ScaleACT-26

ScaleACT is Australia’s friendliest scale modelling expo and competition. This year it will be held over the weekend of 7 and 8 November 2026, at the fabulous Thoroughbred Park in Canberra.

Hosted by the ACT Scale Modellers Society, ScaleACT is an engaging and inclusive annual event where people of all ages connect, learn, and share a passion for scale modelling and creative arts.

In 2025 ScaleACT attracted almost 3,000 visitors and participants, from across Canberra, interstate and overseas. On display were more than 800 competition models, spanning aircraft, armour and military vehicles, cars, motorbikes and trucks, figures and busts, sci-fi, Gundam, mecha, ships and more, including dioramas and vignettes.

ScaleACT also features displays by other related local clubs, workshops by renowned Australian and international experts, more than two dozen vendor stands, interactive build tables, and of course, our famous swap-and-sell.

PLEASE NOTE: Competition registration is now open! Click Here to get your entries in!

The ScaleACT Competition

The ScaleACT competition uses a form of the International Open judging & assessment system which awards Gold, Silver or Bronze awards to the best entries in a category. Using this judging system, each model is assessed individually against set criteria (not compared to others in the competition) and the highest quality, best presented models recieve awards.

A feature of the Open judging system is the Experience and/or Skill levels for Entrants. Entrants indicate how experienced a modeller they believe themselves to be, either a Rookie, Standard & Master level modeller.

The level of modelling standards required to be awarded a medal increases at each skill level. The standards required to achieve a Gold award at the Master level must demonstrate the very highest expression of the art; showing perfect construction, a flawless finish and an overall presentation that really stands out and catches the eye. Only the very best Master level entries achieve a Gold medal. The judging team are less stringent when assessing entries at the Standard level, and more generous again when assessing Rookie entries.

Achieving Gold at Master level is rare occurrence and is reserved for flawless models. Achieving a Gold at Rookie level is a fabulous result that means you have got the basics right and can move up to Standard level next time! Remember, not all entries receive an award, so winning any award means your entry is among the very best!

A lot more detail on the competition, categories and skill levels is available here, and here are the nitty-gritty details of our judging rubric ScaleACT Judging Criteria.

Special Annual Competitions

Information is now available for our special annual competitions, 

• The Kittyhawk Cup.

• The Sentinel Shield.

• 'The Grail':  Is “Aviation in Canberra”.

• Special Cars award: Best roadster or convertible.

Model Competition management system

We are proud to be users of HobbyShow.org, a fabulous Australian owned and developed software system which makes competition management a breeze. If you are looking for a modern, cloud-based software system to help you run a competition, give it a try.

Previous / Earlier ScaleACT Results

ps: If you are looking for the results of previous ScaleACT competitions - you'll find them over here!