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General
Statement No. 1: Wings &
Wheels Modelers (hereafter W&W, and/or the Club) is an IPMS-USA
(International Plastic Modelers Society) affiliated chapter, but not all
W&W members are IPMS-USA members. As such, the Club determines, in its sole
discretion, the Rules of its ValleyCon contest.
Many, but
not all, IPMS guidelines have been adopted by the Club, having been deemed as
most appropriate to providing the most favorable customer experience for our
guests and members. However, W&W retains the right to utilize existing,
amended, and/or developing concepts from a variety of sources, all in our
efforts to meet the evolving interests of the attendees to our event. General
Statement No. 2: Wings &
Wheels Modelers conducts the ValleyCon event as a so-called “No-Touch”
operation. Judges are instructed NOT to pick up, or otherwise touch, the
entered models.
W&W
does reserve the right to “move” models, if required. For instance, models on
bases (or those placed upon the cardboard cake-rounds) occasionally may need to
be shifted on the table to provide sufficient space for later-arriving entries.
Reasonable attempts will be made to locate the model owners, to have them move
their works; however, the Head Judge, her/his designee(s), and/or the Class
Judges, retain the right to shift or move models to manage space demands.
In
addition, Class Judges may turn a based (or cake-round-mounted) model to
adequately or more fully assess the quality of the builder/painter’s work,
during the assessment process.
General
Statement No. 3: Regardless of
judging methodology, ValleyCon entries are assessed based on the modeler’s
demonstration of Basic Modeling Skills - such as construction, alignment,
mold-line and sprue-gate treatment, and so forth - as well as appropriate
Finish and Presentation. (Documented historical accuracy, for certain classes
or categories, may also be a determining factor.)
The
mastering of Basic Modeling Skills should be both the goal of every scale
modeler, and the base-line metric for any model contest judge.
General
Statement No. 4: In the
Automotive and Aircraft Classes, and in those instances where a Class may be
under-populated [defined for this purpose as less than four (4) modelers],
W&W reserves the right to default to Open System methodology IF the quality
of the work entered is NOT sufficient to justify the awarding of a 1st place
award.
This
provision has been enacted to prevent, in those rare cases, a substandard model
claiming an unwarranted award simply because it was entered in an
under-populated Class.
Granting
a 1st place award to a lone entry in an under-populated Class may, in certain
circumstances, be justified, based on the quality of the work; in other
circumstances, however, such a prize, conferred upon a lesser level of work,
might serve to cheapen other, more legitimate 1st place awards. As such,
W&W reserves to itself the right, in these rare situations, to treat such
entries in an equitable manner, based on the quality (or lack thereof) of the
entered work.
General
Statement No. 5: In the
interests of further promoting the scale model hobby, and for the enjoyment of
our visitors, the Club welcome those modelers who wish to display their work,
but would prefer not to enter the contest. Tables will be designated for
DISPLAY ONLY exhibits, and we hope that our visitors will take advantage of
this opportunity to share their work with other scale model enthusiasts.
General
Statement No. 6: And lastly, we
believe that everyone - visitors and members - wants to know which artist
produced the models on display during our show. Therefore, our Table Forms ARE
NOT MEANT TO HAVE THE NAME FOLDED UNDER! Having the names visible SHOULD
promote greater awareness of skilled modelers, which hopefully will lead to
more recognition amongst peers, and more opportunities for builders to
interact, share experiences, and pass on information regarding techniques
and/or products used to create results. Artists have historically signed their
work, and branding is a much more prevalent part of our modern world.
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In
recognition of the General Statements, the General Rules of the ValleyCon
model contest are as follows: 1. All entered models MUST be substantially built and/or painted
by the person entering the contest. They may be constructed of a variety of
materials - plastic, resin, wood, and/or metal being the most common materials
- but no pre-built models (die-cast, toys, etc.) will be allowed. That said,
Junior Modelers (those age 16 and under) may be assisted by parents, guardians,
or other older individuals, for safety and other concerns, in an
age-appropriate fashion.
2. Entries
for the contest must be made in person, between 9am and Noon on the day of the
event, or at such other times as the Club may announce. Proxy entries,
depending on the circumstances, may be allowed at the Head Judge’s discretion
(or his/her Designee). Entry fees, and other applicable charges if any, will be
announced by the Club, and publicized as needed.
3. Models
that have won an award at a previous ValleyCon event will not be eligible to be
entered in a subsequent contest. The Club would, however, encourage winning
modelers from past shows to bring projects to place upon the Display Only
tables, for the enjoyment of others.
4. Modelers
are limited to THREE (3) MODELS PER CLASS, which must be displayed together.
This restriction is in place mainly to allow our Judges to assess your models
in the fairest and most efficient manner possible. Modelers may enter as many
Classes as they wish.
5. Junior
Modelers, defined for these purposes as aged 16 and under, have a Class
available for their models. However, Juniors MAY elect to place their model(s)
in a competitive Class, where it/they will be assessed accordingly.
6. WE
STRONGLY URGE ENTRANTS TO AFIX OR PLACE THEIR MODEL(S) ON A “BASE” OF SOME
SORT, TO MINIMIZE THE HANDLING OF THE MODEL ITSELF DURING THE JUDGING PROCESS,
OR IN THE EVENT THAT THE MODEL(S) NEED TO BE MOVED FOR SPACE MANAGEMENT
CONCERNS. Placement on a base of some
sort helps us to keep your model as safe as we can reasonably manage.
7. While
the Judges will make every reasonable effort to avoid touching your model(s), a
fair assessment of your work includes the ability to view your entry from
multiple sides or angles. It is MUCH easier to gently turn a base to
view all aspects of the model, than to have to turn or touch the model itself.
Please keep this in mind as you plan how you will be displaying your work on our
tables. Thank you!
8. PLEASE
DO NOT PLACE YOUR MODEL ON TOP OF YOUR TABLE FORM(S) - WE DON’T
WANT TO HAVE TO TOUCH YOUR MODEL TO GET AT YOUR INFORMATION! If you have
multiple models entered in a Class, stack your forms near your grouping - if
you provide the relevant data, our Judges will be able to match the forms to
the model. (And please - re-read Statement No. 6, and proudly display your
Name!)
9. Unfortunately,
we continue to see the occasional modeler who neglects to type in, or
handwrite, their Name and/or Model ID data on their Table Forms. (Remember, we
give you a wristband with your Modeler Number written on it.) As a result, we
have no choice but to reserve the right to disqualify any model whose Table
Form does NOT contain legible Entrant Name and/or Model ID information.
10. We
also reserve the right to remove from display and/or consideration any model
deemed inappropriate and/or offensive, the Head Judge’s decision being final.
11. In
any Class, a modeler may win only one award. This is often referred to
as the “No Sweeps” provision. Only one award, per entrant, per Class. (Excluded
from this limitation are the Best Of and Best In Show awards, which will be
issued in addition to the relevant Class award.)
12. PLEASE
REFER TO STATEMENT NO. 4 - In any Class being judged using the IPMS methodology
(for this year, the Automotive and Aircraft Classes), if there are fewer
than four (4) entrants, W&W reserves the right to default to Open
System methodology IF the quality of the work entered is NOT sufficient to
justify the awarding of a 1st place award.
13. Regardless
of the judging methodology employed, the assessment of models will be based, in
large part, upon the Modeler’s demonstration of Basic Modeling Skills, as that
term is used in IPMS-USA directives (including but not limited to the current
Competition Handbook). Finish, presentation, and where applicable, reasonable
historical accuracy, will also be considered.
14. If
your model is of a subject not generally known, or requires additional
information to aid in the appreciation of your entry, we urge modelers to
provide suitable documentation (sometimes referred to as a “brag book”) with
your entry, to assist the Judges with their assessment.
15. W&W
reserves the right to add, split, combine, or delete Classes, as necessary (and
without prior notification) to ensure a fair and manageable competition. In
addition, we may expend, contract, or relocate Classes in an effort to
effectively manage the space provided to us for the event, for the safety and
movability of both entrants and guests.
16. Models
displayed within glass or plastic cases may be entered; however, if said models
are to be assessed by the Judges, the modeler must be willing to remove the
case or covering (or otherwise facilitate the proper viewing of the subject) if
and when requested by the Judges.
17. FAIR
WARNING: Entrants who elect to
remove their models from the marked Class tables prior to 3:30 pm (or
such other time as the Head Judge may select) assume the risk of having their
entries NOT CONSIDERED for certain awards, and/or photographed for our website.
18. Awards
MUST be claimed at the Show. We cannot mail awards to participants who leave the event before the results of the competition
have been fully announced.
19. Neither
Wings & Wheels Modelers, nor the Chicopee Knights of Columbus, bear any
responsibility, or assume any liability, for models accidentally damaged or
lost while traveling to, at, or returning from, the ValleyCon event.
20. Lastly,
the decisions of the Judges, and the Head Judge, are final.
[Updated 3/15/2026]
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