Howdy, everyone!
Well, the 2021 edition of the South Carolina Scale Model Mega Show is in the books. As with most larger events, we experienced the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. In no particular order:
The Good
We developed a new format for the show this year—well, actually we developed it last year when it appeared we would postpone from June until August, but the COVID shutdowns resulted in our show’s cancellation. Since we had been moving in this direction and eventually wanted to alter the show’s format anyway, we pulled what we had done out of the box and set upon refining it.
I could write a long description and intent piece, but for that, go to the show’s website and read about it: https://scmegashow.com
Our show format was developed using the best parts of several available show formats, systems, and methodology. In a nutshell, we combined the field judging and scoring system from AMPS, employed the judging methodology from IPMS for the "big" awards (Class and Best of Show), and coupled it to the exhibition and display format espoused by the Military Miniatures Society of Illinois.
At the end of the day (a very long day, indeed!), we believe this system has merit. We had our share of rocks in the road, to be sure, and will work on removing them, and we’ll try it again next year.
The Bad
Using a new system requires some intense training, more so than a “normal” model show. As a result of COVID, our ideal method—in-person dry runs—wasn’t possible. We did host a judges training session and simulcast it via Zoom, but there was much more that needed to be learned outside of the judging method.
As a result, problems began at the registration table, and these problems were transmitted down the line. A mistake at registration affected the scoring team, which affected the judging teams, which resulted in delays. Judging was slated to begin at 9:30, but didn’t begin until nearly 11. By a lot of hard work, that margin—90 minutes—remained more or less steady. The awards program, scheduled for 3, began right around 4:30, and the venue was cleared by 7—compared to previous shows, this wasn’t too far off what we were accustomed to.
But it may have seemed much longer than 90 minutes—the venue’s HVAC failed, and I don’t think I need to tell anyone what June in Columbia, South Carolina is like. It was hot. It was humid. It was stuffy. It was something we as the show hosts had zero control over, so we had to no choice but to grin and bear it.
The Ugly
When it comes to model shows, The Ugly usually shows up after the fact. To wit:
We’ve discovered several anomalies in registration that resulted in some confusing awards packages (the wrong score sheets, etc.)—we’re working to rectify that over the next few days.
We have seen one case of a person badmouthing the show due to a perceived slight to one of his buddy’s models. You know the drill—“He was robbed! It should have won Best in Class AND Best of Show! This show is shit and the judging is questionable!”
Now, we always take claims of sketchy judging seriously--any model show is only as good as the contest's integrity. However, we also temper those claims by reviewing our records, and when someone whines about our judging being "questionable" but didn't bother to get up off his fourth point of contact and lend a hand when the calls for judging volunteers went out, we tend to dismiss the claims as sour grapes.
Incidentally, this guy isn’t registering his complaints through any of the show’s official communications channels—we have our website, complete with e-mail and telephone numbers, and a Facebook page where we are able to communicate via Facebook Messenger. No, he’s on a private Facebook page that is visible only to its members. He’s been given the opportunity to engage with us privately, so far he has not done so.
I also find it interesting that we have heard nothing from the entrant himself.
Now, was he “robbed”? If he was, he did it to himself. See, as the day wore on, people began packing up and heading to the doors. Several announcements were made, reminding folks that the judging was still in progress, and they should leave their models on the tables. Can you see where this is going?
Yep, the entrant packed up his model and went home. The sad part? The model in question was indeed in the running for Best in Class, and most likely would have taken that award as well as the Best of Show. Had he heeded the announcements and stuck around, he would have been King of the Show. But we can’t force people to stick around, and most people who enter model shows understand that if you leave before the show is over, you stand to forfeit any awards your model might earn.
The moral of the story? Hang around until the bitter end. Yeah, I know, people want to go home. I get that. But if you want to "get what's coming to you", you need to be there, and your model needs to be available throughout the entire judging process.
Yeah, we had some issues. Tell me about a single large event that doesn’t. Add into the equation our new, untried, untested format, and yeah, shit happens. But we will take what we learned on Saturday and learn from our mistakes. I can assure you that they will all be addressed and rectified before our next show.
So, why use a new format? Why reinvent the wheel?
If you’ve stuck with me for any length of time, you know that I’m not a fan of what IPMS/USA calls “healthy competition” (which over the years has become closer to a WWE "Hell in a Cell" Hard-Core Death Match than the friendly contest than I have to believe was the original intent) when it comes to scale modeling. People debate me on whether we engage in art or craft, but we all agree that what we do is fueled by our individual creativity. How do you say that one person’s creativity is “better” than another person's creativity?
I would much rather host a straight, no-competition, scale model exhibition than a head-to-head contest. In our new format, the contest is there simply because people seem to have an aversion to showing their work without the ability to take home a big shiny something for their efforts. We’re trying to give folks the best of both worlds, and with a little refinement we believe it will work. We’ll face a bit of a challenge next time, as we’ll have to conquer the small amount of “See, we told you that your cockamamie scheme wouldn’t work” sentiment that will be out in the world, but we think we’re on the right track.
Come by next year and see for yourself.
In other news, I have had not one, but two of my models featured in the IPMS/USA Journal. One of them is the Sea King, the other is a 1/72nd scale F-4J(UK) built from the Academy kit. Coupled with the FSB RIPCORD article, I’ve become quite prolific (he says with a chuckle)…
An article on the Monogram 1/72nd scale F-82 project will be appearing in a future issue of the Journal, and as long as they ask, I’ll keep providing articles. Along with my efforts to teach Model Building 101, the articles are my way to “give back” to the hobby, a hobby that has been a major part of my life since I was seven years old, taught me so many life lessons, and introduced me not only to a bunch of super people—including my wife!—but also opened the way to my careers in history, aviation, research, writing, and hanging out at the hobby shop.
That’s a funny, that last one, in case you were curious…
Along with all the model articles I’ve been batting out, I’ve been engaged in some other writing projects, projects that are for me and me alone. I’ve been battling a little bit of writer’s block on some “serious” projects, so as a way to get back into the groove I’ve been writing to myself about myself—as they say, if you don’t know what to write, write about what you know. In this case, it is as much about the part of myself that I know as it is discovering the “me” that I didn’t realize was there.
Call it a diary, a journal, or a retrospective, I’m finding it to be refreshing, interesting, revealing, embarrassing, sad, funny, and, well, satisfying. You should try it sometime.
That’s all I have for now. It has been a while since we saw each other, and I hope all of you are well. If you are inclined to do so, get vaccinated. The only way we’re going to get past COVID and back to some semblance of normal is through science…
Until next we meet, be good to one another, and, as always, I bid you Peace.
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