Welcome to the 2nd annual Aeroscale "early bird - WWI aviation" Contest 2007.
This contest is open to all members of Aeroscale.co.uk

The purpose of this contest is to use your knowledge to put together a well built model kit representing an aircraft from the 1914-1918 air war.

-The RULES -

The Aircraft Model “Must”:
- a) be static display kit of any kit manufacturer in any scale.
- b) represent an actual machine / known colour profile.
- c) not represent any hypothetical colour schemes.

The Aircraft Model “Can”
-a) be built from any kit of any aircraft manufactured between 1914-1918.
-b) include dioramas bases or display stands, representations of humans - such as aviators, mechanics or bystanders. But ground cover bases and figures will not be considered as part of the build in judging.
- c) have manufactured photoetch.
- d) employ any paint or colouring system.

The Aircraft Model “Can Not”
- a) be of wrecked or damaged aircraft.


The Aircraft Model May:
- a) be made from any appropriate materials. That is kits employing plastic, resin, white metal, wood and etc. Multimedia.
- b) be “weathered” but weathering must not obscure details of interest to judges.
- c) have scratchbuilt details such as rigging, cameras, ammunition boxes, barrels, saw horses or trestles.

The ENTRIES:
Judges will;
- a) use images posted (under this thread) by entrants to choose prize winner - up to 6 photos maximum.

These images ;
- a) must show overall details, images must not be modified or altered.
- b) cannot be photos of actual aircraft & /or modified or altered photos This is prohibited & shall disqualify the entrant.
- c) prove your statements about your build. Such as "this item is scratchbuilt..."

Entries must;
-a) also include an entry statement with entrant's name, model name, scale, & a brief history of the model’s subject (100 word max., written by entrant.)

Entry statement is the info you usually fill out at model contests. It says basically. what scale, what correct designation is used... such as, Fokker Dr. I Triplane, Sopwith Camel F.I and etc. what materials were used and how.

Only one entry per member.

Contest begins Aug. 24, 2007.

Contest closes midnight December 31, 2007.

The winners will be announced January .5, 2008.

As it was last year the contest awards are "secret" until the winners are announced.

-------Comments about the philosophy of Judging--------

It should go without saying. “You have no friends when you are a judge.” One must put aside familiar relationships in order to be as impartial as possible.

Personal preferences for weathered or unweathered models and use or non use of a base or clear covers are just that, personal preferences. These concerns will not enter into initial deliberations. Later if it comes down to two well done models then the hair splitting begins. Essentially it comes down to the most realistic. I firmly believe that you should judge in areas you specialize in but not also compete. Its either one or the other, not both.

The emphasis is on the basics and that is where it belongs. While I have seen aircraft that did not comply with the painting directives or were even the wrong colour, I never saw one with a seam down the middle of it. So watch out if you are an entrant that tries to cover up poor workmanship with “Schmaltz.” (Flashy paint job or storyline, extra detail sets, fancy base etc.) Each entrant deserves a good critique . As a judge you are obligated to give help and encouragement when a constructive critique is asked for.

The guide to a well built aircraft model. Pay close attention here!

Basic Construction:
1. Is the alignment correct? Square, plumb, uniformed surfaces.
2. Do you see any glue joints? How clean are the joints?
3. Is all flash removed neatly? No flat spots on rounded surfaces.
4. Are all seams filled? Was there a seam on the original ?
5. Are all molding marks, sink marks, copyright marks and ejector pin marks removed?
6. Are clear windows or the model itself clear of all glue marks and smears?
7. Are wings and tail plumb and square to each other and the fuselage?

Details:
1. Refinement, thin edges, scale thickness for all exposed parts?
2. Prototypical representations of surfaces. Wood area look like wood, metal like metal, fabric that looks like fabric.
3. Nuts and bolts, are they well defined or do they just look like bumps.

Finish:
1. Does it accurately resemble the original? Flat semi-gloss or gloss. Factory fresh or war weary?
2. Is the lettering or markings straight or duplicating the original?
3. No decal silvering or carrier film evident.
4. Is it weathered realistically or does it detract from the over all appearance?
5. Are there brush marks? Uneven coverage, brush hairs in dried paint or the dreaded finger prints?
6. Are paint separation lines clean and even?

I am in on this one. I think I will try my hand at the Seven Swabians.

3 Stars Stephen. That is a lot of typing. Promotion Party?

No worries Carl! Tonight their dowsing my new hardware in 30 year old single Malt. I am bringing a 30year bottle of Old John Daniels and I hear there may even be a 50 year old Bourbon lurking about. I just wish my pay would catch up. . . I may have to woo the mistress of finance a bit.

Carl, Stephen's typing skills are not that good but his cut and paste skills are excellent!!

Is that how he manages to do the 5 color lozenge?

Does this mean I can't use my 1/28 Revell Triplane?

Normally you can count me in, but due to family matters I don't dare to enter any contest or groupbuild. I will of course have a look on the contest regurally.

Greetings, Nico

I changed it too read "any scale" These guys may be right about my typing. . . Oh well I rely on you gents to keep me straight!

MerlinV asked.


You can build it but for this contest if its not from 1914 -1918 it won't be judged.

Thanks Stephen. That decides it then.
I will put my Kariya Supermarine Seamew away.
I have something pretty unique in mind anyway... Only one was ever built!

Cheers,

Hugh

Which leads me to ponder opening a thread on the tweeners.

Woohoo!
See tweeners thread.

Cheers,

Hugh

Sounds like another winning idea Stephen.

Walk over
I´m stay out this time my friends. Busy times, busy times. good luck to you who enter.


Lars "Repainted" if anyone remembers me

This year there will be
1st , 2nd and 3rd place awards.
Best Allied powers subject.
Best Central powers subject. and . . . more to come.

Greetings all;

Just a reminder we are a month an a half into the contest. Don't hold back give it your best. We have some great prizes this time (as we did last time.)

This is the first time that I am going to participate in an AeroScale contest and perhaps it is a stupid question but I don't know where I have to upload the photos of the model?

Hey Kalt! Every member of Aeroscale has a gallery space they can add images to. Simply upload them there and draw from them to post here. Look in the blue Aeroscale header above and under the black "photos" tab to your right

Thanks a lot Stephen!

Yea, Jim Starkweather thought of everything when he planted this flag. Our host here by the way.

Tick, tick, tick. . . 11 days to finish. Don't slow down now!

Oh my gods,
I am so not going to get this finished in time!
Damn the festive season! It's too ful of other things that demand attention!!!
Oh well, I'll keep on going till zero hour... Maybe I'll have something finished enough.

Cheers,

Hugh

Well, This is the first time I am going to participate in an Internet contest for that reason I didn't want to be the first to upload the pictures but ...here is my model for the contest: a 1/48 Curtiss JN-4D by Lindberg. The model depicts a training machine based at Love Field, Texas during 1918. A picture of the real plane can be found on page 6 of the Profile publications book (37) about the Jenny.

Following is a summary of the Improvements:

- Completely scratchbuilt interior (seats, seatbelts, dashboards, floor, control columns, aileron control cable quadrant, elevator cables actuator, throttle levers, internal structure, map, fuel tank, rudder pedals, etc... )

- Scratchbuilt engine (minus the cylinders), radiator, propeller and exhausts. I have pictures of the building process of those pieces but due the six pictures rule I can't post them here. If someone is interested they should go to my picture gallery.

- I added the ailerons control pulleys, control horns and upper wing king posts.

- I detailed the landing gear and the wheels.

- I painted the model with Model Master paints and I weathered it with pastels and different shades of linen color applied with airbrush.

- The fuselage markings (serial and airfield name) are homemade decals. I painted the individual aircraft number (41) cockades and rudder strippes with the help of a cutting plotter and Corel Draw.

- Rigging is invisible thread painted black.

The Jenny was a difficult kit with many wires on it, It took me 7 months of work.

I hope you like it!