1995 - Dragon/DML Panther II
(aka The Wild Card - part 2)
The Open Format Medal Contest had been meticulously thought out. Major seven or eight categories like Armor, Auto, Ship etc. The models would be judged based on points 1 to 10 by five judges with the lowest and highest scores tossed. The three middle of the road scores would be averaged for a final score for the model. A judge could have models in a category he or she judged but was not allowed to judge his or her own model.
Example
J1 - 7. J4 - 8
J2 - 3. J5 - 9
J3 - 10
Scores by J2 - 3 & J3 -10 are tossed out as they are the highest and lowest. The remaining three judges are averaged for a final score of 8
Based on a statistical analysis of the scores, a breakdown of six standard deviations would occur forming a bell curve. 
. Judging would start as soon as the first model hit the table from registration at 10am. Judging should wrap just after 2:30 pm when registration closed.
This data would be projected into non-eculidian space resulting on a hyperbolic geometric distribution to which Fourier series and Tensor transformations would be applied. These scientific and mathematical principles would determine the models that placed Gold, Silver & Bronze respectively. The Best of Category would be derived from the above with an additional iteration of processing. Likewise Best of Show.
Multiple PC’s were networked together and would run using massively parallel processing to provide results in real time. The custom code was bullet proof being written in UNIX, ADA & Pascal with triple redundant back up. NASA had allocated a days worth of supercomputer time if needed. While the host club farmed out most of the judging they retained total control of the network and database.
The IS/IT/MIS team consisted of the following: a System Analysis, a Computers Programmer, MicroSoft Network Engineer, two PC techs and of course a MIS manager.
Human Bias had been engineered out of the system. Awards Ceremony was planed for 4pm.
In concept - it was 
brilliant
So anyway, the club discovered that most of the rank and file contestants were IPMS members who were sometimes reluctant to do open judging. The judging shortage resulted in my friend MP and myself being recruited to judge. We were assigned Armor. Due to a lack of judges there was only one other Armor judge KG.
KG was an IPMS legend, outstanding modeler and ruthlessly effective judge who weilded a big Mini-Mag flashlight like a light-saber. He cut through contest models like Darth Vader wasting rebel scum.
KG was very entertaining pointing out he wasn’t giving any zero scores despite most of the entires deserving them. I got an education in finding punch marks and construction defects I will never forget. He scored a model obviously very low (1 or 2) I asked what about the nice finish and weathering? Looks nice counts for nothing when you have half a dozen exposed punch marks on top of the model.
This was my first encounter with KG. I thought he was super critical then I noticed UNLIKE practically every other judge I’d seen. He ACTUALLY looked at every model. He ACTUALLY read the documentation if provided. He ACTUALLY consistently and fair checked each model. He was fair and he was consistent.
He came to my Panther 2 that had won a Best Armor a month before. I thought the model was good…the following is paraphrased.
KG - Wow! This guy (me) really wasted this time
Me - Find something?
KG - Well I’m not giving it a zero but I should (waves lightsaber) the bottom isn’t painted, the cupola is hatch open but doesn’t have a figure I can see bare basic on the hull floor, the engine deck isn’t sealed off I can see bare plastic thru the grills, the tracks have a million punch marks, the tracks don’t fit against the idlers, the tools have mold seams, three super glue spots and counting.
Me - Wow! What about the paint?
KG - Paint looks great but the painting doesn’t matter with all the BC issues.
Later KG looked at my mediocre Panther G which I felt was inferior to the Panther II .
KG - There’s not much right with it but there’s not much wrong with it either that’s what matters.
It was Graduate School for Basic Construction
They ran out of judging tickets.
Someone had to run to Wal-Mart to get a couple of printer cartridges so they could fire the printer up again. MP & I take a break and go grab McDonald’s.
I lock my keys in the car when we get back:)
Judging ran over by 4pm MP, KG & myself were judging ships.
By 5pm were were helping with aircraft.
5:20pm all the judging is doe and they can feed the data into the system
5:30 pm the computer systems divide by zero, go code 86 and are down for the count.
6:00pm they are scoring by hand
6:15pm - I get the car unlocked (just barely) with a plastic pass key, I’d forgotten was in my wallet.
7:00pm - I’m a fat guy and I’m really really getting hungry
7:30pm - they have the results
7:35pm - the computer had all the contestants names and they can’t cross index the entry numbers to the modeler names.
8:30pm - MP, KG & myself debate ordering a couple of 
pizzas.
8:45pm - awards are announced
My results
Panther II - DNP - didn’t place
Tiger 1 - bronze
Early Panther G - silver (WTF?)
T-72 - DNP
SturmTiger - DNP
FW190D9 - bronze
Finally about 10:30pm after dinner MP & I got headed home three hours away.
At 2am I’m finally home and my wife is yelling at me…
burnout 
