Wonderfest 2002"How-To" Demos - John Lester's Model Contest and Judging Seminar

Wonderfest 2002 "How-To Demos"

Model Contests and Judging

June 25, 2002

Presented by John Lester,

Email: onezero@aol.com

Website: http://www.starshipmodeler.com/

1. Basics

·      How is the alignment of your model's parts - Is everything square? Perpendicular and/or parallel? (How do the vertical tails, wings, landing gear, pylons, and nacelles look?)

·      Are seams, pits, voids and other molding and/or casting flaws that may exist on your model cleaned up? (Did you do a good job, so your putty or filler, gaps and holes can't be detected?)

·      Has the surface of your model been prepared? (Have possible scratches and/or dings been cleaned up?)

·      Are you model's clear parts actually clear?

2. Finish

·      Has your paint been smoothly applied? (Make sure your model has no over or underspray, no orange peal or "boulders" in it).

·      Make sure your paint finish has not been contaminated - (i.e., there are no thumbprints, dust, cat or dog hair, stains, nor anything else that doesn't belong in it.)

·      Is the weathering on your model appropriate and properly executed?

3. Decals

·      Are they correctly applied? (Make sure there is no silvering, bubbles, nor stains with and on them.)

4. Accuracy

·      In general, with sci-fi vehicular models, it is often difficult to determine if a model is actually "accurate." In addition, it's often the case that those judging these types of models won't know if a built up model of this type is actually accurate.

·      You should still make sure that there are no obvious flaws on your model?

5. Presentation

·      Does your model have a base? How is it displayed?

·      The quality of the base shouldn't be less than the quality of the model.

·      Mirrors for bases are helpful to show details underneath the model.

·      Use figures to give a sense of scale.

·      It's helpful to provide a context to put the model in, (i.e., show it in its environment doing it's thing, if possible).

6. Things You Can Do To Better Your Prospects of Winning Something

·      Pay attention to Basics, pay attention to Basics, pay attention to Basics, and pay attention to Basics.

·      Use a non-traditional display; (don't plot the model on the table).

·      Write up a description of all the work that went into the model.

·      Add detail.

·      Display in context (see above).

·      And, pay attention to Basics, pay attention to Basics, pay attention to Basics, pay attention to Basics!

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