As of September 8, 2024
2024 MODEL CONTEST CATEGORIES
A: AIRCRAFT
Note: In Aircraft (except Biplanes, Civilian, and Rotary Wing):
1/144 refers to scales 1/87 and smaller 1/72 refers to scales 1/86 to 1/60
1/48 refers to scales 1/59 to 1/40 1/32 refers to scales 1/39 and larger
UAVs will go into their respective aircraft categories based on number and types of engines and scale.
All Propeller Aircraft categories include props, turboprops, and gliders.
All Jet Aircraft categories include manned, rocket-powered aircraft (such as the Me-163, X-1, X-15, X-24, etc.,) and winged aircraft-type missiles (such as the V-1.)
A-1: Biplanes (and others that are predominantly fabric, struts, and rigging), all scales
A-2: Small Propeller Driven, 1/48 scale—Not exceeding 13.9 inches in length or wingspan.
A-3: Large Propeller Driven, 1/48 scale—Exceeding 13.9 inches in length or wingspan.
A-4: Small Jet Driven, 1/48 scale—Not exceeding 13.9 inches in length or wingspan.
A-5: Large Jet Driven, 1/48 scale—Exceeding 13.9 inches in length or wingspan.
A-6: Propeller Driven, 1/72 scale
A-7: Jet Driven, 1/72 scale
A-8: 1/32 Scale Aircraft
A-9: 1/144 Scale Aircraft
A-10: Rotary Wing Aircraft, all scales—including aircraft with fixed wings and rotors, such as the V-22 Osprey or autogyros.
B: MILITARY VEHICLES
B-1: Armored Fighting Vehicles, closed top, 1953 and earlier—Armored Fighting Vehicles include Tanks, Assault Guns, Self-Propelled Artillery, and Personnel Carriers.
B-2: Armored Fighting Vehicles, closed top, post-1953
B-3: Armored Fighting Vehicles, open top, any era—If hatches are open that reveal an interior (either kit-provided or scratchbuilt), or if the vehicle doesn’t have a top, then it goes in the “open top” category.
B-4: Towed Artillery, Missiles, and Rail-mounted Guns—When a missile’s transport vehicle or launcher is the predominant portion of the system (e.g. Patriot or SCUD) the model will be entered in this Armor category.
B-5: Armored Half-tracks and Wheeled Armored Vehicles—Open or closed top.
B-6: Soft Skin Military Vehicles—Including Trucks, Jeeps, Unarmored Half-Tracks, and Motorcycles.
B-7: Small Scale Military Vehicles—Includes all military vehicles 1/60 scale or smaller.
C: AUTOMOTIVE
(NOTE: If it has military markings, it doesn’t go in any of these categories—except in the case of obviously non-military vehicles like the Red Baron Hot Rod.)
C-1: Replica Stock—Normal production vehicles as they were when they left the factory (but not necessarily a new car.) All details must replicate a normal production vehicle. Aging and weathering are permitted.
C-2: Street Rods and Street Machines—Vehicles that display a stock or nearly-stock production body with modified or enhanced engine, chassis, and interior.
C-3: Custom Auto—Vehicles with a modified body. Could be frenched headlights, different bumpers, chopped tops, stretching, shortening, or reshaping / replacing major body parts.
C-4: Curbside—Vehicles which do not employ an opening hood, doors, or trunk, and are not meant to display engine or chassis detail. Judged as if parked at the curb, without access to the underside.
C-5: Motorcylces—2 or 3-wheeled vehicles.
C-6: Competition—Any car marked as a racecar.
C-7: Miscellaneous—Any vehicle that does not fit any other automotive category (such as fire trucks or bulldozers.)
D: FIGURES
D-1: Humans (Mounted or Unmounted), 54mm and Smaller
D-2: Humans (Mounted or Unmounted), Larger than 54mm
D-3: Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Monsters
E: SPACE AND SCI-FI
E-1: Space and Sci-Fi, all scales—Military launch vehicles (e.g. V-2, ICBM, IRBM), civilian launch vehicles (e.g. Scout, Saturn), and military launch vehicles modified for civil missions (e.g. Atlas/Agena, Jupiter C) will be entered in the Space and Sci-Fi category.
E-2: Mecha, all scales—Powered sci-fi robots, armor or machines, with limbed features or humanoid construct. Such models may contain or display an operator figure as long as it is not the dominant part of the model; mechanical features should predominate. Otherwise an entry will go in the Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Monsters Figures category.
F: NAVAL
F-1: 1/350 Scale and Larger
F-2: Smaller Than 1/350 Scale
F-3: Submarines—Any vessel designed to operate completely (or mostly) underwater.
G: DIORAMAS
Note: Bases will be allowed in all categories and will not be considered in the judging except in the Dioramas-Class categories. A base may be a piece of undecorated wood, plastic or glass or it may simulate the natural surface on which the prototype would be found; however, nothing other than that surface may be used. Aircraft and military vehicles may rest on simulated ground or paving, and aircraft that need beaching gear or dollies may be so equipped. Ships may be displayed in water (no drydocks). The base must not be the predominant feature of the entry and must be of a size proportionate to the model. The Contest Chairman and Judges reserve the right to exclude oversize bases. The model may include primary crew figures. The addition of any other figures or equipment outside or not attached to, the model (e.g. support equipment, shell splashes, or buildings) will make the model a Diorama, which must then be entered in the proper Diorama category. Dioramas are judged not only on the technical merit of their construction but also on the strength of the theme or story they present, so that if two dioramas were technically equal the one having the stronger theme or story would win.
G-1: Small Composition Dioramas—Single (or no) vehicle, no more than five figures.
G-2: Large Composition Dioramas—Two or more vehicles, and/or more than five figures.
H: JUNIORS (Age 17 and under)
H-1: All scales, all subjects
J: Miscellaneous
J-1: All scales—Anything that doesn’t fit the above categories. Models primarily made from medium other than plastic may be placed in either this category or their “normal” category (builder’s choice.)