"Out Of Box" [OOB] Contest Category Definition

[Jay!]

I found this as a subsection of the IPMS 2002 (!) Competition Handbook. Are these the complete, "generally accpted" OOB rules?

C. SPECIAL CATEGORIES

1. Out-of-the-Box

OUT-OF-THE-BOX entries will be governed by the following rules:

1. KITS. Any commercially available kit may be used. The number of categories incorporating Out-of-the-Box awards will be determined by the Host Chapter and the National Contest Committee.
2. FINISH. All finishing techniques are allowed. Decals other than those included with the kit may be used. Insignia, markings, and instrument panels may be hand-painted instead of decaled. Weathering is permitted.
3. CONSTRUCTION. The modeler may fill seams and gaps; sand off rivets; drill out gun ports, exhaust pipes, or other appropriate openings; thin to scale such parts as trailing edges, flaps, and doors; add rigging and antennas; and add simple tape or decal seat belts in the cockpit of an aircraft or the interior of a vehicle (NO commercial or modeler-manufactured hardware - e.g., buckles, etc.).
4. IT IS NOT PERMITTED TO: vacuform, manufacture, or replace any part, or substitute parts from another kit; cut or separate canopies, surfaces, hatches, doors, etc. (no major surgery) (my emphasis; see below.); combine a standard kit with a conversion kit; add anything other than specified on the instruction sheet except as shown in Section C above.
5. INSTRUCTION SHEETS. Modelers must attach the kit instruction sheet to the entry form. Models entered without an attached kit instruction sheet will not be considered for an Out-of-the-Box award.

Okay, so what's "major surgery," as compared to minor surgery? I seem to think that some of us *looks towards Georgia* may have had some experience in this area?

Thanks!

[Veyron]

'major surgery' in automotive categories would mean you couldn't change the basic structure of the model...like adding fender flares, cutting in a hood scoop, opening doors/trunks etc. You can basically just enhance what is in the box in it's factory produced state.

Drilling out exhaust tips for example would not be major surgery.

[Vric]

wow.. the 5th rule is dumb. Like if I was keeping all the instruction of my old builts.

[RallyRaider]

That is a pretty standard definition from what I've seen in the past. Often there are loopholes left that allow the paper of instruction sheets to be used for seatbelts or excess sprue to be molded /sculpted into extra parts! Those rules seem to exclude that by saying it is not permitted to add anything not on the instruction sheet. Including the instruction sheet is also pretty standard for IPMS events I've attended. It's a good idea IMHO, lets the judges know about the kit and see what the modeller has done.

[mike@af]

Is there a scratchbuild entry?

[Scale-Master]

You can use foil, you can use tape, (for vinyl tops for example), you can use flocking for carpet.
You can even use parts that come in the kit, but are not used in that specific kit version.
Instructions are needed to help verify that it is OOB, not every judge remembers every set of wheels offered in every kit for example, some kits come with ignition wires, most don't, it also helps keep it honest...
I made decal filter screens for the injectors on a F1 car back in the early 90's, metal screens would not have been allowed, but decals are another story...
Be creative, think like Smokey Yunik, they can always add more rules...
Take a look at how few rules the IPMS/USA had for OOB in the early '90s compared to now... - Mark

[druid_99]

I think that's the standard and generally accepted OOB rules here (in my country) as the lhs that usually organize modelling competition has shown to me (the handbook), but there are never any modelling competition (except for Gundams) in the last 5 years here (if I'm not mistaken) for me to acknowledge it

[hirofkd]

Sometimes the rules vary by contest, so it's the participant's responsibility to follow the rules of the contest he/she's entering (like some don't allow tapes and flocking).

As for the instructions, it's necessary, because the judges aren't necessarily know everything about each model, and they can't tell whether some PE parts are kit-supplied or add-on. Take Gunze's high-tech kits for example, they include many detail parts that look like aftermarket.

Now, this is purely my personal opinion, but when you're entering the OOB category, the kit determines almost 1/3 of the result, i.e. you have a better chance of winning if you pick a good kit. Another 1/3 is the body color, and the rest is the construction.