Central Arkansas Scale Modelers - Judging Criteria
​Category 100 - 1200*

Central Arkansas Scale Modelers (CASM) uses the "Open Judging System" of which info about can be found here. Below CASM uses the judging criteria developed by the Chattanooga Scale Modelers as the means to implement the "Open Judging System" for Categories 100 - 1200. Gunpla's Judging Criteria can be found here.

Judging Gold, Silver, Bronze (GSB)

First, one must realize that just as all the possible permutations and rankings of flaws are impossible to define for IPMS Judging, it’s similarly impossible to do for GSB judging. All we can do is set out guidelines. From those guidelines, the judges will be expected to fairly use their judgment, common sense, and experience when applying the guidelines to a model. While we aren’t trying to narrow a field down to the top three entries, the judges will still be looking for the same types of flaws, as well as the good work done in trying to determine whether to award Gold, Silver, or Bronze.

We’d suggest that like IPMS Judging, judges make a “first cut”. That is, to view the models from a casual viewing distance (2-3 feet) to see if anything is apparently wrong. Can you, standing over the model, see visible seams? Glue blobs? Heavy orange peel? Clear parts fogged? Alignment issue? If so, the model hasn’t made the “first cut” and is a typical 1-2-3 contest, it wouldn’t likely be looked at further as there are likely to be at least 3 models of higher quality. Likewise, it hasn’t made the cut for a bronze medal. This is not to say that after that first cut, closer inspection of a model that “made” the cut doesn’t reveal a flaw or flaws that when taken alone or together cold or should take the model out of contention for an award.

As a final note, the following guidelines were written from an aircraft modeler’s point of view. The concepts, however, should carry over equitably to other genres. Regardless of genre or class, a model’s parts must be removed from sprues, cleaned up, assembled cleanly with seams filled and details restored, painted and decaled well, and weathered appropriately and consistently. We trust that judges in other genres can take the examples outlined below and translate them into terms that fit their particular genre.

Bronze Level

A Bronze Medal reflects the modeler’s avoidance of any significant errors on the model. The model has no glaring flaws in finish or construction as seen from a casual viewing distance. At closer range, a number of minor flaws may be noticeable but are not concentrated in one area or indicate a lack of basic skills (for example, one decal, but not all, may be silvered). This level of quality indicates the modeler is doing the right things, but needs to be more consistent in execution. Basic craftsmanship is good, but realism or attention to details may be lacking. Examples of flaws that would not drop a model from contention for a bronze might be:

·         Slight misalignment of the landing gear and/or gear doors

·         Wings slightly out of level

·         Slight misalignment of the tail

*Note though that multiple misalignments should preclude a bronze score for construction, as it should be clear that proper care wasn’t taken during construction.

·         Slight “orange peel” in the paint finish

·         Occasional decal silvering

·         Inconsistent decal repair (scribing, rivets, contours) following seam treatments

In general, the model will demonstrate that the modeler has a grasp of the basics. Seams are taken care of, the model is pretty well aligned, paint work is good but not perfect, decals are good but not perfect, and weathering (if present) may be less than well rendered. This model may, or may not, have contended for a third place in a contest, but still demonstrates that the modeler understands and can execute the basics.

Silver Level

A Silver Medal reflects a modeler exhibiting very few minor errors in construction, and a better grasp of finishing techniques. This applies to out of the box kits as well as a high level of accomplishment with adding details not included with the kit. The model has a higher level of craftsmanship in all areas: very few flaws, finishes are realistic, basic techniques have been used to improve appearance (exposed edges are realistically thinned, gun barrels or exhaust stacks are drilled out, etc).

·         Misalignments should not be apparent to the naked eye (if a measuring aid is required to demonstrate or prove misalignment, that element is done well enough to qualify for Silver)

·         Paint finish should be uniform with only very minor irregularities around typical trouble spots such as wing roots or raised detail

·         Decals should be nearly perfect, with virtually no silvering and they should conform uniformly to both raised and recessed detail

·         Detail repairs such as re-scribing following major construction should be consistent and similar to kit detail

·         Weathering, if present, should be consistent and in scale

·         Detailing should be consistent. If the cockpit is detailed, other areas such as wheel wells should be detailed

·         Gun barrels should be drilled out

·         Aftermarket detailing should be cleanly incorporated and in scale

A silver medal model is one that most likely would have been a contender for a placing in a crowded, high quality category in a typical contest. It demonstrates that not only has the modeler mastered the basics, but he has command of more advanced techniques as well.

Gold Level

A Gold Medal represents an exceptional level of craftsmanship – practically no flaws or omissions of basic techniques should be present, and the finish should be near to perfect. Current best practices for assembly and finish are used throughout and are executed well. An out-of-the-box model can receive a Gold award, but it must exhibit the highest standards. Gold recognizes that the modeler has made a model with almost “zero-defects”.

·         Misalignments should be nearly impossible to measure

·         Paint finish should be uniform and realistic

·         Decals should appear painted on with clear film not apparent. No silvering should be present, and weathering should be applied to give markings the same worn appearance as the rest of the model

·         Detail repairs following major construction should be imperceptible

·         Weathering should appear completely natural, in scale and be consistent

·         Aftermarket or scratch built detailing must be cleanly incorporated and in scale

A gold medal model is close to perfect. A small error should not eliminate a model from a gold medal, but two might. In many cases, a Gold medal model will demand your attention and draw you to it; and it may be equal parts artistry and technical achievement.

Scoring

We have broken scoring into four areas: construction, finish, accuracy (documentation), and intangibles. Please note the tables to follow are not hard fast RULES. They are meant as guidelines to aid the judges in applying their judgment and common sense. Using alignment as an example, our intent is that a slightly skewed wheel will not knock an otherwise magnificent model out of a Gold award. We also wouldn’t want an out of alignment tail plane to knock a model out of Bronze. But what about a tail plane, a wing, and a gear leg? That probably indicates a modeler who either hasn’t mastered or doesn’t fully understand the “basics”, and the model should be removed from consideration for a medal.

Also, constructive feedback is a very important part of what we are trying to achieve. Please take a few moments while judging each model to indicate where a modeler might improve his efforts. We will be making the scoring sheets available to the modelers, so while the comments need to be honest, they also need to be constructive and fair.

Construction: 1-5 points

This is where both basic and advanced construction techniques are evaluated.

1 pt	If the model made it to the table and is assembled, it gets 1 pt.
2 pts	Seams, glue marks, alignment issues visible from a viewing distance of 2-3 ft (casual viewing distance)
3 pts	Faint seams, rare glue spot, slight alignment issue visible on close inspection. Lost detail either not restored, or not well restored. Ejector pins/punch out marks may be present on close inspection
4 pts	Seams, glue only visible with aid of penlight. Alignment issue may be measured to verify. Lost detail must be restored, but may not be perfect. No ejector pins or the like visible. Level of detailing should be consistent through the model (i.e., wheel wells and cockpit).
5 pts	Near perfect build.

Finish: 1-5 points

This is where paint, decals, and weathering would be considered.

1 pt	Like construction, if the model has paint/decals/stickers on it, it gets 1 pt.
2 pts	Issues with paint, decals, weathering are visible from a casual viewing distance of 2-3 feet.
3 pts	Issues become visible on close inspection. Gloss finish may be slightly orange peeled. Rough texture may be present in trouble spots like wing roots. Camo transitions may be inconsistent, or may show build up on masking edges. Occasional decal silvering may be present or decals may not have settled into detail. Weathering, if attempted may not be consistent.
4 pts	Paint should be a consistent finish, with trouble spots only visible with a pen light. Camo transitions should be consistent, with no paint build up at masked edges. Gloss finishes should be smooth. Decal silvering should only be apparent with a pen light. Decals should conform well to all surface detail. Weathering should be consistent and realistic.
5 pts	Near perfect finish.

Accuracy: 1 point add, no effect, or 1 point deduct

Ø  Add 1 point if the modeler included documentation to confirm historical accuracy or details modeled.

Ø  No deduct or add if the model isn’t obviously inaccurate and no documentation is present. Most models would likely fall into the “no point” realm at a typical IPMS contest as they have no documentation, and no glaring accuracy issues. The same may hold true at our show.

Ø  Deduct 1 point for obvious accuracy issue (please make sure to note on the judging form what accuracy issue(s) was (were) noted and counted against the model.

Scope/difficulty/presentation: 1 point available for “intangibles”

This is perhaps both the most difficult and easiest point to explain. This is where we trust the judgment of the judges the most. The judges can award a point and reward extra effort for tackling what they know to be a difficult kit, or for adding a significant amount of extra detail, or for making significant corrections to an inaccurate kit. It is also where they can add a point for presentation (i.e., a very nicely weathered AFV on a realistic base), or where they can reward an effort they think exhibits “something special”. As noted, this is a point that MAY be added for an intangible that the judges feels is worthy of note. If a judge doesn’t see anything in a model that he, as a modeler and judge feels warrants an extra point, it simply isn’t awarded.

Scoring Breakdown

Scoring Item

Points Available

Award Level

Construction

1-5 pts

Gold

10-12 pts

Finish

1-5 pts

Silver

9 pts

Accuracy

-1, 0, +1

Bronze

8 pts

Intangible

0, +1

Merit

7 pts

Total Available

12 pts

No Award

>7 pts

Using this scoring, a very clean Out of Box build with very clean but basic finish should score 5 points for both construction and finish, thus securing Gold. A modeler who also documents his build as historically accurate, or brings something else (an intangible) to his build may score 11 or even 12 if he brings both to play. Similarly, a model MAY be lifted one level with accuracy and intangible points if the judges feel they are applicable. It is our hope that by including the points for accuracy and intangibles, we can encourage modelers to be more adventurous and try new things; and maybe encourage research and ties to reality with our hobby.

Scoring Examples – two hypothetical aircraft models:

Hasegawa 1/48 AV 8B+
Construction	4	The tail planes were slightly out of alignment
Finish	4	Paint was smooth, camo transitions were uniformly soft, two decals were noted to be slightly silvered over raised detail, and weathering was consistent
Accuracy	-1	Canopy was tilted up rather than slid aft
Intangible	0	There was nothing the judge considered as “special” about the model and it was not displayed on a base of any type
Score	7 (Merit)	Were it not for an inaccurate canopy, this model would have been a bronze medal to this judge
Tamiya 1/48 F4U Corsair with unique demarcation between colors
Construction	4	Stance was slightly off, with the left wing 2 mm low when measured
Finish	5	No issues were noted with regard to finish
Accuracy	0	No accuracy issues were noted, and no documentation was provided to reference unique paint scheme
Intangible	1	The model was displayed on a nice plaque with a description label
Score	10 (Gold)	While the model had a construction flaw that may have dropped it to Silver, the point awarded for the display base lifted it to Gold

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