The IPMS CANADA Award at the IPMS/USA 2019 National Convention

Once again IPMS Canada members will be judging and awarding the highly-coveted IPMS Canada ‘Best Canadian Subject’ award at the IPMS/USA 2019 National Convention in Chattanooga, Tennessee. RT Editor Steve Sauvé will head up the team effort and is looking for help from the national membership that will be attending the show. This is another way you can get involved with IPMS Canada national-level activities as we do our part to contribute to the enjoyment of this hobby and this great international organization.

There are several ways you can help:

1. RECONNAISSANCE and INTEL GATHERING We need help locating and identifying eligible models on the tables and then communicating the details to the team leader. In the past this has proven challenging for some of the more subtly-marked entries, such as some armour models, so eagle-eyed keeners really help out here.

You don’t have to do it all, so we can use the help of those who are more interested in aircraft, armour, ships, civilian vehicles or any other subject areas.

You don’t have to do it all at once – as you’re cruising the contest room from time to time you just need to keep an eye open for possible entries, investigate them and respond accordingly.

Ideally, if you have a camera (or a phone with a camera), a quick shot of the model and, if possible, its entry sheet gets emailed to Steve. (This is based on the bitter past experience of trying to track down a model entry that has moved categories after it was identified). The free WiFi at the main convention hotel should bring this part of it down to near-zero cost. If you don’t have a camera, no worries, you can still help by tracking the details manually.

This job normally concludes after model registration is closed on Friday and we have identified all the contenders.

2. PHOTOGRAPHY We need ‘publication quality’ digital imagery of each of the Canadian subject model entries for publication in the September 2019 issue of RT. The Editor needs several angles of each entry to facilitate the layout of the RT article.

You don’t need a high-end DSLR and lighting kit to do this job. Well-composed, well-focused and well-exposed shots that are taken right on the contest tables will do the job. This can be done throughout the period that the model room is open.

3. JUDGING This is where the mental ‘heavy lifting’ comes in. Ideally we have several teams of two or three judges on Saturday morning to move between the various entries and shortlist them down to the top entries, and then the judging teams collaboratively make the big decision for the award winner. Canadian subject knowledge is far less important than evaluating basic modelling skills, the same as any other IPMS contest.

If you’re not comfortable leading then we can team you up with experienced judges so that you can learn the ropes and get more experience in this important part of the process. Even if you have a Canadian model on the table we’ll work it out so that you don’t get into an ethical/conflict of interest scenario. If we have enough judges the whole process is completed in an hour or so, and your job is done.

Later on Saturday, before the formal awards presentation, an IPMS Canada Executive member presents the award to the winner, photos are taken, and the job is done for 2019.

Please don’t think there’s no place for you to help. The more people we have pitching in, the less work and less impact this has on everyone’s Nats experience. And definitely don’t think we’ll have too many people answering the call to help out – we never do.

Please send your replies and questions to [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you!