CLUB COMPETITIONS: PRINCIPLES AND STRATEGIES
Last updated March 2021. Subject to change prior to next competition.
Believe it, or not, the main focus of our club competitions is not to generate fierce competitiveness. Nor are they designed to deride our fellow member's efforts, or hammer each others self-esteem (and models) into the dust! And there was definitely never any intentions of unleashing an army of evil, axe-wielding judges with glowing red eyes, who ravage and scour the tables, crush our dreams, and march our poor modeller souls down into the dark labyrinths of oblivion!
In truth, the strategies behind the contests are far more dramatic...
Competition Strategy #1: Encourage self improvement
The primary function of our club competitions is simply to assist and encourage club members to advance their own modelling skills and achieve better results. Hence competitions should merely be seen as one of many tools which our club provides to help members learn, understand, and better themselves where the hobby is concerned.
Competition Strategy #2: Encourage new membership
The secondary function of the competitions is to provide a captivating platform from which: we can promote model building as a serious, broadly ranged hobby to the general public; to generate interest in model building; encourage new hobbyists to the field, and ultimately expand the potential for new memberships to the club.
The club usually offers two modes of competition within the one event. They are called Hobby Competition and Master-Class Competition, and their definitions are as follows:
HOBBY COMPETITION *Does NOT apply to the 2021 South Island Champs*
Also known as "1st, 2nd, 3rd" this competition could be likened to an Olympic race, where the models are pitted against one another to decide which are the best looking, best finished kits. There is a new 3-class format in Hobby Competition, each class having one or more sub-classes. Each sub-class will have a "winner" selected, and from those sub-class "winners" a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd will be selected, the 1st place getter of that class being Best In Class. The Best In Class winners are then pooled together in order to decide Best In Hobby Competition and Best In Hobby Competition Runner-Up models, for which trophies will be given.
The Hobby Competition should be regarded as a simple, lightweight contest. Filled with plenty of incentives and rewards it is designed to be enlightening and entertaining for both participant and spectator.
MASTER-CLASS COMPETITION (2023 Model Expo & Competition)
This mode of competition is also known as "gold, silver, bronze". It is very much like your average school English exam (can you remember those!?) whereby a modeller's effort is marked and ranked based purely on their own knowledge and abilities that they have "brought to the table" in the form of a model. There is no contest between the models in each class, and each of the entries are awarded points using a universally accepted, pre-determined format. Each criteria (i.e. construction, accuracy, finishing etc.) is given a score that best represents the modeller's effort in that area, and then those scores are tallied. Awarding of a gold, silver, or bronze is determined by where the total score falls (refer to Table below). This means that in any given class there is no limit to the number of golds, silvers, or bronzes that can be awarded. This also means that, dependent on the standard of the model entries, a class could actually yield no gold, or perhaps silver, or even bronze awards. In each of the eight classes (not sub-classes) the highest scoring model is declared Best In Class and will receive a ribbon and prize.
Ultimately the Master-Class "examination" offers a modeller a fair analysis of their own skills and talent, and ranks their abilities against an international standard. And it is fair to say, that even though the title "Master-Class Competition" assumes an air of profound modelling elitism, it is in fact completely open to modellers of any level of competency.
Total Score Award
90 - 100 GOLD
75 - 89 SILVER
60 - 74 BRONZE
50 - 59 Commended
Link to CLASS LIST
BONUS AWARDS
Best In Show
The "Best In Show" and "Best In Show Runner-up" are selected by a panel of judges from the collective pool made up of "Best In Class" recipients from the MASTER-CLASS competitions.
MIB (Most Improved Builder)
In each show one club member will be deemed by the Club President to have proven themselves to be a developing modeller, with a passion and enthusiasm towards improving their skills and output. Their entry or entries in the competition should show visible signs of improved modelling skills and overall growth within the context of the hobby. Due to the subjective nature of the selecting process, and the fact that it is reliant upon the president's recall of the recipient's efforts in previous competitions, this award should be considered quite an honour! The MIB trophy and title shall be retained by the recipient until the next contest.
Best "BIG SCREEN SMALL SCREEN" Model/Interpretation (2023 only)
A prize will be up for grabs for the best model, vignette, or diorama in this display. This will be decided by the Head Judge and Club Captain.
Best "WATER - IN On Under" Model/Interpretation (2023 only)
Again, a prize will be on offer to the work elected by the Head Judge and Club Captain to be the best of this class.
Best "JETS & ROCKETS" Model/Interpretation (2023 only)
And again, a prize will be on offer to the work elected by the Head Judge and Club Captain to be the best in this display.
Peoples Choice
Every member of the public attending our Model Expo/show gets the opportunity to place a vote for their favourite model, diorama, vignette or collection on display. The piece with the most votes will win this coveted award.
JUDGES, ADJUDICATORS, EXAMINERS, SCRUTINEERS, GODS!
In the spirit of the "Competition Strategy #1" (above) a judging team's primary focus is to be helpful to club members, and to provide positive feedback to the participant, so that he/she can learn from the experience and improve their own skills as a modeller. In order to achieve this judges should provide as much written information on the judging sheets as possible, with comments expressed in a supportive and encouraging manner, and have them returned to the entrants. Judges should also be available to discuss with participants any aspects or queries arising from the judge's verdicts.
It should be accepted that judging these modelling competitions can be a very subjective exercise and one where a consistent set of standards across competitions is a substantial challenge. In order to maintain judging consistency and improve fairness across the entire competition there needs to be active participation by all club members to "play judge" at various times. A modeller can learn so much more about his/her craft through having to scrutinize other models in the "arena".
Last updated March 2021. Subject to change prior to next competition.
Believe it, or not, the main focus of our club competitions is not to generate fierce competitiveness. Nor are they designed to deride our fellow member's efforts, or hammer each others self-esteem (and models) into the dust! And there was definitely never any intentions of unleashing an army of evil, axe-wielding judges with glowing red eyes, who ravage and scour the tables, crush our dreams, and march our poor modeller souls down into the dark labyrinths of oblivion!
In truth, the strategies behind the contests are far more dramatic...
Competition Strategy #1: Encourage self improvement
The primary function of our club competitions is simply to assist and encourage club members to advance their own modelling skills and achieve better results. Hence competitions should merely be seen as one of many tools which our club provides to help members learn, understand, and better themselves where the hobby is concerned.
Competition Strategy #2: Encourage new membership
The secondary function of the competitions is to provide a captivating platform from which: we can promote model building as a serious, broadly ranged hobby to the general public; to generate interest in model building; encourage new hobbyists to the field, and ultimately expand the potential for new memberships to the club.
The club usually offers two modes of competition within the one event. They are called Hobby Competition and Master-Class Competition, and their definitions are as follows:
HOBBY COMPETITION *Does NOT apply to the 2021 South Island Champs*
Also known as "1st, 2nd, 3rd" this competition could be likened to an Olympic race, where the models are pitted against one another to decide which are the best looking, best finished kits. There is a new 3-class format in Hobby Competition, each class having one or more sub-classes. Each sub-class will have a "winner" selected, and from those sub-class "winners" a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd will be selected, the 1st place getter of that class being Best In Class. The Best In Class winners are then pooled together in order to decide Best In Hobby Competition and Best In Hobby Competition Runner-Up models, for which trophies will be given.
The Hobby Competition should be regarded as a simple, lightweight contest. Filled with plenty of incentives and rewards it is designed to be enlightening and entertaining for both participant and spectator.
MASTER-CLASS COMPETITION (2023 Model Expo & Competition)
This mode of competition is also known as "gold, silver, bronze". It is very much like your average school English exam (can you remember those!?) whereby a modeller's effort is marked and ranked based purely on their own knowledge and abilities that they have "brought to the table" in the form of a model. There is no contest between the models in each class, and each of the entries are awarded points using a universally accepted, pre-determined format. Each criteria (i.e. construction, accuracy, finishing etc.) is given a score that best represents the modeller's effort in that area, and then those scores are tallied. Awarding of a gold, silver, or bronze is determined by where the total score falls (refer to Table below). This means that in any given class there is no limit to the number of golds, silvers, or bronzes that can be awarded. This also means that, dependent on the standard of the model entries, a class could actually yield no gold, or perhaps silver, or even bronze awards. In each of the eight classes (not sub-classes) the highest scoring model is declared Best In Class and will receive a ribbon and prize.
Ultimately the Master-Class "examination" offers a modeller a fair analysis of their own skills and talent, and ranks their abilities against an international standard. And it is fair to say, that even though the title "Master-Class Competition" assumes an air of profound modelling elitism, it is in fact completely open to modellers of any level of competency.
Total Score Award
90 - 100 GOLD
75 - 89 SILVER
60 - 74 BRONZE
50 - 59 Commended
Link to CLASS LIST
BONUS AWARDS
Best In Show
The "Best In Show" and "Best In Show Runner-up" are selected by a panel of judges from the collective pool made up of "Best In Class" recipients from the MASTER-CLASS competitions.
MIB (Most Improved Builder)
In each show one club member will be deemed by the Club President to have proven themselves to be a developing modeller, with a passion and enthusiasm towards improving their skills and output. Their entry or entries in the competition should show visible signs of improved modelling skills and overall growth within the context of the hobby. Due to the subjective nature of the selecting process, and the fact that it is reliant upon the president's recall of the recipient's efforts in previous competitions, this award should be considered quite an honour! The MIB trophy and title shall be retained by the recipient until the next contest.
Best "BIG SCREEN SMALL SCREEN" Model/Interpretation (2023 only)
A prize will be up for grabs for the best model, vignette, or diorama in this display. This will be decided by the Head Judge and Club Captain.
Best "WATER - IN On Under" Model/Interpretation (2023 only)
Again, a prize will be on offer to the work elected by the Head Judge and Club Captain to be the best of this class.
Best "JETS & ROCKETS" Model/Interpretation (2023 only)
And again, a prize will be on offer to the work elected by the Head Judge and Club Captain to be the best in this display.
Peoples Choice
Every member of the public attending our Model Expo/show gets the opportunity to place a vote for their favourite model, diorama, vignette or collection on display. The piece with the most votes will win this coveted award.
JUDGES, ADJUDICATORS, EXAMINERS, SCRUTINEERS, GODS!
In the spirit of the "Competition Strategy #1" (above) a judging team's primary focus is to be helpful to club members, and to provide positive feedback to the participant, so that he/she can learn from the experience and improve their own skills as a modeller. In order to achieve this judges should provide as much written information on the judging sheets as possible, with comments expressed in a supportive and encouraging manner, and have them returned to the entrants. Judges should also be available to discuss with participants any aspects or queries arising from the judge's verdicts.
It should be accepted that judging these modelling competitions can be a very subjective exercise and one where a consistent set of standards across competitions is a substantial challenge. In order to maintain judging consistency and improve fairness across the entire competition there needs to be active participation by all club members to "play judge" at various times. A modeller can learn so much more about his/her craft through having to scrutinize other models in the "arena".
