1. The contest is open to ALL model builders.
   
2. There will be no limit to the number of entries per category, per contestant.
   
3. All entries must be the work of the entrant. Joint entries may be displayed but must be labeled as such and will not be judged.
   
4. Any model that has won FIRST PLACE in any previous Syrcon may only be entered in the Best of the Master Modeler’s category.
   
5. Bantam entrants must be younger than 12 years of age.
   
6. Junior entrants must be ages 12-17, but may enter senior categories at their request.
   
7. Theme Award for SyrCon is:
   
8. Entries in the Master Modeler category must have won First Place in a local invitational, regional, or national contest. The entry must be displayed with one award of the builder’s choice won by that entry. Models entered in this category are not eligible for any other award. Prior winners of the Syrcon Master Modeler Award are not eligible.
   
9. Collections are defined as five (5) or more closely related models. Models from past winning collections may not be entered as part of a new collection. Consideration will be given to the presentation of the collection.
   
10. Custom conversions are models to which a significant amount of fabrication and rebuilding of structures has been done, by the modeler, to make a substantially different model than out of the box. Kitbashing and kit conversions (resin, vacuform, etc.) must be entered in the appropriate stock category.
    
11. No reference materials, drawings, or in-progress photos may be displayed on the contest table except in the custom conversion and scratch-built categories. Documentation should be available to verify unusual modifications or color schemes at judges’ request.
    
12. All disputes must be taken to the chief judge before judging begins. The chief judge’s decisions are final in all matters.
    
13. No member of the judging staff shall judge a category in which he is entered.
    
14. At his discretion, the chief judge may combine, split, or create new categories, as he deems appropriate. Models may be moved to more appropriate categories at the judging staff’s discretion.
    
15. IPMS Syracuse, IPMS USA, Pensabene’s, nor the judges assume any liability for lost or damaged entries.
    
16. THE IRON MAN AWARD: A contestant must enter models in three different sections of the contest: for example, an aircraft entry, an automotive entry, and a figure. These entries MUST be identified to the registration staff at time of registration as IRON MAN entries. These entries are eligible for the regular awards in their respective categories as well as the IRON MAN award. The IRON MAN award winner is determined by separate judging team using a point system. The entrant with the highest cumulative score will be declared the winner.
    
17. Out-of-the-box entries must use for construction only components supplied in the kit. Parts may be thinned, sanded, drilled out and so forth, but new parts may not be manufactured, cast, vacuformed or otherwise produced. No photoetched or resin cast detailing parts or parts from other kits may be used and control surfaces may not be reconfigured, doors or hatches opened, etc. except as allowed in the stock kit design. Paper or tape seatbelts may be added, but no photoetch buckles or other photoetched or resin parts are allowed unless they are supplied with the stock kit. Antenna wires and aerial made of stretched sprue may be added to the kit. Instruction sheets must be available for the judges if they request them to verify an entry’s eligibility. Any method of finish is allowed, including foil and any decals or other markings may be used. Out-of-the-box entries may be placed in standard categories if desired, but will not be considered for awards in the out-of-the-box categories.
    
18. IPMS Syracuse and the Chief Judge reserve the right to bar the exhibition of any entry that would be deemed to be offensive to the public in accordance with guidelines set forth by IPMS USA. Also, the maker of the flier is not responsible for any typos or mistakes. He is a simple-minded individual so give him a brake.

Policy on Handling Models

While it is sometimes necessary to move models to place them into the correct category or to be able to view them and adequately study them for fair judging, it is the policy of Syrcon’s judging staff to not pick up models or handle them needlessly. If you do not want your models touched in any way there is a check-off box on the entry form that allows you to request this consideration. Please be advised, however, that if you are not available to move your entry during judging, your entry may be passed over in the judging process if the judges cannot study it adequately to make a fair decision. It is obviously advantageous to the modeler to present his model on a base that may be more readily moved than the model itself. If a model is placed on a base, please indicate on the entry form whether it is attached or not.