Harry P. Posted August 9, 2011 Posted August 9, 2011 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.
Dr. Cranky Posted August 9, 2011 Posted August 9, 2011 Of course, if they don't funnel some of the profits into higher production quality and better kits, I don't think it's going to matter much either way . . .
MikeMc Posted August 9, 2011 Posted August 9, 2011 For the first time....looks like it went smooth. I'm sure that they will fine tune the classes and the particulars. I would love to hear the real story from Drew...I suspect they had a hard time with the deadlines and PR needs from Revell. To all the moaners.....Step up to the bar, and sponsor your own contest...I think a big THANKS is due to Revell and Stacy!!
mcandela Posted August 9, 2011 Posted August 9, 2011 (edited) We still have to give some credit to Revell & Stacy, I mean they put model cars on TV again. Last time I saw model cars on TV was on ESPN's NHRA Today. (at least 15 years ago) Steve Evans, (RIP) went to the monogram plant and gave us a tour. Baby steps, but at least it's something. Edited August 9, 2011 by mcandela
Dr. Cranky Posted August 9, 2011 Posted August 9, 2011 We still have to give some credit to Revell & Stacy, I mean they put model cars on TV again. Last time I saw model cars on TV was on ESPN's NHRA Today. (at least 15 years ago) Steve Evans, (RIP) went to the monogram plant and gave us a tour. Baby steps, but at least it's something. Ditto!
shucky Posted August 9, 2011 Posted August 9, 2011 I'm sure it was hard to pick winners. Not because of the photos or so many wonderful builds but because they had to pick the best of the average? Lol ... Great they sold some models and got some exposure for the hobby but that is only half the story here. I'm glad I didn't enter as I had a feeling this was going to happen. They should fire the panel of "modeling authority" they used for advice.
Harry P. Posted August 9, 2011 Posted August 9, 2011 As a promotional effort? I have to give them an A-plus just for trying it. Anything that draws positive attention to the hobby is a good thing, and while this may not be the be-all/end-all as far as contests go, it certainly got more air time and general-public awareness than any IPMS or local hobby shop/club contest could. Using the guise of a contest, Revell got a HUGE amount of commercial air time for the cost of a few prizes. In light of the business climate right now I can't blame them one bit, and it was a real marketing win for them which can't be a bad thing for the hobby overall. 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?"
Jantrix Posted August 9, 2011 Posted August 9, 2011 I guess one way to look at it is that there are plenty of serious contests for people to enter, and it would probably be a bad PR move if people that entered this year saw a bar so high that they didn't bother trying next year. Some of the builds are really nice, so it's not like all the good builds got shunned...yet looking at a lot of the winners I'm sure that many people who entered this year are thinking "I can do better than that" and planning to enter again. Obviously it must have done what the organizers wanted since there's mention of next year's contest on the site already. I think you've nailed it right there Mark. If the bar is raised to NNL/IPMS Best of Show levels, they will see participation drop off tremendously. Maybe add a "masters" class?
Jantrix Posted August 9, 2011 Posted August 9, 2011 nothing flashy and shiny to make your eyes glaze over but just clean and precise building from what I see, you know the type of work that is ignored here. Boy this is another subject altogether but what you have to realize is that "clean and precise building" is the norm here, moreso than any other forum on the web. If everyone drove around in Ferrari's why would yours catch anyones attention? This isn't an attack, just an observation.
Harry P. Posted August 9, 2011 Posted August 9, 2011 If the bar is raised to NNL/IPMS Best of Show levels, they will see participation drop off tremendously. 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?
Harry P. Posted August 9, 2011 Posted August 9, 2011 I know what's wrong with all those winning kits, nothing flashy and shiny to make your eyes glaze over but just clean and precise building from what I see... That's the least of it. "Clean and precise building" should be expected in any contest entry. That's the baseline, not the goal.
2002p51 Posted August 9, 2011 Posted August 9, 2011 Let me just say that the winners were, indeed, the best of what was entered, and the quality of the photography, or rather the lack thereof, was a major factor in the outcome. It is difficult enough to judge the quality of a model from just photographs. If those photographs are not the absolute best and if they don't really show what the judges need to see then you have severely hurt your chances.
2002p51 Posted August 9, 2011 Posted August 9, 2011 I would love to hear the real story from Drew...I suspect they had a hard time with the deadlines and PR needs from Revell. Tell you what, here's my e-mail address: dhierwarter@yahoo.com I will answer any questions and tell any of you whatever you'd like to know.
Harry P. Posted August 9, 2011 Posted August 9, 2011 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.
Dr. Cranky Posted August 9, 2011 Posted August 9, 2011 I agree, Harry, but it's going to be the only feasible way of doing it. I can't imagine having a contest where you send in the model, and then they keep it, etc . . . Or, actually, now that it sounds like the pictures will win the day, I can see a few people going to a professional photographer to get the best glamour pictures take of their models . . .
Scale-Master Posted August 9, 2011 Posted August 9, 2011 Obviously the lack of photography skills can hurt an entrants chances of winning, even with a great model. But careful composition of photos can hide flaws that would be seen in person. Then there is Photoshop...
Dr. Cranky Posted August 9, 2011 Posted August 9, 2011 Obviously the lack of photography skills can hurt an entrants chances of winning, even with a great model. But careful composition of photos can hide flaws that would be seen in person. Then there is Photoshop... Ah, the plot thickens . . . yes, Photoshop . . .
Harry P. Posted August 9, 2011 Posted August 9, 2011 Obviously the lack of photography skills can hurt an entrants chances of winning, even with a great model. But careful composition of photos can hide flaws that would be seen in person. Then there is Photoshop... 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.
Dr. Cranky Posted August 9, 2011 Posted August 9, 2011 If they get to rethink all these issues, they might come to agree that a good way of doing it is having a few judges during the year attend the big shows like the NNL EAST, etc, and judge the models straight from the tables, OR, come up with a shipping container that is model-safe (and which they send out to each participant) and they get to receive and judge the model in person . . .
BKcustoms Posted August 9, 2011 Posted August 9, 2011 I also entered this just for fun in the junior skilled class and got beat by the green 32.
scalenut Posted August 9, 2011 Posted August 9, 2011 I got honorable mention,, in the stock/paint category ... it's my first car model in 18 years so that may have been a factor. I'm starting on my 3rd model now ..lol... I'm a much better builder these days thanks to places like MCM
SuperStockAndy Posted August 9, 2011 Posted August 9, 2011 Billy and Andy, very nice models you got there. How did you get that shine on the Merc? Please tell
SuperStockAndy Posted August 9, 2011 Posted August 9, 2011 There can be categories for "Most Shiniest", "Most Aftermarket Parts Used", "Best Hazzard", the "Tetanus Award", and on & on. I think everyone who enters can have their own category. That way , everyone is a winner. Good idea, but I don't really agree with the last part. When I was in Cub Scouts, they had Pinewood derby races. Everybody got a trophy, even if it was just an unpainted block of wood on wheels. So then, you don't have to try hard to get a trophy.
SuperStockAndy Posted August 9, 2011 Posted August 9, 2011 Andy - that was meant as a tongue-in-cheek comment - as what's the point of even having a contest if everyone 'wins'? Oh. Kind of a "doh" moment, I guess?
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