STILL friggin clueless about the model contest!

[tay666]

The best thing for me is how much the contest sparks my imagination and enthusiasm.

You said it!

[DavidTHM]

You know what, I have learned not to care what the judges say, yes from time to time I look at something and I think that ruling doesn't make any sense at all, and often it isnt even my work, but what the hell. Three years running now I have had someone come up to me while I was picking up my models at the end and tell me that they thought I had one of the best ones in the show, and you know what, that is enough for me. I made something someone else enjoyed, and I gained pleasure from working on it.

Thats MHO on it anyway.

[raydrz]

You know what, I have learned not to care what the judges say, yes from time to time I look at something and I think that ruling doesn't make any sense at all, and often it isnt even my work, but what the hell. Three years running now I have had someone come up to me while I was picking up my models at the end and tell me that they thought I had one of the best ones in the show, and you know what, that is enough for me. I made something someone else enjoyed, and I gained pleasure from working on it.

Thats MHO on it anyway.

that was exactly how i felt about my SD goji kills bin laden diorama last year...guess what? my only award...a merit...

[raydrz]

good points/posts trev...EXACTLY where i'm coming from...

gordon...your post is one of the greats...right click ahoy!

[modelerchuck]

Had a awsome time again this year! Got a Bronze for one of mine in humor, Yea Baby!!
But as others have stated the ones that I put into the show "Hopeing" for a merit did nothing and then I see a entry with a checkered paint do to a bad paint reaction able to claim a merit I come away with

[DavidTHM]

You know what, I have learned not to care what the judges say, yes from time to time I look at something and I think that ruling doesn't make any sense at all, and often it isnt even my work, but what the hell. Three years running now I have had someone come up to me while I was picking up my models at the end and tell me that they thought I had one of the best ones in the show, and you know what, that is enough for me. I made something someone else enjoyed, and I gained pleasure from working on it.

Thats MHO on it anyway.

that was exactly how i felt about my SD goji kills bin laden diorama last year...guess what? my only award...a merit...

Yep. My previous statement aside, it seems that every year the one I put the most work into are the ones that get nothing. I fly through a build in seven hours and I seem to get at least a merit every time.

For example, this year I brought a small Vlad bust I did for my GF, it had a neat little bronze dragon base on a piece of marble. I got it out in the sun taking it out to the car and saw it still had abit of mold line I missed. So I shrugged my shoulders and entered it anyway, and get a Bronze out of it. Similar thing with the Cthulhu I entered this year, I broke the wings on the way to the show, tacked them back on at the contest table and, bronze. Last year I did a biostien, the prepwork was flawless, from the blood tubes to the alclad staples, got nothin.

So this leads to my really don't care about the judges attitude attitude where I work on a kit to satisfy myself. It is also what really confuses confuses most people about the contest. In some cases Gold winners are brutally obvious, but the rest seem to be totally random.


But it is what it is, and there is much other fun to be had at the fest.

[raydrz]

after reading all your thoughtful responses, i guess the reason it matters to me is mostly a gauge of my improvement...i got (approximate numbers) 5-6 bronzes and a couple dozen merits which i'm truly proud to display, but again i seek to improve (i.e. get to silver & gold levels)...

[Bubba]

A couple things to consider-

First, in an "open" judging system, even though each piece is judged on its own merit, you are still entering in a "category". Within that category could be entries better or worse (by most measures) than your own, whether it is in prep, paint, execution, or whatever. ALL the judges have a baseline of what to look for as for "technique", and how well it was executed, BUT, if there happens to be one or two standout pieces in the category(ies) you entered, comparison is really inevitable, and (in all honesty), open judging goes out the window...

Second, you have different pools of previous talent, who are themselves show attendees, who want to partake of the same festivities as you, who are the judges. They volunteer to whack a good few hours off of their Saturday night just to get the job done. That said, they don't "phone it in", or they would all be done by 7pm. Also, as best as they try to match judges with categories, not all judges are complete experts on which shade of blue was used on RoboCop's armor*, or which monsters actually fought which others, or which year that particular movie came out. Cut these guys a bit of slack!

I know what I would do in that instance- revert to the basics! Composition and/or execution.

Lastly, as much as it sucks, there is a "WOW" factor. Within any category, regardless of subject matter, or who is judging, or "open" judging system, there are always certain pieces that will grab attention before others. That leaves an impression, and one that can be hard to overcome. I personally have seen it myself with MANY contest entries, and not only at WF. I've seen a middlingly done "hot" kit grab more attention than an excellently done "old" kit, more than once!

Keep in mind, you have basically entered the "SuperBowl" of figure kit painting. I have been to quite a few IPMS/military shows, and the quality of figures at Wonderfest is so much consistently higher (yet outside of their comfort zone) that they are finally taking lessons from YOU, the entrants!

As has been said, (ad infinitum) is that it is all subjective. One guy might completely understand that you were attempting to paint Dr. Phibes exactly as he was lit in a particular scene (say, 10-20 frames worth), but the judge(s) may not, unless your work is SO impeccable that there could be no possible question, regardless of the subject.

In the end, do your stuff because you like it. Don't expect this or any other contest to validate your enjoyment of getting it done. Yup, we are all nerds, with relatively the same interests, and the fact that you have the brass to show your stuff off should be validation enough!

NOT directed at any particular person, just the sentiment that rears its head every year around this time...

Edited to remove an extra lastly, and to provide the following disclaimer-
*- I typed the RoboCop color thing above NOT knowing there was even one entered in the contest, just saw the pic this morning... Wasn't "aiming" at you Brian...

[raydrz]

as i said to gordon, GREAT POST...right click ahoy!

thanxxx for your time brad...
my impressions:

Lastly, (as has been said, ad infinitum) is that it is all subjective. One guy might completely understand that you were attempting to paint Dr. Phibes exactly as he was lit in a particular scene (say, 10-20 frames worth), but the judge(s) may not, unless your work is SO impeccable that there could be no possible question, regardless of the subject.

not all judges are complete experts on which shade of blue was used on RoboCop's armor

contest-wise, i'm sure i get crushed here cuz that whole 'true to life' thing never really steered my ship...but you covered that too:

In the end, do your stuff because you like it. Don't expect this or any other contest to validate your enjoyment of getting it done.

it's all about trying to understand/improve, not blaming...this type of attitude never entered my mind:

Second, you have different pools of previous talent, who are themselves show attendees, who want to partake of the same festivities as you, who are the judges. They volunteer to whack a good few hours off of their Saturday night just to get the job done. That said, they don't "phone it in", or they would all be done by 7pm. Also, as best as they try to match judges with categories, not all judges are complete experts on which shade of blue was used on RoboCop's armor, or which monsters actually fought which others, or which year that particular movie came out. Cut these guys a bit of slack!

[Bubba]

I shoulda ended that paragraph with a smiley, because I was trying to be a bit tongue in cheek. I don't think you John, nor anyone else in this thread had that in mind so far.

As for looking to improve, the contest is a tough venue to get progressive feedback (following a painter's progress over time) as you are likely being judged by different folks, who may or may not be familiar with your prior work, and entries are supposed to be relatively anonymous.

Your best bet for that would be to see if anyone whose work and/or opinion you respect would mind giving a quick critique, once the judging is over. That way, if they are a judge as well, you aren't putting them on the spot before maybe having to make a decision about your entry.

[PROFESSOR JARROD]

last year 20 entries: one merit

I agree John,

I saw some kits that I thought should have won awards, and I was really surprized when they didn't.
One kit in particular that comes to mind was the custom built "Beast From 20,000 Fathoms" on the glacier, I thought that kit was a very exceptional piece of workmanship.


Rick



this year 13 entries: one bronze, 4 merits

what i thought were better pieces got ZERO...

not that it ruins the festivities, but it's super confusing...not actually disappointing or aggravating...not gonna stop bringing entries...i'm good for 10+++ every year...

even when i see gold and silvers, sometimes i just shake my head...clueless...

there was one this year with a HUGE seam crack down the arm...i mean a friggin fissure...1/8 inch wide...got a silver...

[raydrz]

last year 20 entries: one merit

I agree John,

I saw some kits that I thought should have won awards, and I was really surprized when they didn't.
One kit in particular that comes to mind was the custom built "Beast From 20,000 Fathoms" on the glacier, I thought that kit was a very exceptional piece of workmanship.


Rick
this year 13 entries: one bronze, 4 merits

what i thought were better pieces got ZERO...

not that it ruins the festivities, but it's super confusing...not actually disappointing or aggravating...not gonna stop bringing entries...i'm good for 10+++ every year...

even when i see gold and silvers, sometimes i just shake my head...clueless...

there was one this year with a HUGE seam crack down the arm...i mean a friggin fissure...1/8 inch wide...got a silver...

that was my buddy paul...the beast was a bronze...his area 51 alien was a silver