1. The contest is open to anyone.  An individual may also serve as a "proxy" to enter models for an entrant who is not attending the contest.  Entry fees for proxy models may be set at the discretion of the Host Chapter.  All entries must be the sole work of the individual whose name is on the entry blank.  Commercially built, pre-painted, or die cast models will be ineligible. 

2. JUNIORS.  Junior division categories are limited to members 17 years and younger.  Junior members may, at their own discretion, enter their models in senior divisions; however models entered in senior divisions will not be eligible for special junior awards.

3.  Models that have won First, Second, or Third place, or Out-Of-The-Box awards in any category of any previous IPMS/USA National Model Contest may not be entered in any SoonerCon contest.  Basically, previous award winners can be used as noted in collections and group entries.  Models that have won an award as part of a collection, or group entry may also be entered individually in subsequent SoonerCon contests.  Models that have won individually, and then won as part of a collection, or group entry are not, however, eligible for subsequent SoonerCon contests. 

4. "Test Shot" or pre-production examples of kits not yet commercially available may not be entered.

5.  The Head Judge will exclude/remove from competition any entry considered to be inappropriate or offensive to generally acknowledged standards of taste and acceptability to our contest staff.

                A.  The following are prohibited in competition and may not be placed on display at any IPMS event:

                                i. There shall be no depiction of excretory functions depicting any human being or animal.

                                ii. There shall be no depiction of sado-masochistic activity, equipment, settings or situations, to any degree, regardless of whether there are figures in the model and regardless of whether any figures present in the model are clothed.

                                iii. There shall be no depictions of explicit sexual conduct, bilateral or autoerotic, regardless of degree and regardless of the clothing-status of the participants that involves the touching of the breasts or genitals or other erogenous zones of any depicted figure.

                                iv. There shall be no depiction of any nude human male or female figures where the genitalia of the figure is exposed where the clear intent of the same is to portray a sexual scene.

                B.  The following may be entered in the competition or put on display but can be presented only behind opaque screens or similar visual barriers and only where visitors are provided with a fair description, in written format, of the contents of the models behind the screen. This screened presentation covers competitors and the general public, but no person younger than 18 will be admitted except in the presence of an adult responsible for the young person, subject to the provisions of governing local law:

                                i. Depictions of any nude human male or female figure, subject to the provisions of 5A, above.

                                ii.   Models or dioramas of historic events (e.g., general dioramas or specific depictions of the result of the activities of the communist Cambodian Pol Pot regime, a Soviet Gulag, or a Nazi death camp) where the suffering of human beings, or the result of a pogrom, is depicted. Where the theme, content or subject matter of presentations is graphic or would violate any provisions cited above, then the presentation is prohibited in any setting.

6.  Modelers entering pieces that exceed three feet in either width or length must notify the Contest staff in advance of the contest.  The limited space for the Contest requires pre-planning for such entries.  Failure to provide advanced notification for such models could result in their being unable to compete or inadequate special support.

7.  Exhibitors are encouraged to leave their models in the display room until the contest is over and the attendees have had the maximum opportunity to view them.

1. JUDGING:  Models will be judged for skill in construction, finish, realism, and accuracy.  Additional criteria are considered for special categories such as dioramas, collections, and conversions.  Models are judged as three-dimensional objects and are examined in all aspects.  Entries will be handled by judges both for proper table placement and for judging.  Models in the Contest Room may be covered by cases while on general public display, but such cases must be removed from models for judging.  Judges will not remove cases from models unless the modeler has given explicit, written, approval in advance.  Models in cases will not be judged.  The following is an exception to this rule.  In instances where removal of a case could cause damage, and in the judgment of the respective Head Judge the case would not impede effective judging, the case may be left on for judging.  This arrangement must be made prior to judging and noted in writing on the entry form by the Head Judge.  The Head Judge will have the final and exclusive authority to allow or deny this exemption.

2. PLASTIC DEFINITION:  For SoonerCon "Plastic" is "any thermoplastic or thermosetting polymer, resin, or other materials which can be formed by heat, pressure, or vacuum forming".  This includes, but is not necessarily limited to, polystyrene, ABS plastic, celluloid, polyethylene, vinyl, epoxy and polyester resins, fiberglass, acetates, acrylics, nylon, other synthetic and monofilament fibers, and other plastic modeling compounds.  Neoprene rubber is also defined as a plastic for this contest.  Glazes and body putties (e.g., "Green Stuff") are not plastics; however, when used for filling seams, improving contours, creating unusual surfaces (e.g. "zimmerit" on armor), etc., they will be considered plastic.

3.  COMPOSITION:  The use of plastic as set forth, above, is encouraged; however, the use of other modeling materials is allowed as the builder sees fit.  Judging standards of finish, attention to detail, and authenticity will be the same, regardless of the materials used.

4. SCRATCH BUILT:  Models may incorporate parts from other kits, but these should be generally unrelated to their original identity, except for minor parts such as wheels, guns, etc.  Models determined to be scratch built must be entered in the proper scratch built category.

5. CONVERSIONS:   Category entries must represent a version different from that provide by the basic kit.  The conversion must contain significant structural modifications to the basic kit involving extensive changes in contour or configuration. These changes must be the work of the entrant.  In addition to the normal judging criteria common to the entire contest, judges of the Conversion Category will give special consideration to the complexity of the conversion.  A conversion accomplished with primarily commercial aftermarket parts will be at a disadvantage, therefore, against a conversion accomplished primarily by the builder’s craftsmanship - assuming both are finished to similar standards.  Simple conversions may be entered in regular categories.  More extensive conversions, however, must be entered in the appropriate conversion category.  The builder must detail the conversion changes made to the base kit on the entry sheet or accompanying documentation.  Judges have the ultimate authority to determine a model’s category placement, and such decisions by judges will be final.

6.  FIGURES:  Class entries will not be classified as dioramas by the inclusion of accessories supplied in the figure kit.

7.  MARKINGS:  In aircraft and vehicle Classes, markings will determine the category in which a model is entered.  For example a C-47 in military markings would normally be placed in the Large Prop category, but if in airliner markings it would be placed in an Airliner category.  A Shuttle, either by itself or attached with fuel tank and booster, goes in Real Spacecraft, while a Shuttle on the back of a NASA Boeing 747 goes in civil Aircraft

8. MISSILES.  When the missile's transport vehicle or launcher is the predominant portion of the system (e.g., SCUD, Patriot), the model will be entered in the appropriate Armor category.  Military launch vehicles (e.g., V-2, ICBM, IRBM), civilian launch vehicles (e.g., Scout, Saturn), and military launch vehicles modified for civil missions (e.g., Atlas/Agena, Jupiter C) will be entered in the Real Spacecraft category.

9.  JETS.  Jet Aircraft categories include manned, rocket-powered aircraft such as the Me-163, X-1, X-15, X-24, etc.

10. BASES/DIORAMAS. Bases will be allowed in all categories and will not be considered in the judging except in the Diorama classes.  A base may simulate the natural surface on which the prototype would be found; however, nothing other than that surface may be used.  Aircraft and vehicles may rest on simulated ground or paving, and aircraft that need beaching gear or dollies may be so equipped.  Ships may be displayed in water (no drydocks).  The base must not be the predominant feature of the entry and must be of a size proportionate to the model.  The Contest Chairman and Judges reserve the right to exclude oversize bases.  The model may include primary crew figures. The addition of any other figures or equipment outside, or not attached to, the model (e.g., support equipment, foliage, shell splashes, or buildings) will make the model a Diorama, which may then be entered in the proper Diorama category.  Dioramas are judged not only on the technical merit of their construction but also on the strength of the theme or story they present, so that if two dioramas were technically equal the one having the stronger theme or story would win. 

11. JUDGES.  A Head Judge must be chosen and must brief all judges before the contest judging.  Junior members may not serve as voting judges, but may be assigned to judging teams as participating observers.  Judges may not judge a category in which they are entered.  Judging teams will be composed of an odd number of judges, preferably representing different regions.  Strict impartiality will be observed, and violators will be removed for future contests.  Specially designated judging teams will monitor the contest room prior to judging to ensure models are in the proper categories for judging.  They will also move models to accomplish the “splits” required in the larger categories.

12.  ALL JUDGES' DECISIONS ARE FINAL.  Contest registrars will help determine proper entry categories for models during registration, but final category placement is at the discretion of contest judges.  Judges may also combine or split categories during final judging.

13.  No liability for loss or damage to contest entries is assumed by IPMS, the Host Chapter, or the contest judges.

14.  The Head Judge may waive any rule if circumstances warrant.

15.   HUMOR:  Models entered in the Humor category will be judged on both their humor content and the degree of modeling skill which they represent.  Entries must be not only funny, but also well done.