Confessions of an IPMS judge

[Leigh]

As mentioned here I got to do some judging at Orange-con this year. Now I was a liitle daunted at this prospect thinking that I wasn't really qualified but it was explained to me that
a. there are some pretty simple guidelines to follow
b. my teammates would help me
c. the fact that I build models made me exceptionally qualified.

Some of you may already know all of this but if you've never done it or you regularly enter IPMS type competitions it was a real eye opener. Yes it's hard, your requirement is to disqualify peoples models  but what you have to remember is that the judge is not saying your model is bad, but that it's not the best. I had to practice being objective at put my preferences aside.
I got to judge 1/72 and smaller bi-planes, 1/48 bi-planes, 1/32 and larger bi-planes, 1/72 jets, 1/72 single engined props, 1/35 Axis armour and dioramas. Teams are made up of three people and all decisions must be unanimous.

90% of those eliminated were because of craftsmanship flaws it was that simple. What initially looks like a really cool model would be out of the running because of some building mistake. Now it may seem like nit picking and we did study the models very very closely, yes rulers, flashlights and a magnifying glass all came out but if you are going to award someone a prize for Model building it really should be the best BUILT model.
No matter how well you detailed your cockpit, or the amazing scratchbuilt stuff you did, wonky wheels will put you out of the running in a heartbeat. It was usually that simple, wheels out of alignment, wings at different dihedrals, paint flaws, silvered decals, obvious seam or sanding marks just general craftsmanship stuff.
The upshot of this was that I learned that alot of those imperfections I can happily live with on my stuff may be OK for a model on my shelf but I can't get upset if they don't win any prizes. If I wish to be a contender at shows I've got to practice better building.

Once this process was done the few remainders where usually looked at with what the builder had to work with, a vac form was placed higher than a Tamigawa because it was obviously a display of better skills to get a flawless model.
And that was it.

The best in show was initially placed highest in it's category because it was the ancient 1/28 Revell Fokker Tri-plane and the builder had made an awesome model from an old dog of a kit.

At no point did we have to consider historical accuracy or subject matter. Personal opinions never really entered into it, I actually suprised myself with my objectivity, the bulk of the prop planes were Luftwaffe with alot of repetition which really left me cold but there was one Academy Stuka that was just an outstanding build that I was really pushing for to be given third place, I deferred to my team mates though on the basis that compared to the other contender for third the Stuka had NO weathering and just looked a little too new and shiny for THAT subject matter.

I thought I would be out of my depth in the Armour division as I don't know bugger all about armour, but the decisions were made for us by the modellers, wonky tracks, seams, glue spots etc. One entry looked absolutely fabulous till we saw the 1/8" gap between the top and bottom of the hull.

Now I'm not trying to take any of the fun out of modelling and build for your own reasons, also I can't speak for the Judging at every competition, but if you do compete and don't win, don't  be so quick to blame it on JMN's who only care about Bf 109s and F-18s, try checking your model for fingerprints.

As for me most of my entries were stuck in the miscellaneous category, Orange-con has no hypothetical category (though Nationals does) and was advised that accuracy may come into play if I were to compete with real world subjects. Here I am competing against a Shark eating a Corvair, a bridge, the Batboat and various other sundries




But I did take home a third place for my USMC Buccaneer   Not bad for my first time entering and now I know how to get closer to a first at that level.


Also last night at my local IPMS meeting my USMC Tomcat took home a first in it's category, again goes to show that not all judging is based on supposed "accuracy" or JMN  preferences.

[Captain Canada]

Sheesh....that's enough out of you, Leigh ! You definately need to start drinking again........



All joking aside, thanks for the insight into a competition. Having never been to one, let alone entered, I have to admit to knowing nowt about it. It's nice to hear that models are judged solely on their build quality. I recall a contest on _____ _____  where you had to spot the errors on a bent-winged bird. I thought it was a nice model ! Turns out there were loads and loads of inaccuracies....mostly historical. That contest kinda put me off the idea of 'real' ipms contests.

It's also nice to see you rewarded for your excellent work in the field of WI ! Congrats, buddy !

 

[Daryl J.]

Pure objectivity seems to be the IPMS ideal when it comes to judging and, when properly used, works very well.    It's that very criteria that put us into a very unpopular, but correct, decision some time back in the Region 7 RECON underneath the wings of the Spruce Goose.   When everyone else was saying "I don't know" for Best of Show, I had to make a call as Head Judge.    The judges agreed, the attendees did not at all to say the least.  


But, right afterwards the editor of Fine Scale Modeler took me aside and said "Good job, that was the right call."  


And that model is in Fine Scale Modeler.      


And the other ones have been forgotten for some time.



And now people tow the line even better on that judging team.
And the entries' quality have improved over time.
And it made me a better modeler.    

And it especially lit the imagineer fire in me making this site my overall internet favorite.   Skill and creativity together are a lot of fun.  


Daryl J. , one time IPMS Region 7 Head Judge

[John Howling Mouse]

A lot has to do with the attitudes of the judges themselves.  Regardless of objective judging, in the end, it is a very human call and the judgments are received by equally human participants.

The largest, local IPMS contest that turned me off ever submitting an entry was the first I ever attended (about 6 or 7 years ago).  It was the way the judges were broadcasting the craftsmanship faults and accuracy errors that was painful to be around.  Even for the novice class, the comments made were simply rude and there was nothing objective about them.

By contrast, the Sep/06 one I went to was handled with far more maturity and finesse.  To hear the trio of judges, you'd have to be purposely eavesdropping as they carefully kept their comments to themselves.  The organizers made it feel like everyone's efforts were genuinely appreciated, even though the very nature of a contest meant that not everyone could possibly take first prize.

Similarly, sounds like Leigh's group knew what they were doing, too.  

[Leigh]

The judging at Orange-con was done in a closed room, the show room was closed to all except the judges, so there should have been no chance of the modellers hearing our comments, it was also good because if a team had an issue or needed help they knew anyone else in the room was also a judge and could be called upon for help.

[Brian da Basher]

Thanks for the report Leigh. This and your attached thread are absolutely awesome! I can't wait to see your diorama using the dirt from Edwards It's nice to get some info about how things work with contest judging. I'm heartened to learn that basic craftsmanship is the main determining factor (one that would probably disqualify me pretty fast). I'm sure the members of your IPMS chapter and the contest entrants were grateful for your objectivity.

Brian da Basher

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Leigh, the task of judging other's work is a challenge but if you are truly lucky, you may have done something to launch someone on the path towards being a better modeler by what you have done.  

Having had the task of judging models at a contest was something I had never considered myself capable of doing.  This task was thrust upon me at a local contest hosted by a hobby shop in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.  I was stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky and had  just assigned there for a very short time before the contest.  Having managed to become acquainted with the proprietors of the two shops that held the contest is what got me drafted for the task.  I was also not a participant in the contest so that sealed the deal and made me a disinterested party.  The judging was of all categories which really made it tough for me as I am not a model car fan but I had to be impartial and accept the fact that I was a judge and not someone with a favorite category/subject.  

I ended up judging some model aircraft of one fellow that later turned into one of my best friends and my judging of his models at the time left him with no trophies or ribbons to take home.  I had no idea that he was to become one of my best friends at the time that I was judging the models contest.  After the contest was over that I saw him picking up his models and I went over to him and talked with him about his work.  I pointed out what caused his models "to not make the grade" and apparently he took that advice and made the best of it in the years following that contest.  I have always felt horrible about how I judged his first attempts at modeling and I still live with this guilt.  Now the good news is that after that contest, his models improved and he became a prize winning builder of many model aircraft and other subjects.  Some of these subjects have been given a historical niche in Fine Scale Modeler, IPMS journal, and local club newsletters.  He has authored several articles in Fine Scale Modeler including one about building the old box scale Revell U-Boat, Matchbox 1/72nd scale Vickers Wellesley, and a 1/48th scale Curtiss Ascender.  He is still a very good friend and one of the best modelers I have ever known.

[nev]

Interesting Leigh.  I had a gander at the entries in the UK nats at the weekend, and was surprised at 2 things

1)  How few entries there were.  Some classes had only 4 or 5 entries.  Even the most popular ones can't have had more than 15 or 20.  And this is for the nationals

2)  The quality.  I went to the comp table expecting to see countless uber-models, but to be frank, a lot of them (most?) weren't.  Whereas out in the display area with the clubs & SIGs I saw a lot of models that were (IMO) much better than those entered in competition.  I even found myself thinking about a few classes "y'know, I could probly do OK if I entered".

Of course, I won't, as I'm too lazy.  And not that good.  But still.