IPMS Australia

Competition Rules

Effective as of April 2004

Herewith for the information of members are the current rules that are applicable to IPMS Australia competitions.

Future proposed amendments will be notified to members, fully discussed and voted upon at a general monthly meeting prior to adoption.

GENERAL COMPETITION RULES

1)    All models entered in IPMS Australia competitions must consist substantially of plastic material, including resin, unless otherwise specified ( Figures excepted).

2)    All models, unless otherwise stated, must be based on a plastic kit or combination of kits. The degree of extra work is up to the builder unless entering an Out-of-Box or Enhanced category.

3)    Any number of models may be entered in a single class or category by one member.

4a) All entries must be accompanied by the kit instruction sheet and any authenticating references.

  b) Models created by imagination must have accompanying notes stating the purpose or reason for the model.

Failure to comply with 4a) or b) will result in loss of points.

5)    A model may only be entered in a single class or category; it may not form part of a second class or category in the same competition.

6)    The model, other than a Diorama or Vignette, may be exhibited on a small base provided that a minimum of scenic work is depicted and no additional model is placed on the base, eg. a section of runway, grass, concrete, water or deck is acceptable. External stores pertinent to the model may be placed on the base. Figures are permitted but will neither gain nor lose points. If, in the opinion of the Chief Judge, the base is too extensive then the model may be placed in the Diorama or Vignette category or disqualified.

7)    A model entered in the Monthly Competition is eligible for the End of Year Competition regardless of its placing in the monthly competition.

8)    A model which has gained a place in an End of Year Competition is ineligible for entry in any subsequent  End of Year Competition, but may still enter a subsequent Monthly Competition, providing it has not been entered in a previous Monthly Competition.

9)    The IPMS Committee will appoint a Chief Judge for the End of Year and Monthly Competitions. In the event of a dispute regarding these rules and their interpretation, the decision of the Chief Judge shall be final.

10) Junior. Any member under 17 on the 1^st of January of the year of the competition.

11) A member must be financial to be eligible to enter an IPMS Australia competition.

MONTHLY COMPETITION

  and

MODELLER OF THE YEAR

The Modeller of the Year award is won by the member achieving the highest aggregate score, within the rules, for models entered in the Monthly Competition during one calendar year.

The award recognizes three attributes -  quality of model, quantity of models entered and diversity of subject.

Eight Monthly Competitions will be held each year during Society Meetings from March to November, excluding June due to Expo preparations.

Any number of models may be entered and all will be awarded points towards Modeller of the Year.  The Chief Judge keeps a running total scored by each The following rules apply:-

1)       Models are divided into five classes.

CLASS A      Aircraft

CLASS C     Civil Vehicles (inc. motorcycles and trucks)                                        

CLASS E     Military AFVs, Vehicles and Equipment

CLASS F      Figures, Dioramas and Vignettes

CLASS M     Miscellaneous & Sci Fi (any subject not above)

2)       Models from any class may be entered each month and may be Out Of Box, Enhanced, Modified, Vacform or Scratchbuilt.

2)    A member who only enters models of one class is eligible to win Modeller of the Year but to recognize diversity those who enter more than one class will be awarded bonus points for each model entered in an additional class.  To further encourage diversity the bonus points increase as the number of classes entered increases and this higher bonus is applied to all the models within the additional classes.

The member’s base class is that in which his or her greatest number of models is entered and these will not be eligible for bonus points. If a member has an equal greatest number in more than one class then the one with the highest total score will be the base class.

All other classes entered by the member will be considered as additional classes.

The bonus points are awarded as follows. The maximum achievable for a five model aggregate is 60 points.

3)    The aggregate score will be the total points for the member’s five highest scoring models after bonus points have been allocated. The group will consist of the highest scoring model from each class entered plus the next highest scoring models from any class.

A member entering less than five models is eligible to win if he or she has the highest aggregate score.

4)    Models may not be entered for Modeller of the Year more than once.

END OF YEAR COMPETITION

and

MODEL OF THE YEAR

The Model of the Year award is judged at the End of Year Competition and is chosen from all first placed models in the categories entered on the day. Two judges from IPMS Australia will be selected by the committee prior to the competition to judge the Model of the Year and their decision shall be final. A judge cannot judge his or her own model.

CATEGORIES

1)       Large Scale Aircraft (1/32 and larger)

Includes aircraft and helicopters. Excludes space vehicles and hovercraft.

2)       Medium Scale Aircraft (1/33 to 1/71)  

As above.

3)       Small Scale Aircraft (1/72 and smaller)

As above.

4)       Civil Vehicles (all scales)

Includes automobiles, motorcycles, trucks, commercial vehicles and utilities.

Excludes all military vehicles.

5)       Military AFVs, Vehicles & Equipment (all scales)

Includes tanks, trucks and guns. Figures may be included as driver or crew. Horses or other animals will be judged when they form the motive power for the equipment.

6)       Dioramas and Vignettes (all scales)

Dioramas: The modeller has to depict a scene including one or more models and extensive scenic effects. The idea behind the category is that it should tell a story.

Vignettes: The modeller has to include two or more figures with a small piece of equipment or live stock on a simple scenic base. A Vignette is a cameo of a Diorama.

8b)  Figures - Large (65mm and larger)

Includes a single figure on foot or mounted.

8c)  Figures - Small (64mm and smaller)

As above.

Note – The Figure categories may be combined if there are insufficient numbers.

9)       Ships (all scales)Includes sailing ships, powered ships, submarines, hydrofoils and boats. Excludes hovercraft.

10)   Miscellaneous,  Sci Fi & Fantasy (all scales)

Miscellaneous includes all subjects not eligible in the above categories. Sci Fi & Fantasy Includes figures, monsters, vehicles and equipment.

11)   Out-of-Box (all scales, all subjects)

This category is designed to produce a model within the limitations of the following conditions:-

a)       The model must be built using parts contained within a single kit as per the instructions.

b)       No modifications may be made to those parts.

c)       The model must be built in the colour scheme, markings and decals supplied in the kit.

d)       Filler or model putty may be used for filling joints and gaps only.

e)       Sprue or other material may only be used if specified in the instructions.

12)   Enhanced (all scales, all subjects)

This category is designed to allow the modeller more scope with the model without modifying it drastically. The following conditions apply:-

a)       The model must be built using only those parts contained within a single kit, except as stated herein. Filler, surfacing materials and scrap plastic may be used to rectify gaps and defects.

b)       The parts within the kit may be altered or refined only as shown in the Improvements chart below.

c)       If the instruction sheet makes specific reference to an accessory part(s) marketed for the model by the kit manufacturer, then that part(s) may be added.

d)       Other parts may only be added or substituted for kit parts as shown in the Improvements chart below.

e)       The model may be finished in any colour scheme and markings.

13)   Junior (all scales, all subjects)

Open to members under 17 on the 1st of January of the year of the competition. All competition rules apply.

Junior members may enter models in any senior category should they so desire. On an equal competition basis.

Vacform and scratchbuilt models will be entered in whichever category above is applicable to the subject but  will be judged using the Vacform & Scratchbuilt score sheet – see Judging Guidelines on the next page.

JUDING GUIDELINES

Models entered in IPMS Australia competitions are judged on the five criteria following and are awarded a points score from a total of 100.

The distribution of points varies depending upon the type of model, as shown in the table below.  Figures have more importance placed on realism and less on construction, Dioramas & Vignettes also have more importance placed on realism, whereas Vacform & Scratchbuilt have the most importance placed on construction. Special scoring sheets are used for each of the four model types showing the relevant distribution of points with guidelines for allocation of points within each of the five criteria.

Construction:  Points will be awarded for workmanship relating to corrections, conversions and additional detailing.

Points will be deducted for badly joined and misaligned parts, poor fit of sub-assemblies and gaps not filled, etc. The modeller should remove all evidence of flash, surface defects, sprue joints, seam lines, scratches, file marks, etc.

Attention to Detail: Points will be awarded for additional work to the model, eg. detail painting and weathering (also applicable to Out-of-Box models), interior detailing, exhaust pipes and gun barrels drilled out, correction of overscale surfaces and parts, separation of flaps, doors, hatches, surface rescribed, edges and spokes thinned, aerials and rigging added, any scratchbuilt parts, conversions, extra decaling, weathering, etc.

Finish: Points will be awarded for the absence of any construction evidence (no glue, gaps, fingerprints, etc), quality of paintwork (smoothness, gloss if applicable, absence of dust, orange peel), application of decals (no frosting, carrier film, cracking, dirt, etc.), execution of weathering (subtlety, scale of dirt, etc.).

Accuracy to Reference/Imagination: The modeller must provide reference as well as the kit instructions with the model, be it the box top art, book or magazine articles, photos, scale drawings and notes on modifications and conversions.

If the model is the creation of the modeller’s imagination, notes must be provided to give reasons and explanations for the models features and existence.

The judge will award points for the models accuracy to reference/imagination based solely on the information given by the modeller. Failure to supply the instruction sheet, authenticating references and accompanying notes will result in loss of points.

Realism: Points will be awarded for the ‘sit’ of the model, positioning on the base or groundwork, scale colour, weathering, etc., which when viewed by the judge gives the impression of realism.

It is the sum of the above five criteria that can result in a successful model.