Looking at the modelling side of the Brisbane Hobby Expo this year one just can't help but be impressed. Queensland modellers really put their hearts and skills into some of those master-pieces on the tables and this of course makes the judging side of things all the more difficult. At that competition we use the consensus method of determining the winner of a category, that is three hopefully experienced judges from different clubs put their heads together to come up with a logical outcome. Sometimes this doesn't work for a few reasons,

1/ Are the judges experienced enough to quickly and accurately assess the value of each model?

2/ Are the models presented in their correct categories?

3/ Are the judges taking time to go through the modellers references ( and these can amount to nothing short of encyclopaedic)? Even with dozens of tattered pieces of paper hanging out of dozens of books a judge still has the duty to go through them all as best he can or an excellent model created from a basic kit an be overlooked in favour of an " all photo etch, multi resin up-grade, high-tech shake the box type kit " but more on this later.

4/ Are the judges interested in their assigned category or is it " I'd rather be doing that so I don't care"? This can happen and is a bad situation for both the entrant and the judge as neither of them gain full satisfaction from the experience of a large competition. This is why in IPMS we try to stress to all of our members the benefits of sitting down and learning the ropes of judging. It only takes a few sessions with one of the clubs senior judges (any of whom are only too happy to sit down and help) and you are on your way to becoming a more valuable asset to the club.

The benefits are :-

You get to look more closely at the models on the table. You get to pick up on techniques that the other guy impresses you with. You get to study models that you maybe contemplating building first hand and find their pro's and con's. You learn how to present your own model in the best way for judging. You learn a skill that you can take from club to club and will present you as a seasoned modeller to all you meet.

The down side :- You may lose a bit of free time every second club meet. As you can see the pro's far out-weigh the con's.

On average we have about sixteen models on the comp table for judging and if I had eight judges ,that's two models per judge, with say fifteen minutes per model, we could all be finished and enjoying the rest of the evening together within half an hour.

After all this is a hobby to enjoy and although I have never thought judging to be a chore, sixteen models to six guys can be tiring. So next year, do your duty to your club and sit down and become an asset, not just another member ,and learn to judge. There's nothing to it really and you will gain in confidence in your own modelling as you learn from others close up and personal with out some-one smacking your hand and saying "don't touch, mine". If you enter a comp and want your model judged then be prepared to pay back some time others give to you! It's good to see a couple more "farther/son" teams starting up as well. To take on an apprentice, blood or friend and pass on your skills is, I have found , one of the most rewarding aspects of this great hobby. Take my own son Darryl (please)! I started him off maybe seven years ago with a little six part ,snap together Heller armoured car. After playing with it for a few months then depositing it in the bottom of his toy box , he retrieved it last year from god knows where and proceeded to strip it and then turn it into a Gulf war French VAB apc that many of you thought I had made. What better compliment than to have the apprentice's work mistaken for your own. What's in store for him next year only the Comp Sec and his big red book knows. Overall it's been one hell of a year for IPMS Qld with our members taking out major awards at various meets in the Brisbane area and our standard just keeps getting better and better if that's at all possible. Please support the Comp Sec and Chief Judge next year, neither Darryl nor myself will be seeking re-appointment as Darryl, AKA Dogboy, hopes he will be joining the Army (GOD HELP US ALL) and I would like a break after ten years on the committee , in one guise or another , since the clubs inception way back in 1990. No complaints though, it's been a pleasure and I will be available as an "instructing judge" under the Chief Judge , a position I have wanted to create for some time now.

On behalf of the Chief Judge and myself, thanks to all for your support through-out the year and thanks even more for the comradeship that you have shown me and each other. A happy club is a healthy club and I think ours could run a Marathon easy.

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Stay Safe and I'll see you next year.

Your Competition Secretary, Dale Slight.

Page 4