Welcome to the gong show!

[dupes]

Back in the day we used to have an annual, ongoing thread where MSCers could post their contest wins. It was pretty amazing to see the amount of hardware a sizable bunch of dedicated modelers could pull in!

I'll start. I don't get to go to as many shows every year as I used to, but I try to make it to at least my "local" (so, a three hour drive each way) one, Downeastcon, and build accordingly. This year's edition was on Sunday. I entered 14 builds in 14 categories - both 1/2/3 and G/S/B - and came home with 12 awards. 10 of which came from builds in my 2024 build thread! I was super happy with the results. Having MSC back has done wonders for my output. Hope it's here to stay!

[Tobi]

Congratulations. I haven't been to a show in ten years. Lost the thrill. Only build for myself.

[sharp]

Congratulations!!

[TJ]

Wow that's alot of hardware.

The last show I entered was 25 years ago. Came home with two plaques for one entry. Just wasn't my thing. I build for me and just me. I still go to as many as I can but only to ooh and aah at others.

[handiabled]

Congrats Marc!

[Leon]

Congrats Marc!

[406 Silverado]

Dang it Marc (dupes)! That's a good haul out from that show!! Say......did that 37 Ford take home a trophy??!! 

[dupes]

Apr 20, 2024 6:20:29 GMT -5 406 Silverado said:

Dang it Marc (dupes)! That's a good haul out from that show!! Say......did that 37 Ford take home a trophy??!! 

It sure did...second place in a PACKED category! Apparently it looks way better in person compared to my lousy phone pics.

[dupes]

Apr 19, 2024 19:47:45 GMT -5 TJ said:

Wow that's alot of hardware.

The last show I entered was 25 years ago. Came home with two plaques for one entry. Just wasn't my thing. I build for me and just me. I still go to as many as I can but only to ooh and aah at others.

25 years!! I certainly wouldn't stop building if I didn't do contests...but it sure helps my motivation to get things done. Build diversity is also through the roof because of shows.

[dupes]

Apr 19, 2024 11:00:53 GMT -5 Tobi said:

Congratulations. I haven't been to a show in ten years. Lost the thrill. Only build for myself.

You build so much good stuff, though. I can't imagine you wouldn't do well?

[keavdog]

Congratulations! That's a lot of hardware.

[dukemaddog]

Congrats Marc, that's is an incredible haul! It's been forever since I've been to a show because they are either too far to drive to and nobody would give me a ride; or something came up that trumped the show. I'm hoping this year will be different.

[TOWGunner]

Hi Marc,
Went to the AMPS Internationals last week in South Bend, Indiana (13 hour drive). It was a three day show. I went with 3 buds from my model club and we had a fantastic time. I entered 5 models and they all placed - 1 Bronze, 2 Silver, and 2 Gold in the Advanced Class. I was all smiles coming home.

[Steve Zuleski]

Yall are doing great! Most excellent, Gents.

[moparmadness]

We have some talent running around these forums!

[fox]

Just want to say congrats to all the members that go to the shows and also those that don't. There is really a lot of great amazing talent on here. When I started going to shows and seeing those fantastic models that you guys build, it really gave me the shot in the arm to start building better and better models. So, to those of you that I know from this forum and the other forum I was on, and to those I've met at shows, You guys do fantastic work and I am humbled to be included in this group.

Here is a photo of some of my awards. The ones around the doors of the cabinet are from PennCon and MosquitoCon. The ribbons are from local hobby shop shows. The medals in the cabinet w/black felt bases are mostly from MarauderCon. All three shows are IPMS. There are also a few from the IPMS shows in there. PennCon last year was the first show in a few years that I attended. I brought 3 models and each won an award.

photos.app.goo.gl/vkJsPWZqWvjF8X8D6

The F9F-5 Panther "Golden Dragon Squadron" VA-192 Pilot Lt. Harry Brubaker as shown in "Bridges at Toko Ri". Revell 1/48 Kit #6865 won a Bronze.

photos.app.goo.gl/MzERRLh1nkDEdFTe6

The North American P-51B Mustang Tamiya 1/48 kit # 61042 won a Bronze.

photos.app.goo.gl/XQN69vxnmLSQihreA

The 1/4 ton 4x4 Utility Truck Italeri 1/35 kit # 6468 won a Silver.

photos.app.goo.gl/eehu8GFAmMgPjzJ17

Some of the models that I have built for Veterans were taken to shows and if they won a medal, the medal was given to the Veteran also. I missed MosquitoCon this year but hopefully I will be able to attend MarauderCon and PennCon. Those 3 shows are about 2 to 2-1/2 hours driving time. There are others that are 3-4-5 hours away. I would love to attend but that's a lot of driving for a 1 day show and return trip. Tried to get my wife to go with me to the Nationals last year. We have a very good friend (and avid model builder) who lives in Arizona and i tried to make it a 1-1/2 week trip but, no go. Trying again this year. We'll see what happens.

Stay safe.
Jim

[project510]

I've never even entered, let alone won anything in a model contest. I have however, judged my fair share of them when I worked at a HobbyTownUSA many many years ago.

[kyledehart5]

Big congrats on all the well deserved hardware guys!! I’ve also never entered a model in a show in my life. Love to go check out all the great work though

[Tobi]

Apr 20, 2024 9:33:38 GMT -5 dupes said:

Apr 19, 2024 11:00:53 GMT -5 Tobi said:

Congratulations. I haven't been to a show in ten years. Lost the thrill. Only build for myself.

You build so much good stuff, though. I can't imagine you wouldn't do well?

Thank you for the compliment my friend. 
When I went to shows I did do mostly well in the contests.


I only came to the point where I wondered, do I build for the jury or do I still do what I want?

My observation, if you want to go to the top you have to do certain things that are somehow expected and you have to meet the taste of others. Yet most I fear the danger of repetitiveness and boredom in my models.
Furthermore, a Tiger is always more popular than a Chi-Ha, to speak in my favorite field of tanks, that is a hidden limitation.

And I took on occasion critique home with me from shows, where I finally decided I will not change my perception of aesthetic realistic looking just for the sake of awards.

[dupes]

Apr 21, 2024 9:23:08 GMT -5 TOWGunner said:

Hi Marc,
Went to the AMPS Internationals last week in South Bend, Indiana (13 hour drive). It was a three day show. I went with 3 buds from my model club and we had a fantastic time. I entered 5 models and they all placed - 1 Bronze, 2 Silver, and 2 Gold in the Advanced Class. I was all smiles coming home.

Whoah, fantastic! What builds did you gold with?

[dupes]

Apr 21, 2024 12:11:15 GMT -5 moparmadness said:

We have some talent running around these forums!

That is for certain!

[dupes]

Apr 21, 2024 15:23:00 GMT -5 fox said:

The F9F-5 Panther "Golden Dragon Squadron" VA-192 Pilot Lt. Harry Brubaker as shown in "Bridges at Toko Ri". Revell 1/48 Kit #6865 won a Bronze.

photos.app.goo.gl/MzERRLh1nkDEdFTe6

This Panther is fab!

[dupes]

Apr 21, 2024 16:40:23 GMT -5 project510 said:

I've never even entered, let alone won anything in a model contest. I have however, judged my fair share of them when I worked at a HobbyTownUSA many many years ago.

Apr 21, 2024 19:51:21 GMT -5 kyledehart5 said:

Big congrats on all the well deserved hardware guys!! I’ve also never entered a model in a show in my life. Love to go check out all the great work though

You absolutely should. It's a ton of fun! And it really makes you up your game re: building.

[dupes]

Apr 22, 2024 2:27:54 GMT -5 Tobi said:

I only came to the point where I wondered, do I build for the jury or do I still do what I want?

Furthermore, a Tiger is always more popular than a Chi-Ha, to speak in my favorite field of tanks, that is a hidden limitation.

These are both good points. There is indeed an inherent bias in judging...popular, "favorite" subjects often tend to do better. I think building only what you want would still serve you well, though!

[handiabled]

TOWGunner(Matt) and fox(Jim) A very big congrats to you both! Quite an accomplishment by you both 

[tcoat]

Apr 22, 2024 2:27:54 GMT -5 Tobi said:

Apr 20, 2024 9:33:38 GMT -5 dupes said:

You build so much good stuff, though. I can't imagine you wouldn't do well?

Thank you for the compliment my friend. 
When I went to shows I did do mostly well in the contests.


I only came to the point where I wondered, do I build for the jury or do I still do what I want?

My observation, if you want to go to the top you have to do certain things that are somehow expected and you have to meet the taste of others. Yet most I fear the danger of repetitiveness and boredom in my models.
Furthermore, a Tiger is always more popular than a Chi-Ha, to speak in my favorite field of tanks, that is a hidden limitation.

And I took on occasion critique home with me from shows, where I finally decided I will not change my perception of aesthetic realistic looking just for the sake of awards.

I have entered 6 models in one show and took a silver with one of them. I did however learn that the way I generally build is NOT what the judges want to see. Everything that won in the aircraft category was a pristine factory fresh paint job with all available etch and resin add ons. Nothing was weathered, dirty or worn. Some of the armour was at least slightly dirty but again many of the kits were more aftermarket than original. Cars all had mirror like finishes and although I applaud anybody that can actually pull that off they are not the "realistic" look that I go for so I don't stand a chance there. The show I entered was my first and it was a learning experience for sure.
I missed entering this year because they went to an online only entry system instead of at the door like last year and I missed the notice until it was to late.  There were far fewer entered this year than last so I probably wasn't the only person that blew it! Want to try a different, smaller show sometime and will enter the big one again next year but will stick to OOB categories instead of the ones I know I just can't complete in without completely changing my build style.  Still gonna' build for me and if anything wins that is just a bonus.

[TOWGunner]

Marc,
I won Gold with an IG 18 field gun - 




And a Toyota Phaeton staff car. Both 1\35 - 




Thanks for all the well wishes guys!

[fox]

Thanks for the kind words kyledehart5, dupes and handiabled. I build models for myself and take them to shows so I can get to see other builds so I can improve mine. If I win an award, great. If I don't, thats OK too. I was there with all those great builders and their models. I learned a lot that way. I think everyone should go to a show or two a year. There are always a lot of guys there that love to talk about their builds. If you don't see or hear about some little trick a guy uses for his building or finishing you need glasses and hearing aids. Plus, you get a chance to win kits, books, tools, paints and all kinds of stuff in the raffles. One of the guys in my club is a judge. We never tell him what we're bringing and since I moved away from them they don't get together as much so he doesn't see what their working on. He has asked me to be a judge but I respectfully declined. I like walking around the models and spending time in the vendor area (even though I don't usually buy anything). Most of the models I have gotten over the last years came from the raffle. Only if there is something I really want and the price is right. When I miss a show, I am down in the dumps and miserable for weeks.

I can only say "Try it, you'll like it."

Stay safe.
Jim 

PS - If you see me at a show, I have been known to talk someone's ears off   if you haven't figured that out by now. 

[dukemaddog]

Jim, I agree with everything you said about attending shows! I love doing so too but it's been at least a year for me and boy do I miss going!

[Medicman71]

Got a gold and bronze yesterday at our local show, Model Mania 2024.