Tip for September 2010:
Contest Mistake #4: Specialty Subjects

Sometimes, the judges at model contests may not be the most qualified people to review niche subjects. For example, a glossy finish on a race car will usually be considered more attractive than a matte finish, even if the latter is more appropriate. Lowriders with severe camber (like the 1:1 VW pictured here), replicas of vehicles with damaged parts (like a bent sideview mirror or crooked bumpers), and other subject-specific points can be docked by judges who don't realize that these "mistakes" are authentic to the 1:1. The best thing that you can do here (as long as the contest rules allow it) is to bring photos of your 1:1 subject to help demonstrate what you were aiming for.