CLASS DISTINCTION:
IN the aftermath of this year’s IPMS National Competitions has come one of those hardy old annuals that make the problem of judging that much more difficult. The problem has occurred before but in slightly lesser form, this year it raised some pretty hefty problems. I refer to the recently introduced hi-tech kit which has more than likely, injection moulding, vacuform impressions, resin parts, brass etched components and white metal all in the same box. To place the model in any one of the established IPMS classes is difficult because it is neither fish nor fowl. Such an instance occurred in author Jim Howard's superb model of the DH.89A Dragon Rapide featured elsewhere in this issue. The Aeroclub kit has injection moulded, vacuform components and white metal in its contents. It wasn’t a vacuform, it wasn't an injection moulded entry and the white metal parts made the whole problem that much more difficult to solve. There was in fact no exact class in which this model could be featured in its own right. As it was Jim’s Dragon Rapide was not a prize winner. It should have been but the class in which it was placed precluded the accolade.
Is there not a case in this instance, for the creation of yet another class for the hi-tech kit? One can hear the comment. . . not another class!, but this problem has to be solved one way or the other as modellers can get very upset when they obviously have a winning entry and do not even get a place. Perhaps the matter will be raised at the annual general meeting of the society but I would suggest that the committee have a very close and hard look at the problem before it gets that far.
These events also give me the opportunity of raising something that I have suggested in previous years namely the Super Modeller class. There have been a number of occasions where the select few whose work is so good and their attention to all parts of the model so exemplary that they deserve a chance to compete against each other at this high level. Past national champions who win fairly regularly should be included and the sub-classes within the competition only be split down into aircraft, AFVs, figures and possibly motor vehicles of all types. I feel things like this are worth thinking about and I am pleased to have had a chat with the competition secretary who, from what he says, has many of these matters well in hand.
The Nationals have come and gone and there have been many comments about the new venue. I have attempted to highlight some of these in the article but there could be more that I may not have noticed. From the general opinion of the show it was quite obvious that the majority liked the new venue and the committee should receive high praise for the way in which they handled many of the matters that arose during and immediately before the show. Sitting on the side lines it seemed to me, at least, that things went with a swing and that most problems were overcome at the time they were raised. It was certainly different from Stoneleigh and I enjoyed seeing so many models from the individual societies that made the event that much more interesting.
With Christmas almost upon us once more I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our readers, correspondents and suppliers a very happy festive season and a prosperous new year.