The National Contest Classes & Categories
Listed below are the official classes and categories for the 2023 IPMS/USA National Contest. A PDF copy of the offical classes and categories can be downloaded here.
Sponsorships
If you or your chapter would like to sponsor one or several of the below categories for the 2023 Convention, please follow this link to the IPMS/USA webstore to make your purchase. As categories are purchased, we will update the sponsors below.
0. Juniors
| Aircraft | Sponsored By: | |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Pre-teen | John Bercaw |
| 11 | Teen | Red River Modelers |
| Military Vehicles | ||
| 20 | Pre-teen | IPMS Northern Virginia |
| 21 | Teen | IPMS Sonoran Desert Modelers |
| Figures | ||
| 30 | Pre-teen | IPMS Sonoran Desert Modelers |
| 32 | Teen | Oklahoma Historical Modelers Society |
| Ships | ||
| 40 | Pre-teen | IPMS Salem, Oregon |
| 42 | Teen | In Memory of Ron Painter |
| Automotive | ||
| 50 | Pre-teen | IPMS Las Vegas |
| 51 | Teen | Mid-Michigan Model Makers |
| Dioramas | ||
| 70 | Pre-teen | Silverwings Sacramento Chapter |
| 71 | Teen | Silverwings Sacramento Chapter |
| Miscellaneous | ||
| 80 | Pre-teen | IPMS Las Vegas |
| 81 | Teen | IPMS Las Vegas |
I. Aircraft
| Biplanes | Sponsored By: | |
|---|---|---|
| 101 | 1/144 and 1/72 | Thomas Copeland |
| 103A | 1/48 | Oklahoma Historical Modelers Society |
| 103B | 1/32 | Bolshevik Brothers |
| Small Aircraft: Single Engine, Prop | ||
| 105-A | 1/72: US/Allied Inline | IPMS Houston |
| 105-B | 1/72: US/Allied Radial | IPMS Lakes Region Scale Modelers |
| 105-C | 1/72: Axis Inline | Lee Forbes |
| 105-D | 1/72: Axis Radial | IPMS Northern Virginia |
| 106 | 1/72: Basic Kit Build | David Lockhart |
| 107-A | 1/48: US/Allied Inline | Obscureco Aircraft |
| 107-B | 1/48: US/Allied Radial | IPMS Gateway Chapter |
| 107-C | 1/48: Axis Inline | Emerald Coast Modelers |
| 107-D | 1/48: Axis Radial | Twin City Aero Historians |
| 108 | 1/48: Basic Kit Build | ShutterAce(Jim Deck) |
| Medium Prop Aircraft | ||
| 111 | 1/72 | IPMS Lincoln - Scott Sumison |
| 113 | 1/48 | IPMS Memphis |
| Large Prop, Multi-Engine Aircraft | ||
| 115 | 1/72 | Damon Blair |
| 117 | 1/48 | IPMS Canada - Hamilton |
| Medium & Large Prop, Multi-Engine Aircraft | ||
| 118 | 1/72: Basic Kit Build | Mark Schynert |
| 120 | 1/48: Basic Kit Build | Bob Sanchez |
| Small Jet | ||
| 121 | 1/72 | Skyhawk Association |
| 122 | 1/72: Basic Kit Build | Jeffry Dobbins, CPA |
| 125 | 1/48 | Bullseye Model Aviation |
| 126 | 1/48: Basic Kit Build | Peter Gatehouse |
| Large Jet | ||
| 129 | 1/72 | Jack Wyzlic - Polish Coast Watchers |
| 130 | 1/72: Basic Kit Build | IPMS Southern Air Craftsmen |
| 131 | 1/48 | Bob Sanchez |
| 132 | 1/48: Basic Kit Build | IPMS Denver - Rob Wolf Chapter |
| 1/32 Aircraft | ||
| 135 | Propeller-Driven | Mike Krizian in memory of Brian Phillipson |
| 137 | Jet-Powered | Michael Lamar |
| 138 | Basic Kit Build | IPMS Duneland |
| 1/144 Aircraft | ||
| 141 | Small | Mike Brickman |
| 143 | Large | Fred & Bobbi Hall |
| 144 | Basic Kit Build | James and June Kelley |
| Rotary Wing (civil or military) | ||
| 151 | 1/144 and 1/72 | IPMS Atlanta |
| 153 | 1/48 and 1/32 | Twin City Aero Historians |
| 154 | Basic Kit Build | Huntsville Plastic Modelers Society |
| Civil, Sport, Racing, and Air Taxis | ||
| 157 | 1/144 and 1/72 | IPMS Northeast New York |
| 161 | 1/48 and 1/32 | IPMS Roanoke Valley |
| 162 | Basic Kit Build | Alec Krikava |
| Airliners, Airliner Types, and Airships | ||
| 163 | 1/144 | IPMS Jim Galloway |
| 165 | 1/72, 1/48, and 1/32 | Joseph Youngerman |
| 166 | Basic Kit Build | Grand Strand Scale Modelers |
| Unmanned Aerial Vehicles | ||
| 167 | All entries | IPMS Alamo Squadron |
| Elevated Displays | ||
| 175 | All Entries | Chicago Sprue Stretchers |
| Vacuum-formed | ||
| 181 | All entries | Walter Split & John Durrant in Memory of Bill Koster |
| Conversions | ||
| 183 | All entries | IPMS ZIA Scale Modelers |
| Scratch-Built | ||
| 185 | All entries | IPMS Marietta Scale Modelers |
| Dioramas | ||
| 191-A | Vignette, 1/144 and 1/72 | Mark Sandvigen |
| 191-B | Vignette, 1/48 and 1/32 | Aggieland Modeling Club |
| 193 | Dioramas | Bruce Culver in Memory Of Shep Paine |
II. Military Vehicles
| 1/35 Military Vehicles (including tanks, assault guns, and self-propelled guns) |
Sponsored By: | |
|---|---|---|
| 200-A | Closed-top AFVs, through Korea, Axis Light and Medium | AMPS USA in Memory of Mark Ford |
| 200-B | Closed-top AFVs, through Korea, Axis Heavy | IPMS Northern Virginia |
| 200-C | Closed-top AFVs, through Korea, Allied | DB Scale Model Studio |
| 200-D | Closed-top AFVs, through Korea, Other | IPMS Jim Galloway |
| 201-A | Closed-top AFVs, post-Korea, NATO | Michael Mummey, MSgt, USMC (Ret) |
| 201-B | Closed-top AFVs, post-Korea, Warsaw-Pact and Russian | In Memory of Mark Ford |
| 201-C | Closed-top AFVs, post-Korea, Other | Albuquereque Scale Modelers |
| 206-A | Open-top AFVs or AFVs with Interiors, Axis | THE DARK SIDE |
| 206-B | Open-top AFVs or AFVs with Interiors, Allied | The Sultans of Sprue |
| 206-C | Open-top AFVs or AFVs with Interiors, Other | IPMS First Coast Chapter |
| 209 | Armored Cars | Baton Rouge Scale Modelers |
| 210 | Armored Halftracks | In Memory of Mark Ford |
| 211 | Soft-skinned Military Vehicles | IPMS Denver - Rob Wolf Chapter |
| 1/48 Military Vehicles | ||
| 212 | Tracked | Tom Moon |
| 213 | Wheeled | IPMS Fort Crook |
| 1/72 Military Vehicles | ||
| 218-A | Fully Tracked, through Korea, Allied | IPMS Baltimore |
| 218-B | Fully Tracked, through Korea, Axis | Jon Caldwell |
| 218-C | Fully Tracked, through Korea, Other | John C. Lewis, COL, USMC RET - SEMPER FI |
| 219 | Fully Tracked, post Korea | Roc City Modelers |
| 220 | Armored Cars and Armored Half-tracks | Central Pennsylvania IPMS |
| 221 | Soft-skinned Military Vehicles | The Model Couple: Eugenie & Randy |
| Artillery Pieces | ||
| 223 | All entries | IPMS Wings & Wheels Modelers |
| Conversions and Scratch-Built | ||
| 228 | All entries | Paul Gaertner |
| Kit-Bash Conversions | ||
| 229 | All entries | IPMS Delaware Valley Scale Modelers |
| Multi- or Towed Vehicles, non-diorama display | ||
| 235 | All entries | Central Pennsylvania IPMS |
| Basic Kit Build | ||
| 240-A | 1/35 Closed-top AFVs, through Korea, Axis | Panzer Concepts |
| 240-B | 1/35 Closed-top AFVs, through Korea, Allied | IPMS Plastic Surgeons |
| 240-C | 1/35 Closed-top AFVs, Other | Central Texas Scale Modelers Society |
| 241 | 1/35 Open-top AFVs and AFVs with Interiors | IPMS Alamo Squadron |
| 242 | 1/35 Armored Cars and Half-tracks | Dibbles Hobbies |
| 243 | 1/35 Soft-skinned Vehicles | Arizona AMPS |
| 244 | 1/48 AFVs, Open- and Closed-top | Bruce Culver |
| 245 | 1/48 Armored Cars, Half-tracks, and Soft-skinned Vehicles | Hampton Roads Scale Modelers |
| 246 | 1/72 AFVs, Open- and Closed-top | The Divine Scale Society |
| 247 | 1/72 Armored Cars, Half-tracks, and Soft-skinned Vehicles | "IPMS Freeloaders" |
| Dioramas | ||
| 250 | 1/49 and Smaller | Centennial IPMS |
| 251-A | 1/48 and Larger, Vignette | Central Florida AMPS |
| 251-B | 1/48 and Larger, Diorama | Ron Bell |
III. Figures
| Dismounted and Mounted | Sponsored By: | |
|---|---|---|
| 300 | 53mm and smaller | IPMS Missouri Ozarks Scale Specialists |
| Dismounted | ||
| 305-A | 54mm - 70mm, Pre-1900 | IPMS Houston |
| 305-B | 54mm to 70mm, 1900 to Present | Ted & Susan Andreas |
| 306-A | 71mm and Larger, Pre-1900 | Small Subjects Podcast |
| 306-B | 71mm and Larger, 1900 to Present | Rhino's Hobby Tools & More |
| Mounted or With Mount | ||
| 312 | 54mm and Larger | IPMS Alamo Squadron |
| Conversions and Scratch-Built | ||
| 317 | All entries | The Plastic Posse Podcast |
| Fantasy & Science Fiction | ||
| 322 | 53mm and Smaller | IPMS Patriot Chapter |
| 323-A | 54mm - 120mm: Fantasy | Joseph Smith |
| 323-B | 54mm - 120mm: Science Fiction | IPMS Pelikan Scale Modelers |
| 325 | All entries | Mooresville/Race City Modelers |
| Busts | ||
| 327 | Pre-1900 | |
| 328 | 1900 to Present | IPMS Washington D.C. |
| 329 | Fantasy, Science Fiction and Others | Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse |
| Dioramas | ||
| 330 | Vignette | Centennial IPMS |
| 332 | Diorama | IPMS Sonoran Desert Modelers |
IV. Ships
| Aircraft Carriers | Sponsored By: | |
|---|---|---|
| 400 | 1/700 | IPMS Fort Crook |
| 401 | 1/350 | IPMS Tidewater |
| Battleships, Battlecruisers, and Cruisers | ||
| 402 | 1/700 | IPMS Roanoke Valley |
| 403 | 1/350: Battleships, Battlecruisers, & Cruisers | IPMS Gateway Chapter |
| Other Surface Ships, smaller than cruiser-sized | ||
| 404 | 1/700 | IPMS Delaware Valley Scale Modelers |
| 405 | 1/350 | IPMS Alamo Squadron |
| Sailing | ||
| 407 | All entries | David Lockhart - IPMS/USA President |
| Early Steam and Sail | ||
| 408 | All entries | Bathtub Admirals |
| Submarines | ||
| 412 | 1/700 | Dr. Michael McFadden |
| 413-A | 1/350: pre-1946 | The Nautilus Drydocks |
| 413-B | 1/350: 1946 to present | The SubCommittee |
| 415 | 1/72 | The SubCommittee |
| Boats, Speedboats, Motor Torpedo Boats, Motor Patrol Boats | ||
| 418 | All entries | In Memory of GM2 James Kelley, USN. PT 466, RON 31 |
| Naval Technology | ||
| 420 | All entries | Nautilus Models |
| Conversions and Scratch-Built | ||
| 423 | All entries | The Nautical Research Guild |
| Basic Kit Build | ||
| 426 | All Entries | IPMS Patriot Chapter |
| Dioramas | ||
| 430 | Vignette | IPMS Washington D.C. |
| 431 | Diorama |
V. Automotive
| Factory Production | Sponsored By: | |
|---|---|---|
| 500 | 1/32 | Edward Mele |
| 501-A | 1/24, 1959 and older body | IPMS Plastic Surgeons |
| 501-B | 1/24, 1960 and newer body | Modeling With The Matts |
| Hot Rods, Street Rods, and Street Machines | ||
| 506 | Hot Rods and Street Rods | IPMS Metro Oklahoma City |
| 507 | Street Machine | In Loving Memory of Matt Sherwood |
| Customs | ||
| 512 | All entries | In Loving Memory of Matt Sherwood |
| Competition Vehicles | ||
| 516 | 1/32 | Jon Caldwell |
| 517-A | 1/24, Drag Racing, Modified Street and Purpose Built | Jack Johnston |
| 517-B | 1/24, Open Wheel | IPMS SWAMP Chapter |
| 517-C | 1/24, Closed Wheel | Huntsville Plastic Modelers Society |
| Large Scale | ||
| 529 | 1/16 | IPMS Missouri Ozarks Scale Specialists |
| Conversions & Scratch-Built | ||
| 534 | All entries | David Von Almen |
| Documented Replicas | ||
| 535 | All entries | IPMS Alamo Squadron |
| Commercial Vehicles | ||
| 539 | Light Commercial | In Memory of Pat Whipple |
| 540 | Heavy Commercial | IPMS Alamo Squadron |
| Motorcycles | ||
| 545 | All Entries | Rowdy Bricco |
| Curbside | ||
| 550 | All Entries | IPMS SWAMP Chapter |
| Automotive Technology & Culture | ||
| 580 | All entries | “P. A.” Aguirre - IPMS Silicon Valley Scale Modelers |
| Basic Kit Build | ||
| 590 | Factory Stock | “P. A.” Aguirre - IPMS Silicon Valley Scale Modelers |
| 591 | Hot Rods, Street Rods, Street Machines, and Customs | IPMS Roanoke Valley |
| 592 | Competition | Dem Brudders: www.2modeler.com |
| Diorama | ||
| 596 | All Entries |
VI. Space and Science Fiction Vehicles
| Real Spacecraft, Missiles, and Vehicles (kits and scratch-built) | Sponsored By: | |
|---|---|---|
| 600 | Real Spacecraft, Missiles, and Vehicles | IPMS Gator Modelers |
| 601 | Hypothetical Design | Galveston Bay Area Scale Modelers |
| Science Fiction and Fantasy Subjects | ||
| 605 | Star Trek: From Kits | Space in Miniature |
| 606 | Star Wars: From Kits | Frederick Fernandez |
| 607 | Gundam: From Kits | IPMS Denver - Rob Wolf Chapter |
| 608 | Mecha (Robots, Etc.): From Kits | Flying Tiger Scale Model Builders |
| 609 | Other Vehicles or Vessels | Robert Schorry |
| 610 | Conversions and Scratch-built | Robert Beach |
| Basic Kit Build | ||
| 628 | All Entries | IPMS Western Reserve Chapter |
| Dioramas | ||
| 630 | All Entries | Mike Schine |
VII. Miscellaneous
| Dinosaurs | Sponsored By: | |
|---|---|---|
| 700 | All entries | Three Rivers IPMS Pittsburgh |
| Humor in Modeling | ||
| 710 | All entries | IPMS Marietta Scale Modelers |
| Hypothetical | ||
| 720 | Kit-Based | James Pernikoff |
| 721 | Kit-Bashed / Scratch-built | IPMS Tidewater In Memory Of Bill Brickhouse |
| Triathlon | ||
| 730 | All entries | Allan Thomas |
| Collections | ||
| 740 | All entries | Jeffry Dobbins, CPA |
| IPMS Chapter/Group Entry | ||
| 750 | All entries | IPMS Alamo Squadron |
| Miscellaneous | ||
| 760 | All entries | IPMS Richard I. Bong Chapter |
| Basic Kit Build | ||
| 770 | Hypothetical | |
| 771 | Triathlon | IPMS Des Moines Hawkeye Modelers |
| 772 | Miscellaneous | IPMS Spruce Goose |
| 780 | Miscellaneous Dioramas |
Additional IPMS/USA Contest Awards
- Best of Class awards will be given in each of the eight classes listed below. The best-of-class winner is selected from the first-place winners in each class.
- Tom Kolk Best Junior Model
- Ken Robert Best Aircraft Award
- Art Gerber Best Military Vehicle Award
- Best Figure Award
- Best Ship Award
- Best Automotive Award
- Best Space or Science Fiction Award
- Best Miscellaneous Award
- The Best Diorama Award will be selected from the first-place winners in each of the diorama categories
- The Best Use of an IPMS/USA Convention Special Decal will be selected by IPMS/USA Past Presidents from among any of entries in the contest which use a Convention Special Decal, and as noted by the entrant on the model entry form.
- Theme Awards will be selected from among any of the entries in the contest which meet the parameters of the designated theme, and as noted by the entrant on the model entry form. Click here for the list of the 2023 Theme Awards.
- Best of Class Awards will be given in each of the eight classes listed above, and are selected from the first-place winners in the categories within each class.
- The Jim Sage Popular Best-in-Show award will be given as selected by majority vote (by ballot) of the attendees of the convention (registrants and general public attendees).
- The George Lee Judges Grand Award will be given as selected from the Best of Class award recipients, as selected by the National Contest Committee (Class Head Judges and Chief Judge).
- Manufacturer or Special Interest Group (SIG) Awards can be sponsored/selected by various manufacturers, organizations, and special interest groups. These awards must conform to Rule III-5. Also, see Rule III-6: entrant must sign up specifically for these special awards. Any such awards expected to be announced by IPMS at the Convention or in its Journal magazine must be accompanied by sponsorship of at least one regular category awards package. The screening/selection for these awards is not accomplished by IPMS/USA judging teams; they are selected by the sponsors/sponsors' selected teams. They will be chosen while the contest room is open to public viewing, and the awards placed/presented prior to the awards banquet at the convenience of the sponsor.
- The honorariums or named best-of awards in paragraphs 1, 3, and 4 have been approved by the NCC for the three year-period of 2022 through 2024, per Rule III-7.