I am beginning to get interesting in trying my had at a few of these shows also. Modeling for me has always been about a fun time to destress and enjoy myself. Then once I started doing Aviation Archaeology it finally hit me. These aren't so much just machines. They begin to take on a life all their own. It was then that I decided that I want to try and honor those men that died in the planes that I have documented. Men that are all but forgotten at this point in time. I will try and do my part to make them live on. Hopefully I will be able to take one of those finished kits to a contest in March.
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MODELING FOR COMPETITION AN EDITORIAL
- Thread starter MrT
- Start date
Never understood why some like entering model contests after reading all the complaints about them from other modelers. Why add stress to a hobby that is supposed to be a relaxing experience?
If anybody builds models for a contest in the hopes of pleasing a judge to win a ribbon or cheap plastic trophy is missing the whole point of the hobby. I have never entered a contest and don't ever plan to do so, it makes no sense to me to spend $20 to $40 on gas and risk breaking a newly built model for the chance to win a $5.00 trophy.
Instead of using competitions as a way to improve my model building I use my reference books as a way to measure how well I did after finishing a model, if the model looks like the photographs of the real thing than its a success, if not, it fails and I don't need a judge to tell me that.This is why I convert some of the pics of my finished models to B/W, its a way to compare the model to photographs of the full size machine in my reference books.
Matrixone
Hello! My name is Terry and I'm a knuckle dragging model contest participant......Hello Terry. I hope to reach pure modeling nirvana when I grow up. (group hug)
Model Contest Anonymous meeting
Gunfighter45
Member
I started building in 1966, planes, cars, all the Aurora monster kits. No paint, just glue and put
the decals on bare plastic. What Fun !! Then as I get on a paint rush with a Revell PT boat. Can't
have a white plastic PT cutting across the livingroom rug.
Fast forward to '93, and build my first tank for a show. Had been to many shows prior but never
entered anything. Kept thinking get the basics covered and add from there. I started a "What can I add
that that guy didn't?" routine. I was nervous about it and did not expect to get any result.
I About fell over when called for second place.
I still build for me and my shelf. Do I learn from seeing what the winners at a contest have done?
Yes, but I have learned more from peers and places like this site. I don't enter every contest that comes
around, but I do favor the AMPS style where each model is judged on its own merit.
Mike B)
the decals on bare plastic. What Fun !! Then as I get on a paint rush with a Revell PT boat. Can't
have a white plastic PT cutting across the livingroom rug.
Fast forward to '93, and build my first tank for a show. Had been to many shows prior but never
entered anything. Kept thinking get the basics covered and add from there. I started a "What can I add
that that guy didn't?" routine. I was nervous about it and did not expect to get any result.
I About fell over when called for second place.
I still build for me and my shelf. Do I learn from seeing what the winners at a contest have done?
Yes, but I have learned more from peers and places like this site. I don't enter every contest that comes
around, but I do favor the AMPS style where each model is judged on its own merit.
Mike B)
Gunfighter45
Member
You better believe it!
Revell PT boat, 6 Hawk and Revell Zeros, a P-40 and a Wildcat for balance..... :woohoo:
Drove my mother crazy! :gogo
Mike B)
Revell PT boat, 6 Hawk and Revell Zeros, a P-40 and a Wildcat for balance..... :woohoo:
Drove my mother crazy! :gogo
Mike B)
phantom II
Master at Arms
Very well stated Paddy. Could not agree more.
In the end, I am my worst critic.
I do enjoy looking at other peoples builds though and meeting other modelers .
Cheers, Christian B)
In the end, I am my worst critic.
I do enjoy looking at other peoples builds though and meeting other modelers .
Cheers, Christian B)
Les don't worry, no one is offended, this is just a spirited debate and we're all friends and family here 
Terry is a knuckledragger, haven't you seen his mug??
Terry is a knuckledragger, haven't you seen his mug??
First of all: great discussion item MrT !!
This is what forums need, something to think about, whether you agree or not.
I missed one point of view, which happens to be mine
I started modeling from an historical point of view, not from the "like-to-build something".
That means deep interest in military and other history, specially ww2.
So I am very satisfied when my products somehow reflects an historical "could-have-been" scene.
Of course I try to get better(like everybody), and forums really help, but never with the intention to be the best or win somewhere.
I just love what Im doing !!
Willem
This is what forums need, something to think about, whether you agree or not.
I missed one point of view, which happens to be mine
I started modeling from an historical point of view, not from the "like-to-build something".
That means deep interest in military and other history, specially ww2.
So I am very satisfied when my products somehow reflects an historical "could-have-been" scene.
Of course I try to get better(like everybody), and forums really help, but never with the intention to be the best or win somewhere.
I just love what Im doing !!
Willem
Iron Mike
Master At Arms And Resident Curmudgeon
It should be noted that not all IPMS contests are judged the same. The guys back home are all IPMS and that's all I had been exposed to, The IPMS Plastic Surgeons from West Des Moines, Iowa have run successful and well attended contests something 14 of 15 years. They attend some AMPS shows in the region and have not had good things to say about the experience. SO, that being said, just like anything else, it boils down to people judging the shows.
Sherman 18
Master at Arms
There is a lot of pro and con to contest. Contests are like this thread, you are going to get opinions. I like competition and have the war stories that goes along with it. I grew up going to the contests in Denver, loved it, had fun and learned a lot. (yes I even reached a point I did not have fun, you could see it it how I was building and quit going to them)I have had good and bad experinces that contests. I have judged at some also, (did not really like doing that). I believe some people forget that when you enter a model for judging your are getting a 3 person opinion on how you built your kit. Two out of the three may not like it or two out of the three may love it. You never know. I believe you should never put to much into that.
A couple of tips I can give if somebody wants to compete;
1) if you feel you did not do as well as you should have ask one or two of the judges what they think you can do to be better.
2) build, build, build
3) push yourself to do better
4) join a club and get other peoples opinion of how you are building, and help them
5) basic skills are the most important (just like sports)
6) be a good loser (because you will lose)
7) I have yet to see anyone have on their head stone "placed first at the IPMS or AMPS or Hobby Town or what/wherever show in 2006"
8) build, build, build (this means get the basics down and try new things)
9) always take a kit that you don't feel is your best, because you never know what a judge(s) will like
10) remember judges will almost always look for mistakes instead of what was done right, because it is easier
With IPMS Nats coming up in Colorado this next summer, I plan on going, I will try to have something done to drop on a table. Most of all I hope to see some people have not seen in years and maybe meet some you guys from here too and cheer you on.
If you like to compete and you build models, contests will push you to do better, plain and simple.
Well I've opened my big pie hole, gave some of my two cents
A couple of tips I can give if somebody wants to compete;
1) if you feel you did not do as well as you should have ask one or two of the judges what they think you can do to be better.
2) build, build, build
3) push yourself to do better
4) join a club and get other peoples opinion of how you are building, and help them
5) basic skills are the most important (just like sports)
6) be a good loser (because you will lose)
7) I have yet to see anyone have on their head stone "placed first at the IPMS or AMPS or Hobby Town or what/wherever show in 2006"
8) build, build, build (this means get the basics down and try new things)
9) always take a kit that you don't feel is your best, because you never know what a judge(s) will like
10) remember judges will almost always look for mistakes instead of what was done right, because it is easier
With IPMS Nats coming up in Colorado this next summer, I plan on going, I will try to have something done to drop on a table. Most of all I hope to see some people have not seen in years and maybe meet some you guys from here too and cheer you on.
If you like to compete and you build models, contests will push you to do better, plain and simple.
Well I've opened my big pie hole, gave some of my two cents
Next summer, Colorado...that's the one place I would love to go back to from my USAF days.
Trying to type here, but I can't think of anything explaining why I have not entered into any contests. haha
I guess I just love building models and just don't have a compelling intrest to enter a contest.
give me a monogram/revell/tamiya kit of any vintage and I'm a happy camper. HA!
I guess I just love building models and just don't have a compelling intrest to enter a contest.
give me a monogram/revell/tamiya kit of any vintage and I'm a happy camper. HA!
Ken Abrams
Well-known member
Matrixone, I'm not offended by your statements but I would like to respond to them if I may.
In my personal experience, whether the kit I am building gets entered in a contest or not, has no effect on the stress factor at all. Nothing changes in the way I build the model as I am always striving to do a good job with it, regardless of its' intended purpose. This year at AMPS Nationals I was still finishing the kit in the hotel rooms during the week prior as I did the tourist thing with some friends. Even then, I wasn't stressed by this. If the model got finished in time, it would be entered, if it didn't it would have simply been left on our vending table for display only. No stress. No worries.
Well, that's really a matter of personal perspective. The whole point of any hobby is for the person engaging in that hobby to get whatever it is that person enjoys from it. Some folks play basketball in their driveway on Sunday afternoon with friends, some folks play in a weekly league for a season and a hopes for the state trophy, others still might be lucky enough to turn that hobby into a career and play professionally for a paycheck. Others still may pick it up, get frustrated with the inability to dunk or get themselves a triple double within the first few weeks and give it up completely.
I spend way more than that on Fuel, lodging and food to travel 3 hours south to spend three days at AMPS East. I've even broken a barrel off in transit and glued it back on in the hotel room and I've won those inexpensive medals.
I've also spent those three days with guys I can normally only talk to online, like minded people who sit around talking about kits and paints and weathering. It's three days of geekness with my fellow geeks and when it's over, I cannot wait until the next year to hang out with all of them again. They are friends and colleagues and people I wish I could see more often. That is well worth the cost for me and that inexpensive medal gets given to my son to show off to his school friends and hung with the others at his desk.
There are many people who think spending $40.00+ on a toy and then countless hours assembling it and finishing it to make no sense.
...and that is really cool, especially because it is how you find joy in the hobby.
I have always found the comments at the bottom of the judging sheets to be invaluable. Not overly critical, not harsh but simple helpful comments about what small things they noticed in the assembly or painting that might be improved upon. It doesn't mean they are always correct but often times, the comments have brought to light a place I could have done better and the following year, I've addressed those things and those comments are not repeated.
I hope you don't think I'm being argumentative, or difficult as that is not my intention. I am also not trying to prove you wrong or mock your opinion. My only intention is to explain why I personally do these things.
Enjoy your hobby, exactly the way you want. :v
Ken
In my personal experience, whether the kit I am building gets entered in a contest or not, has no effect on the stress factor at all. Nothing changes in the way I build the model as I am always striving to do a good job with it, regardless of its' intended purpose. This year at AMPS Nationals I was still finishing the kit in the hotel rooms during the week prior as I did the tourist thing with some friends. Even then, I wasn't stressed by this. If the model got finished in time, it would be entered, if it didn't it would have simply been left on our vending table for display only. No stress. No worries.
Well, that's really a matter of personal perspective. The whole point of any hobby is for the person engaging in that hobby to get whatever it is that person enjoys from it. Some folks play basketball in their driveway on Sunday afternoon with friends, some folks play in a weekly league for a season and a hopes for the state trophy, others still might be lucky enough to turn that hobby into a career and play professionally for a paycheck. Others still may pick it up, get frustrated with the inability to dunk or get themselves a triple double within the first few weeks and give it up completely.
I have never entered a contest and don't ever plan to do so, it makes no sense to me to spend $20 to $40 on gas and risk breaking a newly built model for the chance to win a $5.00 trophy.
I spend way more than that on Fuel, lodging and food to travel 3 hours south to spend three days at AMPS East. I've even broken a barrel off in transit and glued it back on in the hotel room and I've won those inexpensive medals.
I've also spent those three days with guys I can normally only talk to online, like minded people who sit around talking about kits and paints and weathering. It's three days of geekness with my fellow geeks and when it's over, I cannot wait until the next year to hang out with all of them again. They are friends and colleagues and people I wish I could see more often. That is well worth the cost for me and that inexpensive medal gets given to my son to show off to his school friends and hung with the others at his desk.
There are many people who think spending $40.00+ on a toy and then countless hours assembling it and finishing it to make no sense.
Instead of using competitions as a way to improve my model building I use my reference books as a way to measure how well I did after finishing a model, if the model looks like the photographs of the real thing than its a success, if not, it fails and I don't need a judge to tell me that.
Matrixone
...and that is really cool, especially because it is how you find joy in the hobby.
I have always found the comments at the bottom of the judging sheets to be invaluable. Not overly critical, not harsh but simple helpful comments about what small things they noticed in the assembly or painting that might be improved upon. It doesn't mean they are always correct but often times, the comments have brought to light a place I could have done better and the following year, I've addressed those things and those comments are not repeated.
I hope you don't think I'm being argumentative, or difficult as that is not my intention. I am also not trying to prove you wrong or mock your opinion. My only intention is to explain why I personally do these things.
Enjoy your hobby, exactly the way you want. :v
Ken
:drinks
I can't read anything in anyone's post that's been argumentative. Like I said just good spirited discussion like we're sitting around a table with beers or coffee or en route to the LHS 100 miles away...
:dude
Offended!!! Heavens NO! Remember I threw the bomb in the first place. I wanted you guys to talk and I have accomplished that. This thread has been going for days now. Oh by the way. I just spent the day in Leavenworth Kansas attending the Prison City IPMS model contest.
MAN MY KNUCKLES ARE SORE! :pinch:
Prison City, really? Dang Terry, that would be a drive for you wouldn't it?
You guys got me thinking...:hmmm
You guys got me thinking...:hmmm
