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Automotive Categories for National Convention ??


arkie

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Hi All,

Just a couple of comments and questions.

First of all, having served as the national head judge for the automotive classes in the past I wish I had been informed of the committee that was giving input to the national contest committee. Too late now I

assume. And since I don't spend a lot of time on the IPMS national site (retired and busy modeling) I only have myself to blame for not being informed.

Now a query. What in the world is "Automotive technology and culture" as a category??? Haven't seen

anything that would explain its "rules or specifications", maybe I just missed that too but it sounds rather "self serving" for someone or some group.

My other comment asks why are some of the scales lumped together? 43rd competing with 32nd !

That's like an aircraft category judging 72nd scale against 48th scale kits...apples and oranges! Obviously I build a lot of 43rd scale stuff so that's a little self serving also but it still does not seem appropriate.

Additional comments would be welcome.

Arkie... IPMS/USA 3687

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Arkie,

 

I was one of the people on the "steering committee"; basically we made recommendations that the NCC reviewed - they may have tweaked some details but I think they adopted everything we proposed. Lots of people worked on this and I don't want to pretend to speak for anyone, so I'll leave it up to Dick Christ and the NCC to have an official position.

 

The 2 all-new categories - Documented Replica and Automotive Technology and Culture are described on the 2013 Nats "Rules" page, items 11 and 12. I've excerpted those sections below. As to combining 1:43 and 1:32, that wasn't a change; 1:32 has been the dividing line for "small scale" for at least a while (that was the way the categories were set up at the 2012 Nats in Orlando and as long as I remember).

 

Don Schmitz

 

 

 

11. Automotive - Documented Replicas. This category is for models built as a precise replica of a specific real-world vehicle. The competitor must also display documentation to authenticate the actual vehicle upon which the model is based (can include photographs, copies of brochures, magazine articles, etc -- materials should be collected in a standard 3-ring binder or file folder, for judges’ review). Evaluation of the model may include the completeness of the documentation and how well the model agrees with the information presented. As usual, the builder’s basic construction skills will still be the primary judging criteria. Adding more documentation will not make a poorly built model compete better than a less-documented better-built model.

12. Automotive Technology and Culture. This category is for models of automotive subjects that do not meet the definitions or requirements of the more specific auto categories. It can include: automotive toys, such as pedal cars; caricature or cartoon vehicles; small motorized vehicles not intended for on-road use and not derived from road-capable vehicles (go-karts, mini-bikes, quad-runners, powered skateboards, etc); ‘slammer-style’ models (models of a complete vehicle with painted-over windows and no interior or mechanical components); stand-alone engines or other mechanical components; cut-away/engineering models meant to show the internal construction / operation of an automobile or part of an automobile; wrecked or ‘junk’ vehicles that are no longer complete or drivable (e.g. driveline and/or body panels have been visibly removed); bicycles.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Hi Don,

Thanks for your response and for noting the class "specifications". That clearfies a lot.

I know that 32nd and smaller has been the cut off for scale in the auto categories. What I'm

saying is that 43rd needs it's own category if there are sufficient entries, in other words a "split:.

It is, as I mentioned in my previous post, like judging 72nd scale aircraft against 48th scale as most

32nd kits may lend themselves to extensive additions and modifications (such as detailed engines

and / or interiors and perhaps opening panels) that simply cannot be done on a resin 43rd scale kit.

I do realize that there are 43rd scale kits available that do have some of those features but they

are not the norm and are seldom seen.

No "sour grapes" just attempting to make a point.

Arkie

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  • 4 weeks later...

Would Documented Replica's include movie cars?

 

I think Automotive Technology and Culture is an excellent idea. I have always though that trying to compete in an automotive class with a 1/8 scale flathead engine or a Weird-Oh caricature kits was very difficult.

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Automotive Documented Replicas.....looks good in theory......but.

Ring binders containing proof of provenance may take up more space than the models on the tables.

e.g. A 1/24th scale car model takes up about half the space of one 3 ring binder,

Also...how would the tables look dominated by ring folders with models looking lost between them?

Should judges really have to wade through loads of folders? Are they not chosen because of their expertise at this level? Competitors will give extra infomation about their models on their entry cards to highlight extra work done for the judges anyway.

Having judged at UK Scale Modelworld I am not sure whether what is being proposed would really be workable, as having to check folders for authenticity, as well inspect each model will take a lot of extra time. Also, some judges may be put off by having to look at folders as well as the models, and decline.

This is just a personal view, looking at it from a judges perspective.

I can empathise with what is trying to be achieved, but feel it needs to be thought through a bit more.

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