Trophies, plaques and medals/ribbons

[Nacho Z]

Thanks for all of the great responses.  The reason I asked the question is that I have been very fortunate in that I have built a model, (that I call my Mona Lisa, meaning that it is probably the best model I will ever build...lol), that has done very well in contests.  I have collected a nice array of trophies and plaques.  I have them displayed in my living room and I must admit, I get a big smile when I look at them.  Problem is, the model has made the rounds and I now have to think about how long I'm going to leave all the hardware in the living room.  At some point in time, probably sooner than later, I need to do something with them.  I already have a box of plaques and medals in the basement.  Plaques and medals are fairly easy to store but I'm not sure what to do with the trophies.  There are some very nice trophies and I hate to think of throwing them in a box and sticking them in a storage unit to never be seen again, more or less.

[Tom Geiger]

I've never entered a model contest in my life. Never will.

And that's a shame!  You've shown some of your models here on the board and I'm sure people would be interested in seeing them in person. Nowadays most of us bring out our models to shows mainly to share our work and converse with our friends.  I have no focus on winning anything and am surprised when I do.  

NNL events are specifically for this purpose.  Think of it as a model car cruise night.  At NNL East there are around 2000 models and 6 awards. There is no cost to display models so people bring a lot of them!  And it's fun to see everyone's work.  In fact one of the metrics we watch is the percentage of people who display vs just attend, and one of our goals is to get that number up!   

[Nacho Z]

Along the same lines of what Tom just said, I routinely bring and enter models in the shows I attend knowing full well that they do not have a snowballs chance of even placing.  I do it to help the club with entry fees and to have a few more models on the table.  Maybe it won't place but maybe someone will enjoy seeing it.  Maybe it will be the vehicle, (pun intended), to strike up a conversation with another modeler.

[Harry P.]

And that's a shame!  You've shown some of your models here on the board and I'm sure people would be interested in seeing them in person.

Maybe so. But I have zero interest in competing against other people in an effort to find out whose model is "better" than the other. The whole thing just makes no sense to me. I build models because I enjoy the process, not in an effort to "beat" someone else. So yeah, I post my models here, and hope people enjoy looking at them. But as far as competing against other builders... I have no interest in that whatsoever.

[vamach1]

I have some plaques and trophies in the garage with other car show trophies and the ribbons in display cases with models.  I'm not sure what to do with the IMPS coins though.

[Tom Geiger]

Maybe so. But I have zero interest in competing against other people in an effort to find out whose model is "better" than the other. 

Me either!  I bring my models to shows to display them.  I meet guys I know both in person and from the message boards who recognize my models and it starts conversations. If the shows had a "No Compete" table, I'd happily put my models there.  

My other problem with shows and finding out whose model is "better" is that there are no national judging standards, apprenticeship of judges etc.  It's just subjective and somebody's opinion.  Sometimes tainted opinions.  Sometimes "hey we're a judge short Tom.  Wanna judge with us?"   Um, no. 

[High octane]

Actually, what is better than winning plaques, ribbons or trophies is getting your model pictured in a magazine .   I've been lucky in that respect several times over the years.   

Yes Richard as I've said that before and I have to agree with you. Having a photo of one's build in a model magazine is the cat's meow.

[Tom Geiger]

Yes Richard as I've said that before and I have to agree with you. Having a photo of one's build in a model magazine is the cat's meow.

Agreed!   Anyone see my models lately?

[High octane]

I entered two models once, and I doubt I'll do it again.  On the other hand, I do have a "K stock" class winner trophy from Irwindale Raceway I won back in 1967, around here somewhere.

I'm with you James, as I have a box full of model car contest trophies in the crawl space, but I'm sorry I threw out my drag racing trophies from the 60's. I did come across the window stickers they handed out along with the trophies though. Sort of like the "kill" markings they put on fighter planes during the war.

[Harry Joy]

I have friends who really tend to dominate in shows, and a few who really do well every year at the IPMS Nationals. The latter group tend to display their trophies and plaques prominently. My best friend is rather humble, and doesn't make a big deal out of his wins, but he keeps a hobby room, which has a few on the wall. I, on the other hand, have won precisely two awards before, both at local shows. I couldn't tell you what I did with the plaques. I think I tossed them.

I have a couple of awards for feats outside modeling, and I have kept those awards (one for film-making, the other ones professional or political*), but I do not display them. They are in a box in a closet.

* I am an honorary member of the Lieutenant Governor's staff in the State of TN. And the certificate has no expiration date!

[Exotics_Builder]

I have most boxed up.  Never unpacked when we moved out here.  I mainly go to shows to support a club, either the host or my club's participation.  The biggest kick I get is people looking over what I've done and commenting or me doing the same.  You meet a lot of nice people at contests or NNL's.  Getting a photo of your model in a magazine is really great.  One of mine actually made it in Street Rodder back in the late 90's.  That was very cool.

Winning an award is nice, but getting ideas, learning tips and techniques and conversing with fellow modelers is the big reason for attendance. 

 

[Agent G]

When I retired (the first time) I took all the trinkets, geegaws and doodads accumulated during my career and put them in a shadow box. Most mean nothing to the casual observer. They are a constant reminder to me that "I survived". 

I also consider them fondly as mementos of a time when men were iron, ships were wood and Jesus was a watch commander in District 3.  

G

[afx]

I store mine on the head of a pin.

[blunc]

I store mine on the head of a pin.

so...how many do have...on your "pin head"...?   

[Belugawrx]

I got this one for "Most boneheaded move" in 2014

Thank You 

[unclescott58]

For years I've MCed for a show for the 1:1 stuff. And I'm amazed by the behavior of certain people who did not win a trophy, but felt they should. The questions and sometimes incriminations. It's not pretty. And the show is done by public voting! I just don't understand this, and never have. By the way, most of the winners at the show are okay folks. And I love MCing the trophy presentation. At the same time, I've had little to interest in winning a trophy or any other award for myself. And I don't know why?

Then again, I am also not a great model builder. I do not enter many contests because I'm aware of it. But, I love building and owning models. And again, trophies and other awards really don't turn me on. I did win one second place ribbon for one model one time about twenty years ago. I think the ribbon maybe in the same box as the model is. I'm not 100% sure on that. That's how much I care.

[Nacho Z]

There have been some great replies to this.  My intention was not so much if you care about winning trophies, etc., but what you do with the ones you have won.  You all may get a chuckle out of this.  I was talking with my wife one night about my box of plaques in the basement and what I was going to do with the ones currently on display.  I asked my wife, who likes to do fun sewing projects, if she had any fabric left over that I could use to wrap up each plaque so that they don't get scratched.  That weekend I went out of town and when I came back she had made a dozen or so little "pockets" to put the plaques in.  She even made different sizes for the different sized plaques.  (I love that woman!!).  I dubbed them Plaque Pockets...lol.

[High octane]

For years I've MCed for a show for the 1:1 stuff. And I'm amazed by the behavior of certain people who did not win a trophy, but felt they should. The questions and sometimes incriminations. It's not pretty. And the show is done by public voting! I just don't understand this, and never have. By the way, most of the winners at the show are okay folks. And I love MCing the trophy presentation. At the same time, I've had little to interest in winning a trophy or any other award for myself. And I don't know why?

Then again, I am also not a great model builder. I do not enter many contests because I'm aware of it. But, I love building and owning models. And again, trophies and other awards really don't turn me on. I did win one second place ribbon for one model one time about twenty years ago. I think the ribbon maybe in the same box as the model is. I'm not 100% sure on that. That's how much I care.

There are some 1:1 car owners who have "drivers" and they expect to win at a lot of car shows. We'll they can either enjoy their car, or they can dump 30-40-50-grand into it and have a consistent show winner. Of course for about 2 -$300 a person can buy a whole boxful of trophies to display around their car.

[majel]

When we moved from Arizona to California last year all of my built models, most of the un-built models, the model case, and all the plaques had to stay in our house in Arizona due to downsizing.  Prior to moving the plaques all got boxed up.  Entered one contest since I've been here and that trophy is in the closet.