Update on Twelfth Custom Clinic Photo Contest

We're very sorry that the expanded coverage of the twelfth Custom Clinic Photo Contest, promised in the great coverage found in the June 2008 issue of Scale Auto (starting on page 44), isn't here yet. We're working hard on scanning the many photos from the great entrants, as well as polishing the text. Go here for further information on this delay. Thanks for your patience!

Please check back in a few weeks.

One of the best ways to improve modeling skills or styling abilities is to subject your work to the scrutiny of others. The GSL International Scale Vehicle Championship and Convention provides an opportunity for the high-effort, serious scale automotive builder to submit his or her work to the review of others. 

But there was nothing for the scale auto builder who wanted to improve their scale restyling work. In June of 1994, I thought that it might be a good idea to create a photo contest for custom model car builders. As part of my effort to encourage scale customizing, it seemed that a contest aimed specifically at custom builders might have the effect of encouraging this venue in model construction.

Intended to animate and abet custom building, I thought that it would be useful to offer evaluations on the various entries. This was a revolutionary idea in contests since the deliberations of judges are almost always kept confidential in the contest hall. The notion of publicly describing a model – and then offering constructive critiques – was a new idea. Gary Schmidt, then owner of Highland Productions (that published both Scale Auto Enthusiast and Car Modeler) was initially a bit reluctant but quickly agreed with me that we should try it out.

International in scope from the first Best of Show winner (Finland's Juha Airio), the contest has not been universally understood or approved. At times, criticism of my contest has been pungent with some critics opining that I was being unkind or unfair – or that I had ambushed the contestants. Of course, nothing of the sort was true. No comment has ever been personal in nature, and every entrant after the first contest has known exactly what they were getting into when they entered the contest. Some critics challenged my right to critique the work of the entrants, or they argued that my view were JUST my opinion, or questioned who I was to do such a thing. My response was that well-intentioned evaluations lead to growth, that good styling was much more than a matter of idiosyncratic opinion (after all, those who would disagree that the '56 Lincoln Mark II is a more beautiful car than a '52 Nash are intellectually and esthetically defective), and that, as contest organizer, I could do as I pleased subject to the support of the intended audience. The contestants and I cheerfully ignored the flaccid and exsanguinated squalling of a few critics, with now dozens of contestants voting their support of the contest by continuing to enter it each year.

To demonstrate my commitment to the process of critical (self-)evaluation, I published a sometimes scathing review of my DreamTruck2 model when I finished it (for the first time) in the July 1997 issue of Car Modeler magazine. In response to my critique of my own work, I tore down the model, this time to "do it right." To see the progress, go here.

I wish to express my great and enduring appreciation to all of the historic editors of Scale Auto: Gary Schmidt, Kirk Bell, Terry Thompson, Pat Mulligan, Mark Thompson and currently, Jim Haught, for understanding my objectives and sharing my vision about this contest. With their support, we here at the Clinic have the ability to present each contest so that you can enjoy the work of a wide range of the best miniature stylists practicing their trade.

Please enjoy the following expanded coverage of the printed coverage. As soon as time permits, I'll have photographs of Custom Clinic photo contests Three through Ten.

 

chrometrim
DT Project
Juha Airio
Cummins
Gustavson
Lee Owens
Jeff Jones
Calvin Mauldin
Bruce Owen
Gallery
Photo Contest
Ask Mark!
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