OFFICIAL NUSMA CONTEST RULES
			GENERAL....
			... Anyone may enter the contest provided they agree to abide by the rules as outlined.
			... Entries in any modeling medium are eligible, "plastic only" is no longer required.
			... Entries must be the work of a single modeler (except for models in the "Chapter or "group" entry categories, if available) whose name is listed on the "master registration form".
			... You must enter your own models on your "master registration form". You can proxy enter someone elses, but they must be listed on a seperate "master registration form" from your own, and their name must appear on the form.
			... The initial placement of an entry, within a particular category, is the sole responsibility of the entrant. The contest registrars and members of the contest committee will help with any question of placement. The judges and contest committee reserve the right, in their sole discretion, to relocate or disqualify any entry that is incorrectly entered.
			... Any age group can enter the age category above them, but strict age requirements must be met in preliminary ages 5-12 and teen ages 13-17. This is to say that a modeler ages 5-12 can enter teen or adult if they choose. A modeler ages 13-17 can enter adult, if they choose. Adults and teens can not move down.
			... It is an excellent idea to bring the kit's instruction along with any reference material you used. You can place these items next to the entry, provided they do not take up to much space or interfer with other entries. Any questions, contact a contest committee member. The association reserves the right to challenge any entry and to relocate or disqualify any entry in question. Disqualification requires the unanimous vote of the contest committee. The committee is made up of the attending association officers and the chief judges.
			... Any entrant can challenge another entry, but the challenge must be presented before the judging begins, so that a fair assesment can be made and any changes made. If you have a question or a challenge, please contact one of the contest committee.
			... Except during special contests, prior USMA/NUSMA 1st place and Special (Judges Grands) winners are not eligible. There are no exclusions for winners of any I.P.M.S. Regional or National competitions, provided that the winners have never won 1st or Special (Judges Grand) at a USMA/NUSMA competition.
			... Entries depicting subjects offensive to normal standards of decency may be excluded, based on the sole discretion of the judges and contest officials.
			... The entrant agrees that the decisions of the judges are final in all contest manners, including judging, awards, registration and entry classification.
			... By entering the contest, the entrant agrees that his or her's entry may be freely viewed and photographed by contest officials and the general public, and that contest officials may photograph entries for reasonable purposes, without compensation to the entrant, including publication in a contest program or catalog.
			... By entering the contest, the entrant also agrees that his or her's entry must remain on display until after the awards ceremony. This is important for photgraphic purposes, and so the appropriate category winners can be viewed.
			... The contest committee reserve the right, in their sole discretion, to alter or change these rules in the interest of fairness and equity for contestants or to advance other goals of the contest.
			CLASSES & CATEGORIES....
			... "Classes" are the main division of competition, and they include: Aircraft, Automobiles, Armor, Figures, Ships, Spacecraft & Science Fiction, Diorama & Vignettes and Miscellaneaous.
			... "Categories" are the subdivisions within "Classes", such as Rotary Wing, Aircraft or Figure, Diorama.
			... The judges and contest committee reserve the right to change categories by combining, subdividing or eliminating categories when, in their sole discretion, the numbers of entries in any category so require.
			... Categories may be split or subdivided as follows: if there are 15 or more entries, the category judges shall consult with the contest chairperson to determine whether the category should be split. Splits may be made based on markings or nationality, scale, historic era or other considerations which can divide the category into 2 or More similiar sized categories, provided that no subcategory shall have less than 3 entries.
			JUDGING....
			... All entries shall be judged by the modeler's skill in basic contruction, the entry's finish (paint and decals), realism, and the degree of historical accuracy (where appropriate) or the degree of creativity (where appropriate). Some categories, such as dioramas and collections, may have additional judgeing criteria applied, as mentioned in these rules.
			... All entries in regular categories are judged anonymously; that is, the category judges shall not have access to the name of any entries builder. Strict impartiality is required of all judges. No one may be a judge of a category in which they have entered. No one may judge a "Best of Class" award if he has an entry in consideration.
			... Entries may be picked up and examined during judging only by a judge wearing clean cotton gloves. If a entrant does not want his entry picked up, or if they have special instruction about picking up (loose or balanced pieces), he is responsible to leave a note to that effect, for the judges.
			... All decisions of the judges are final and within their sole discretion. Judges will make awards of First, Second and Third in each category and may award one or more honorable mentions. They also select "Best Of" awards.
			... Individuals or groups may select and pay for "Sponsored Awards" for topics or subject matter of their choice. Such sponsors have the requirement for judging or assigning another individual to judge their selected "Sponsored Awards", using whatever criteria the sponsor chooses. The contest committee assumes no responsibility for judging these awards.
			BASES AND DISPLAYS....
			... "Display Bases" are those with mirrors, unit patches, lights, or other promotional features. "Scenic Bases" are those with depictions of earth, roadways, vegetation, water, or other natural surroundings.
			... Any entry in any category may include a display or scenic base, provided that it is of resonable size in relation to the entry and not the predominant feature of the entry. Entries in any of the vehicle classes (aircraft, automobile, armor, ship, space) are judged solely on the qualities of the entry itself, not the display or scenic base.
			... Glass cases and dust covers are permitted, but are strongly discouraged and may make judging the entry difficult or impossible. Dust covers should be removed by the entrant if possible.
			... Scenic bases, figures and 3-dimensional details or support equipment are permitted in any the vehicle classes, under the following conditions: there may be no more than 4 figures in non-action poses (up to 20 figures on ship entries); the scenic base and other details may not be the predominant feature of the entry; if the scenic base and figures combine to "tell a story", the model will be entered in one of the diorama categories; the judges will give no consideration to any base, figure, or seperate details in judging an entry, entered in the vehicle classes.
			AIRCRAFT....
			... STOCK BOX, to construct the model using only the parts included in the original box. The exceptions to this are; paint, seat belts made from paper or tape, and decals from other sources. Construction may include filling seams and gaps, sanding off rivets and other fine detail, drilling out gun barrels, exhaust pipes, grills and the like. No cutting is allowed. This includes; seperating canopies, flight controls, bomb bay doors, and access panels. Thinning of the models surfaces and rescribing panels lines are allowed, as these are part of normal construction. Adding minor antennas are allowed. Extensive rigging, antennas and radio masts are permitted only if specified in the instructions. Entrants should have kit instructions available if requested by the judges. NOTE: kits that include resin, metal and brass parts are considered "Mod Detail".
			... MOD (MODERATE) DETAIL, to construct the model using the parts included in the original box and any after market parts. These after market parts include, but are not limited to; weapon sets, paper or tape seatbelts, decals from other sources, and parts made of photo-etched, resin, white metal, wood, brass and plastic. Also allowed is seperating canopies, drilling out gun barrels, exhaust pipes, grills and the like. Again, with the exception of seperating canopies, no cutting is allowed. No cutting includes seperating flight controls, bomb bay doors, and access panels. Thinning of the models surfaces and rescribing panels lines are allowed, as these are part of normal construction. Extensive rigging, antennas and radio masts are permitted. Entrants should have kit instructions available if requested by the judges. NOTE: If the after market parts require cutting to install, then the model is considered "Full Detail".
			... FULL DETAIL, to construct the model using the parts included in the original box and utilize scratch-built or after-market details, conversion kits, accessories or similiar products, alterations or additions to the kit. Entrants may vacu-form, cast, manufacture, or replace kit parts or substitute parts from other sources. Entrants may cut or seperate doors, windows, canopies, control surfaces, and the like. Entrants may add complicated or extensive rigging, wiring, antennas and similiar details.
			... SMALL WING / PROP, a single engine prop driven aircraft with a wingspan of 60 feet or less.
			... SMALL WING / JET, a jet driven aircraft with a wingspan of 40 feet or less.
			... LARGE WING / PROP , a multi-engine or single engine prop driven aircraft with a wingspan of 61 feet or greater.
			... LARGE WING / JET, a jet driven aircraft with a wingspan of 41 feet or greater.
			... ALLIED (COUNTRIES), a prop driven aircraft flown by one of the Allied countries during World War II.
			... AXIS (COUNTRIES), a prop driven aircraft flown by one of the Axis countries during World War II.
			... CONVERSION, entries must include a significant change in the structure of the basic commercial kit for the purpose of varying the type, model or version of the aircraft depicted. The judges shall consider the difficulty of the conversion work in evaluating the entry.
			... LIMITED RUN INJECTION, entry must be injection-molded in polystryrene and manufactured in non-hardened steel, short life molds. White metal and photo-etched parts are permitted.
			... RESIN KIT, entry must be predominantly composed of resin materials. White metal and photo-stched parts are permitted.
			... SCRATCH BUILT, entry must be built from scratch, not from a commercial kit. Parts from kits may be used, but must be unrelated to their original use, except for generic parts such as guns, wheels, seats and the like. If requested, entrants should be able to supply the judges with an accurate list of the materials and techniques used. The judges shall consider the difficulty of the work in evaluating the entry.
			... VAC (VACUUM FORMED), entry must be built from a vacu-formed kit, not from a commercial kit. Parts from kits may be used, but must be unrelated to their original use, except for generic parts such as guns, wheels, seats and the like. If requested, entrants should be able to supply the judges with the kit instructions. The judges shall consider the difficulty of the work in evaluating the entry.
			... MULTI-WING, a aircraft using two or more main wings.
			... ROTARY WING, an aircraft that has moving wings (rotors). Example: all helicopters and gyrocopters.
			... CIVIL, RACE AND SPORT, an aircraft not in military or commercial use.
			... AIRLINER, an aircraft that is in commercial use.
			ARMOR....
			... Entries in the "Armor" categories depict any military ground vehicle of the 20th century. Horse drawn vehicles and artillery are included if used after 1914 (military vehicles before 1914 are entered in the miscellaneous category).
			... STOCK BOX, to construct the model using only the parts included in the original box. The exceptions to this are; paint, seat belts made from paper or tape, and decals from other sources. Construction may include filling seams and gaps, sanding off rivets and other fine detail, drilling out gun barrels, exhaust pipes, grills and the like. No cutting is allowed. This includes; hatches and access panels. Thinning of the models surfaces and rescribing panels lines are allowed, as these are part of normal construction. Adding minor antennas are allowed. Extensive rigging, antennas and radio masts are permitted only if specified in the instructions. Entrants should have kit instructions available if requested by the judges. NOTE: kits that include resin, metal and brass parts are considered "Mod Detail".
			... MOD (MODERATE) DETAIL, to construct the model using the parts included in the original box and any after market parts. These after market parts include, but are not limited to; weapon sets, paper or tape seatbelts, decals from other sources, and parts made of photo-etched, resin, white metal, wood, brass and plastic. Also allowed is drilling out gun barrels, exhaust pipes, grills and the like. Again, except for cutting or seperating glass to expose the interior, no cutting is allowed. Thinning of the models surfaces and rescribing panels lines are allowed, as these are part of normal construction. Extensive rigging, antennas and radio masts are permitted. Entrants should have kit instructions available if requested by the judges. NOTE: If the after market parts require cutting to install, then the model is considered "Full Detail".
			... FULL DETAIL, to construct the model using the parts included in the original box and utilize scratch-built or after-market details, conversion kits, accessories or similiar products, alterations or additions to the kit. Entrants may vacu-form, cast, manufacture, or replace kit parts or substitute parts from other sources. Entrants may cut or seperate doors, windows, hatches and the like. Entrants may add complicated or extensive rigging, wiring, antennas or similiar details.
		... MAIN BATTLE TANK, 1/35th scale entries depicting any fully enclosed armored, tracked or armed fighting vehicle.
	... SUPPORT ARMOR, 1/35th scale entries depicting any self-propelled artillery or missle launcher, open-topped armored fighting vehicle, armed half-track, armored cars or similiar vehicle.
	... SOFTSKIN, 1/35th scale entries depicting any unarmed vehicle, including trucks, maintenance vehicle, staff car, jeep or motorcycle.
	... ARTILLERY, 1/35th scale entries depicting any non-self propelled or towed artillery piece.
	... LARGE SCALE ARMOR, 1/34th or larger scale entries depicting any military ground vehicle.
	... SMALL SCALE ARMOR, 1/36th or smaller scale entries depicting any military ground vehicle.
	AUTOMOBILE....
	... COMMERCIAL LIGHT, entries depicting any light vehicle used in a recognized commercial or fire fighting activity and not intended for competition. Entries must bear commercial decals or markings.
	... COMMERCIAL HEAVY, entries depicting any heavy vehicle used in a recognized commercial or fire fighting activity and not intended for competition. Entries must bear commercial decals or markings.
	... CUSTOM, entries depicting any modified vehicle manufactured after 1949, that principally features moderate or significant modifications to the body of the vehicle. NOTE: Entries otherwise qualifing for this category that do not feature moderate or significant body work modifications shall be entered in the "STREET MACHINE" category.
	... COMPETITION / CLOSE WHEEL, entries depicting any competitive vehicle, including NHRA, IHRA, circle track, NASCAR, Bonneville, monster truck and so forth, where any portion of any tire tread and/or sidewall surface is enclosed within the body (as found on a funny car or stock car), by a fender (as found on a gas coupe), or a spat (as found on a streamline rail dragster). Aerodynamic wings or shields positioned ahead of or behind a wheel/tire are not considered enclosed.
	... COMPETITION / OPEN WHEEL, entries depicting any competitive vehicle, including NHRA, IHRA, circle track, NASCAR, Bonneville, monster truck and so forth, where no portion of any tire tread and/or sidewall surface is enclosed by a fairing, fender or spat.
	... STREET ROD, entries depicting any modified vehicle 1948 and earlier, that features significant chassis, interior, drive train and other changes. Body work is permitted.
	... STREET MACHINE, entries depicting any vehicle manufactured from 1949 to date, not built for sanctioned competitive events, which are essentially stock in body configuration, though there may be minor modifications such as detailed emblems, scripts, etc, but with a modified power train, suspension or interior and so forth.
	... BOX STOCK, entries constructed exclusively from parts in the kit. The builder may not substitute parts from any source and may not use any aftermarket parts except as otherwise permitted in the rules for this category. However, the builder may use any metal foil product for chrome trim detailing, any paint and any brand of putty (where necessary only to correct manufacturing defects). The entry must be built as depicted in the instruction sheet (which must be provided by the builder); nevertheless, the builder is not obligated to use all of the parts depicted on the instruction sheet (e.g. in the case of an original or reissue AMT Styline customizing kit). The builder may drill out exhaust pipes, injectors, grills and other parts for purposes of detailing.
	... FACTORY PRODUCTION, entries depicting any factory-produced vehicle, including all foreign and exoctic venicles (excluding motorcycles) that faithfully represent a "typical" factory production vehicle, or a factory "concept" or "dream" car. The judges will require documentation.
	... LOWRIDER, entries depicting any vehicle featuring hydraulic lowered suspension, vivid graphics/paint work and restyled interiors.
	... CURBSIDE, entries depicting any vehicle subject matter, but chassis and engine compartment details are not required. While interior details are not required, a model with a full interior and clear windows will be preferred over an entry with blacked-out windows. These entries are not picked up for judging.
	... MISCELLANEOUS, entries depicting any automotive-related vehicle that does not fit in any other automobile category, included in this category are motorcycles, non-competitive monster trucks, horseless carriages, abandoned junkers and the like.
	FIGURES....
	... Entries in the "Figure" categories depict a single human figure, on foot or mounted-historical, science-fiction, or fantasy (a mounted figure need not be astride a horse). Figures may "tell a story" and not be considered a diorama or vignette. The judges may consider the quality of the story line in evaluating entries in the figure categories.
	... SCI-FI AND FANTASY, figure entries include all human, humanoid and human-sized figures, including ogres, monsters and man-sized robots. NOTE: Non-humanoid sci-fi or fantasy animals and creatures, like dragons and Jabba the Hut, are entered in the "MISCELLANEOUS' class.
	... WARGAMES, figures entered are 30mm or less, including foot or mounted and historical, sci-fi, or fantasy subjects. Entries in the wargame army category include groups of no more than 10 related figures.
	... NOTE: Weird-ohs or Ed Roth figures may be entered in the "MISCELLANEOUS" Humor in Modeling category.
	DIORAMAS....
	... A diorama or vignette is a model that tells a story and is mounted on a scenic base. A vehicle model with a scenic base and figure is not considered a diorama unless the entry "tells a story". An aircraft diorama depicting planes in flight need not include a scenic base. The quality of the story line, scenic base, and composition are the major criteria in judging and the judges shall take these factors into consideration in evaluating the entry
	... VIGNETTE, has one major vehicle, no more than 5 figures and no major scenery elements (like big buildings). A figure vignette is the same, but has no vehicles.
	... DIORAMA, has 2 or more major vehicles, or 6 or more figures, or major buildings, or other scenery components. A figure diorama is the same, but has no vehicles.
	SHIPS....
	... The ship categories are open to all water vessels, including boats, ships and submarines. NOTE: Tracked and wheeled amphibious vehicles are entered in one of the "ARMOR" category.
	SPACECRAFT & SCI-FI....
	...The spacecraft and sci-fi categories includes models depicting real and sci-fi vehicles, including land vehicles and crawler/explorers.
	... ACTUAL SPACECRAFT, includes all real, historical or current spacecraft that have been actually built (though not actually flown). The category includes missles, launch vehicles, capsules, satellites, LEM's and crawlers.
	... HYPOTHETICAL SPACECRAFT & AIRCRAFT, includes all serious proposed aircraft, spacecraft, or space stations thet were never really built, including the many proposals that arose in the 1950's and 1960's. This category also includes proposals by the modeler themself. NOTE: Science fiction aircraft and/or spacecraft are entered in the Sci-fi category. Humorous hypothetical aircraft and spacecraft are entered in "MISCELLANEOUS", Humor in Modeling category.
	... SCI-FI SPACECRAFT & FLYERS, includes all spaceships and flying vehicles such as STAR TREK'S Enterprise or the Millennium Falcon, and atmospheric flyers and hovercraft, such as landspeeders and speeder bikes.
	... SCI-FI TERRAIN & SEA, includes all walking , crawling, floating, submerging or wheeled sci-fi land and water vehicle, including sci-fi tanks, giant robots, battle mechs, The Seaview, The Flying Sub, AT-AT's, and the like. NOTE: Man- sized robots are entered in the 'FIGURE" class.
	MISCELLANEOUS....
	... COLLECTIONS, entries include 5 or more closely related models and may consist of any vehicle, diorama or figure, in any scale or any subject matter. The collection must be the work of one person. The closeness or uniqueness of the collection's theme is a sinificant criteria in judging and the judges shall consider this factor in evaluating an entry.
	...HUMOR IN MODELING, entries include vehicles, figures or dioramas, in any scale or subject matter. The humor content is a significant criteria in the judging and the judges shall consider this factor in evaluating an entry.
	...VINTAGE KIT, includes all kits that were released before 1969. If it has been re-released, the kit should not have been re-tooled.
	...DOESN'T FIT ANYWHERE ELSE., includes everything else that does fit in any category.
	LIABILITY RELEASE....
	By entering The Contest (currently know as SHOCON), the entrant agrees not to impose or seek any legal liability or claim on or against the IPMS, SHOCON, SHOCON Sponsors and Committee, contest facility, or any judge or contest official for any accident, injury, loss or damage to any person or to models or other property. While every effort is made to protect the contestant and participant's models, the entrant understands that accidents, criminal conduct, negligence of any person or acts of God may result in harm ot any model or individual. Consequently, in consideration of being permitted to participate in SHOCON, each entrant releases SHOCON, NUSMA, IPMS/Salt Lake City, UMAG, the host facility, each participating club and members of each club, the Title Sponsor, The National Sponsor, and all other sponsors and all individuals associated with SHOCON from any liability whatsoever in the event of damage to or destruction of any model, or injury of any kind.