Everything you need to know about the FMS competitions

Classes

There are three classes of competition: Junior, Standard and Masters. There is also ‘out of competition’ if you just want to put your models on display.

In 2025, for the first time, we will have two categories for Standard and Masters: figures and vehicles.

jUNIOR

Junior is limited to people age 16 and under. But if you’re a particularly ambitious junior, you are allowed to enter Standard, or even Masters!

The Junior competition takes place solely on the Saturday, with a special prize giving on Saturday afternoon. Your models must be registered by 1pm on Saturday.

You can collect your models after the prize giving. If you’re coming to the show for both days, however, then you can leave your models on display for Sunday.

STandard

Standard is the ‘entry-level’ competition. Most people who enter this are new to competitions, haven’t won prizes at many shows or simply aren’t very competitive.

This class takes place over the whole weekend, with judging on Saturday night and prize giving on Sunday afternoon. Your models must be registered by 4pm on Saturday.

You must leave your models in place until after prize giving on Sunday.

Masters

Masters is the prestige class for painters who want to be judged at the highest level.

The Masters competition takes place over the whole weekend, with judging on Saturday night and prize giving on Sunday afternoon. Your models must be registered by 4pm on Saturday.

You must leave your models in place until after prize giving on Sunday.

Figures and vehicles

While we do have separate categories for figures and vehicles, these are not strict. You will not be penalised or disqualified for having figures in the vehicles category or vehicles in the figures category.

Think of it as a difference in how your entries will be judged.

Entries in the figures category will be judged by (predominantly) figure painters, so they’ll be considering things like blending, use of colour and light, etc.

Entries in the vehicle category will be judged by (predominantly) vehicle and armour modellers, so they’ll be considering things like weathering, modulation, detail work, etc.

How can I register?

When you arrive, you can register for a space on the display tables. We’ll need to know your name, the class and categories you’d like to enter, and the number of models in your display(s). In return, we’ll give you a number to put with your display(s). That’s all you need to do!

Entries in Junior must be registered by 1pm on Saturday. Entries in Standard and Masters must be registered by 4pm on Saturday.

Please make sure you place your models in the correct area – we will have separate areas for Junior, Standard, Masters and out of competition, and separate areas for figures and vehicles within the Standard and Masters sections.

Open judging

We use the open judging format, which means that it’s not a matter of first, second and third. Instead, all displays are judged according to their achievement.

This means that there is technically no limit on the number of medals that can awarded. Of course, it also means that we set our standards very high – winning any medal at FMS is an achievement to be proud of!

Prizes

We’re awarding a range of prizes this year: Best of Show, People’s Choice, Junior Best of Show, golds, silvers and bronzes. Best of Show will be awarded to the best single model at the show, while People’s Choice will be voted on by everyone who attends.

As always, there will also be the highly coveted CORRRR prizes, which can be awarded to any entry in any class!

Please note that there are two prize giving ceremonies: one for Juniors on Saturday, and another for Standard and Masters on Sunday.