The basic premise of the NCMSS awards system -- in keeping with standards adopted by similar clubs worldwide -- is to recognize good modelers and encourage promising ones. No deserving work should go unrewarded. Anything done to further this goal is a good idea, and anything that impedes it is a bad one.
The system is intended to reduce the number of categories to a minimum and eliminate a fixed number of awards, thereby allowing the level of work on display to determine the number and type of awards given.
Because the number of awards is expandable, no piece "wins an award" at the expense of another. Each exhibitor's work is evaluated for its own merit, and receives the level of award that the judges feel it deserves, without regard to the awards given to other pieces in the show.
Any exhibit which includes a figure, however large or small, is eligible for the Main Exhibition. Other types of displays are covered by the Show Committee Awards. All exhibits are eligible for the "Best of Show". Exhibits which have won awards at previous NCMSS shows are ineligible for more awards.
THE MAIN EXHIBITION
The Main Exhibition is divided into three levels of ability: Junior, General, and Advanced. Different display areas are set aside and labeled for each of this groups. Exhibitors are free to enter their work at whichever level they choose, but all exhibits must be entered at the same level. Exhibitors are free to move up or down a level from one year to the next, regardless of the awards they may have won the at previous shows.
AWARDS AT THE JUNIOR LEVEL
The Junior level is intended for novice painters under the age of 18. All qualified exhibits receive Certificates of Merit. The three judges make their decisions by consensus, and may give as many or as few awards as they feel the exhibits merit.
AWARDS AT THE GENERAL LEVEL
The General level is for painters of more developed skills, who don't feel quite ready to exhibit their work at the Advanced level. The General level awards consist of Pewter Medals and Certificates of Merit. As at the Junior level, the three judges make their decisions by consensus, and may give as many or as few awards as they choose.
AWARDS AT THE ADVANCED LEVEL
The Advanced level is geared to modelers of proven ability who have won awards at similar exhibitions in the past. Exhibits at this level are entered in one of three divisions: Open, Painters, and Ordnance.
Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals and Certificates of Merit are awarded in each division. Modelers exhibiting at the Advanced Level are free to enter their work in all four divisions.
In the Painters Division, judging is based entirely upon painting skill. Although scratchbuilt and converted figures are not excluded, they are judged as if they were stock commercial castings. The Open Division, on the other hand, is intended primarily for scratchbuilt and converted figures, vignettes, and dioramas; exhibits are judged on equal measures of imagination and skill.
The Ordnance Category is for models without figures, such as aircraft, tanks, cars, and ships. Figures may be included, but they will not be considered in the judging.
The Toy Category is for vintage and contemporary displays of toy soldiers.
Judging is done by two or more teams, each consisting of three judges and an assistant, who judge both the Painters and Open Divisions in their part of the hall. Judges display their own work in the area where they are not judging. The Ordnance Category has its own panels of judges. The basic judging procedure is as follows: the judges go through their judging area twice, once to select the pieces to be judged, and a second to judge them. The first pass is made as a group. The judges discuss each exhibitor's exhibits in turn, selecting for judgment the piece or combination of pieces most likely to give the exhibitor the highest award. At least one piece or group of pieces is selected for each exhibitor, even if the judges feel his work is not likely to win an award. As the selections are made, each judge enters the title and exhibitor on his judging sheet.
The judges then separate and make the second pass independently. Each judge awards each piece or group previously selected 1 to 4 points: 1 for a Certificate of Merit, 2 for a Bronze Medal, 3 for a Silver, and 4 for a Gold.
These sheets are turned in to the Awards Committee, who compare the lists and make the awards according to the totals. 11 out of a possible 12 points is sufficient for a Gold Medal, 8-10 points for a silver, 5-7 for a Bronze, and 1-4 for a Certificate.
The judging is supervised by the Awards Committee Chairman. Experience with the system and detachment from the actual judging process gives him an overall view of the work on exhibition and the judging process. His comments are only suggestions; the final choices are always up to the judges.
BEST OF SHOW & SPECIALTY AWARDS
The "Best of Show" Award is chosen by combined vote of the show's judges.
New for the 2006 show are three Best of Show awards:
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Best Historical Figure (NCMSS Wilding-Young Memorial Award)
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Best Sci-Fi or Fantasy Model
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Best Ordnance Model (excludes Sci-Fi/Fantasy)
We propose the following criteria, not necessarily listed in order of importance or consideration:
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Degree of Difficulty
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Creativity
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Workmanship
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Painting Skill
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Presentation & Overall Effect
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Historical Accuracy
