MML Competition: It's All About RESPECT! - Part #1 The Origin

MML 1st Competition Facebook Page link :https://www.facebook.com/2016mml/

The Glory Moment

Since 2008 when I got my first time share of the podium, until 2013 when i call it a "retirement" in competition,  I had my share of the top 3 position in every Bandai organized year end event (Except 2009 which i was one of the judge n being prohibited in joining). So what respect I am talking about? Respect of prize winner he deserve? They don't get the respect they deserve?

No, not really about that. It's about something else.

One year when i was participating, there were a few entries in the competition floor which i think are very close contesting for a spot in the podium. 5 or 6, if i remember it well.

If i were to judge, these 6 pieces points would be very close; close enough to let the final little luck be the very crucial deciding factor. I was very impressed and awed by these entries and fully aware they r giving some fierce competition to my own entry.

Finally, the result were announced. As expected, 3 of them shared the joy n glory (n money, huhu) of being a spot on the podium. The judges had made their decision which I think wasn't any problem, for these 6 entries as i see it, points would be very close and the judges had got to pick the 3 they think would be on the podium.

ONLY 3.

I Think They Deserve Respect From The Organizer

 Am i complaining? Or was I? No, I was one on the podium taking photos with nice Gunpla girls, banking in the 4-digit bank check, replying Facebook congrats messages, and busy selling off the special edition free kit i got. I was in no position to complain.

But, i realize something not right.

While busy shaking hands n talking to old n new friends, i realized the owners the 3 entries which I saw as great competitors, were there getting ready their carton box, dismantling their entry kit and getting ready to go home. No, there was no sign of unhappiness or sore losers I saw. They did congratulated me, laughed at jokes together; no complaints nor dissatisfaction rant or whatsoever. They accept the result/judges decisions gracefully, like real gentlemen.

But, i still think something's not right.

For great entries like that, I think they deserve more; more than just there waiting the organizer to open the display cabinet so they can pack their work and go home. Of course, with works like that, they have gotten a lot of respect and recognition by other modelers; lots of photos r snapped, shared, and liked in social media. Many praises and reference taking from other modelers. To me, yes, this are the ultimate respect a modeler could get: the recognition, acknowledgement, adoration from fellow modelers; but why can't the organizer also give at least a tiny bit of that to the participants?

I am not complaining about the organizer. I fully understand it can only stretch its arms to a certain extend; it cannot please the whole world. What I am thinking, does the participants deserve to get some recognition from the organizer of the event they put in so much effort in participating? It would mean something to them.

This is because, not everyone join competition merely for the prize money; recognition and accomplishment are part of the many reasons too. Besides that, despite how veterans see the event being an event for boosting sales, many still see this event as a "competition" no matter how much they try to understand it. Sometimes people just cannot change their perception even though they understand the reasons.

The Birth of MML Concept Competition

That's when the MML competition concept blossomed.

After studying some competition and judging format of various IPMS (International Plastic Model Society) and AMPS (Armor Modeling and Preservation Society) and I am impressed with the multi-award method they used in some of their events. It's a judging and award scheme that give credits to EVERY eligible contest entry. Awards are given based on the judges points, hence, every single piece that s judged will get an award, and the type of award is depended on the points the judges gave. Of course, they usually still have those special prizes for specially acknowledging very outstanding works, just like conventional Gunpla competition, but what got me excited is the first part of it.

I have written another post solely for the MML judging: http://rayloke-model.blogspot.my/2016/05/mml-competition-its-all-about-respect_5.html


At the initial stage, I had faced many obstacle introducing this judging scheme to the gunpla community. Members felt very alienated to these concept of judging. I even got into aggressive argument that "If there is no champion or 1,2,3 postition, that is NOT a competition" kinda stuff. I realized some sees the opportunity to feel standing in a higher position than others is important, and usually these people will reject the idea, which will somehow in general reduce the difference in height between them and other contestants.

However, luckily, Malaysia modeling community by majority are very down-to-earth and humble people. Despite facing some obstacle, there are also many who supported it. Those whole hearted wish for the best for the community instead of personal gain. For this I sincerely thank everyone of them. As a result, the last year and part of 2014, I had been introducing this judging scheme in various modeling groups  and with the help of these generous people (For their time, effort, and money), introducing this judging scheme to more member/modelers as an alternative scheme as to the conventional one.

So now, with help of many people, admins of various Facebook modeling groups, people who has influence and persuasive power, join force  in setting up this league of modelers (We call ourselves Malaysia Modelers League); we are trying to create something we might not able to do alone; the cross-Facebook modeling group event: the 1st MML Competition: Hero vs Villian.

Let's hope we can unfold a new page in Malaysia Gunpla Community history.

Please do join us and make history!!!!

For more information and enrollment, please visit our official page:
https://www.facebook.com/2016mml/

MML Competition: It's All About RESPECT! - Part #2 Explanation

MML - Malaysia Modelers League

MML is not a formal society, club, or even a social media group. It is a league of like-minded people getting together to do and accomplish something, usually can't be done by any of us alone.

Yes, just like League of the Extra Ordinary Gentlemen, Justice League etc Hohohoho!

MML Competition Judging Style

1. MML judging is very different from the conventional Gunpla competition which consist of: position 1, 2, 3 (winners) and everybody else (losers).
2. MML competition will award every single eligible work based on points the judges have given. This is mainly because we strongly believe, every piece of work, regardless of the modeler's skill, as long as he has put in effort in completing it, the piece of work deserve to get recognition by the organizer.
3. We respect every piece of work!
4. The awards are divided into 5 categories: Platinum, gold, Silver, Bronze, and Merit
5. Works are being awarded solely by the points given by the judges. We do not care how many get what award. As long as it deserve one, it will be awarded. So in one competition, there will be more than one of a certain award.
6. For example, if it is a more serious competition, where everybody has put in more effort time, we will expect there will be more silver and Gold, or even Platinum award.
   If it is more of a fun build competition, we expect more Bronze and Merit award.
7. Besides that, we usually do not take age  of the person or age of his modeling life into consideration. We give award merely based on points.
8. In other words, the award are ONLY reflect on the work the modeler join in as entry. It doesn't reflect the modeler that much.
   For example, even in a very fierce competition situation, if your work deserve a Gold, it will get a gold  regardless of how many other Gold will be given to other entries. With a simple reason: Your work is good means your work is good. It will not drop or raise any position just because somebody else has more fantastic or worse work than yours.
9. Same, if you r a newcomer, it doesn't mean because some veteran old farts (Huhu) joined, it means ur work has been pushed to a corner. Your work will still get awarded as it deserved, in the eyes of the judges, regardless of other people
10. In short, it is a competition with your own-self.
11. Some may even find it easier to understand by seeing it as an exam paper or report card (Personally, I. H.A.T.E. I.T!!! Hahahahaha)

We do the criteria and standard based on Bandai's Gunpla competition. The awards standard is as below:

• Platinum - 1000– 971pts   Top notch work, it’s near perfection in the fundamental work, creativity and presentation. Work like this is an instant classic and modeler around the world will talk about and treat as reference and even benchmark
• Gold - 901-970 pts  Outstanding work, with very few flaws in the 3 criteria. A work people will adore and remember would be one of the piece that win a spot on the podium
• Silver - 900 – 751 pts  Very good work, may display some flaws in the 3 criteria. This may demonstrate that the modeler mastered the basic work but need further improvement, consider strong opponent in competition, definitely giving pressure to other competitors
• Bronze - 750 – 501 pts  Good work, it would appear that the modeler avoided some significant errors, might not shining star in competition level, however it has its own characteristic that make it suitable for exhibition, display and sharing
• Merit - 0 – 500 pts  Completed work, this award may display that the modeler have mastered fundamental work but lack in one or two of the criteria

The points are given based on these 3 categories:

• Fundamental Works (350 pts) - Seamline, Nip mark, Surface finishing (paint job), Panel line, Decal, etc
• Creativity & Modification (350 pts) - Color scheme, Modification, Scratchbuild, Kitbash, Diorama, Special effect, etc
• Presentation (300 pts) - Photography (For future online judging competition), Story telling, Diorama, Display, Posing, etc 

For more information and enrollment, please visit our official page:

https://www.facebook.com/2016mml/

Google form for enrollment:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1xZzLDqLSB4UbpwAww2Gi1TzOt1YroLY98WguNIGsxvc/viewform