The one thing which can mean the difference in winning or placing in the model expo is the references that are supplied with the model. Many times the expo judges have judged great models at the expo but the models references have been nonexistent or wrong and this has prevented a worthy model from placing, or in some cases even winning. It’s an easy 10 points towards your overall score.

Ensure your referencing is succinct and make sure you include the relevant details relating to the build. Box art, kit instructions, aftermarket part (if used) instructions, modifications which you may have made in the build and any corrections that you may have made to kit flaws or inaccuracies. If you have corrected flaws or enhanced a model, provide some photographic or drawing references. If some of the references or photos that you used are in a book or books then photo copy the relevant material and include it.

Please make sure the supplied references are relevant to the subject modelled. This is also especially important if you choose a different scheme or markings than what was supplied in the kit. If the accuracy of the references to the subject doesn’t match then this will lose you points.

For some model kits supplied references can be problematic. Many figures or Sci-Fi kits come from low-production manufacturers and sometimes kit instructions or box art are scant or non-existent. In this case Google is your answer. If someone has kitted a subject then that subject must have some information be somewhere online

Click here to view judging notes.