Introduction:
The Armor Modeling and Preservation Society (AMPS) supports the use of organized modeling competitions. Competitions provide a collegiate forum for modelers to discuss techniques, improve their skills, and share information about the real vehicles that are of common interest. AMPS created a unique system which both judges the model and honors the modeler for his artistic achievement and historical accuracy.
The AMPS system rates the model in relation to the ability of the modeler, rather than against the work of other modelers. It looks at what the modeler started with, what he finished with and what he did to get there.
The AMPS system also acknowledges that judges are human and some judging calls are subjective, not objective. Thus, each model is judged by a team of judges, with the lowest score eliminated. This is "peer evaluation".
The AMPS system groups modelers with other modelers of similar sill levels and talents, rather than against acknowledged masters of the hobby or everyone else who enters in the same category.
Overview:
These rules are for the use of AMPS chapters, affiliate clubs, members, and organizations who wish to apply AMPS standardized judging rules to their shows and local contests. These rules are designed to make the benefits of the AMPS system available to as many modelers as possible.
The modeling contest of the AMPS International Convention is just a small portion of a collegiate gathering of modelers and military enthusiasts. There are also seminars, military vehicle museums, a large vendor area, and, of course, the opportunity to meet and interact with hundreds of other armor modelers and enthusiasts.
The judging system is designed primarily to have each entry viewed and evaluated by a group of fellow modelers. This provides an opportunity to give the entrant's work formal, structured feedback from fellow modelers. The judging system is set up to reward the modeler for the good work he has done. Each model is reviewed and evaluated on its own merits, never comparing it to any other entry.
One of the most positive aspects of the AMPS system is that a large number of modelers and attendees can get involved in the judging system. Many attendees at past AMPS International shows have commented that the best part of the show was participating as a judge.
Competition Skill Levels:
The AMPS system uses five competitive levels which groups modelers with similar skills. The criteria for these five skill levels are:
- Junior
- Junior includes modelers age 17 or younger who do not wish to compete in one of the other categories. Modelers who are 17 or younger are free to compete in other skill levels but are not compelled to do so.
- Basic
- modelers new to the hobby or with basic modeling skills. The BASIC level is the introductory level to the AMPS system. Modelers at this level generally build their models with minimal tweaks, and often have never competed before or are new to the hobby. It allows members who are developing their modeling skills to be evaluated and encouraged through the feedback provided by the AMPS judging system. As with all other entrants, BASIC Level entrants are encouraged to volunteer for judging.
- Intermediate
- modelers with average to above average skill
Modelers at this level generally make some modifications or conversion to their work or use commercial upgrades.
INTERMEDIATE modelers may have been promoted from BASIC, won awards at other shows, or chose to enter at this
level from the start.
An INTERMEDIATE modeler is someone to whom some or all of the following apply:
- Adds photo-etched and/or resin details
- Uses aftermarket conversion kits
- Scratchbuilds details and makes modifications to accurize kits
- Uses reference material for ideas and accurizing
- Improves models by cross-kitting
- Builds full resin kits
- Displays models on complementary bases or with figures
- Advanced
- modelers with more highly-developed skills, whose entries are heavily reworked, accurized, or include
non-commercial parts or modifications.
The evaluations of this class are more strenuous.
An ADVANCED modeler does most of the things expected of INTERMEDIATE level modelers plus some or all of the following:
- Scratchbuilds, using references
- Casts own replacement parts
- Builds and paints at a high skill level
- Presents models on elaborate bases, sometimes with accompanying information
- Uses materials and space artistically
- Masters
- modelers who have won ~Judges~ Best of Show~ at the AMPS International Convention. These modelers consistently demonstrate themselves to be the very best in all aspects of armor model building.
Advancement of Skill Levels
Advancement of skill levels occurs when a modeler achieves a Gold medal in their current level in an AMPS International Convention. BASIC level modeler advances to the INTERMEDIATE level upon winning a Gold Medal in the BASIC level of competition and INTERMEDIATE level modeler moves to the ADVANCED level upon winning a Gold Medal in the INTERMEDIATE level of competition. ADVANCED level modelers can reach the MASTERS level by earning the "Judges' Best of Show" award at the AMPS International Convention.
When a modeler first enters an AMPS International competition and is unsure of his status, the Chief Judge or his designated representative will examine the model entry to ascertain the displayed skill level of the modeler. Based on this examination, the Chief Judge or his representative will suggest a skill level. While this recommendation should be heeded, the modeler is free to enter at any of the three main skill levels (BASIC, INTERMEDIATE, or ADVANCED) desired as long as he meets the conditions for that skill level.
Categories for Competition:
Categories are quite broad. Most categories contain three levels. The exceptions are those where major non-commercial conversion or scratchbuilding is required; these are not basic skills, and it is unfair to both the modeler and to the judges to expect one to be so entered.
Current categories:
| A | Tracked | Allied, pre 1945 |
| B | Wheeled | Allied, pre 1945 |
| C | Artillery | Allied, pre 1945 |
| D | Tracked | Axis, pre 1945 |
| E | Wheeled | Axis, pre 1945 |
| F | Artillery | Axis, pre 1945 |
| G | Tracked | Modern |
| H | Wheeled | Modern |
| I | Artillery | Modern |
| J | Tracked | Sci Fi |
| K | Wheeled | Sci Fi |
| L | Suit/Figure | Sci Fi |
| M | Diorama | |
| N | Figure | |
| O | Tracked | Small Scale |
| P | Wheeled | Small Scale |
| Q | Artillery | Small Scale |
The judges will select one ~Best Of~ overall winner from ADVANCED Gold Medals in a number of genres that cross over all of the categories.
The 'Best Of' categories are:
- Best Allied Pre- 45 Subjects
- Selected from, all gold awarded, Allied marked entries (with the most points)
- Best Axis Pre- 45 Subjects
- Selected from, all gold awarded, Axis Pre- 45 marked entries (with the most points)
- Best Modern 45-present Subject
- Selected from, all gold Modern 45-present marked entries (with the most points)
- Best Sci Fi Subject
- Selected from, all gold awarded Sci Fi Subject marked entries (with the most points)
- Best Diorama Subject
- Selected from, all gold awarded marked entries (with the most points). Please note: A vehicle in this category may also win one of the above Best Of categories
- Best Figure Subject
- Selected from, all gold awarded marked entries (with the most points). Please note: A figure in this category may also win one of the above Best Of categories
- Best Junior Subject
- Selected from all marked entries (with most points).
- Best Small Scale
- Selected from, all gold awarded marked entries (with the most points). Please note: A vehicle in this category may also win one of the above Best Of categories
- Best Themed Subject
- Selected from all gold awarded marked entries (with the most points) identified from the registration form. Subjects eligible for the Best Themed Subject plaque must mark the appropriate box on the registration form.
- Best of Show Award
- The Best of the Best, selected from the 'BEST OF' winners (with the most points) In case of a tie a judgment from the Chief Judge will be final. Then awarded title ~Best Of Show.~
Vendor & Sponsor Special Awards
- Andy Stewart Award
- The best WW 2 Canadian subject, selected from the ~Best Of~ winners (with the most points)
- Jacques Littlefield Award
- The best entry that has demonstrated the most effort in regards to the build.
Additional special awards may be established by individual show committees and shall be awarded only at that show. The individual Tally sheet when they have completed judging an entry will be placed with the entry, with judges~ comments.