Contest Rules-2025-EN
FULL Contest rules
Registration for the contest implies the acceptance of the present regulations.
A. DEFINITIONS
SCRATCH : Personal construction of which the main portion is made of parts not commercially available. The use of small parts/accessories is however authorised (ex : tracks for a tank, propeller for a plane, etc).
CONVERSION : Commercially available model which has been modified in order to change the type, the name or even the appearance of the original model (ex : single seater converted into a two-seater). The correction of errors, opening of panels and even far-driven superdetailling (with possibly "super-detail kits") do not qualify for the conversion categories.
VACU : A kit manufactured with the thermal compression moulding technique, known as vacu-form.
PLAQUE or BASE (socle) : Any model presented alone or on a neutral base. Representations of aviation runways, aircraft carrier decks, roads, etc, are however allowed. Adding one or more accessories and/or figures could have as a result that the model is transferred to a DIORAMA category. The final decision is the responsibility of the president of the organisation.
COLLECTION : Minimum 4 models having a close connection and at the same scale. Ex : 4 Spitfires, 4 GMC trucks, 4 aircraft of the same squadron, etc; only on a neutral base.
HUMOUR : Models of humorous nature or conversions without any link to reality.
STRAIGHT-FROM-THE-BOX : (SFB) This category is exclusively for models built without any personal modification, update, correction nor added details by the modeller and without aftermarket products (i.e. any sets with resin parts, photo etching and white metal). On the other hand, only additions "taught" or "suggested" by the original instruction sheet will be allowed (Ex : adding antennas or wires with stretched sprue). Using other decals is allowed. If the modeller doesn't want to use decals, the main markings can be painted on the model. Using these last two methods will not provide any advantage during judging compared to models with the original kit decals.
Models shall be placed on the cover of their box or on a neutral base and the instruction sheet/plan/booklet shall be given to the contest secretariat during final registration on Saturday morning; this is required for the jury to evaluate and confirm the "SFB" status of the competing model.
Not respecting these rules will automatically result in the disqualification of the model without any possibility of transfer to another ad hoc category.
B. GENERALITIES
1. The contest is an "OPEN" one, thus everyone, being member or not of IPMS, can take part to it. Competing for the "IPMS Belgium Challenge" is however for IPMS Belgium members only.
2. To compete, every participant shall register his/her model(s) through our website plasticandsteel.be or fill in the pre-registration form and return it to the secretariat not later than 8 October 2025. It will no longer be possible to register models for the competition on site on Saturday. All models must be presented on Saturday between 10 and 13 h. On this pre-registration form, care shall be taken to provide a clear description of the model (please print, max 40 signs); example : "MiG-21" is a too short description, "MiG-21, Congolese Air Force, 1985" is a valid description.
Except for entries in the Collection Cat., every model must be registered and presented separately, i.e. no common base for several entries.
3. The participation fees are printed hereafter and will be paid when final registration is done on Saturday morning :
• IPMS members : • € 2,00 /model • Juniors : free of charge
• Non members : • € 4,00 /model • Juniors : free of charge
4. The competitors can register as many models as they want. In function of the points awarded by the jury, more than one gold, silver or bronze medal could be awarded in each category or some might not be awarded. All prizes shall thus not automatically be awarded except in the Junior categories where gold, silver and bronze will always be awarded.
5. The models can only be removed from the contest tables on Sunday after the official announcement of the results.
C. THE MODELS
1. Models shall be built with at least 75% (except for the "OPEN" category) of plastic or any similar material (resin, polystyrene, putty, etc). Metal is traditionally allowed for figures.
2. Models built with other material than specified in point 1 here above (Ex: wood, cardboard, paper, etc.) shall be registered in the "OPEN" category. R/C models or motorized models are not admitted.
3. Models which have been awarded a first, second or third prize, gold, silver or bronze at previous National Conventions are not allowed to compete again.
4. Each competitor must be the builder of the models he registers. His presence at the contest is not mandatory but desirable.
5. The organising committee has the right to exclude any model that is considered going against good taste.
D. THE JURY
1. The jury shall consist of members of each IPMS Belgium local chapter, foreign IPMS members as well as independent and professional modellers.
2. A jury member can compete but shall not judge the categories in which he is competing.
3. Each category shall be judged by a minimum of 3 judges.
4. The decisions of the jury are irrevocable; no complaint will be received.
E. THE CATEGORIES
1. When pre-registering, the modeller shall indicate in which category he wishes each of his models to compete. Once installed on the contest tables, if a model does not match the criteria of this category, it will be moved to another category.
2. In order to inform the visitors and jury members on the original as well as on the model, competitors are kindly asked to display a card with some explanation next to the model (A5 format max, 21x15 cm). Any sign on the model or the explanation card, which helps identifying the builder, will result in the immediate exclusion of the model. Moreover, any other document than the specified card (ex : booklet with photographs) will not be allowed next to the model. For the categories "conversion" and "scratch", it is strongly suggested to describe the nature of the modifications and personal assembly on the card.
3. Any grouping of categories will not be allowed, whatever the number of competitors in the categories. If a category has no competitors, it will be withdrawn. If a category has to many competitors the category may be split in different subcategories.
F. JUNIORS
Juniors (younger than 16 on 10 October 2025) have the choice to compete in the specific junior categories (J1 to J3) or in the other categories. A model can however compete in only one category.
G. IPMS BELGIUM CHALLENGE
Competing for this challenge is reserved to the IPMS Belgium members.
This is not a separate category : the challenge is a special prize awarded to the best model amongst all competing models sporting Belgian colours, whatever the category. The challenge remains the property of IPMS Belgium and will be displayed during each National Convention. The winner will receive a plaque and a small plate with his name will be added to the base of the trophy. The competitor winning the challenge three times becomes the definitive owner of the trophy. Each model competing for the challenge shall be registered in its ad hoc category and a cross shall be added in the field provided for that purpose on the pre-registration form.
The categories
JUNIORS
Any scale, any type
J1 Less than 10 years
J2 10 to less than 13
years
J3 13 to less than 16
years
AIRCRAFT
A1 Civil, 1/144
& smaller
A2 Civil,
larger than 1/144
A3 Military, prop(s),
1/72 & smaller
A4 Military,
jets, 1/72 & smaller
A5 Military,
prop(s), 1/48
A6 Military,
jets, 1/48
A7 Military,
prop(s) & jets, 1/35 & larger
A8 Rotary
wing(s), any scale
A9 Vacu
& scratch, any scale
A10 Conversions, any scale
A11 Dioramas, any scale
A/SFB Aviation
"Straight from the Box"
MILITARY VEHICLES
VM1 1/72 & smaller
VM2 1/48
VM3 Wheeled, 1/35 & larger
VM4 Tracked, 1/35 & larger
VM5 Scratch, any scale
VM6 Conversions, any scale
VM7 Dioramas, any scale
VM/SFB "Straight
from the Box"
Chibi
Chibi Deformed, any scale
CIVILIAN VEHICLES
VC1 Stock or competition, any scale
VC2 Motorbikes, any scale
VC3 Trucks, any scale
VC4 Vacu, Scratch & Conversions, any scale
VC5 Dioramas, any scale
VC/SFB "Straight
from the Box"
FIGURES
F1 54
~ 75 mm
F2 90
~ 120 mm
F3 Busts,
any scale
F4 Tin
flat
F5 Dioramas, any scale
SHIPS
MA1 Any type, larger than 1/600
MA2 Any type, 1/600 & smaller
MA/SFB "Straight
from the Box"
COLLECTION
COL Minimum 4 models on a neutral base and at the same scale
SCIENCE-FICTION
SF Any scale, any type
MISCELLANEOUS & HUMOUR
DIV Any model which does not fit in a category above or of humorous nature.
OPEN
OPN Other material than plastic (cardboard, wood, etc)