{"id":451,"date":"2026-01-09T19:05:57","date_gmt":"2026-01-09T19:05:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/winecountrymodelexpo.com\/?page_id=451"},"modified":"2026-04-21T18:07:43","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T18:07:43","slug":"special-awards-sponsors","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/winecountrymodelexpo.com\/?page_id=451","title":{"rendered":"Special Awards & Sponsors"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The 2026 Wine Country Model Expo presented a select group of\u00a0Special Awards<\/strong>\u00a0recognizing truly outstanding work across a range of modeling genres and presentations. These awards are intended to celebrate\u00a0exceptional 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 generously sponsored these awards in support of the 2026 Expo and in support of the hobby community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

2026 Expo 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 2026 Special Award sponsors for their support of the 2026 Wine Country Model Expo. Their generosity helped make these recognitions possible and contributed directly to a welcoming, community-focused event for modelers of all experience levels.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The 2026 Wine Country Model Expo presented a select group of\u00a0Special Awards\u00a0recognizing truly outstanding work across a range of modeling genres and presentations. These awards are intended to celebrate\u00a0exceptional craftsmanship, creativity, and presentation, and to highlight work that stands out within its subject or approach \u2014 not to create additional competition categories. We are grateful […]<\/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=\"The 2026 Wine Country Model Expo presented a select group of\u00a0Special Awards\u00a0recognizing truly outstanding work across a range of modeling genres and presentations. 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