GENERAL INFORMATION

Battle of the Bulge. Commemorating the 80th anniversary of this epic battle fought between the American and German forces between December 16, 1944 and January 28, 1945.  We feel we picked a good one as this battle presents many options for the armor and figure modeler.  Think cold, snow, late war German armor and a wide variety of American and British tanks and vehicles. We are excited to see what you are able to come up with for this one!!!

1. Theme Award - The Battle of the Bulge - the 80th Anniversary of the epic battle - Sponsored by G&G Hobbies
2. Tank of the Year - The Sherman Tank -THE M4 SHERMAN. - Sponsored by Houston Armor Club
3. 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
4. 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
5. Best Fully Tracked - any vehicle, any scale, any era.  Must be fully tracked. Sponsored by SFC De Haven
6. Best NOT Fully Tracked - any vehicle, any scale, any era.  Must NOT be fully tracked (includes halftracks).
7. Best NOT Tracked - any vehicle without tracks - think wheels, skis, etc.  No tracks.!  Here is a chance for all soft-skins guy to win a special award!
8. Best Camouflage/Creative Paint - let's recognize that one modeler who really demonstrates an amazing camouflage or some other form of creative paining on a vehicle or figure.  
9. Best Tamiya - Yup, Tamiya is still the go to model manufacturer and we would like to celebrate that by recognizing the BEST Tamiya build at the show. Sponsored by Tamiya.
10. Head Judge Award - Our head judge DOES NOT judge.  He manages the process by mustering, corralling, motivating and sometimes threating (LOL) all the generous judges who volunteer for Winterblitz.  We felt it was appropriate to give the Head Judge the chance to recognize a winner.
11. Crowd Pleaser Award - Whose build best catches the eye of YOU... the crowd!  To figure this one out, we will let YOU decide.  One vote per person.  The winner of this award is determined your peers and friends.
12. Her Majesty's Service Award - The BEST model in service to Queen Eliabeth II (1952 - 2022).   Something for the folks who like to dabble in British Armor!  - Sponsored by Eric Choy

Stay Tuned For Updates

100 - Youth (younger than 18) (all scales all eras) - Vince Barrale

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

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

350 - All Things Towed (all scales all eras) - must have BOTH "tractor and trailer".   - Don Schulte

400 - 1/48 scale (allied) - Tom Moon

450 - 1/48 scale (axis) - Tom Moon

500 - 1/72 and smaller (all eras) - Ken Burke

600 - Fully Tracked Origins to 1934 – (all scales) - Rick Cotton

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) 

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) - Fred Keal

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

1300 - Halftracks (all scales and all eras)

1400 - Armored Cars (wheeled) (all scales and all eras) - Lionheart Hobbies

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

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

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)

3000 - Larger than 1/32 (all eras) - Lionheart Hobbies

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

5000 - Military figures (all scale scales and all eras) - Mike Stucker

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 category. 

SWEEPS - Yes, if someone is good enough to sweep a category, we will gladly recognize them.

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 350 - New for 2024!!!!  This category is All Things Towed and was born with the spirit of artillery/tow vehicle, BUT has been expanded to include ANYTHING towed just as long as you have BOTH the TRACTOR and the TRAILER.  A good example might be the Tank Recovery Vehicle (Dragon Wagon).  This does NOT tow artillery, but would be the place to enter.  A German 8-ton towing a 88mm flak is a good example of the artillery piece to this category.

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.