Last Month I attended and entered two models in the Ajax IPMS show in Ontario. This was only the second show I've ever entered anything in. However I not sure about whether i feel a bit guilty about the class I entered into.
The Show was divided into Junior, Intermediate and Advanced across most genre's. I entered a 1/72 aircraft into the advanced biplane and rigged class. In my time i've built many aircraft so although I only build for fun this seemed like the correct class.
However I also entered a figure, now this was the first figure I've ever built it was an Andrea Miniatures German Stormtrooper from world war 1 in 54 mm. I entered this in the intermediate class, sinced that seemed to be the purpose of the class. (Adult, Not that experianced or new to a genre). When I entered it was early and virtually no models were on diaplay yet.
But when i returned later in the day. Junior and Advanced had lots of models in all genre's but Intermediate was not well attended. Now I'm thinking i should not have entered the Figure in Intermediate especially since I came second, but when I looked at some of the models, aircraft figures and tanks I am not really sure what intermediate was meant to represent. Advanced seem to get every model, many modellers like me are fun type modellers so shouldnt intermediate be the most attended of classes?

I know there are out of the box classes, and these are sometimes thought to be the same thing, but they really are not. I can be a Master Modeller and enter OOB, likewise many like me cant leave a model completely oob even if its only adding some stretched sprue wiring and seatbelts to a cockpit, but we're not really advanced more adding a detail or two. .
So whats the general oppinion, was I correct to enter my first figure in the Intermediate class and what really is the intent of Advanced and Intermediate. i know most will say well we have no clue since we didnt attend that show, but most shows have similiar breakdowns even if the names are different. Oh by the way the Ajax show was really well attended and a great show, so if your near Toronto, go visit it next year you wont be sorry.

Ray

From the water under the bridge department: You should have talked with the head judge about this beforehand.
Okay, that said, most events south of you have minimal break down on skill levels, except for AMPS. There are usually one or two kids' categories to encourage them, but for those ove 16 or so, there's usually just one level of competition. Where there is such a division, the expectation is that you choose one level and all your entries are in that. It sounds like other people may noot have been clear on the Intermediate level or actually felt they should compete at the higher level.
It sounds like you certainly kept to the spirit, putting the models you have more experience with in the advanced and the lesser experience inthe intermediate.
Congrats on the award.

After playing the OOB game at first, I now just put my stuff in the open catagory. Partly because my skills have improved and partly because I am now at an age when the most important aspect of going to the show is talking models with modelers. Not worrying about a catagory is quite freeing. Of course, I enjoy placing in shows but it has more to do with competeing with old friends than receiving a trophy.

I do appreciate the fact though not everyone is at the same point I am. So I enjoy where I am and also the work of those striving to be #1. It is all good.
capnjock