Reference has been made to some comments I made in Model boats magazine on Judging of the ME Exhibition Kit Class back in 1995. Rather than clog up that Topic I have reproduced them here for easy access!
Colin
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Last year a number of people wrote in to “Mailboat” commenting upon various aspects of the judging of the Kit Class. Views seemed to be fairly evenly divided. One correspondent felt that more awards should be made and that the best entry should more or less automatically be given a Gold Medal to encourage entrants, while others felt that this could risk devaluing the competition. The pros and cons were summed up very well by Sandy Cousins in the February issue. One of the more recent contributors commented that it would be useful to have the judges’ viewpoint as well.
These annual reports on the judging of the competition classes are intended to do just that and over the last ten years I have used them to comment upon the award winners in detail and upon the judging process in general. Of course there is the problem that newcomers to the hobby will be unaware of points made perhaps two or three years back so, with the Editor’s permission, I am happy to reiterate some of the main guidelines we use in the competition.
First and foremost I would stress once again that we are talking about the International Model Show and the Model Engineer Exhibition. Despite the change of name to more accurately reflect its content, the operative words are “Show” and “Exhibition”. The emphasis is primarily upon providing a showcase for the very best in all forms of modelling and model engineering. The competition aspect, although an important part of the show, is not its main purpose. Having your work on display at the ME (as I shall continue to call it for short) is something most modellers aspire to and, although there are no minimum entry standards, very few people will want to leave themselves open to ridicule by submitting something really awful to the public gaze and this tends to ensure that a certain minimum standard of competency is maintained although there are the occasional exceptions.
Every entrant is given a certificate of acceptance as a memento of the competition. So, simply putting your model on display may be regarded as an end in itself. If you can win an award too, well that is a nice bonus! Anyone taking that attitude will never be disappointed. Whether you win something in the competition or not, your work will have been appreciated by the public and may well have inspired someone to have a go themselves thus further promoting our hobby to the world at large.
Everyone likes a competition however, it adds spice to the show. Like all things, if it is worth doing, then it is worth doing well. I regard the Marine Kit class as a particularly important section of the competition since not only does it attract one of the largest entries of the whole exhibition, it also provides a unique incentive to begin marine modelling. Most boat modellers start with a kit and here you can see the best there is on offer all made up to the highest standards. If something takes your fancy and you still have some Christmas money left over, you can buy your own kit at one of the exhibition stands there and then or alternatively mail order it from the adverts in this magazine. With most of the other classes you can only sigh in admiration at the craftmanship but kits are different, with only moderate skills you too can turn out a piece of work you can be really proud of. Of course kits do not have the same standing as the scratch built classes but just because you are not in the first division doesn’t mean you cannot enjoy the game. And as your modelling skills improve you will almost certainly move up the rankings into the higher divisions yourself.
All competitions are different. By that I mean that the rules of entry, class definitions and judging practice vary from event to event which is generally a good thing as it promotes variety. Compared with the MPBA for example the ME definition of a marine kit is a very wide one. In fact “Kit Class” is a bit of a misnomer, “Models with a predominantly commercial content” might be more accurate. In truth it can be difficult to define what constitutes a kit these days. The traditional “everything in one box” offering is alive and well but has been supplemented by a vast range of do it yourself kits whereby the hull and major mouldings may come from one manufacturer, the running gear from another and the fittings from a third, fourth and even fifth. At the ME this has posed the question of how you judge all these models together and shouldn’t there be a separate class for boxed kits. In fact I have never found this to be too much of a problem as I shall explain in a moment. If the class gets too big and has to be divided I feel that it would be more appropriate to distinguish between the sailing prototypes and the rest which mainly, but not exclusively, comprise power driven models or static models of power driven prototypes.
Because of the high commercial content of kit models they cannot be judged to exactly the same rules as their scratch built counterparts. Much of the research and work has already been done by the manufacturer although the amount remaining to be done by the modeller can vary extensively from kit to kit must be recognised in the judging process. It is therefore necessary to recognise the extra enhancement that the builder can bring to the model and this lies mainly in general appearance, standard of assembly and workmanship and, probably most important of all, standard of finish.
The quality and variety of marine kits has never been higher and there is something for everyone. Given a reasonable amount of care it is difficult to turn out a duff model so how do you put in that bit extra that will raise it above the average and put it into contention for an award?
The first thing we look at when judging is “Effect” ( max 25% of total marks). In the scratch built classes this is called “Realism” but some kits, particularly the traditional sailing type, are intended to be ornamental as well. Brass or silver plated fittings on builders models as seen in museums are not realistic but this does not detract from the workmanship or appearance of the model since this is how the modelmaker intended it to look and is a traditional practice. When judging therefore, we stand well back and assess the overall impression of the model. Does it look right, has it achieved what the builder intended? This may sound a bit subjective but it is no different to artistic impression for ice skating for example, and with experience is not difficult to mark.
Next we look at “Complexity” (max 15%). This recognises the amount of work that goes into the model. A planked hull will gain more marks than a glassfibre or plastic one. Complex rigging on sailing models or the need to show both the inside and outside of hulls of open boats also counts for a lot. However, the modeller of a modern tug or work vessel may offset the readymade hull with a variety of working features. A warship may have been extensively converted to another vessel of the same or similar class or perhaps the same ship shown at a different period. It is an inescapable consequence that very simple models with minimal work content will score low under this heading.
The next heading is “Detail and Workmanship” (max 25%). Here we look at the quality of work and assembly. Neatness is all under this category. We do not expect to see traces of glue, misaligned fittings or unsightly gaps. Since most of the fittings will have been supplied by the manufacturer we expect them to be faultlessly assembled and placed on the model.
Closely associated with workmanship is “Finish” (max 25%) and here is an opportunity for the kit maker to compete on equal terms with the scratchbuilder. In the kit class it is what usually separates the men from the boys and enables a “straight from the box” kit to successfully compete with a modified example. We are looking for perfection in this category. Uneven paint lines, poorly executed weathering, inappropriately glossy surfaces or overbright colours (except on some modern vessels) will all lose marks.
The last two categories are “Research/Presentation” and “Judges’ Bonus”. (5% each). In the first marks are awarded for evidence of research where appropriate, for example where modifications have been made or rigging alterations made. Marks may also be given for good presentation such as mounting the model on a well crafted stand or in a case where this enhances the display. Judges’ Bonuses are only awarded in exceptional circumstances, recognising special merit not covered by the other categories. In recent years the unusual Gold medal winning Titanic diorama received a bonus for the imaginative way in which the subject was conceived and executed, while a working submarine was displayed with the internal machinery and electronics on view together with an excellent and educational description for the benefit of the viewing public as well as the judges.
Models in the ME are judged to a standard rather than against each other. This is perhaps fortunate as far as the Kit Class is concerned. Recent years have seen a general levelling up of standards with a large group of models falling within the Bronze Medal/Very Highly Commended range and this year proved to be no exception. Being able to make awards to all models that deserve them is much easier than having to agonise over choosing the best three. This is not to say that we are soft however! Gaining a Gold Medal requires something very special indeed and in some years there are no entries which achieve the required standard. Simply to award a Gold to the model with the highest marks, as one contributor has suggested, would, we feel, detract from the value of the award, be unfair to past winners and introduce an element of inconsistency into the competition.
