How to be competitive at contests.

[Chariots of Fire]

One thing that I have seen a lot of is poor weathering.  If done properly it can make an otherwise ordinary model stand out way beyond the others.  But so many models have been poorly weathered or rusted in all the wrong places.  I've seen models covered with "real mud" as if that were something special.  Put that in scale and that "real mud" would be rocks the size of your fist!  If you are going to weather a model study how weathering takes place and where it shows up the most.  Rocker panels on older cars rust out.  The middle of the hood or top usually does not but would be well faded paint.  To be done good enough to catch a judge's eye weathering and rusting has to be SUTTLE!  Yeah, I know that's not the way it's spelled but you get my drift!

[peteski]

Good point about weathering. Here are few examples of it done right (not my models but I took the photos):

 

 

[Tom Geiger]

One thing that I have seen a lot of is poor weathering.  If done properly it can make an otherwise ordinary model stand out way beyond the others.  But so many models have been poorly weathered or rusted in all the wrong places. 

Don't get me started!      There are guys who think you take an old model a kid built, smear a bit of mud and rust colored paint on it (with very visible brush strokes) and  "Look everyone!  I built a beater!"   Um no, don't smear the rust colored paint on the never painted interior... nor the tires... 

[Ace-Garageguy]

Don't get me started!      There are guys who think you take an old model a kid built, smear a bit of mud and rust colored paint on it (with very visible brush strokes) and  "Look everyone!  I built a beater!"   Um no, don't smear the rust colored paint on the never painted interior... nor the tires... 

Yeah, lotsa those "pro-built weathered" works of art on the popular auction site...

[TarheelRick]

I think what really bugs me most about weathering is those people who will rust out fiberglass panels.  I remember a very well weathered 56 Chevrolet Cameo, with the rear fenderwells rusted out.  The Cameo had fiberglass sides on a stepside box.  I have never tried weathering, I do not have the eye for the subtly of the color variations, but I am going to try it one of these days. 

[Chariots of Fire]

Pete's photos above are great examples of good weathering.  I talked at length with the guy who did those at Classic Plastic a couple of weeks back.  They are outstanding.  If you notice a lot of his chrome parts are still shiney.  That is the way it should be!

[Tom Geiger]

I think what really bugs me most about weathering is those people who will rust out fiberglass panels.  I remember a very well weathered 56 Chevrolet Cameo, with the rear fenderwells rusted out.  The Cameo had fiberglass sides on a stepside box.  I have never tried weathering, I do not have the eye for the subtly of the color variations, but I am going to try it one of these days. 

The very first tip I give people who want to build a junker is to know their subject.  You need to know what materials the different areas of the vehicles are made from.  You need to know the typical rust areas on that specific vehicle.  You need to know how that vehicle will bend if you choose to wreck it. For instance if you dent a fender, the aluminum trim  doesn't stay tight against the body!  And if you remove panels, like a fender... you need to know what is behind that and create that detail.

It's much easier to research these days with Google Images and eBay.  I sometimes troll eBay just looking to save images of junkers for sale.  

There are many more poorly done junkers / beaters than well done ones.  In fact what you see as "pro built" on eBay are often $5 old poorly built up models quickly smeared with a bit of mud and rust colored paint. I chuckle at the ones who try to qualify their work as including "Real Mud!"  That's some opportunist looking to turn a profit.  Those actually give the art a bad name.   And nothing drives me nutz more than when one of those poorly done monstrosities appears on the board and everyone praises it!

Edited November 4, 2017 by Tom Geiger

[Perspect Scale Modelworks]

Lots of good info. One thing not really covered is wheels. Does it matter if the wheels roll or are glued in place? 

On the subject of weathering, it bugs me to see rusted hulks with new looking tires. I haven't built a beater yet but I think sanding off the tread and maybe a little heat to make the tires look deflated would look more realistic on a rust bucket. 

[Tom Geiger]

Lots of good info. One thing not really covered is wheels. Does it matter if the wheels roll or are glued in place? 

That's opening up the can of worms!  Entire heated threads on that subject.  Personally I glue mine in place. I don't need gravity sending them tumbling to the floor.

[MrObsessive]

Lots of good info. One thing not really covered is wheels. Does it matter if the wheels roll or are glued in place?

Good models SHOULD NOT roll!

ALL the models I build have the wheels glued in place because as Tom said, "gravity" happens when you least expect it!

I also have cats, and cats LOVE things that roll! Of course, most of of my models are in cases, but I don't like them rolling around even in a display case.

[Ace-Garageguy]

I just got back from the ACME Southeastern Nats. Man, every year, the bar gets a little higher.

My advice to anyone who wants to be "competitive" is to look very closely at what the best of the other guys are doing, and try to figure out ways to top it.

You have to be brutally honest when you critique your own work, 'cause the level the big kids are playing at these days is no-compromise, no BS, spot-on, damm-near-perfect.

The best of my work is just barely good enough to not get laughed off the tables. 

Is that a disappointment? Jell no...just inspiration to work harder, get better.

At the level of workmanship and finish I saw today, you can be damm sure nobody is getting trophies for just "trying".

So don't slap something together in 10 or 20 hours and go to a contest expecting to bring home hardware. 

It's not going to happen.

Edited November 4, 2017 by Ace-Garageguy

[Tom Geiger]

I just got back from the ACME Southeastern Nats. Man, every year, the bar gets a little higher.

My advice to anyone who wants to be "competitive" is to look very closely at what the best of the other guys are doing, and try to figure out ways to top it.

You have to be brutally honest when you critique your own work, 'cause the level the big kids are playing at these days is no-compromise, no BS, spot-on, damm-near-perfect.

The best of my work is just barely good enough to not get laughed off the tables. 

Is that a disappointment? Jell no...just inspiration to work harder, get better.

At the level of workmanship and finish I saw today, you can be damm sure nobody is getting trophies for just "trying".

So don't slap something together in 10 or 20 hours and go to a contest expecting to bring home hardware. 

It's not going to happen.

Amen. The cutting edge moves each and every year.   

When I was a kid living in Germany, I lived the hobby through Model Car Science Magazine.  My dream was to go to a model car show, and build a model that would win a trophy.  Thirty years ago I got back in to this hobby (easy to remember since it was right after my younger daughter was born) and went to my very first model car show.  I was hooked and started building towards winning that trophy.  With all the encouragement and help from my new club, it took me two full years to even place.  Eventually I got to the point that I could win my class, but no further.   Thirty years later those models wouldn't even place!  Builders have gotten better, found new techniques and materials and the cutting edge keeps on moving.  

My own personal goal was made and I had achieved the realism and detail I wanted on my models.  I stopped chasing the golden ring!   Today I build for myself and the few odd people who hear the same voices in our heads.  I'm content when the model on the table matches the idea in my head.  I'm happy to share it on the boards and with my friends. I will enter contests, but with the idea that I'm participating and supporting the show.  If I actually win something it's a big surprise and a total bonus!

My advise?  Build each model like it's practice for the next one.  Continue to gain skills and build better models, but don't let winning be your only goal. If you do, you are in for a lot of disappointment.  If you don't want to learn to use a lathe or pound bodies from brass, don't!  If it's not fun, it's not worth doing. This is a hobby.

Today I go to shows for fun.  I still display models to support the event.  I'm more there to see people I know and have a nice day.  We all go to lunch.  I'm very good at lunch.

[Jantrix]

Tom, Bill, great advice. Thanks for chiming in. Much appreciated.

[Jantrix]

I went to find this today because I'm thinking of rewriting it into an article for a fledgling modeling publication that may or may not even happen. But better to be prepared. So I thought I'd give it a bump. ?

[StevenGuthmiller]

Just another thought on this subject.

 

An unusual subject, can at the very least, grab a lot of initial attention at a show.

By "unusual" I don't mean a gasser version of the 26 other Revell '57 Ford Del Rio wagons present.

I mean something that is really not seen every day, like an unusual or rare vintage or resin kit.

I've been bringing a lot of vintage stuff to the shows that I have been attending for the past several years, not because it's some nefarious scheme to win awards, but just because that's what I like to build, and regardless of whether they win anything or not, they always seem to get a lot of attention.

People like to see something that they either have never seen before, or haven't seen in many years.

 

 

 

Steve

[peteski]

3 hours ago, StevenGuthmiller said:

Just another thought on this subject.

 

An unusual subject, can at the very least, grab a lot of initial attention at a show.

By "unusual" I don't mean a gasser version of the 26 other Revell '57 Ford Del Rio wagons present.

I mean something that is really not seen every day, like an unusual or rare vintage or resin kit.

I've been bringing a lot of vintage stuff to the shows that I have been attending for the past several years, not because it's some nefarious scheme to win awards, but just because that's what I like to build, and regardless of whether they win anything or not, they always seem to get a lot of attention.

People like to see something that they either have never seen before, or haven't seen in many years.

Steve

I look for the same thing at the 1:1 scale car shows.

I  turn my nose at all the '57 Chevys, or '60s Corvettes or Novas, but I'll be all over some rare vintage Porsche, Goggomobile, Amphicar, or even a Pacer or Gremlin.  Hopefully factory stock (I  prefer those). Heck, I would drool over even some mid '70s Merc Monarch, or Ford Granada.  When was the last time you seen one of those preserved?  Then of course the brass-era cars are always a treat too. Even my own 1985 Caddy Eldorado Biarritz, is often the only one like that at a car show.

I agree that the same might apply to model car shows/contests.

[Richard Bartrop]

3 hours ago, StevenGuthmiller said:

People like to see something that they either have never seen before, or haven't seen in many years.

You got that right.  I once brought a Boer War vintage armoured steam tractor model to an armour show.  I didn't win anything, but I did have a lot of interesting conversations that afternoon.

[peteski]

3 minutes ago, Richard Bartrop said:

You got that right.  I once brought a Boer War vintage armoured steam tractor model to an armour show.  I didn't win anything, but I did have a lot of interesting conversations that afternoon.

And that to me is even better than winning a trophy.

[Richard Bartrop]

13 minutes ago, peteski said:

And that to me is even better than winning a trophy.

I'm in total agreement there.

[moparfarmer]

I used to put my 70 GTX in World of Wheels..The promoter at that time said brightly colored cars and must have eye appeal..Dark colors with black interiors don't do it..Good paint is a must and I again mention clean..In models you must have a flawless build even if you are putting it on the table..You can detail the BLAH_BLAH_BLAH_BLAH out of it but if it doesn't get the eye(nice paint or something different) people won't look at it..I build box stock and I've been lucky to have made a magazine a few times..Its got to be eye catching to be seen..Cleanliness is the main thing..If box stock,leave the hood closed..When you take pictures of cars at shows(real and models) you like to see WHOLE cars, not one with hood up..but if you've detailed under hood and hood is displayed nicely it works..If you show car with hood on make sure it matches the body..Little things like that..Steering wheels straight and wheels all touching ground..Cleanliness again is the major thing to make sure..

[Roadrunner]

On 11/4/2017 at 4:47 PM, Ace-Garageguy said:

I just got back from the ACME Southeastern Nats. Man, every year, the bar gets a little higher.

Any photos to show examples of what you're referring to?

[OldNYJim]

33 minutes ago, Roadrunner said:

Any photos to show examples of what you're referring to?

If the bar was high at that show in 2017, it’s probably even higher now ??

[OldNYJim]

On a related note, I wondered from those who judge shows how much the “someone did that last year” factor is considered.  
 

Say, a nice red 57 Chevy won last year’s show - is it maybe prudent not to bring another red 57 Chevy?  I’d bet there’s plenty of originality and variety at most shows anyway, but I was curious if that was ever a consideration, even if maybe not intentionally, by the judges?

[Roadrunner]

1 minute ago, CabDriver said:

If the bar was high at that show in 2017, it’s probably even higher now ??

I hadn't realized it was sort of a zombie thread, so thanks for that. I'd still like to see some photos of what people tend to think is extraordinary work though. Perhaps I'll start a new thread on that very subject.

[OldNYJim]

Just now, Roadrunner said:

I hadn't realized it was sort of a zombie thread, so thanks for that. I'd still like to see some photos of what people tend to think is extraordinary work though. Perhaps I'll start a new thread on that very subject.

Great idea!  I’d be very interested to see a bunch of bar-raising contest winners!