Juried Exhibition

The “juried exhibition” portion of our Expo will utilize an “Open” or “Gold/Silver/Bronze” system of evaluation. The basic premise as developed by Shep Paine and others, and used by many top model shows around the world, is a system where entries are evaluated on their own merit against a published standard of excellence, not against other modellers.

The open system seeks to encourage and recognize all participants by allowing multiple models of the same category type to receive the same award level, or none at all, depending on the quality of work. This contrasts with the traditional 1-2-3 system which focuses on categories and only three models can win in each category, regardless of the overall quality of entries. The open system does not have the problem where an excellent model can easily get nothing in a crowded category while a far lesser model can get first place in a small category. In the open system the modeller’s work is never given an award at the expense of another modeller’s work. It is evaluated on its own merits.

In keeping with the exhibition-style format of the Expo, all of each modeller’s works will be displayed together as a group, allowing visitors and jurors to see the full range of the modeller’s work in one place and encouraging conversation and learning between participants.

How it works:

In simple terms, each modeller displays their work together, and teams of jurors visit each display and evaluate the models individually against the published standards to determine whether a Gold, Silver or Bronze award is merited.
Evaluation and awards are intended to complement the exhibition experience, not define it. If you would rather just display your models and discuss them with other modellers, you are more than welcome to do that using Display Only designations that will be provided. We’d love to see what you’ve been working on!
Your model will be evaluated independently, not in comparison to others on the tables.
Awards are not limited to a fixed, limited number based on which category it is entered in. Any number of models of a given type, genre or scale can receive a Gold, Silver, or Bronze award, and if no entries meet the standard for a particular medal, none will be awarded.This approach rewards quality across the board, ensuring that deserving models receive recognition even in highly competitive categories.
If a modeller enters multiple models within the same general genre (for example, several aircraft), the juror team will first determine which model from that display is most likely to receive the highest award and evaluate that model in detail. A modeller may receive awards for models in different genres, but only one award will be given within a single genre regardless of how many models within that genre are displayed.
The evaluations will be conducted by pre-selected teams of experienced modellers. Each team includes modellers who have significant experience and/or specialize in the genre being evaluated.
Our teams of jurors will evaluate each model based on a set of written Evaluation Standards covering workmanship, finish, presentation, and more. These standards are provided to help explain the general standards applied during judging and to promote transparency and consistency.
You can review the Evaluation Standards here: https://winecountrymodelexpo.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Evaluation-Standards-For-2026-Wine-Country-Model-Expo.pdf

Beyond the medals:

Our teams of jurors along with our head juror will also select models to receive special recognition by being awarded a Special Award, including an Outstanding Table Presentation award as well as a “Juror’s Choice Award.”
A People’s Choice award will also be given based on popular vote by the Expo participants.
After the evaluations are completed, the jurors will be available to provide respectful feedback and critiques if requested to help you improve your skills for your next project.

This system is all about encouraging and recognizing deserving work while fostering a supportive and engaging modelling community. Whether you are an experienced modeller or bringing a model to the Expo for the first time, we hope you will feel comfortable displaying your work and sharing it with fellow modellers. We look forward to seeing your models!.