STILL friggin clueless about the model contest!

[raydrz]

last year 20 entries: one merit

this year 13 entries: one bronze, 4 merits

what i thought were better pieces got ZERO...

not that it ruins the festivities, but it's super confusing...not actually disappointing or aggravating...not gonna stop bringing entries...i'm good for 10+++ every year...

even when i see gold and silvers, sometimes i just shake my head...clueless...

there was one this year with a HUGE seam crack down the arm...i mean a friggin fissure...1/8 inch wide...got a silver...

[Resincajunhead]

John trust me I understand me I put two kits in some years ago, one I put so much time in a girl kit and the other I just slap paint on, dry brush that's it creature from the black lagoon and when I went to see which one I won on?? yep the creature won have no clue how that won? This year my robocop got a bronze I'm happy about that!!

[RCreations]

Never understood it either. The year I entered, the kits I liked won nothing the ones I didn't think were that good won.

[DenZilla]

I did good overall but I was baffled by a few things as well.

[barad_dur]

congrats on your winning entries john!

[Nalissa2]

That's the thing with art, it's all subjective.

[gordman43]

That's the thing with art, it's all subjective.

Well said, Susan!

I've been in the same boat with you all, as far as entering kits, thinking they should do well and the results not living up to my expectations.
All I can tell you is, when you're back home with your entries, take a really good, long look at your work. Be your own toughest critic.
Also, have your kit building buds check out your work. Fresh eyes on a build up are invaluable.

Then ask yourself some hard questions. Did you do the build up cleanly (seams, pinholes, mold lines, part fit etc...). Are the lines clean and sharp between colors? Are your painting techniques (washes, dry brushing, glazes etc) blended well? Are your color choices character accurate (where applicable)? And so on. These are the things that are looked for during judging. Many very good paint jobs are knocked down because the basics
aren't done well. You have to do the whole job right, start to finish. Short cuts will show up.

I know it can be very disappointing to have worked your rear off on a build up (or build ups) and not come away with what you expected. Just remember that the reason you're building kits is because you enjoy it, not to win awards (even though that's nice to do). But if you are in it for the awards, and you don't get the "gold", be prepared for the good and the bad.

There's nothing more disappointing than walking up to a kit and loving the paint job, then noticing a seam, mold line or whatever.
The people judging the contest want to give you an award for your work!

I know this won't help you feel much better about your particular outcome in the contest, but I hope it helps you in the future.

-G

[Paul Helfrich]

I came away with two merits and my first-ever WonderFest bronze this year. That was my first award other than a merit in 5 Wonderfests where I have competed.

I have never been prouder of any modeling award in any contest in which I've participated. The standard at WF is always so high...I was thrilled and totally psyched!

[tay666]

I am right there with some of you.
I got a merit for a kit that I thought would do nothing. I just brought it because it was done, and I had room to bring it.
While another kit that I worked my butt off on, and thought had a chance at a possible bronze, probably a merit, got nothin.

I was happy to get my first ever bronze at the show though. And it was a kit I was hoping would get me that medal. So that category seemed right to me. Only bummer was, they changed the awards so my bronze wasn't actually a medal this year.
The new one is cool. Just kind of wish they would have waited one more year to change them, so I could have one of those nifty medals they used to give out.

[boondocksaint]

this is what i would do...now this is just me and just a suggestion...

instead of doing 13 pieces cut it down to four or 5 and concentrate on those few pieces for the contest.....quality beats quantity anyday IMO

[gordman43]

Right on the money, Boony.

-G

[DoctorG]

this is what i would do...now this is just me and just a suggestion...

instead of doing 13 pieces cut it down to four or 5 and concentrate on those few pieces for the contest.....quality beats quantity anyday IMO

I couldn't agree with you more Boony....

[gothiken]

this is what i would do...now this is just me and just a suggestion...

instead of doing 13 pieces cut it down to four or 5 and concentrate on those few pieces for the contest.....quality beats quantity anyday IMO

not bad kid.. .... good advice.

Kenny

[raydrz]

this is what i would do...now this is just me and just a suggestion...

instead of doing 13 pieces cut it down to four or 5 and concentrate on those few pieces for the contest.....quality beats quantity anyday IMO

i'm with ya DD...i'd guess at least four were oldies brought solely in honor of the 1982 theme...2 of my merit awards...that's confusion...couple other non-1982 oldies got nothing, but 2 methods to my madness ...

#1. you pay for the 1st 2 so if you bring 2, bring 10...and thereby 11-12 means bring 20!!!

#2. i'm down with supporting the contest and the number of entries record, so if i can slide in 10 busts off the shelves, that's minimal cost & minimal room...

there's a zillion others i'd love to bring but due to packaging, room availability in the car, nearly guaranteed damage-in-transit...ain't gonna happen


clear as mud, right?

[greenfield]

this is what i would do...now this is just me and just a suggestion...

instead of doing 13 pieces cut it down to four or 5 and concentrate on those few pieces for the contest.....quality beats quantity anyday IMO

This is the best piece of advice anyone can give, instead of taking 3 hours on 10 pieces try and think about what you are entering and spend that time on 1 or 2 kits.

I always spray grey auto primer lightly over the kit parts then using wet/dry paper rub as much of it off without destroying the detail.

then spray it again and see if you can spot any of the flaws. - repeat until its perfect.

If you went to all of the figure demos this year, you are now armed with almost all of the advice you need to help atain the next level,

we had - working with resin, Oils and pastels, free airbrushing, advanced airbrushing , advanced oils, easy detailing and colour theory to name but a few.

Saul, Steve, Crazy Joe , Tom and many others all gave up their time to drag us kicking and screaming to produce better figures. Hats off to these guys - you have my thanks.

Just as a comparison, when I took 'most amazing model' in 2011 with the Reverend, it took me 67 hours to paint and I can still see a couple of minor flaws.

Martin

[tay666]

I think some might be missing the point.
We do understand what it takes to make an impression at Wonderfest.

What we don't get though, is how some of the judging worked out this year.
As I mentioned, one of the kits I entered received a merit.
Woo Hoo!
But the thing is, I didn't think it deserved it. I almost didn't bring the piece. It has been giving me fits for a while, and I just didn't like the way it turned out. Didn't look right to me. The pastels were too heavy and jarring. At least to my eye. I'd finally had enough of it though, so I basically just called it done because I was tired of seeing it on the bench anymore.
Meanwhile. Another piece I entered I thought was just fantastic.
It turned out almost exactly how I wanted it too. There were no seams. The paint had flowed beautifully when I worked on it. If I had done a better job of painting the irises in the eyes I might have even thought it had a shot at silver. But they weren't that good, so I thought it might have an outside chance at bronze, with a strong hope for at least a merit.
It got nothin.

Now, I am not criticizing the judging. I know the judges work hard to do the best job they can. And I also realize that different judges will see the same piece differently. This is, after all, art. And art is subjective to an extent.
And since my 2 examples were in completely different categories, I know they had different judges.

All we are saying, is that sometimes the awards given out make us go 'huh'

I still think the contest is kick ass.
And I would rather see the judging be a little on the harsh side, than be too lenient. When I get something at WF, I want to know that I really did earn it.

[tay666]

As for the multiple entries.
I do that too.
The lions share of my work go into a few pieces that I really put my best effort into. The others are usually, small, easy kits that are done for fun along the way.
If I finish something during the course of the year, it goes to Louisville with me. Even if I know it has no chance at all of doing anything.
I don't actually enter the contest to win things. I bring my kits and put them on the table to show them off, and display them for anyone interested to see.

But it is nice to get some recognition on the pieces that I busted my butt on. I 'know' I earned the bronze I got on my styrene Godzilla kit.
I spent hours meticulously cleaning up the parting lines on all 34 back plates. (meaning couple hours a night for almost 2 weeks)
Then painted and pasteled each one individually before installing them on the kit.

[Lukvader]

I want to "defend" the judges a bit
Im just a collector and a lousy painter compared to you here.
When I see all the great kits done by all of you, Im just happy im no judge.
I think I wouldnt really be able to award..
-> Shall i award the very good one, or the amazing one.. or the great one... ?^^

So I just say thanks@all for showing up all your great works !

[tay666]

I think I wouldnt really be able to award..
-> Shall i award the very good one, or the amazing one.. or the great one... ?^^

That is what really makes the WF contest cool.
You don't have to choose.
The kits do not compete against each other.
Each one is judged on it's own merits.
If there are 4 gold level kits in one category, they each get a gold.
If there are no gold level kits in a category, then none of them get a gold.

But the flip side is, that must make the judging even harder.
Instead of narrowing it down to the best handful of kits then judging from there, every one of the entries has to be looked over thoroughly and thoughtfully.

[RLobinske]

I don't worry about it and just have fun.

Since I am a "Yeah, that's good enough" modeler, I would be shocked at a gold or silver (and wonder what the judges were smoking) and still surprised by a bronze. I normally pick up a couple of merits each year and for me, that is really cool.

The best thing for me is how much the contest sparks my imagination and enthusiasm.