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
Naviga C 1 Sail powered vessels
Naviga C 4 minature modelling
UK International Model Engineering event chief judge making a final assessment. .
These competitions have a cadre of four judges specializing in marine subjects.
The MPBA UK nationals all the models undergo static judging
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.
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 .
Dave Wooley
