Just after 5:00 a.m. yesterday (8 March), I set off for Kansas City, Missouri. This trip was to attend KCCON, a scale modeling contest and swap meet hosted by the Great Plains and KC AMPS chapters of the International Plastic Modelers' Society/USA (IPMS/USA). On the way, I listened to the latest episode of the podcast Plastic Model Mojo, via Spotify on my mobile phone and streamed via Bluetooth over the car's speakers. One of my favorite podcasts, it is hosted by Mike Baskette and my friend, David "Kentucky Dave" Knights. After a brief episode on the Twelve Minute Modelsphere this month, I listened to Episode 135, which featured an interview with Mark Copeland, Director of Educational Travel for the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force in Pooler, Georgia. It's always a great listen for news on scale modeling and for feature interviews such as the one with Copeland.
After just over four hours of travel, which included a stop for fuel and breakfast on the way, I arrived at the show site, the First Church of the Nazarene. I had filled out my registration and entry forms in advance, so it didn't take too long to check in at the front desk. I placed my sole entry in Armor, a 1:35 scale BMW R75 motorcycle with sidecar, just outside the armor judging room. Armor entries in this contest were judged using Armor Modeling and Preservation Society (AMPS) rules, in which a team of three judges evaluated each entry on construction, finish/weathering, and degree of difficulty. The entries were not compared to what else was in the category. After my R75 was judged, it was placed on the table for its category.
I then placed my two other contest entries--a 1:48 F9F-2 Panther and a 1:72 J-8II "Finback-B"--in their respective Aircraft categories. The rest of the contest was judged by IPMS rules, in which the judges evaluated each entry against the others in that category.
I then walked around the venue, admiring the models entered in the show and buying tickets to the raffles both clubs held. I also shopped among the vendors. During my walks, I chatted with people I know that were present. This is one of the best things I like about attending these out-of-town model shows.
This was the first show I attended since becoming the acting Director of Local Chapters of IPMS/USA in late January. A few of my friends and acquaintances there congratulated me on the new position. Additionally, I talked with Doug Kolkman, my successor as IPMS/USA Region 14 Coordinator, answering his questions with advice on regional coordinator duties.
At midday, I answered the call for contest judges. After a pizza lunch, the head judge briefed us on procedures and judging teams were formed. Two others joined me on a team, and we judged Juniors, Figures, Dioramas, Space and Science-Fiction, and Mecha. The quality of many entries challenged us in many categories to determine the three places in each category.
After judging finished late that afternoon, the awards were announced. The Armor entries were announced first, and they awarded gold, silver, and bronze awards depending on the quality of work. My R75 earned a Bronze in Half-Tracked and Wheeled Vehicles All Eras. The judging tally sheets were placed with each entry prior to the awards ceremony, and I could see that the judges thought of my entry. They noted that the cylinders weren't level and glue marks on the model, but one lauded the nice leather effect on the seats and equipment bags. Those are good to know in improving my work, especially in armor models.
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