The Military Miniatures Society of Illinois hosted their 40th annual figure and model show in Chicago on October 10th and 11th. As always, it was a fabulous show with famed exhibitors from around the world, including Mike Blank from Sweden, Steve Malila from Malta, Adrian Bay from the U.K., and Bill Horan from California. Canada was proudly represented by a small, but impressive group of modelers, each winning at least one medal for their work. This group includes, John Maher, Alex McCutcheon, Colin Fraser, Paul Kernan, John Cairns, Tom Karnas, Paul Burgess, and yours truly, Dave Browne for the above Tiger.
This was my 31st show and I would say that this was by far the most impressive and inspiring show to date with over 600 exhibits on display. As the hobby evolves, we are seeing an increase in the fantasy arena which continues to draw the younger demographic, adding vitality and energy to the hobby.
One of the attractions for many attending this show is the judging style called the “OPEN SYSTEM” established by Shep Paine and Peter Twist, the founders of the Chicago MMSI show. The open system of judging allows for each exhibit to be judged on its own merit, which means that a point system is used for each model, thus there is no limit to the number of gold, silver or bronze medals awarded in a category.
Theoretically, all exhibits could earn a gold medal if 11-12 points are achieved; 9-10 points earn a silver medal, and 7-8 points earn a bronze medal. Thus, no one model wins at the expense of another. The same open system of judging has been adopted in similar forms by AMPS, OMSS and others around the world, including World Expo. This style of judging truly encourages excellence and camaraderie amongst exhibitors leading to a positive experience for all.
Plan now for MMSI 2015! It is scheduled for October 24-25th, which is the week before the annual Ajax Model Show. Imagine, two great shows, in two consecutive weekends!