Harry P.

Which brings us full circle right back to what we were talking about: photo-only contests!

Who was responsible for mailing all of those models back?

Well, good luck with that... but the "have to buy a model to enter" rule is the one rule I think they won't change anytime soon!

Yeah, mail-in contests are a problem, too. If you don't pack your model well, it won't survive the trip. Even if you do pack it well it might not survive the trip... depending on how the box is handled along the way. Then there's the hassle (and expense) to the contest sponsor having to return all the entries. Not a viable contest format, IMO.

But that was their whole point... in order to enter you have to buy another R/M kit. Their goal wasn't to reward worthy entrants, their goal was publicity and to sell more product.

If this contest continues on, I'm sure they'll rethink and rework things as they go along. I agree that having a longer list of allowable kits would probably increase participation. Why not create some separate classes and allow any currently available Revell or Monogram automotive kit?

From the official rules: TO ENTER: Entrants must log on to www.gearztv.com, www.revell.com or pick up an entry form at your local Revell retailer. Buy one (1) new Revell or Monogram brand Hot Rod model within the Contest Period (January 15, 2011 – May 15, 2011). The list of eligible Hot Rod model kits can be found at www.revell.com or at your local Revell retailer. The entrant must send the receipt to Contest Headquarters... They limited the contest to a list of certain permissible models only. No Challengers, Mustangs or Corvettes allowed.

Amen.

I would assume so. Model car builders are notorious cheapskates compared to armor builders. Armor builders will pay for a quality kit, car builders generally complain if a kit costs upwards of 30 bucks! (Not all of them, of course... but the majority). A lot of that stems from the fact that car models used to be aimed at kids, and carried "kid friendly" price tags, while armor kits always have been more expensive and aimed more at adults. So the car model guys remember when kits were just a few bucks, got used to the low prices, and now they expect today's technology at yesterday's prices. The manufacturers know that price is the deciding factor for many car modelers (more important than kit quality or accuracy) and they act accordingly. Armor builders, on the other hand, are used to paying higher prices (and are willing to). So they get accurate kits engineered with the latest molding technology while the "Yikes, that kit costs $30" crowd gets models along the lines of what they've told the manufacturers they're willing to pay.

It's like the "new" Little League where they don't keep score. Hey, kids... "you're all winners"...

Yeah, a whole 'nother can of worms there. A person who's good with Photoshop can make a mediocre model look spectacular. Again, the inherent unfairness of a photo-only contest. There's no way to eliminate the variables.

Photo-only contests can never be made truly "fair" because there's the built-in unfairness of differing photo quality. A great model that is submitted by a lousy photographer has a built-in handicap right from the start. The only way to "fairly" judge the entries is in person, all of them sitting side by side on a table. Of course the element of the judges themselves enters into it, but that's another story. At least the models themselves are all being seen under the same conditions.

I suggest you post your request in the "Wanted" section.

Such as........?

That's the least of it. "Clean and precise building" should be expected in any contest entry. That's the baseline, not the goal.

Why? I could just as well make the opposite argument: if the talent level (or more accurately the winning level) bar was set higher, might that attract more builders who see this as a prestige event? Who see winning this event as a big deal, like the NNL?

As defined by who?

I was just saying "holy stars"...

Ditto to all that. As a PR event you can't beat it, and Revell must be very pleased. Still, I have to wonder how many people who entered this thing fully expecting national level-type competition are left scratching their heads and thinking "huh?"

Holy ****!

Price??? I assume that since they make you ask for a quote, it's not exactly cheap.

Like Mark T. said... it works as a PR event for Revell, which of course is exactly what it was designed to do-raise awareness of the Revell name and sell a few of their kits.

But they had a kid's category. And they had a "novice" and a "skilled" category (don't know who decided who was a novice and who was "skilled"). From the Revell website: The competition was fierce in the first National Model Car Championships, sponsored by Stacey David’s GearZ and Revell. Many proud model builders put their most impressive craftsmanship and attention to detail on the task. So... just some PR talk, then???

So... where do you get a hold of it???

I sure hope that was not the case! That goes against the whole idea of what a "contest" is supposed to be!