2025 Fleacon 21 entries.
We arrived a 0734 today to pickup Grandson Russell "Muscle" Buchannan, and headed off to Monticello for model show breakfast.
Darrell's Tummy Heaven is getting the decision making visit!
We all agree that breakfast was hot and plentiful. Service was good. Muscle had his fill. Darrell's is a keeper 2 out of 3 times. Teresa is under the weather, but like the trooper she is, she has insisted we come to the show to play with some of our favorite model nerds and their tolerant, humorous wives!
(Registration and Raffle)
Arriving 0905 hrs. I am chagrined to see only 6 of my models will be judged. The $20.00 fee to enter 6 models seems steep, but we have a long tradition of support for IMPS Alexander Lippisch. I have to choose 2 of my builds that traveled all the way as "Display Only" models. The contest flyer makes no mention of "Maximum of 6 Models will be judged". A useful bit of information.
It's good that I didn't bring all 12 of the builds I have finished recently all this way! I cut 2 from my "team" and began placing finished models on the proper category table.
That being said, I will get on my "Soap Box" for a minute.
The "Product": The model contest as it "sells" to entrants.
The Show Flyer: Venue location, date, time, theme and interesting illustration, perhaps. It could include details about registration, judging and special awards.
Registration: Should be well manned and have a logical progression on to the display tables.
Head Judge: 1 all-powerful entity that resolves all questions concerning categories and eligibility according to IPMS or AMPS guidelines.
The Buck Stops with the Head Judge. His word is Law. Period.
Manpower or woman-power as the case may be: Available host club members to assist on the contest floor with greetings, category placement and direction.
Raffle: One "Raffle Captain" who records drawn prize coupons, marks off claimed numbers and has enough raffle worker bees to help sell tickets and locate raffle prizes that correspond to the matching ticket numbers in an efficient, suitably fun fashion. Raffle prizes need not be new, but should be complete and unstarted. Classifying every raffle prize before the show is time-intensive, but has a profound effect on your chapter's reputation.
Judging: Parameters that are clear to the Entrants and Contest Judges according to National organization rules about
How your model will be judged and then awarded as well.
For example: Models that have been awarded in regional contests may not be awarded in a local chapter show, but could be entered and awarded in a National Convention. A build that has been awarded in a previous contest by this same club should not be awarded a second time.
Models entered in an IPMS/USA sanctioned show must be built in it's entirety by the entrant. (No Ray, you cain't enter Trevor's model, even if he died. )
July 15, 2024 Introduction The Competition Handbook and Judges Guide is for Modelers by Modelers. Its purpose is to make us better modelers and take the guess work out of competition. If you build for competition this handbook will provide you the checklists and references you need to build...
ipmsusa.org
If you really want to see all the IPMS/USA reg's have a look at the above!
"The Customer" Entrants and to a lesser degree, vendors.
Entrants:
These people are the reason your club has a model contest. They drive across town, or travel hundreds of miles to spend their money on accommodations, food, fuel, entry fees and raffle tickets. Many of these folk brave the harshest of weather to do so. Many of them bring the model builds they are most proud of or put the most work into to participate in model fun with your membership.
Hopefully, these "customers" build something new each show season. This makes the Head Judges job easier, by not having to remember or look up if the entrant's model had been awarded in a previous contest. If your entered model hasn't been awarded in 12 or so show seasons, leave the 1/35 Sherman pancake mine-sweeper at home next time and build a fresh model kit
Vendors:
These people bring their model collections or collections of other model makers that have gone to the hereafter for perusal and sale.
They are a secondary source of income for the sponsoring club, but they should NOT be the focus of the contest. In my opinion, hosting club members apply their time and energy on this ONE day, to promote their contest and serve their customers if they are physically able. If you have a non-member friend or trusted sweetheart to sell your kits, fine. But! be about the floor of your own show to "Make the Day" for your entrants. Present your club's best "Product". It also seems foolish to compete against your own Club Raffle. It could be advisable to acknowledge your vendors and thank them for attending. Many of these also folk also travel long distances.
Volunteer experienced judges: You can learn a TON about models and judging models from these people. Some clubs provide lunch for judges. It couldn't hurt to provide raffle tickets or prizes for them. Make sure your volunteer non-club judges look forward to coming back and volunteering again! Take good care of these guys!
To be continued......................
There were lots of vendors! One of them even had a model kit on hand I didn't already have! That is a surprise!
I delivered Franks intake casting request, then Russell and I began cruising the contest space. Mark Johnson is keeping a watchful eye out for Auto Model makers. Tommy Piper still had this A-10 artwork, so this tear I bought it for my cousin Matt.
Shinies! There where lots of Automotive models at Fleacon 21. Eastern Iowa clubs build cars aplenty! Major's Rivers Edge and Blackhawk Modelers to name a couple of IPMS clubs.
This 1/35 M-41's weathering looked like it got caught in a GA Mud-storm. That being said, the red mud was quite evenly applied.
Club Display tables!
lippischmodelclub.org
Forms must be downloadeded as a .jpg file and printed as you might a picture. Kinda strange, but it worked out. 
