{"id":451,"date":"2026-01-09T19:05:57","date_gmt":"2026-01-09T19:05:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/winecountrymodelexpo.com\/?page_id=451"},"modified":"2026-03-12T18:32:09","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T18:32:09","slug":"special-awards-sponsors","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/winecountrymodelexpo.com\/?page_id=451","title":{"rendered":"Special Awards & Sponsors"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In addition to the juried Gold \/ Silver \/ Bronze \/ Certificate evaluations, the Wine Country Model Expo will also present a select group of Special Awards<\/strong> recognizing truly outstanding work across a range of modeling genres and presentations. These awards are intended to celebrate exceptional craftsmanship, creativity, and presentation<\/strong>, and to highlight work that stands out within its subject or approach \u2014 not to create additional competition categories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are grateful to the individuals within our modeling community who have generously sponsored these awards in support of the Expo and the broader hobby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Special Awards<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Best Youth Entry<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sponsored by:<\/strong> Jim Prinzivalli, Mt Diablo Model Club<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Awarded to an outstanding entry by a young modeler, recognizing skill, effort, and enthusiasm for the hobby(includes youth and juniors)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Figure Subject<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sponsored by:<\/strong> Listening to Paint Dry<\/strong>
Recognizes excellence in figure modeling and painting, including historical, fantasy, and character subjects (includes fantasy)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Science Fiction Subject<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sponsored by:<\/strong> Halby Marketing, Inc.<\/strong>
Awarded to an exceptional science fiction or spacecraft model, highlighting creativity, finish, and execution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Gunpla Subject<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sponsored by:<\/strong> Doug Yuen<\/strong>
Recognizes outstanding work in Gunpla and related mecha subjects, including construction, finish, and presentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Car Subject<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sponsored by:<\/strong> Mick Burton<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Awarded for excellence in automotive modeling, including street, racing, and custom vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Ship or Naval Subject<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sponsored by:<\/strong> Ray Kummer<\/strong>
Presented to an outstanding ship or naval model, recognizing accuracy, craftsmanship, and overall presentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Armour Subject<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sponsored by:<\/strong> In Honor of Mr. Duane Pfister<\/strong>
Awarded for excellence in armor and military vehicle modeling, including wheeled and soft-skin subjects (includes soft skins)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Aircraft Subject<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sponsored by:<\/strong> Carl Molesworth<\/strong>
Recognizes an exceptional aircraft model, with emphasis on construction quality, finish, and overall realism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Diorama Subject<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sponsored by:<\/strong> In Honor of Mr. Greg Pierce<\/strong>
Awarded to a diorama that demonstrates outstanding storytelling, composition, and integration of models, figures, and setting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Outstanding Weathering<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sponsored by Hammerhead Model Making<\/strong>
Recognizes exceptional use of weathering techniques to enhance realism, storytelling and visual impact on a model of any subject or genre. This award celebrates thoughtful and skilled application of finishes such as wear, fading, staining, dust, mud, chipping and other effects that bring a model to life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Outstanding Table Presentation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sponsored by:<\/strong>  Halby Marketing, Inc.<\/strong><\/strong>
This Special Award recognizes an Outstanding Table Presentation for thoughtful layout and overall presentation of a modeller\u2019s display area. All modellers exhibiting at the Wine Country Model Expo are automatically eligible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Judges\u2019 Choice Award<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sponsored by: Ben Harper<\/strong>
Selected by the judging team to recognize a model that made a strong impression for its craftsmanship, creativity, or execution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People\u2019s Choice Award<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sponsored by:<\/strong> In Honor of Mr. Shunsaku Tamiya<\/strong>
Voted on by Expo attendees, this award reflects the model that most captured the interest and admiration of the public.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wine Country Inspirational Award<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sponsored by:<\/strong> James Morando<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A special recognition celebrating creativity, storytelling, and the ability of a model to inspire others. The Inspiration Award recognizes a model or body of work of any genre that captures attention, encourages conversation, and leaves a lasting impression \u2014 whether through presentation, originality, narrative, or the ideas behind the build. It reflects the Expo\u2019s emphasis on exhibition-style display and a modeller-focused experience that values engagement, learning, and shared inspiration within the modelling community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Note of Thanks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We sincerely thank all of our Special Award sponsors for their support of the Wine Country Model Expo. Their generosity helps make these recognitions possible and contributes directly to a welcoming, community-focused event for modelers of all experience levels.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In addition to the juried Gold \/ Silver \/ Bronze \/ Certificate evaluations, the Wine Country Model Expo will also present a select group of Special Awards recognizing truly outstanding work across a range of modeling genres and presentations. These awards are intended to celebrate exceptional craftsmanship, creativity, and presentation, and to highlight work that stands out within […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-451","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nSpecial Awards & Sponsors - Wine Country Model Expo<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/winecountrymodelexpo.com\/?page_id=451\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Special Awards & Sponsors - Wine Country Model Expo\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"In addition to the juried Gold \/ Silver \/ Bronze \/ Certificate evaluations, the Wine Country Model Expo will also present a select group of Special Awards recognizing truly outstanding work across a range of modeling genres and presentations. 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