Harry P. Posted August 9, 2011 Posted August 9, 2011 It's like the "new" Little League where they don't keep score. Hey, kids... "you're all winners"...
Jantrix Posted August 9, 2011 Posted August 9, 2011 As defined by who? Great point. No idea. I guess the entrants themselves would have to decide whether they fit the "master builder" mold. And volunteer to compete as such. 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? IMHO, I don't think they (Revell) want this contest as a prestige event. They want this to pull in new builders. Not just add a new trophy to the collections already on walls. Simple as that. Thanks to Drew Hierwarter for chiming in and filling in the big question mark. Photo quality was the big issue. I can see that. As I've seen at work, your average guy doesn't know what a macro function is. I'll be looking forward to next year and may consider entering.
SuperStockAndy Posted August 9, 2011 Posted August 9, 2011 All I know is that if you know you're going to win, you won't really even try.
MikeMc 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'? No poor losers?? Actually in this contest everyone does win as we all build for fun ....DON'T WE.....???
Dr. Cranky Posted August 9, 2011 Posted August 9, 2011 It's like the "new" Little League where they don't keep score. Hey, kids... "you're all winners"... Yes, which is the predicament we are in as a society. If we are all winners, why is 1% of the population holding up all the wealth? LOL!
shucky Posted August 9, 2011 Posted August 9, 2011 Mark, well said. I was nitpicking the contest aspect of it. It was a great PR campaign though. I agree with you 100% as far as the merits of this as a "contest," and disagree 100% at the same time regarding what it represents to the hobby. This isn't the only outlet for people that want a competitive, by the book, rules-based contest. There are all the other regular contests out there for people that want a more comprehensive judging setup. Seeing how it was photo-only it really couldn't be perfect no matter how hard they tried. Without all the models there side-by-side, with the judges able to communicate to each other with the models in front of them, there were built-in limitations 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.
niteowl7710 Posted August 9, 2011 Posted August 9, 2011 I'm sorry but I fail to see the inability to take pictures as making something "unfair". People here and elsewhere spend dozens, if not hundreds of hours per model, and have decades (for us Mid-30's and up members) of building time in, yet aren't willing to spend a few hours figuring out how to use a camera properly. Or for some reason believe their cell phone is a camera. This comes up here constantly and the excuses made are always the same. Frankly I'm sick and tired of people who can wire and plumb an engine, or scratch up major components of their build tell me they can't figure out the basic focus feature of a point and shoot digital camera.
Jantrix Posted August 9, 2011 Posted August 9, 2011 I'm sorry but I fail to see the inability to take pictures as making something "unfair". People here and elsewhere spend dozens, if not hundreds of hours per model, and have decades (for us Mid-30's and up members) of building time in, yet aren't willing to spend a few hours figuring out how to use a camera properly. Or for some reason believe their cell phone is a camera. This comes up here constantly and the excuses made are always the same. Frankly I'm sick and tired of people who can wire and plumb an engine, or scratch up major components of their build tell me they can't figure out the basic focus feature of a point and shoot digital camera. Can I get an "amen" from the congregation, brothers and sisters?
SuperStockAndy Posted August 9, 2011 Posted August 9, 2011 (edited) I'm sorry but I fail to see the inability to take pictures as making something "unfair". People here and elsewhere spend dozens, if not hundreds of hours per model, and have decades (for us Mid-30's and up members) of building time in, yet aren't willing to spend a few hours figuring out how to use a camera properly. Or for some reason believe their cell phone is a camera. This comes up here constantly and the excuses made are always the same. Frankly I'm sick and tired of people who can wire and plumb an engine, or scratch up major components of their build tell me they can't figure out the basic focus feature of a point and shoot digital camera. Ditto! If you're looking for a good, cheap camera, get a Kodak Easyshare. They're 70 bucks at Wal Mart and definitely worth the money. They are VERY easy to figure out! Edited August 9, 2011 by Android
Harry P. Posted August 9, 2011 Posted August 9, 2011 I know this was a PR move to get some Revell product sold, and reflect their current lineup, but even so I wonder how many more kids would have entered if the newest car kit eligible wasn't from 1958. It's not like Revell doesn't have a bunch of kits that would work. I would bet some builders-especially younger ones-would have responded a bit more to being able to use a new Challenger, Vette or Mustang kit from the Revell line-up with modern parts fit, and a more modern subject. From the official rules: TO ENTER: Entrants must log on to www.gearztv.com, www.revell.com or pick up an entry form at your local Revell retailer. Buy one (1) new Revell or Monogram brand Hot Rod model within the Contest Period (January 15, 2011 – May 15, 2011). The list of eligible Hot Rod model kits can be found at www.revell.com or at your local Revell retailer. The entrant must send the receipt to Contest Headquarters... They limited the contest to a list of certain permissible models only. No Challengers, Mustangs or Corvettes allowed.
Dr. Cranky Posted August 9, 2011 Posted August 9, 2011 Receipt? Geez, next time I will make sure EYEGORE reads the rules more closely!
niteowl7710 Posted August 9, 2011 Posted August 9, 2011 From the official rules: They limited the contest to a list of certain permissible models only. No Challengers, Mustangs or Corvettes allowed. I'm sure the 2012 Contest (presuming they follow through with it) will be a completely different automotive genre. Perhaps modern sports cars, perhaps Muscle Cars. Revell has a substantial portfolio of things to choose from to have several years worth of contests without worry of repeating the contest.
Dr. Cranky Posted August 9, 2011 Posted August 9, 2011 I sure hope they gave the judges an honorarium so that they could buy a bit of Tylenol for those impending headaches.
Harry P. Posted August 9, 2011 Posted August 9, 2011 If this contest continues on, I'm sure they'll rethink and rework things as they go along. I agree that having a longer list of allowable kits would probably increase participation. Why not create some separate classes and allow any currently available Revell or Monogram automotive kit?
Dr. Cranky Posted August 9, 2011 Posted August 9, 2011 If this contest continues on, I'm sure they'll rethink and rework things as they go along. I agree that having a longer list of allowable kits would probably increase participation. Why not create some separate classes and allow any currently available Revell or Monogram automotive kit? That would be excellent!
Jantrix Posted August 9, 2011 Posted August 9, 2011 My biggest problem with this was the "receipt" rule. I have 55 kits. At least three of them were on the list and un-started. I really chapped my hide that I had to go buy #56 to participate. I hope that rule goes by-by too. I think I'll e-mail Revell about that now.
Longbox55 Posted August 9, 2011 Posted August 9, 2011 whatever cars the "Gearz" TV show features Gearz covers a little bit of everything, from Smallblock Chevy Powered barstools (Barfly) all the way up to monster trucks (Sgt. Rock). I beleive they went with the hot rod theme partly because the car that was being built at the time (IIRC, the payoff was in shortly after the contest announcement) was the Rat Roaster, a '32 Ford roadster hot rod.
James Flowers Posted August 9, 2011 Posted August 9, 2011 (edited) 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. If I remember correct they did have some contest where you did have to send the model into them to be judged. More than one were open up and found in pieces. Edited August 9, 2011 by James Flowers
Harry P. Posted August 9, 2011 Posted August 9, 2011 My biggest problem with this was the "receipt" rule. I have 55 kits. At least three of them were on the list and un-started. I really chapped my hide that I had to go buy #56 to participate. I hope that rule goes by-by too. I think I'll e-mail Revell about that now. But that was their whole point... in order to enter you have to buy another R/M kit. Their goal wasn't to reward worthy entrants, their goal was publicity and to sell more product.
Harry P. Posted August 9, 2011 Posted August 9, 2011 If I remember correct they did have some contest where you did have to send the model into them to be judged. More than one were open up and found in pieces. Yeah, mail-in contests are a problem, too. If you don't pack your model well, it won't survive the trip. Even if you do pack it well it might not survive the trip... depending on how the box is handled along the way. Then there's the hassle (and expense) to the contest sponsor having to return all the entries. Not a viable contest format, IMO.
Jantrix Posted August 9, 2011 Posted August 9, 2011 But that was their whole point... in order to enter you have to buy another R/M kit. Their goal wasn't to reward worthy entrants, their goal was publicity and to sell more product. I know Harry. That doesn't mean I gotta like it. As someone who probably spent $200 last year on Revell products (not much compared to some), this reeeaaaalllyyy pissed me off. And I just got done telling them so. Politely.
Chuck Most Posted August 9, 2011 Posted August 9, 2011 The funnier part of the story is that AMT or Monogram (who comissioned one of the contests, I forget which one this was) specified how to pack the models in popped popcorn to reduce the chance of damage. They got greasy models sent in buttered popcorn and at least one destroyed completely as it was packed in buckshot-grade un-popped corn. Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?????
BKcustoms Posted August 9, 2011 Posted August 9, 2011 The funnier part of the story is that AMT or Monogram (who comissioned one of the contests, I forget which one this was) specified how to pack the models in popped popcorn to reduce the chance of damage. They got greasy models sent in buttered popcorn and at least one destroyed completely as it was packed in buckshot-grade un-popped corn. Who came up with that idea?
Dr. Cranky Posted August 9, 2011 Posted August 9, 2011 Well, imagine that if the models arrive damaged, then builders have to go out and buy and build more models . . . the more models bought, the more money . . . and so on . . .
Harry P. Posted August 9, 2011 Posted August 9, 2011 I know Harry. That doesn't mean I gotta like it. As someone who probably spent $200 last year on Revell products (not much compared to some), this reeeaaaalllyyy pissed me off. And I just got done telling them so. Politely. Well, good luck with that... but the "have to buy a model to enter" rule is the one rule I think they won't change anytime soon!
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