82 replies to this topic

[Fat Brian]

The 3d printing thread took an interesting turn when it was opined that contest judges should take into account if a certain build has 3d printed parts and make deductions from said model if another build is of equal quality and impact but scrtach built. My question is, is it standard judging practice to favor scratchbuilding over purchased aftermarket parts? If three models are of equal quality and one has scratch built parts, one has aftermarket resin parts, and one is 3d printed does the scratchbuilt car win simply because it was scratchbuilt? What if the 3d printed model was designed by the builder who is showing it, is their creativity worth less than the builder who did the work by hand?

[Harry P.]

There's no single answer to that, only opinions as to how it "should" be.

Every contest is different. Different rules, different judges. No way you can have a "one size fits all" answer.

[lanesteele240]

Just build to have fun. Dont worry about winning.

[Harry P.]

Just build to have fun. Dont worry about winning.

Now there's a man who I agree with.

[Fat Brian]

I'm not worried about winning, trying to build for shows ruins the fun for me, I just wanted to know what the general rule is. I can inderstand not valuing a purchased resin kit as much as a scratch build but designing the kit in 3d still takes a good deal of skill and it's a shame that it may not be valued appropriately.

[Harry P.]

There is no "general" rule.

[peter31a]

I think it's too soon to ask that question as contest judges probably haven't run up against that problem yet. My gut feeling is that the physically scratch built part would take precedence unless the builder could prove he actually designed the parts that were 3d printed....... I dunno really.....

[kataranga]

To myself and my club, when we're judging our show it depends more on how the final product than what went into it. Contestant A built a stock kit and made it beautiful while Contestant B used resin parts, photo-etch, 3D printed parts, etc etc but the final product looks crappy. It doesn't matter that Contestant B spent all the extra time and money to utilize all those extra bits if the end results is poor.

[LoneWolf15]

Regardless of the originality of the part , it's all going to come down to the execution on the build . My guess would be that the 3D part would carry more weight at an IPMS show as long as it was properly documented .

As Harry stated , it's going to vary , contest to contest .

[Futurabat]

My two pennies are thus- I don't believe that any points should be given for the parts turned out by a three D printer any more than points should be given for the kit that was factory made. The points go to the work itself, not the kit. Then of course you get into the argument over "but I worked hard to make the artwork that made the part". As Harry said- no set answer only opinions about grey areas.

[moparmagiclives]

A printed part should be no different then a resin part.
A judge should be able to tell a cobbled pile of aftermarket parts, vs a well thought out and executed build that may include scratch built parts.

[Futurabat]

A printed part should be no different then a resin part.
A judge should be able to tell a cobbled pile of aftermarket parts, vs a well thought out and executed build that may include scratch built parts.

That's even better! What he said! ^

[Danno]

There's no single answer to that, only opinions as to how it "should" be.

Every contest is different. Different rules, different judges. No way you can have a "one size fits all" answer.

Amen.

There is no "general" rule.

True dat.

[Danno]

Regardless of the originality of the part , it's all going to come down to the execution on the build .


As Harry stated , it's going to vary , contest to contest .

First part ~ Amen!

Second part ~ true.

IPMS? Who cares? Unless you have the correct number of 3D printed rivets.

[LoneWolf15]

That's even better! What he said! ^

Exactly ! But as anyone that competes in shows will testify to ........ should and will are often on different planets ! Lol !

[Lunajammer]

If three models are of equal quality and one has scratch built parts, one has aftermarket resin parts, and one is 3d printed does the scratchbuilt car win simply because it was scratchbuilt? What if the 3d printed model was designed by the builder who is showing it, is their creativity worth less than the builder who did the work by hand?

Any judged event is subjective, whether it's dogs, cars, models, quilts or ??? Make all the rules you want, but a human element influences a judge's ruling regardless of how impartial he tries to be and all things being equal, I think a judge is more likely to respect the most human effort if it's identical to a mechanical effort.

[Steven Zimmerman]

I agree with Don Yost. End result is all that the judge should 'judge'. Period.

[tubbs]

Just build to have fun. Dont worry about winning.

this is true if you build something and put it on your shelf. There are tons of people who build for shows and are out to win and that is the fun of it for them. i felt the same way about photo etched parts and resin stuff for a while. i felt that there should be a class for plastic only. anything goes, just has to be styrene. scratch building and modifications to these pieces allowed. just no "aftermarket" pieces. kind of a modified box stock, if you know what i mean.

[plowboy]

To myself and my club, when we're judging our show it depends more on how the final product than what went into it. Contestant A built a stock kit and made it beautiful while Contestant B used resin parts, photo-etch, 3D printed parts, etc etc but the final product looks crappy. It doesn't matter that Contestant B spent all the extra time and money to utilize all those extra bits if the end results is poor.

Agree totally. I entered a contest back in '09 with a build I had done in '00. When I set mine down on the table, I figured at best that I would possibly get a third place and probably not even place. There were a couple of models that were detailed to the hilt and had opening doors and tons of aftermarket parts,photo etch etc. The only problem I really saw on them were the paint jobs. They both had quite a bit of orange peel and a couple of glue and paint mishaps,but nothing too bad really My model is pretty highly detailed,but not much aftermarket stuff and no photo etch at all. I did open the trunk up,but left the doors closed. The paint on mine is slick as glass,but not what I would call perfect. When my name wasn't called for third place, I knew that I hadn't even placed. But, to my surprise, it got called for first place! The two that I thought would get first and second, didn't place at all. That was the only time I ever won a contest that I honestly didn't feel like I deserved it. I guess when it all boiled down, it came to the quality of the paint and not the amount of detail.

[Harry P.]

I guess when it all boiled down, it came to the quality of the paint and not the amount of detail.

Really, what it all boils down to is the quality of the judging.