GENERAL INFORMATION

1943 – The Turning Point – The 80th Anniversary of the beginning of the end of the Axis.

The year 1943 brought significant events that directly lead to the World War 2 Allies’ defeat of the Axis.  While the War would drag on until 1945, it was the events of 1943 that turned the tide in the Allies’ favor.  The beginning of 1943 had the Red Army putting the final nail in the German 6th Army’s coffin, followed by the never-ending retreat of the German Army and fiercest fighting in Kharkiv, Kyiv and of course the granddaddy armor battle of them all, Kursk, during the summer of 1943. Meanwhile in North Africa, the United States and Britain pushed the Afrika Corps out of Tripoli and months later would finalize Rommel in North Africa for good.  In the Pacific, the United States forces officially declared the 6-month battle of Guadalcanal over, an event that is often credited with the Pacific’s turning point. By the end of 1943, the United States, Britain and Canada had invaded Italy and started the push to run the Germans out of the Mediterranean. In late November 1943, the United States Marines would take Tarawa in a 3-day slug-fest.

1943 offers a wide range of modeling possibilities. The spirit of the Winterblitz 2023 Theme is the turning point and the beginning of the end of the Axis in Europe, North Africa and the Pacific. Your entry qualifies for the 1943 theme award if it represents a vehicle(s), figure, or diorama from 1943.

1. Theme Award -  1943 - The Turning Point.  Anything depicting a vehicle, figure or diorama from the year 1943.  - Tom Moon
2. Best of Show - The best of the best.  Who will climb to the top of the styrene mountain and win the Golden Xacto? Sponsored by Lionheart Hobbies
3. Museum of the American G.I. Award - In tribute to the Museum, an award will be given to the entry that best salutes the spirit of the American G.I.  We will invite the Museum to help the judges pick this one. Sponsored by Capt Andrew Allman and presented by SFC De Haven
4. Best Fully Tracked - any vehicle, any scale, any era.  Must be fully tracked. Sponsored by SFC De Haven
5. Best NOT Fully Tracked - any vehicle, any scale, anu era.  Must NOT be fully tracked (includes halftracks). - Tom Moon

100 - Youth (all scales all eras) - Sean Beatty   

200 - Classic Kits – (kits before 1979) basic build - Keith Middleton

300 - Artillery (all scales and all eras)  - Tom Moon 

400 - 1/48 scale (all eras)  

500 - 1/72 and smaller (all eras) - Don Schulte 

600 - Fully Tracked Origins to 1934 – (all scales) - Mister G's Workbench    

700 - Fully Tracked Self-Propelled Vehicles 1/32 and 1/35 (Open Top) (all eras)  

800 - Fully Tracked WWII Axis 1/32 and 1/35 (Closed top)  - Tom Moon

900 - Fully Tracked WWII Allied 1/32 and 1/35 (Closed top) - Plastic Model Mojo Podcast

1000 - Fully Tracked Post WWII Thru 1990 (Korea, Vietnam, Cold War) 1/32 and 1/35 (Closed Top)  

1100 - Fully Tracked Desert Shield to Present.  (1991 - 2022) 1/32 and 1/35 (Closed Top) - Dave Poyner

1200 - Paper Panzer/Fictional (all scales)  - Drew Matalamaki

1300 - Halftracks (all scales and all eras) - George Karker

1400 - Armored Cars (wheeled) (all scales and all eras) - Mike Stucker

1500 - Soft-skins (all scales and all eras) - George Karker 

1600 - Motorcycles with or w/o Sidecars (all scales and all eras) - Vince Barrale

1700 - Misc. Military Vehicles and Support Vehicles (all scales and all eras) – No airplanes and no ships. - Brandon Jacob

2000 - Fully Tracked Full Interior (all scales and all eras) - Tom Moon

3000 - Larger than 1/32 (all eras) - Tom Moon

4000 - Friend and Foe (all scales and all eras) - Keith Middleton

5000 - Military figures (all scale scales and all eras) - Ken Burke

6000 - Dioramas (all scales) - Keith Middleton

SPLITS - We are fully prepared to split ALL categories., however for Winterblitz 2023 we expanded certain categories that should reduce the amount of splits on game day.  Splits will occur depending on the number of entrants per each categorey. 

Category 200 - Classic Kits. The spirit of this category is to see what builders can do with a classic kit (produced before 1979).  The intention is to limit the builds to basic build - ie: the entry is allowed to be manipulated as long as NO aftermarket parts are added.  As example would be a classic Tamiya kit whereas the builder cut out the molded screen on the engine deck and replaced with "mesh" of some material.  After-market parts are a NO NO.  After market decals are okay.  Instructions are not necessary,  but are encouraged.

Category 1200 - Paper Panzer/Fictional.  If it was ever produced (including prototype), it is not eligible. Must be a subject that was designed and never produced OR something that could have been designed or produce (fictional).  

Category 4000 - Friend and Foe.  The spirit of this category is to enter and judge TWO entries of opposing size. As examples, a Russin T34 and a German Tiger 1.  Or an American Willy's Jeep and a Germa Kublewagen.  Use your imagination, if it was possible the two vehicles or figures met on the battlefield, your entry counts.  Entries DO NOT have to be on ONE base.

We have secured 12 super-hot kits for you to hopefully win.  Raffle tickets will be $5 each or $20 for 5 chances.  The success of Winterblitz hinges on raising a few extra dollars and your participation in the raffle will help big time!  Plus - you may win a new, modern, possibly yet to be released and never opened kit.  Some of the raffle items we have secured are pictured throughout this web-site.  PLEASE SUPPORT WINTERBLITZ!!!

Bring a kit that you do not want and exchange it for one that you do at the Swap Meet table.  The spirit of the Winterblitz swap meet is to provide a opportunity for participants to exchange out an unwanted kit.  The swap meet table will be open all day.  You simply leave ONE kit and take ONE kit.  No junk, missing parts or otherwise unbuildable closet stashes please.  There is no limit to how many times you can exchange kits, as long as you leave ONE and take ONE.

7:00 am - Setup and vendors access 

9:00 am – Museum opens to participants of the contest - the Museum is enabling us to get started early and only those individuals participating (entering at least one model) in the contest may enter at 9 am.

10:00 am – Museum opens to non-participants and general public - yes, the Museum is 100% open to the general public on January 22nd and we are excited about that.  The entry fee for non-participants and general public is the standard daily entry fee. 

11:30 am – Contest registration closes - earlier than many shows, but we want to get on with the judging. We understand participants may be coming from afar and we are prepared to be flexible on cut-off for our out-of-town friends.

12:00 pm – Judging begins - Once judging for a categorey begins, there will be no more entries.  The model room will be open during judging.  Please respect judges.

3:00 pm – Judging ends (we mean it!).

3:10 pm – Door prize and raffle - as judges wrap up the tally.

3:30 pm - Awards - we have not finalized the plans for the awards presentation, but we intend to keep it under one hour.