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David Merriman is one of the finest
model builders you will find. He is also one of the most opinionated. At
Wonderfest 2000, Dave took home a couple of well deserved gold medels in the SF Hardware division. Congratulations! Now Dave wanted me to post some tips about winning a gold, so here they are, along with his fine models. Just for the record, I think he makes some very good points. I'm not sure I totally agree, but there is wisdom here! Please remember, these comments in no way reflect the opinions of the people that run Wonderfest, or myself.
These are David Merriman's opinions-- Steve
OK, boy's and girl's, strap yourselves in, park your ego's in safe storage for a bit, and listen up.
Many of you know me, those who don't, let me
introduce myself: I'm David Merriman, Jr. I'm one of the finest model builders you will ever know.
Recently there was a comment on the CultTVman board about the judging process at the recent Wonderfest; it
suggested that there were not enough Gold awards handed out. I'm here to assure you that some of those models entered in 'vehicles' were worthy of such a high award and were so honor. Yeah… they were mine.
I gave a good look at the tables
containing the 'vehicle' models and it was clear that there were two things at work that kept more models from winning Gold: Many entrants were common plastic/resin kits, requiring little skill to assemble. And, those 'scratch-built' models (other than mine) that were entered were of such poor construction and finish as to eliminate themselves from high honors. It was that simple.
If anyone's interested, I'll launch into a
detailed critique of what I saw there in another post. However, the above observations should be enough to send the more thoughtful of you out there to reevaluate what and how you submit for competition at Wonderfest and other shows that employ the 'open' system of entry judging.
Unlike IPMS and other contest, the open system permits the judges to assign as many, or few, awards as they see fit. It's not like they have only
one gold, one silver, one bronze, and five honorable mentions that must be handed out in each category. No. In the open system only those models deemed to meet or exceed a specific standard receive an award.
So, what does it take to assure Gold? Three things in my not too humble opinion: A well built and displayed (base with plaque) scratch-built model. Provide photos/slides of in-work progress during key
portions of
construction right there on the table right under the model along with pictures of the prototype you are working off of. And select an interesting subject - abandon those tired old Star Trek/Battle Star Galactica/Star Wars subjects; present a fresh and interesting model to the judges! Judges are human. How many ST ENTERPRISE models could you judge at one sitting without puking?
Present to the judges a well-done scratch-built model to look over; present them with documentation; and make it interesting. I did, and got Gold. Twice!
As a sidebar, pertinent to the judging
and administration of this contest, please permit me to relate a rather brief and heated conversation I had with another Gold winner at this years Wonderfest:
He was addressing Steve Iverson at the
CultTVman table deep within the vendor's area. I was sitting there, looking over the Galley of Steve's J-2 handbook. Hearing the conversation I got interested and injected myself into the discussion.
This
guy (sorry, I did not get your name) suggested there should be created a special 'expert' or 'professional' category to sepeate non-professionals from the professional model builder. There is some merit
to this idea, but only if this separate and apart category within the Wonderfest contest is for those who have won Silver or higher at previous Wonderfest's; a sort of 'battle of the experts', if you will.
Maybe that was his intent, I did not get the full picture.
And may I express my appreciation here that this guy engaged me, a stranger, in argument without skipping a beat - my kind of guy!
I argued
that the experts, such as myself and he, should compete with the great unwashed - our presence serving to
present the others with a high 'standard'; a level of craftsmanship to strive to emulate. To deny the experts/professionals from general competition is akin to those liberal school systems that stop ball games if one side starts to rack up the score (a sickening attempt to preserve the loosing sides 'self esteem'. Hell… if you're loosing the game, your self-esteem should be rock bottom!). Such structuring of a contest against the better team/player only works to kill both sides competitive spirit.
Segregate those who build well from those who build poorly? Don't do it!
OK, I'll step off the soapbox. Now, about the models:
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