Model of the Year

[claidheamhmor]

I entered about 18 models in the Gold Reef Scale Modellers' Model of the Year show on 7 December, almost all being models I'd built this year. I think there were a total of about 170 models entered by about 30 members. A local N-gauge model railway group joined us, and they set up some amazing displays on the stage of the school that was the venue.

The foyer had a huge D-Day diorama, really brilliant work. Judging was pretty straightforward, and everyone who entered had to judge. Judging didn't get into technical nitty-gritty; that can get quite acrimonious. There are a whole bunch of categories, so different scales and types of aircraft, armour, cars, ships, figurines, and other stuff.

Anyway, the models I really wanted to win, my Airfix Gannet and my Saab Viggen, sadly didn't. :( However, I did win in 5 different categories:

My De Havilland Sea Vixen won in the 1/72 Military Jets category; it's a big category, so that was cool.


My recently-completed Antonov An-2 won in the 1/48 & Smaller Biplanes category; I was pleased about that. Its the one in front of the centre placard.

 

The Soul Huntress won the Fantasy and SciFi 75-90mm Figures category. Admittedly the only entry in that category, so I was bound to win it. :)

 

My Edgely Optica won the 1/72 Scale Civilian Propeller Aircraft category. Only entrant in that category, oddly.



And, biggest surprise of all, my Ekranoplan A-90 Orjanok won the 1/144 Scale Military Propeller Aircraft category. I built this model like 25 years ago, brush painted and all, and it somehow won.



Prizes were assorted vouchers for hobby stores.

Along with all the models, I also built bases for most using picture frames, and sandpaper (painted, weathered, and with lines) as tarmac. It was quite a mission getting all the models there and back in my car. Even with my car's boot full, I had models in the front.



The overall show winner was Arthur's samurai horseman. Arthur is club chairman, and his absolutely amazing figurine work often wins the show. This samurai is just incredible. You have no idea how complex it is; there are knots in the bowstring, the horse is the correct breed and colouring, and all the tassels on the horse started out as flat white metal pieces, he had to put them in motion.



There was an "Open Category" for non-club-members to enter. Winner of that category was this, by one of the railway people:




Here's a link to a full album of pics I took randomly: MOY 2024

 

 

Comments

[eve_prime]

Fancy! I would have been nervous driving with all of those in my car, and didn't you say it was a fair distance away? But unlike me, you know what you're doing with them.

[claidheamhmor]

It's about 6km away, with speed bumps and some uneven roads. I have a good method of taping the models down to bases or supporting them in foam, and none were broken.

[eve_prime]

Oh good. For some reason I was picturing a much longer distance - I must have misunderstood something previously.

[kaishin108]

Well how cool you won in 5 other categories! Congrats!

[claidheamhmor]

Thanks :)

[heatherbubbles]

Well done daddy! <3

[claidheamhmor]

<3