Contest models that got skunked - show 'em!

[Jantrix]

Most everyone who does contests has that a model or models that they have brought faithfully to contests because they felt it was good enough to compete, but it always get skunked. And with me, I've just never figured out why this particular model gets overlooked time and again.

So now I'm gonna post it up and ask you guys to pick it apart. Be brutally honest on what you think could have been done better. I invite anyone who has a similar situation join in and get it judged here. Give us a paragraph on what was done to it and how it looks and post up some pics.

This is my Stephen King themed '73 Cougar. It is one of my favorite builds because it just looks so sinister. I had a great time with it.

It's basically the stock kit, with the big 427. The intake was modified into a dual quad. Wheel and tire change. Lowered in the front for an aggressive rake. Custom grill. Lambo seats and some darn near flawless satin paint. The vinyl top was sanded off until not a bit was visible. There is no trace of it, and black would show it if there was. Detailed and weathered engine. It usually gets entered in the Street Machine class where it competes with a lot of shinys, but I have beaten shinys before.

Okay guys, what could have been done better?

[Bowtienutz]

Rob that's a good looking car however I would probably walk past it as displayed or blew past it had you not put a this topic to your post. I've judged many contest in my day. I really dig what you did to the car and see what all the effort you you put into it especially in the engine compartment with the rework of the front header and the cleaning up the fenders and firewall. What kills n the car is the flat statin paint paint and the headlight screen along with the wheel choice. It mad max ish. Here is a suggestion, go the "what if" route what if mercury built a eliminator that year, grabber blue, modified stripes, hideaway headlamps, satin black black hood, you get the idea. Add some wire looms to the spark plug wires. When displaying any model at a show presentation is everything you got to grab the attention of people. Do what you have to do or can get away with to do so. Display stands, mirrors, printed our materials with a description of your mods. P

[CJ1971]

You know I kinda like it, just as Bowtie said, it's kinda Mad-Max-ish. However there's some things that you've over-looked, or rather, not paid enough attention to, such as the engine bay-fender-firewall gaps. Realistically no 1:1 has fender-firewall gaps. To me the wheels are too small, very stock-ish for that big brutish car. Maybe some bigger diameter wheels ( 18s ) with some thick tyres & instead of lowering it, jack it up in the rear.. A'la Stephen King '70s style. Maybe Dog-dishes & kept flat/Matt black, leave out the red-walls. The windows... They appear to have quite a few scratches, ( hard to see as I only have use of an iPhone ), but having a nice, clean scratch free windshield/rear window is a necessity. Speaking of glass, you've painted the indicators ( front ) flat black. Instead you should've gone with a smoke/clear black.... Give the appearance of darkness without completely blacking them out. One last thing... I'd add a hood scoop... They add "brute" scare tactics.... Hood scoop = big powerful motor ;-) For display purposes you can take the hood off or have it open?

Sorry forgot to say something about the flat black paint job. As cool as they are & Matt/flat paint jobs or "wraps" are all the rage lately, as far as level of complexity for models, they're not too hard to accomplish. It's probably what make's them cool & fun to replicate. Sometimes "judges" go for the "WOW" factor, well being honest, they'd go for the wow factor everytime, because layered/2-3-4 toned paint schemes are much harder & complex to achieve & if they're done right, they really have that "wow" factor. Those kinda paint jobs will always grab attention away from a Matt/flat coloured paint job. Maybe there should be seperate colour categories?? Shiny, Matt/Flat??? Just a thought....

I've not entered a contest in more than 8yrs, first & only time it was at that, mainly because there's no scene where I live or even remotely close. Doesn't bother me at all because its just a hobby to me but here's a pic or 2 of my Merc SL65 Black Edition. Matt black. It's bone stock except for the tyres. I used a different set & painted the sidewall lettering white as I wanted to give it that '70s Muscle car "look" with a modern take.... Well it is a modern muscle car ;-)

Cheers Cliff

Edited June 16, 2013 by CJ1971

[Chris White]

I haven't entered any contest "yet", and I am not expecting to win anything "yet". I would be honored to too loose to that quality of a build. And that says allot, because, I personally am not a fan of the cougar. This one is build well. I would have like to see what you lost too, if this didn't win ???????????

[cobraman]

I don't see anything to pick apart Rob. Maybe nothing wrong with your build but rather there was stiff competition ?

[DumpyDan]

Looks good to me, I enter contests and some win some place and some show. I like listening to the comments people make on my models. And Chris I am expecting to see you enter in the contest in Toronto in Sept.

[Chris White]

Looks good to me, I enter contests and some win some place and some show. I like listening to the comments people make on my models. And Chris I am expecting to see you enter in the contest in Toronto in Sept.

I got a few to choose from, on the bench. I am still at the "yet" stage

[1930fordpickup]

Rob I think it is the front of this car . The head lights are covered and you see now marker lights or turn signals . I like the rest of it .

I would like to see the front bumper tucked in 2 mm or so. Put some thin red pinstripes(same as the wheels) along the body line from front to back and on the hood along the bulge line .The grill needs something , red color or some flash of silver. These are just my likes and not your likes .

[Danno]

I second what Vince and Cliff posted.

Plus, there's a funny thing about monochromatic schemes. When done well on a 1:1, they look tuff or sinister. But on a model, they always look 'lazy.' What I mean by that is ...

Full sized cars and trucks usually have chrome parts that we all recognize. When a 1:1 builder removes the chrome and paints the parts to match the vehicle (monochromatic scheme) it is obvious that's what the builder was trying to achieve.

Model kits come with window trim and door handles and wipers, etc., molded in.

A model builder must apply paint or BMF to "chrome" them to make them look like the 1:1.

But way too many modelers are too lazy to make the effort, and display their models with the trim pieces untreated, in body color.

Then when someone comes along and presents a model that was deliberately built to represent a monochromatic scheme, like yours, viewers see just another incomplete model with untreated chrome pieces and assume the builder was too lazy to make the effort.

Contest judges look at it the same way. If there's no documentation with the model to indicate the monochromatic scheme was the goal, judges are left to wonder if that was the desired effect, or just another incomplete, half-baked model by a lazy builder.

It leaves the judges with the same impression a model with out-of-the-box chrome grilles (no wash to replicate open areas) and chrome wheels or hubcaps (no wash or detail painting to replicate the 3-dimensional appearance). The impression of just-plain-ordinary incomplete modeling.

[DrKerry]

Well as a judge myself I don't see anything wrong with it at all. However when I judge I first look for what I call the "Gotcha Factor" if it jumps out at me it's gonna get my attention. I pick out detail as well, like what you have in the engine bay. I'll also go by subject matter, if it's been scratchbuilt or not.

A lot of what you encountered with this build could of been the fact it didn't appeal to the judges so it got overlooked. The judges may have been into , say NASCAR and don't like the look of it and passed it by. I think a lot of times that happens and "some" cars don't get judged for what they are!!!

[Ira]

Contests are not an exact science and the best models don't always win.

You can't really take it personally, it comes down to the judges decision on that day, another day would probably yeild another decision. Build for yourself, if you are Happy that's all that counts.

Your model looks Great, maybe it will win next time...

Edited June 16, 2013 by Ira

[Jantrix]

Thanks very much to everyone who replied. I appreciate your opinions.

The reason this is important is that I'm planning another flat black build, this time a traditional hot rod, and I want to make sure I don't repeat the mistakes.

[Eric N.]

As others have stated-no WOW factor. But the only "real" probs. I see are the sink marks in the front bumper. And the top of the pass. fender.

A hood scoop would help-My .02. I have built a satin paint car also and placed. (but not much) With satin paint you MUST do extra detailing everywere else

to get noticed. Also I think it helps where you plase the car on the table. Don't place it in the "back" And use a mirrored base-If you can.

But as far as a contest goes... Don't go "looking for a award" Go to have a good time and hang out with like minded folks.Also my .02 I don't meen to say that

you go out exspecting to place I'm just sayin. I just got back from Hartland and I saw a very well done car that did not place.(I say it sould have got 1st.)

The car was placed in the back up aginst the wall-Maybe that hurt it. -Maybe I didn't see some big flaws.Who knows. Good luck!

Eric

[johnz]

i like it.the only thing i can say that i would have done diferent , is smaller scale expanded metal and fit the rims just a little deeper in the tires.somtimes its just the competition is that much better.i put 4 street rods that i spent months on in this years gsl,got my ass handed to me by john teresi and greg nichols and they deserverd it,they are just that much better.two of the nicest guys you'd ever meet by the way.it didn't dimish my feelings for my own builds or change the way i build i do it for fun.

[JM485]

The main build I am always surprised gets little to no attention is my 1/16 General Lee. I have a ton of work into it and I figured it would be a real hit at the shows, but at NNL West it pretty much went unnoticed. I worked a lot at converting it back into a stock Charger like the real Duke's car, but I think my inexperience at scratch building held me back. I had never attempted anything like it and it was a valuable learning experience. It is still one of my favorite cars I have built, but for whatever reason nobody sees what I see in it.

[Eshaver]

Normally, I have a rule about posting my diorama stuff here anymore . I'll break it this time . I placed SECOND , not once but twice by the same Skeleton / automobile - fantasy graveyard , not once but twice . The winning diorama was shown in the most recent Model cars magazine Contest Issue . Heck, as to what I could have done to make it better, truth be told , I dunno.......

[Danno]

Josh,

You said the most important thing to remember: It's one of your favorite builds. So enjoy it. Build for yourself, not for "the audience."

A part of the problem with your model not getting the attention you think it deserves may be the subject matter. A model should stand out from the crowd in order to get attention. Frankly, the General Lee has been done way beyond death. They all look alike. "Just another General Lee." Even if yours is the only General Lee at today's contest, it still looks just like all the others people have seen over the years. Even if yours is the best ever, it's still just another General Lee at first glance.

I build a lot of police car models. The same thing happens with them. EVERYBODY builds California Highway Patrol cars. The manufacturers always kit police cars with CHP decals. All the prefinished kits are or include CHP versions. Go to any contest where there are police car models and there will always be some if not all or most CHP cars. They've been done to death, too. Most audiences looking at a black & white police car model will assume it's CHP without actually looking closer. So, to stand out from that crowd and to get your police car model noticed, you have to build something OTHER than a CHP version.

[Jantrix]

As others have stated-no WOW factor. But the only "real" probs. I see are the sink marks in the front bumper.

Holy cow Eric. I have looked at this build a zillion times and some how, the sink marks never got noticed. Sometimes it takes another pair of eyes I guess. I know in most contests mold lines, ejector marks, sink marks and flash are automatic "no-goes". If any of the other things that folks pointed out weren't there, this would still make the judges pass it by. Thanks very much for the honest critiques everyone.

I do build for me and I build what I like. But I do also build with contests in mind when it comes to quality or uniqueness of the work. A lot of the styling cues you guys pointed out, I did on purpose because I liked it. The red lip on the rims, the lack of hood scoop, the painted over directionals. I wanted an evil, sinister look and I think I accomplished that in spades. I just sort of assumed that others would see the intent of the styling.

Steve, I can't imagine that getting passed by, you must have been competing with some of the best.

John Z, I can imagine getting smoked by John T. As nice a guy as he is, you almost hate to see him show up because you know it's now a fight for second place. He's that good. I have competed against builders like that, so I feel for ya.

Ed, the only thing that pops out at me on your dio is that it looks like nothing I have ever seen. It's that different. So without a frame of reference on how something like that should look most judges will go with a familiar setting if the work is more or less equal.

Thanks again everyone.

[1930fordpickup]

Steve, having Gene Winfield pick up your car and look it over is better than any prize.

[Eshaver]

Steve, having Gene Winfield pick up your car and look it over is better than any prize.

Yes, Mr. Winfield knows I'm one of his most ardent fans . A lady I do freelance writing for passes messages between us . One of these days' I hope to meet with him. Did you know he's completely "Self Taught " ?

[1930fordpickup]

Yes, Mr. Winfield knows I'm one of his most ardent fans . A lady I do freelance writing for passes messages between us . One of these days' I hope to meet with him. Did you know he's completely "Self Taught " ?

I have heard that from a very lovely lady at his both . I have talked to him a few times at shows . A great guy , just wonder if he has a book out yet? Better yet Ed write the movie script.

[JM485]

Josh,

You said the most important thing to remember: It's one of your favorite builds. So enjoy it. Build for yourself, not for "the audience."

A part of the problem with your model not getting the attention you think it deserves may be the subject matter. A model should stand out from the crowd in order to get attention. Frankly, the General Lee has been done way beyond death. They all look alike. "Just another General Lee." Even if yours is the only General Lee at today's contest, it still looks just like all the others people have seen over the years. Even if yours is the best ever, it's still just another General Lee at first glance.

I build a lot of police car models. The same thing happens with them. EVERYBODY builds California Highway Patrol cars. The manufacturers always kit police cars with CHP decals. All the prefinished kits are or include CHP versions. Go to any contest where there are police car models and there will always be some if not all or most CHP cars. They've been done to death, too. Most audiences looking at a black & white police car model will assume it's CHP without actually looking closer. So, to stand out from that crowd and to get your police car model noticed, you have to build something OTHER than a CHP version.

Those are good points Danno. Either way, I will keep on bringing it with me because I really like to display it. Always important to remember, build for yourself, not others.

[IHSS]

I wasn't expecting an award or anything. But with how much work I put into the conversion I thought it might get noticed, but it was like it wasn't even on the table.

Edited June 16, 2013 by IHSS

[Lownslow]

[Tom Geiger]

Everything said about judging in this thread is pretty much valid. The big problem overall is that we don't have an international or national oversight for judging standards and qualifying judges. So every show does it their way, from struggling to have the best most knowledgeable judges who strive to get it right, down to shows where the awards are won by their club members or judging is done by unqualified people who just 'pick their favorites'. I've seen shows that didn't have judges up front and were frantically chasing participants to help judge. Not a model for fairness and consistency!

Back when competing was important to me in the 1980s, I noticed that I was competing against the same people in the shows I attended. The very same models would place in a different order at the different shows. I'd win first, second and third against the same vehicles. I got to thinking we might just put them all in a paper sack and pull them out in random order for the awards.

Then as times change, tastes and attitudes do also. I built the below '59 Chevy convertible back when this kit first came out in the mid 1980s as part of my club's same kit contest. Junkers hadn't come of age just yet. I built the car to compete in the Factory Stock class. I made sure everything on the car was from the factory, just worn past the end of it's life. I even made sure the hubcap in the trunk was stock for that car. Well the 1980s wasn't ready for this car and it never placed at a show! Most shows would pull it out of the class and put it in the Misc class to compete with motorcycles and tanks. I'd argue my point and read their own rules to them., Then they'd say something like, "Well what we really meant was..." So I put the car on my shelf and forgot about it.

Ten years later a buddy and I were going up to Masscar. He asked what I was bringing and I told him I didn't have anything recent to compete with. He reminded me of the old Chevy on my shelf and suggested I just bring it along to participate. I agreed and was surprised when it won Best Interior. The next show it won Best Chevrolet and it placed at every show after that even winning Best Replica Stock at Mama's! I guess the car came of age ten years later!

On the other hand the 'Cutting Edge' advances every year. The vehicles I won with in the 1980s are no longer competitive in today's contests. And I'm fine with that. Today I build to satisfy the voices in my head. If I can get that image in my mind out in 3D on the bench in front of me, I'm a happy camper!

Edited June 17, 2013 by Tom Geiger