what do judges look for ?????????

[steve pagano]

Hello every body again.I'm just wondering since i have 3 planes ready for covering in silkspan.What are your thouhts on what judges look for to get a pefect score on finnishes.
 
                                              -steve.p

[john e. holliday]

Very, very very few get a perfect score on appearance.  Guys like Windy, Billy, Robert and Bobby have worked and experimented a long time to get their finishes.  First off if you see any kind of bump or ripple you have lost points.  I had quite a talk with Keith Trostle one year while watching the appearance judging.  They are sighting down the fillets and across the surfaces.  They also run theie hands over the surface to see if they can feel the grapics.  My planes usually average about 9 points for appearance, but, lately at some contests they are dropping appearance points and having a concours award judged by the contestants.  At the NATS when the top guys/gals are within a few points of each other the appearance points can make a big difference.  DOC Holliday

[Bob Reeves]

Best thing you can do is get Windys videos on Finishing With Brodak Dope or probably any of his finishing videos and you will see what it takes to get in the first row at the NATS.

[Jim Pollock]

Hi,

Here is what I have seen at the Nats

#1  pleasing color schemes with very distinct main color and trim separation lines.
#2  Pannel lines and rivet markings that simulate a real aircraft nearly perfectly.
#3  A highly buffed, smooth and very shiney finish top and bottom.
#4  Doing a simi-scale airplane really helps with pannel lines and rivet markings.

Do those three things and you will find your airplane very near the front row in appearnce judging at the Nats.

Jim Pollock