RULES

All rules are subject to change at any time as decided by the QMHE Executive Committee. 

1. The QSMC is open to all. 
2. Entrants need not be a member of a club and may enter multiple entries in any category or class where eligible. 
3. No entrant will be permitted to judge his or her own entry/category. 
4. All entries must be the sole work of the entrant. 
5. The scale printed on the instructions/plans will be recognised for entries. 
6. The QMHE Competition Secretary and Chief Judge reserve the right to expand or combine categories and/or classes should the number of entries dictate. 
7. All entries which have previously placed in QSMC are ineligible to re-enter.  
8. Due to the family orientated nature of the QMHE, entries may be deemed unsuitable for display at QMHE and this decision will be solely at the QMHE Executive Committee’s discretion. 
9. The scrutineers in conjunction with the Chief Judge will consider the appropriate category and/ or class for entries in doubt. 
10. The Chief Judge’s decisions are final and will be made within the friendly spirit of the competition and no correspondence will be entered into. 
11. QSMC perpetual awards, Model of the Show, Modeller of the Show and the John Stockley Award are the property of the QMHE and must be returned to the QMHE Executive Committee prior to the event each year. 
12. To qualify for The Modeller of the Show Award, competitors will need to be presented with Gold, Silver or Bronze medallions in a minimum of three (3) genres; i.e. Aircraft, Military Vehicles, Figures; or Civil Vehicles, Ships, Vignettes; or any combination of the 15 genres available.  Countback may be necessary in the event of a tie; but the FINAL DECISION is at the discretion of the Chief Judge.

1. JUNIOR modellers must be 13 years or younger at the commencement date of this year’s QMHE. 
2. INTERMEDIATE modellers must be aged between 14 and 18 (Incl) at the commencement date of this year’s QMHE. 
3. Junior and intermediate modellers may enter in the senior competition. 
4. SCRATCHBUILT entries must be entered in the SCRATCHBUILT category, provided the model is at least 75 percent built from scratch. Plans and reference material should be supplied. 
5. SMALL DIORAMA shall be a scene which tells a story, combining figures, models and scenic effects. The shape of the base is open but the overall size must fit within the boundaries of a 250mm X 250mm square template. No part of the diorama may hang over the edge of the base. Bases and figures will be judged in this class. 
6. LARGE DIORAMA as for Small Diorama, except larger base. 
7. VIGNETTES A small group of figures supported by scenery. May include hand held or personal portable equipment, large animal or small livestock. It can NOT include full buildings, vehicles, aircraft or ships, or large items of equipment. 
8. BASES 
9. Will be allowed in all categories and may be plain or “environmental” in nature. 
10. Will NOT be judged unless specifically provided for within the rules. 
11. A single figure may be used for the purpose of the subject scale. 
12. More than one figure may be used provided they represent the subject’s crew (not service crew). These figures can be placed ON the model but will NOT be judged unless specifically provided for in the rules. 
13. The Chief Judge will move an entry to a class deemed more appropriate, should it be considered that the environmental base supplied dominates the model and or display. 
14. The Chief Judge may request the entrant remove the environmental base from display, allowing only the model entered to be displayed. 
15. REAL SPACE entries shall be any real space/aerospace rockets, satellites, interplanetary exploration or space related experimental craft, including carrier vehicles providing they include the real space payload. 
16. WARGAMING categories encompass wargaming entries specifically figure, squad and vehicle/ equipment. A squad will consist of a minimum of 3 figures up to and including 12 figures. All wargaming classes are open. 
17. CARDMODELS must be entered in the CARDMODEL category provided that the cardmodel is at least 75 percent built from card (not plastic card) and is constructed from a commercially available kit. OPEN Class. All scales. This category is exempt from Rule 
18. DIECAST MODEL entries must be modified by at least 30% from the original manufacturer’s model. Original source, or other relevant reference material MUST be provided. 

In line with the family friendly nature of QMHE, the QSMC aims to provide an avenue
for all modelers to be able to compete and be competitive, be they lifetime modellers, 
juniors just starting and everyone in between.

To achieve this, some QMSC Competition Categories are divided into two Classes,
Standard and Enhanced/Modified. The aim of the Standard Class is to ensure a
level playing field for entrants with a focus on the foundational modelling skills or
techniques.

Given that it is difficult to make a definitive rule to meet the vast range of kits
available, where entries cannot be clearly placed into one category or another, the
Chief Judge will decide the appropriate category in line with the aim of
QMHE/QSMC.

STANDARD CLASS
The aim of the Standard Class is for entrants to present their models that have been
built with the basic foundational skills and techniques.
The Standard Class was previously called Out of the Box or Single Media.
A Standard Class Model must be built from a single kit, without modifying the base
kit parts.
Simple or non-complex multimedia parts are allowed if:

• they are a drop replacement for base kit parts,
• there is no option in the kit but to use the multimedia parts, and
• must be supplied in the box by the manufacturer.

If the installation of the multimedia parts that require modification of the base kit parts
(e.g. cutting, filing or reshaping of the base kit parts), are not allowed and the kit will
be entered into the Enhanced/Modified Class.

Entries that use aftermarket upgrades that are not supplied in the kit will be moved to
the Enhanced/Modified Class.

Allowable Changes

The following techniques are considered within the aims of the Standard Class:

• Drill out exhaust or gun barrels
• Use tape to make simple seat belts
• Restore kit detail or damaged parts
• Add simple stretched sprue antennas or rigging
• Change scheme by using aftermarket decals
• Use metal parts to increase strength or balance

ENHANCED/MODIFIED CLASS

Any entry not complying with the Standard Class guidelines shall be entered into Enhanced/Modified Class. This includes:

• Complex aftermarket upgrades that require modification of base kit parts
• Scratch build replacement details
• Conversion to a new version of the base kit
• 3^rd party detail kits i.e. Gun Bays, Interiors sets, replacement motors,
• Repositioning Flight Controls, Steering, Suspension, Doors, Access Hatches, Engine Cowls etc.
• Combining multiple kits into a single subject (kit bashing)

Minor refinements are allowed which don’t change the final model from that intended by the kit manufacturer. The use of kit supplied rubber tyres and track is permitted. Kit parts which are not plastic, and are used for strengthening or balancing will be allowed.

3D printed resin is a fantastic and powerful technology that significantly increases the possibilities for scale modelling.  While access to 3D printing technology is getting cheaper, it is not available to all modellers. 

The QSMC is about the hand skills the entrants use to make their models.  3D printed parts made by the entrant (as opposed to commercially produced 3D printed parts) will be considered to be the same a commercial resin parts.  In the same way the effort taken by kit manufactures to machine the kit mould is not considered at competition judging, the effort taken by an entrant to generate the digital model or the knowledge required for the printing process is not taken into consideration. 

Glues, putty, alternative decals and finishing products will be allowed.

This is not an exhaustive list of enhancements. 

Consider these as guides: Drilling out exhaust pipes or barrels; adding basic aerials, basic rigging; putty on sink marks or to smooth joins could be acceptable in STANDARD CLASS. But, adding complicated aerials, spark plug leads with caps, rigging wires with turnbuckles and bolts, putty to add features, may be considered more appropriate in ENHANCED or MODIFIED.