Judging, Categories & Experience levels

The ScaleACT competition uses a form of the International Open judging & assessment system which is being used in many competitions around the world. This type of assessment awards Gold, Silver or Bronze awards rather than attempting to find the single best model for each category. In this system, each model is assessed individually against set criteria (not compared to others in the competition) and the highest quality, best presented models are awarded.

We have adopted this style of judging as it allows us to better acknowledge the remarkable effort that goes into building a competition model and we can now present many more awards than our previous system allowed!

ScaleACT Competition Categories

In the International Open judging system there are only a handful of categories to pick from, but each has 'levels' to reflect your experience as a modeller - from those just starting out (Rookie) , Standard level modellers and the few Masters among us!

Please see below for help determining if you are a Rookie, Standard or Master entrant.

Junior Entrants (for entrants 12 years and younger).

• Junior (All subjects, all scales)

Senior Entrants (for entrants 13 years and older).

• Aircraft - Rookie

• Aircraft - Standard

• Aircraft - Master
  
  

• Military Vehicles & Equipment - Rookie

• Military Vehicles & Equipment - Standard

• Military Vehicles & Equipment - Master
  
  

• Civilian Vehicles & Equipment - Rookie

• Civilian Vehicles & Equipment - Standard

• Civilian Vehicles & Equipment - Master
  
  

• Figures & Busts - Rookie

• Figures & Busts - Standard

• Figures & Busts - Master
  
  

• Dioramas - Rookie

• Dioramas - Standard

• Dioramas - Master
  
  

• Vignettes - Rookie

• Vignettes - Standard

• Vignettes - Master
  
  

• SciFi, Mecha, Real Space - Rookie

• SciFi, Mecha, Real Space - Standard

• SciFi, Mecha, Real Space - Master
  
  

• Ships & Subs - Rookie

• Ships & Subs - Standard

• Ships & Subs - Master
  
  

• Gundam - Standard Build

• Gundam - Repaint

• Gundam - Custom
  
  

• Maschinen Krieger (Ma.K) - Rookie

• Maschinen Krieger (Ma.K) - Standard

• Maschinen Krieger (Ma.K) - Master
  
  

• Open - Other - Rookie

• Open - Other - Standard

• Open - Other - Master
  
  

• Special: The Kittyhawk Cup

• Special: The Sentinel Shield

• Special: Best Aussie Car

Experience / Skill levels

A feature of the Open judging system is the adoption of Experience or Skill levels for Entrants.

Senior modellers are asked to place themselves in a group that describes how experienced a modeller they believe themselves to be. The three skill levels are; Rookie, Standard & Master. 

The level of modelling standards required to be awarded a medal goes up with each 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 a little 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, winning any award means your entry is among the very best!

Note: Experience level is attached to you the modeller, not the subjects you are building. We believe that most modelling skills are largely transferable between subjects, so if you are a moderately experienced (standard level) builder who mostly builds Aircraft and are now trying your hand at a Car (for example) - you'd still list yourself as "Standard" - even if Cars are new to you - most of the skills you've honed on your Aircraft builds can be applied (we believe) irrespective of subject. 

The following descriptions will help you self-assess which experience group you belong to (currently!) :-)

Rookie:

• A Rookie may not have been building for very long and is still learning the basics, or,

• A Rookie might be returning to the hobby after an extended break, or,

• A Rookie may be a younger modeller, or,  

• A Rookie has not entered a competition previously.

Standard:

• Most entrants are in the Standard group.

• A Standard level entrant has been building for a while and routinely produce work they are happy with. 

• A Standard level entrant demonstrates proficiency in the fundamental modelling techniques.

• A Standard level entrant may upgrade their kit using aftermarket sets etc.

Master:

• A Master entrant is very experienced and comfortable with more complicated techniques. 

• A Master entrant is comfortable with and regularly uses aftermarket conversions or large upgrades.

• A Master entrant may routinely enter competitions and consistently places. 

PS: While you will be asked to self-assess initial skill levels, the ScaleACT team reserve the right to overrule if required! No Masters trying to slip into the Rookies please! :-)

Competition Judging at ScaleACT

In our judging system which is based on the popular International / Open system, entries are judged individually, entirely on their own merits. Models are NOT compared to any other models in the competition - we are no-longer trying to find the 'best' model in a category!  If you want the gory details - here is our ScaleACT Judging Criteria document.

Awards

Our judges may award the best entries with a Gold, Silver or Bronze medal. Naturally, not all entries receive an award - winning a medal says that an entry is one of the very best (in it's skill class) - and that it exhibits few if any flaws, has been finished very well indeed and really stands out.

In addition to the Gold, Silver and Bronze awards, a special award will be made to the very best Aircraft and Armour model in the show, these will be selected by our Chief Judge and President. 

References

References are NOT REQUIRED at ScaleACT and will NOT be reviewed even if supplied (we strongly encourage you to leave them at home!). All entries at ScaleACT are judged as-presented.

Juniors

Younger modellers (12 and younger) are encouraged to join in and enter the Junior category so their great work can be displayed. Junior entries are not assessed, but all junior entrants will receive a special encouragement award! 

Feedback

To help modellers develop their skills, the Chief Judge is more than happy to discuss entries and how they were assessed, but only after the team have finished their work – Sunday lunchtime & early afternoon would be the best time to seek feedback (it is impossible to give feedback after the show weekend). Please DO NOT hang-around the comp tables while judging is underway, please leave the judges to work in peace :-)

Model Handling

Models will not be handled during the assessment process. All models should be placed on the paper 'entry placemats' provided - these placemats are then used to rotate the model for inspection if required. If a model must be moved, we will endeavour to contact you to seek your approval or to get  you to move the model yourself (hence requiring a mobile phone number for all registrations!) 

Diorama / Vignette

It can sometimes be difficult to describe the difference between a Diorama and a Vignette, at ScaleACT these definitions revolve around the essential element of Story...

• A diorama should tell a story and portray activity and the elements of a diorama should interact. You can think of a diorama as a scene from a movie.

• A vignette is more like a snapshot in time and it is often intended to be viewed from a fixed point. You can think of a vignette as a photograph.

Gundam builders.

The world of Gundam does things a little different, so we've adapted the Gundam international labels this year to simplify things for all. As a Gundam entrant, you will select;

• Gundam - Standard Build: which uses kit provided parts and stickers only.

• Gundam - Repaint: where the builder uses only the kit provided parts, but repaints the kit parts to customise it's look. No aftermarket or 'kit bashing' is allowed.

• Gundam - Custom: A Custom Gundam entrant uses the skeletal frame of the Bandai kit, and may extensively modify the kit with aftermarket parts or kit bashed parts from other kits and will paint their kit to customise their model.

There is a little more detail on Gundam entries here.