SHOWS TIPS

[bigblock10]

can anyof you tell me if you were to make a car for a show/contest, would you make the doors open or not? i would like to go to a show sometime "never been" Embarassed so i dont realy know what people do. also what are some other good tips that stand out. that will halp/hurt you in a show? thank you guys for all the help. just new to all this but i love it so far

DEREK

[Deano]

I'm gonna answer you with a question ... Do YOU want opening doors on that particular model? Don't do something because "it will help win a contest;" it probably won't. Do something because YOU want to and if it turns out right, enter it! Who knows, you might take home some hardware.

Before you ask, yes, I enter contests; mostly to have fun and meet folks and learn things. "Winning" is not a priority for me though I do have a modest collection of hardware to show for my efforts.

Dean

can anyof you tell me if you were to make a car for a show/contest, would you make the doors open or not? i would like to go to a show sometime "never been" Embarassed so i dont realy know what people do. also what are some other good tips that stand out. that will halp/hurt you in a show? thank you guys for all the help. just new to all this but i love it so far

DEREK

[Len Woodruff]

can anyof you tell me if you were to make a car for a show/contest, would you make the doors open or not? i would like to go to a show sometime "never been" Embarassed so i dont realy know what people do. also what are some other good tips that stand out. that will halp/hurt you in a show? thank you guys for all the help. just new to all this but i love it so far

DEREK

Derek first and formost is the quality of the build. Unless you are at the Bill Geary level of model building forget opening anything. I have judged many shows over the years it is the "quality" of the build in the areas of

Fit (no sprues or parting lines), Finish (glass smooth paint, no glue marks, no trash in the paint) that makes a quality contest model.

Build a box stock (exactly as the kit instructions tell you) and learn the fit & finish before tackling more complcated build procedures.

Here is one of my recent models:

[crispy]

Derek,

Build for yourself, you'll find it so much more fulfilling.

Never be embarrassed to bring any of your models to a show. It's a perfect time to learn, ask and mingle. Most of the builders I have talked too at shows are always willing to share and help improve your build, but you gotta ask and be willing to listen.

If you are building strictly for a show, sorry, I can't help. I build what I like how I like and go to the show to have fun. Anything that becomes of the show is purely coincidental. Trophies only take up more room which could be used to shelve more unbuilt kits.

Chris

[MrObsessive]

Opening doors for a contest model is not a prerequisite Derek. I've seen cars win that didn't have any working features on them at all!

If you've ever been to the premier contest in the country-----which is the GSLMCC held in Salt Lake City, Utah..................there were many cars that have won that didn't have any working features on them.

I've been a judge in the past, and I can tell you the first thing I look at when judging a contest model is the paint. The roof is the first thing I notice since that's the closest thing to my eye. So you want your paint job to be top notch! No runs, drips, paint blobs, dusties or other such things.

Clean assembly is also very important! You want to fill in and get rid of any mold lines, seams, sink marks, etc. Also, I've taken points off for something as innocent as an epoxy smear on glass-----so clean assembly is paramount!

You can have all the bells and whistles in the world, but if the paint job looks like ###### and has indifferent assembly-------trust me, you'll lose to someone who doesn't have a single working feature on his/ her car.

[bigblock10]

First i must say that this forum rocks!!!! thnaks for all the help guys , i just didnt want to go to a show and have it look like poop, i think i best bet is to go to some shows and look and talk with people. winning is not everything to me i just didnt want to look a newb.. witch i am :oops: thanks for all help

DEREK

[bob paeth]

Bill Geary is right in his thoughts. I have probably judged more models in my life than anyone, somewhere in the neighborhhod of 15,000. I, too, never build to win. All that leads to is frustration. Complicated model building comes with experience. Box stock is the way to start. After you are satisfied with the results, try something new on the next model. Like it has been said before, neatness is the most important aspect of model building. Most contests have different classes. Box stock is the easiest class to build for because assembly and paint are the paramount things to achieve. With more experience you will then be able to compete in the more extensive classes such as "custom" or "scratch-built". Don't take on the "big boys" with the opening doors and chopped tops yet. This type of building will come to you, you just have to be patient. Compete with others with your type of experince. Remember we were all, at one time, without a clue on building the "ultimate model". Above all, enjoy what you are doing, this is a MUST. I have been working plastic since 1949 and before that with rubber and wood. I still have the enthusiasm that started it all.

Bob :shock:

[Len Woodruff]

Bill Geary is right in his thoughts. I have probably judged more models in my life than anyone, somewhere in the neighborhhod of 15,000. I, too, never build to win. All that leads to is frustration. Complicated model building comes with experience. Box stock is the way to start. After you are satisfied with the results, try something new on the next model. Like it has been said before, neatness is the most important aspect of model building. Most contests have different classes. Box stock is the easiest class to build for because assembly and paint are the paramount things to achieve. With more experience you will then be able to compete in the more extensive classes such as "custom" or "scratch-built". Don't take on the "big boys" with the opening doors and chopped tops yet. This type of building will come to you, you just have to be patient. Compete with others with your type of experince. Remember we were all, at one time, without a clue on building the "ultimate model". Above all, enjoy what you are doing, this is a MUST. I have been working plastic since 1949 and before that with rubber and wood. I still have the enthusiasm that started it all.

Bob :shock:

Bob is correct about box stock. It took me several years to master box stock but I finally broke through when I switched to lacquer from an air brush. I still build at least 1 box stock car each year just to remind myself what the basics are.