Contest tomorrow. Wish me luck!

[Mofo]

'Cause I'm a judge.

It's a show run by the armour club, which has traditionally done AMPS style, open judging (judge each entry individually, deducting points for faults). Last year they opened it up to all military subjects, so we aircraft guys got to learn the ropes. It's more work as a judge, but arguably better for the participants, so I kind of enjoyed it. Rather than breaking things down by detail (OOB, Intermediate, Detailed), it's broken down by skill level (basic, intermediate, advanced). Which makes things a little trickier.

They've changed it up again this year. Now, the advanced categories will be judged with an IPMS style "Olympic" style - 1st, 2nd, 3rd (or G/S/B).

All four categories of advanced: Single prop, multi prop, jets, helos.

No splitting.

Not for scale, not for detail, not for era, or air force, or... anything. There are only twelve medals to award, total.

Based on my experience last year, that's going to be a loooooot of models competing against each other. An OOB 1/144 Gee Bee vs. a superdetailed 1/24 Messerschmitt. A 1/48 B-1 up against a 1/72 Sabre.

I'm... kind of terrified. I mean, I'm sure it'll all be fine on the day, but geez, I can see the judging process really, *really* sucking.

[kyrre]

Sounds like a mess if you ask me.

I don't see the point in having so few medals. Lots of medals, lots of awards, everybody's happy, everybody loves their hobby. And the judges. Few awards and people stop playing.

[ww2nut]

Uh...that sounds like a mess to me too. I had to read your post three times just to understand what they are doing. Nothing like judging a category with 50+ models in it. Good luck!

Joe

[Mofo]

Fortunately there wasn't a *massive* turnout. (probably under 50 planes, total) The biggest category in Advanced may have had ten entries. And I *know* some people competed in Intermediate as a protest. But as it grows... yeah, it needs to change.

The ironic thing is, with the open system, EVERYTHING gets a medal (in fact, in one category, every entry got a gold, though that was extremely questionable, IMO). If you're in intermediate but not good enough to medal, you get bumped down to basic, and given a medal.

Yet, for the advanced categories, it's completely the opposite. There could be 100 single engine props, but only three medals.

Anyway... pics later today, after I process them.

[craig]

I'm heading south for our Nationals, and the South Island clubs tend to favour the AMPS style judging vs up here where the IPMS style is favoured. I'll be both judge and contestant (obviously not judge of my own entries), but I dread the AMPS style simply because of how long it takes. I like to get out and experience the environment and locality, not spend 12 hours at a small table judging entries.