three years in a row, or must it have been built within the past year or so? Are scratch build and kit build separated for judging?

I'd like to attend one of these big shows in the Mid Atlantic region. Are there dates and locations posted somewhere?

Thanks!
Rusty
Hi Rusty My experience is limited to judging in the large scales but most events for these models tend to adopt the position that if a model has gained the top award , either a first placing or a gold then that will eliminate them from the same category in future years. This ruling does encourage more building but some years you can have dips in the level of entry to certain major events. The differences in judging between Naviga and the top UK events is small and categories for judging each model can vary but documentation is an important factor in determining the final result as it will either confirm the accuracy or otherwise of any given model.
Dave Wooley :thumbs_up_1: :wave_1:

Re: Judging

by Timmy C » Wed Aug 25, 2010 10:52 pm

The rules are different depending on the show, but most are similar.

For IPMS Vancouver's Fall show, the rules are that you can enter a model as many times as you want so long as it has not received an award at a previous show. There is also no limit on how recent the model was constructed.
There are also no categorical distinctions between scratchbuild and kit, although, as Darren mentioned, extra "points" may be given to the scratchbuilt entry if the competition is the same in every other aspect.

Re: Judging

by glue mark » Wed Aug 25, 2010 10:08 pm

Dave, Darren, thanks for the information. Is it ok for a ship model to be entered at the same meet two or three years in a row, or must it have been built within the past year or so? Are scratch build and kit build separated for judging?

I'd like to attend one of these big shows in the Mid Atlantic region. Are there dates and locations posted somewhere?

Thanks!
Rusty

Re: Judging

by Admhawk » Wed Aug 25, 2010 7:03 pm

IPMS USA judging is based on first, second and third winners for each event. There are arguments for and against this type of judging, but I'm not giving my opinion here about types of contests. Because IPMS is all volunteer, you have to volunteer to be a judge. So no matter how well done a model is, if it is the only one entered in the category, it will get a first place.

The way the judging is done is very simple. Fit and finish first. All models are looked at to see how well they are constructed. Glue spots, alignment issues, gaps, paint finish are the important ones. These can usually narrow the field to a small few that stand out as superior in workmanship. These basics can be applied to all model types.

Only if there are two or more models that are equal in almost every aspect, will accuracy be considered. Since this is rare, someone in the group usually has enough knowledge of the subjects to allow for a selection. In the even rarer event a decision can't be made, the head judge is called and it's up to him. Often, the amount of work that goes into a model will be considered, but again only after fit and finish are considered.

There are usually 3 judges for a category and it is a group consensus on who the winners will be, after sometimes very animated discussions. Judge names are then placed onto the cards at each table so we can't hide. :smallsmile:

And yes, I am a ship judge for IPMS.

Judging

by Dave Wooley » Wed Aug 25, 2010 11:19 am

Rusty posed the question regarding judging .
Dave, how do the judges stay on top of what is accurate and correct over the wide spectrum of ship entries in a show/contest? So many fittings, changes in armament, configurations of different deployments and eras...it boggles the mind! Do they have reference material, or is it experience? Do they see some of the same models year after year?

I've never been to a big ship show, so thanks!
With out going into to much detail I will say first and foremost that Judging can be as contentious as it is rewarding and for those that have entered the IPMS or any other modeling contest then their experience of judging may be exactly that . So much depends on the quality of the judges and the level of the contest but the bottom line is no judge is a walking library . A judge may have knowledge of their given subject but reliance is placed fairly and squarely on the model maker to provide the information , books , plans , photographs of the ship being modeled and the same criteria for the model . In many contests and particularly Naviga and UK Model Engineering events such as those held at Ascot and Harrogate adopt a level of marking similar to that of Naviga .
Naviga judges attend courses run by the world body . UK judges can also attend courses usually offered by the Model Power Boat Association .I�m not that familiar has to the how the IPMS select their judges but some form of system of selection must exist. The need to be familiar or have a firm grounding is different eras or the level of refits for a given vessel is certainly desirable but not a prerequisite to judging a particular class of competition or type of vessel. Generally Naviga draw their judges from a cadre of experienced modelers and where possible these will be put to work judging within their specialist subject . The major events are all judged to a standard which means that you can have any number of Gold , Silver or Bronze medals being awarded. , it all depends if the models in the competition reach the given level. Naviga and the UK run events that combine both static and on the water . In Naviga this is F2 the static competition is C class .
Naviga C6 plastic class being Judged
Image
Naviga C 1 Sail powered vessels
Image
Naviga C 4 minature modelling
Image
UK International Model Engineering event chief judge making a final assessment. .
These competitions have a cadre of four judges specializing in marine subjects.
Image
The MPBA UK nationals all the models undergo static judging
Image
In both Naviga and events in the UK all entrants are required to furnish
documentation which should provide the judges with the means to judge
the model fairly and accurately. Judges personal knowledge of the subject
is not essential but non the less a helpful addition .
A model of HMS Dreadnought having plenty of information close to the model.
Image
Models for judging at the International Model Engineering event , once again by each
model is a folder containing the documentation relating to that model , which included
plans and any amendments to the plans to show refits to weapons and or the structure
of the ship. Along with this are photographs of the full size ship and the construction
details for the model .
Image
Dave Wooley :thumbs_up_1: :wave_1:

Top