Contest judging questions.

[Petetrucker07]

I had a few builds at a show recently. This show I was given the score cards at the end of the show. I was docked for the hoods being closed. So I given a score of 0 for the engine.

My questions is..

1. At a show, do I display the build with the hood open or closed?

2. Do the judges open hoods and doors if they are closed?

3. Do the judges handle the build at all?

Thanks to all who answer.

[High octane]

1. Open

2. No

3. In some contest they do, and in others they don't. Sometimes there's a question on your entry form asking permission for the

judges to do this or not.

[Jantrix]

Wow. This is a surprise to me. In every contest I've participated in the model is judged on what is presented on the table. If the hood is closed it is judged the same as a model with hood open and with a mirrored base.

1. I do both. For some models the engine is less important than how the model looks with it closed. TV and movie cars for instance.

2. They should not.

3. Some do, some don't. However in my experience, most do not. IPMS contests for instance do not want to touch the model at all, but a local contest I go to, states they will be doing a white glove pick up of most models that might be in the running for an award.

These are great questions and do not be afraid to ask the club running it, the same ones.

[Snake45]

I hope this post isn't considered too off-topic.

20 or 25 years ago, I was quite involved in contests of various sorts, and won my share of ribbons, plaques, and trophies. But I discovered that I was "building for the contest," and that less and less, that involved building what I wanted to build, the way I wanted to build it, and when I wanted to build it.

Today I build entirely and completely for myself*, and if anyone else happens to appreciate my work, that's fine, and if they don't, that's also fine.

I don't know how many times I've posted this on various model boards: "This is a HOBBY. It is supposed to be FUN. If you are having FUN, you are doing it the right way. If you aren't having FUN, it's time to ask yourself why."

*Except on the rare occasion when someone actually pays me to build a model to their specifications.

[Mike_G]

I think it's great that you got the judging sheets- I wish more contests did that.

[High octane]

I agree with you Snake as I too build for MYSELF, and I do have fun doing it.

[tbill]

to me, I think it's best to display the model with the hood/doors whatever closed at first, when it looks like the judges are making the rounds, open everything up that opens. usually the judges will walk around looking at all the models before actual judging begins.

I figure if all is closed etc. during the casual observation, they get a look at it in one 'light', then when the judging begins, they see it in another 'light' with everything open and showing.

I could be completely wrong, but it seems to be what I have noticed at the shows I have been to.

[Snake45]

I agree with you Snake as I too build for MYSELF, and I do have fun doing it.

I believe you. I've seen your stuff.

[Petetrucker07]

Don't get me wrong or read too much in to these questions. I build for myself, if someone likes it, cool, if not, fine. I'm new to seriously showing off my stuff at contests and stuff. I was just puzzled a bit at the comments of, "no engine detail", "cannot see engine". Now that I know I should have the build opened up completely when they go to judge it. I like Tom's idea of first let it sit closed up, then open in it up.

[LoneWolf15]

Simply remove the hood and set it next to your model . If you had your model in the street machine class , for example , you were actually presenting a curbside , rather than a street machine per se . Detail under the hood of your fellow contestants models kicked your butt ....