Competition Principles

The governing goal of GSL is the promotion of the highest standards of scale automotive modeling, in the context of conviviality and respect.  To that end, GSL encourages the development and display of the greatest diversity of building skills and techniques in the presentation of each competitor's  complete scale model.  Ideally, each GSL competitor will enter a scale model of a complete vehicle that will demonstrate his/her mastery of a full range of craftsmanship, fabrication, construction, painting, and related building techniques and skills.  However, while there is a strong preference by the judges (in all Classes and Master Awards) for scale models of complete vehicles exhibiting a full range of building skills, a sufficiently complex and exquisitelyrendered scale automotive component, or autorelated subject (e.g., a diorama), will be eligible for any award, including Best of Show.  For example, if a model of a complete vehicle (entered in any Class except Miscellaneous) and a model of a component} of a vehicle (entered in the Miscellaneous Class) are equivalently rendered, the model of the complete vehicle would prevail. 

GSL entrants should carefully reconsider the common assumption that successful entries must display either a pristine factory/show car appearance or a heavily weathered appearance.  Carefullycrafted entries, in any GSL Class, that display evidence of occasional or regular street use (e.g., light stone chipping, modest road debris, or fluid leaks) might present some unique challenges and competitive opportunities for entrants.

Entrants are reminded that the first goal of the GSL Championship is the mastery of excellent basic craftsmanship.  An expertlyrendered ``basic'' model will prevail over a more aggressively constructed model that displays less care, effort, and expertise in meeting basic craftsmanship objectives. Contestants are also reminded that only the entrant} may apply the finish (paint, decals, foil) to any part of an entry.  Also note: The style of a model doesn't guarantee  competitive success.

GSL-XXII: THE CLASSES, AWARD SELECTION & CLASS AND MASTER AWARDS

SECTION A: CLASSES AND DEFINITIONS.

The following Classes will be presented at the Twenty-First GSL International Scale Vehicle Championship & Convention. Please read the Class rules and definitions very carefully - there have been some important changes to the Custom, Factory Stock, "If I Had Designed It," and Street Machine Classes. Of course, there are new subjects for the COMMON KIT and GROUP 7 Classes.

Box Plus:The intent of this Class is to encourage competitors to display their basic and advanced craftsmanship skills by constructing an entry using only parts from a single, specific edition of a model kit in the way that the kit manufacturer intended, along with limited additional construction materials and techniques. Each entry must be constructed as defined by that specific kit's instruction sheet; "box art" illustrations are not acceptable construction guidelines. Parts shown placed incorrectly on the instruction sheet may be installed in the correct location(s). No "parts-swapping" of any kind (even between different versions or issues of the same kit) is permitted, and no aftermarket parts or materials may be used except as noted in the next paragraph. No wiring or similar additions to the basic kit are permitted except when the materials are included in the kit and are used only as shown in the instruction sheet. Any adhesive may be used to assemble "snap kits."

Any "aftermarket" body putty or filler may be used: i) to fill "sink" marks, seams or other manufacturing flaws (including the removal of kit manufacturer logos and copyright announcements), and ii) to finish a body modification expressly intended by the kit manufacturer as shown on the instruction sheet (e.g., an old AMT Styline customizing kit). However, putty or filler may not be used to mold in parts or to create or correct shapes (including door/hood/trunk lines or any other details or shapes), unless specifically shown on the instruction sheet for that kit.

The competitor may not remove molded-on "chrome" trim, drip rails, or window trim. Additionally, bodies, panels, parts and components may not be modified, altered or reconfigured to "correct" design inaccuracies in the kit. For example: fender lines, hood contours, window frames and all other body shapes must be maintained as the shapes created by the kit manufacturer, regardless of their accuracy. However, material may be removed to enhance or achieve realistic detail in a particular part. For instance, a competitor may drill out exhaust pipes and carburetor venturies, and remove material to "open" a grille or enhance any detail present in the kit, but may not remove material where the effect of that removal is to: i) change the basic shape of the part, or ii) to change the part from one kind of item to another (changing a starter into an ignition coil, for instance), or iii) introduce a shape not presented in the original kit. A competitor may customize any part of the kit part if such changes are expressly identified in the kit instructions and if the parts for those changes are included in that specific edition or issue of the kit.

Additionally, parts from other kits may be used if shown on the instruction sheet (vintage AMT Styline kit, for example).

Any adhesives, paints, decals and/or metal foil products may be used to assemble and detail the kit , but no three-dimensional structural parts or functional details (body, mechanical, electrical or hydraulic) may be created with paint, glue, putty, sprue and/or metal foil products. However, any painting or abrasive technique(s) may be used to create surface textures on any part. Color and painting guides shown on the instruction sheet do not need to be followed. Manufacturer -painted kits (e.g., the ProFinish kits, and other pre-painted models) are permitted in this Class. Pre-painted bodies may be repainted, clear-coated, and/or polished, but only by the builder.

The builder may remove any surface flaws (e.g., a parting line on a bumper) on any vacuum -metal plated kit part and have that part re-plated in the original finish only. However, a part not originally plated may not be plated. Additionally, the builder may strip and paint any plated part.

The correct instruction sheet (or a photocopy) for that specific issue of the model kit MUST be displayed with the model; otherwise the model will be disqualified from this Class and placed in the next most appropriate Class.

COMMERCIAL & MILITARY, LIGHT DUTY: This Class is for models of any job-specific pickup, light van, public service, law enforcement or firefighting-related vehicle, bus, construction equip-ment, medical equipment, qualified military or similar vehicle, representing any vintage or era, with a gross vehicle weight of less than 10,000 lbs. Models entered in this Class must display commercial or official markings, where required by its use. "Full-track" military-only use vehicles (such as tanks) may not be entered in this (or any other) GSL Class.

COMMERCIAL & MILITARY, HEAVY DUTY:This Class is for models of any job-specific truck, van, law-enforcement, firefighting, medical or emergency equipment, bus, construction equipment, qualified military or similar vehicle over 10,000 lb. minimum gross vehicle weight, representing any vintage or era, which are exclusively intended for commercial or official use. Models entered in this Class must display commercial or official markings, where required by its use. "Full-track" military-only use vehicles (e.g., tanks of any description) may not be entered in this (or any other) GSL Class.

John Dino's entry in the Common Kit Class - GSL XIX -Phil Dauphinee Photo

COMPETITION: CIRCLE TRACK/ROAD COURSE: This Class is for any model of a vehicle, representing any vintage or era, used in road course, circle track, IROC, NASCAR, Can-Am, Trans -Am, etc., competition, and includes "monster trucks" configured for sanctioned competition. Vehicles must be constructed in accordance with applicable 1:1 competition rules of the sanctioning organization for the appropriate era or year(s).

COMPETITION: DRAG This Class is for scale models of vehicles intended exclusively for one -eighth and one-quarter mile straight-line acceleration competition. Qualifying models may be of any vintage, style, or class, and must be built in accordance with the applicable 1:1 competition rules of a sanctioning organization (NHRA, UDRA, NDRA, etc.) for the vintage of the scale model depicted. Where the quality of two models is equivalent, preference will be given to models displaying information authenticating the technical details of the entry.

COMPETITION: LAND SPEED RECORD. This Class is for scale models of vehicles intended exclusively for land speed records on the dry lakes (Muroc), Salt Flats (Bonneville), beaches (vintage Daytona) or in any other recognized setting or venue. Qualifying models may be of any vintage, style, or class, and must be built in accordance with the applicable competition of a sanctioning organization for the vintage of the scale model depicted. Where the quality of two models is equivalent, preference will be given to models displaying information authenticating the technical details of the entry.

CUSTOM: This Class is for any model of a vehicle, of any vintage, description or style, where the primary modifications are aesthetic, and include changes in the shape of the body and other visual aspects of the scale vehicle, with the goal of creating a vehicle with a unique or personalized appearance. These modifications may range from minor (trim removal, custom paint) that create a "mild" custom, to extensive (chopping, reshaping body panels, sectioning, frenching, molding, etc.) that create a "full" or "radical" custom. Models entered in this Class may represent any era or style of customizing, including "lowriders." Models do not necessarily have to display so-called "street legal" equipment to be eligible for this Class, but models in this Class must display basic ergonomic and functional designs that would enable the car to be driven if all street legal equipment were added.

One of the many great dioramas at GSL XIX. -Pat Bibeau Photo

Juha Airio's Factory Stock '56 Lincoln.  -Phil Dauphinee Photo

GROUP 9: The GROUP 9 Class is intended to revive and celebrate vintage building styles, to create a fun and challenging forum for builders, to present a low-key venue for creative and enthusiastic building, and to celebrate the way models were built in the "good old days." The GSL -XXII GROUP 9 model is any issue of the AMT 1950 Ford Convertible kit. For this Class, the kit can be built in any style with the skills and craftsmanship that you have today, but constructed using materials and supplies (except adhesives and paints) available 30 or more years ago (1979 or earlier). Bare Metal Foil may be used because it became available in 1979. There are just three additional limitations: no one-off machined or photo-etched parts not fashioned by the entrant; no aftermarket products available after 1979; and no resin bodies or resin body parts.

Fourth through First Place Awards are selected by popular-vote ballot, and announced during the Awards Presentation on Sunday morning. No entry in this Class is eligible for any Master Award. A model entered here may not also be entered in another Class. An entrant may enter any number of models in this Class.

"IF I HAD DESIGNED IT": Imagine that you are the styling chief for your favorite foreign or domestic vehicle manufacturer for any specific model year that you desire. Assume that you alone will make the final decisions about how that vehicle will appear when it goes into production. How might it have looked and what styling decisions would you have made? What design and mechanical features would it have had? Models entered in this Class must be obviously based upon a recognizable factory production vehicle for that selected year and generally resemble that vehicle. The model must also reflect the practical engineering, ergonomic, styling and production characteristics and conditions that "might have been" made for the year of the vehicle modeled. Each competitor must present a brief written statement explaining the styling and mechanical decisions for the entry, and specify the year and manufacturer of the vehicle represented by the entry.

JUNIOR: This Class is for modelers 16 years of age or younger, who build any style or scale vehicle, including motorcycles and dioramas. (If a Junior Class builder wishes to compete in an adult Class instead, he or she may do so, but the Junior competitor must then pay the Adult competitor registration fee).

MOTORCYCLE: This Class is for any model of any motorcycle of any vintage or era, in any scale, including a replica of a specific motorcycle, whether kit-based or scratch-built. Competition- type motorcycles must be constructed in accordance with the rules of the sanctioning bodies for the appropriate era or year(s). Military motorcycles also qualify for this Class. A replica of a specific motorcycle must be accompanied by sufficient documentation.

REPLICA:This Class is for any model built as a precise replication of a specific automobile, truck, factory "concept" or "dream car" of any vintage, or a specialty vehicle of any description, excluding motorcycles. The vehicle must actually exist, or have existed, in three-dimensional form at one time. The competitor must display, with the entry, the authenticating documentation, photographs, copies of brochures, magazine articles, etc. upon which he or she has relied to replicate the subject matter, and which is sufficient to establish the accuracy of each element of the entry. In the case of two equivalently-executed models, the entry with the most comprehensive documentation accurately reproduced in the model will prevail. A "styling studio" or other artist's conceptual rendering, or a cartoon, will not be acceptable as a source for documentation. Any replica of a scene that would otherwise qualify for this Class must be entered in the Diorama Class.

SMALL SCALE: This Class is for any model, of any description or any style (except dioramas) in 1/43 or smaller scale. (All models in scales larger than 1/43 shall be entered in another appropriate Class. Also note that the Junior Class encompasses all scales). The builder of a 1/43 or smaller scale vehicle may choose to place the entry in any other appropriate Class if they wish.

SPECIALTY: This Class is for all subjects reasonably related to the automotive focus of the Championship, but which do not fit in any other GSL Championship Class. These subjects include auto engines of any vintage, automobile components, models of "T-shirt monster/car depictions" and cartoon vehicles, drag boats when powered by "auto" engines adapted for marine use, futuristic/fantasy vehicles, and so forth. Each entry will be evaluated for a general automotive theme, in addition to the standard judging criteria.

STREET MACHINE: This Class is for any scale model of any vehicle that is: i) based upon a recognizable factory-production vehicle, manufactured from 1949 to date, that has been modified primarily for performance, or ii) a "kit car" such as a Cobra replica or a VW-based dune buggy. Changes may include some, but not necessarily all, of the following: a modified power train, suspension, interior, some minor custom bodywork, and/or other elements. Models entered in this Class may represent any "era" or "style" of construction, from a street driver in daily use showing mild road rash, to an off-road-ready four-wheel-drive or SUV, to the altered wheelbase "pro-freak" cars of the late Sixties, to contemporary "pro-street" or "pro-touring" styles. However, each qualifying entry must be a scale model of a vehicle that: a) is capable of being street driven, and b) is street-legal with full exhaust, four wheel brakes, all lighting, four treaded tires, license plates, and so forth.

STREET ROD: This Class is for any model of any vehicle manufactured through 1948 that features a modified power train, suspension, interior, and/or other elements, and may include modifications to the body configuration. Models entered in this Class may represent any era or style of construction, from a vintage "hot rod," to a stock-bodied street or resto-rod style from the early Seventies, to contemporary "billet rods," "retrorods," or "rat-rods." The entry must be a scale model of a vehicle that: (a) is capable of being street driven, and (b) is street-legal for its era with full exhaust system, brakes, all lighting, at least one license plate, and so forth.