Photos by Bob Sarnowski
AWARDS PRESENTED AT THE 2023 CHICAGO SHOW
THE SHOW COMMITTEE AWARDS
Our first awards are presented in areas outside the scope of the Main awards, or in which the show committee wishes to encourage interest.
JUNIOR AWARD
Brock Rafalski - Blue Dragon
Lucy Rafalski - Cat & White Horse
WAR GAME CERTIFICATE OF MERIT
Dwight Workinger - Quin Jet
WAR GAME AWARD
Geoff Waller - Napoleonics
DISPLAYERS CERTIFICATE OF MERIT
Don Haney - Black Panthers
Michael Pierce - Entire Display
DISPLAYERS AWARD
Felix Gonzales - I-58 & Indianapolis
Eric Mante - Remember 47
THEME CERTIFICATE OF MERIT
Jack Lynch - Labyrinth
Roger Becker - Revolutionary War Figures
Rich Bruna - Pirates
Felix Gonzales - Star Wars
Lester Lantz - Eastern Front
THEME AWARD
Bill Silk - Epic Icons
Jim Schroder - Little People
AWARDS AT THE BASIC LEVEL
These awards are given to recognize achievement by painters of modest ability, whatever their level of experience.
BASIC CERTIFICATE OF MERIT
Joel Friedman - Finish Later, We're Moving Out
Pat Hahn - Joan of Arc
TOY SOLDIERS MEDAL
Gene Salecker - Stalingrad
AWARDS AT THE ADVANCED LEVEL
Awards at this level are divided into three Divisions: Ordnance, Painters, and Open. There are no categories of any kind in any of the Divisions. All exhibits are eligible for the same awards.
The Ordnance Division is for vehicles, aircraft, and other entries, with or without figures, in which modelers consider the vehicle “the star.”
The Painters Division is for painted figures, and is judged entirely on painting skill. Scratchbuilt and converted figures may be entered, but enjoy no advantage over stock commercial kits.
The Open Division is intended for converted and scratchbuilt figures, dioramas, and vignettes.
The Divisions are judged separately. Each exhibit is viewed by three judges. Together, the judges select what they feel is the best piece or group of pieces by each exhibitor. The Judges then separate and score the selected exhibits individually, awarding zero to four points to each.
Their scores are then compared by the Awards Committee. A piece achieving at least 11 of 12 possible points from the three judges receives a Gold Medal, 8 to 20 points a Silver Medal, 5 to 7 points a Bronze Medal, and 1 to 4 points a Certificate of Merit.
We would like to emphasize that Gold, Silver and Bronze do not in any way represent first, second or third place. All the judges do is rank the pieces in the show in four levels of achievement. The standard against which pieces are measured is set by award winners at that level in previous years.
This means that that this is not a competition at all. Nobody wins an award at anyone else’s expense. We give as many Gold Medals as the quality of the work demands, whether that be two or twenty, and the same is true of all the other awards given at this show.
CERTIFICATES OF MERIT
Our first awards at the Advanced level are the Certificates of Merit. These are given to exhibits which did not qualify for medals, but which the judges felt were of such high quality that they deserve recognition.
ORDNANCE PAINTERS CERTIFICATE OF MERIT
Frank Pope - Those Damn Tracks
Larry Clausen - Artillery Wagen
Randy Larch - 7-34/85
ORDNANCE OPEN CERTIFICATE OF MERIT
Van Olson - IDF Sherman
FANTASY PAINTERS CERTIFICATE
Randy Larch - Bloodbowl
Jay Ruggiero - Hellboy Display
FANTASY OPEN CERTIFICATE
Larry Claussen - Persea and Medusa
HISTORICAL PAINTERS CERTIFICATE OF MERIT
Bill Donahue - Auschwitz
Geoff Waller - Polish Lancer
Randy Larch - Seated Flautist
Jay Stone - Colonel-General Cavalry
Rev Bart Muller - Skinners Horse
Mike Knowski - Crusdader Knight
Lon Selbach - Japanese Commander
Mike Holverson - Uhlan
James Schroeder - Officer Grenadier
Bill Kreuger - Japanese Kamikaze
Larry Clausen - Wild Bill Kelso 1941
Tim Streeter - Lt. Payne
Jay Ruggiero - Trench Raider
David Plewacki - German Officer
Greg Brown - Iron Cross
John Werwie - German Soldier
HISTORICAL OPEN CERTIFICATE OF MERIT
Mike Holverson - Tribute To Paper Soldiers
James Chmiel - Western Front
Geoff Waller - Waterloo
Lon Selbach - Gothic Knight
Rev Bart Muller - Road to Moscow
BRONZE MEDALS
Bronze medals are awarded to exhibits receiving 5 to 7 points from the judges.
ORDNANCE PAINTERS BRONZE
Bob Bethea - Cuban Comet
Brian Mikulencak - Sturm Tiger
Bill Krueger - Ammo Carrier
Rich Erickson - Macros Tomahawk
Matt Mathis - Atlantic Wild Cat
Felix Gonzales - Type 89
Keith Brusten - Tiger 1 Late
Jacques Duquette - MIM-23 Hawk
Aaron Kuck - Mak Safs Space Type Fireball
Paul Larock - Ukranian AT/ST
Mike Kohta - M18 Hellcat
David Morris - BA64B
Greg Brown - Panzer IV
Greg Liebert - German Tiger
James Binder - Jango Fetts Slave One
ORDNANCE OPEN BRONZE
Tim Streeter - M2A4
Lon Selbach - Tea Timer
Mike Knowski - Bison
Eric Mante - Remember the 47
Paul La Rock - Indian Army M3
Mark Copeland - P47D Thunderbolt
Rick Rasmussen - A33 Excelsior
Charles Schlom - Nickle Ride
Rich Bruna - Royal Dorn Battle Tank
Tom Reese - Panzer II
Stan Kurcz - Crossroads
Dwight Workinger - Sleeping Beauty
Robert Rembaoz - A.F.S. MK 1
David Plewacki - Ultra Marine
FANTASY PAINTERS BRONZE
Grant Mayberry - King of Skulls
Geoff Waller - Goddess of Vengeance
Matt Stowell - Sleestack
Julia Conde - Juggernaut
Anthony Knific - Sturmenbahn Fuhrer Romero
Jim Schroeder - Entire Display
Jack Lynch - Jareth the Goblin Killer
Karl Williams - Orc Blood Bowl Team
George Mickelson - Ecstasy
Daniele Pascale - D5RV1 Mystic
Kyle Harris - Goblin
Gerald Scheffler - Luke Skywalker
Bill Donahue - Ulruk Luk'Trah
Bob Hichl - Entire Display
Robert Raver - Grogu
Greg Brown - What If
Doug Conte - Sherlock Holmes
FANTASY OPEN BRONZE
Mike Kohta - Engaging the Rebellion
Grant Mayberry - Penitant Engine
Steve Shaffer - Get On Board, Trooper
Felix Gonzales - X-Wing Messerschmitt
Jack Lynch - Razor Crest
John Redmond - Alien Drive By
HISTORICAL PAINTERS BRONZE
Ralph Moschler - Medieval German Knight
Wendy Rafalski - Lakota Chief
Chris Cortez - Nikolai Kulikov
Chris Chapman - Russian Scout
Roger Becker - 17th Light Dragoons
Kevin DeLashmit - Carolinian Cavalryh
David Oswalt - Continental Infantry
Frank Fernandes - Jochoim Von Zeiten
Ray Welshman - Roman Aux 1st Century
Adam Harless - SS Grenadier
Michael Hochscheidt - 1st Minnesota 1861
Frank Pope - Confederate Cavalry
Derek Clark - French Knight
Stephen Venters - US Navy Aviator
Robert Blum - The Looter
Joe Furioso - Holly's Treasure Chest
Chris Cayemberg - Rev War Enemies
Greg Liebert - Marine Captain
Doug Conte - Garibaldi
HISTORICAL OPEN BRONZE
Michael Berger - V. Devon with the 61st
Dana Leker - The Puppeteer
T.E. Jackson Joe Furioso - False FLag
John Werwie - Open Wide
Tom Holtz - Gendarmes De La Garde
Mike Cramer - Jesus Before Pilate
Tim Streeter - New Owners
Bill Silk - The Rock
Chip Rembert - Surrender 1945
Roger Becker - 5th Air Force B-25 Crew
Larry Clausen - Stuck
Charlie Philippou - Eastern Front Trench Fighter
Mike Kohta - Comrade Can You Spare a Few Drops
Jim Robinson - Russian Knight
Lester Lantz - Rest Repair Refit Return
Chris Valenti - Rest and Reload
Matt Deck - Out Flanked
SILVER MEDALS
Silver medals are awarded to exhibits receiving 8 to 10 points from the judges.
ORDNANCE PAINTERS SILVER
Stephen Venters - Spitfire MK 2 A
Rusty Nail - F4U Corsair
Robert Raver - Poe's X-Wing
Rick Rasmussen - KW 11 754 (N)
Anthony Knific - Imperial Probe Droid
Gary Baker - Sopwith Snipe
Doug Risley - Aeroplane
Wes Salazar - Harlequin F-100
ORDNANCE OPEN SILVER
George Lacoco - A Well Used Half Track
Bryan Mikulencak - T34
Steve Schaffer - F14A
Bruce Macrae - Pauleknschlag
Ihor Hiohowskyj - Heinkel He 70
David Morris - Thunder Bolt
FANTASY PAINTERS SILVER
Conrad Chapman - Lictor
Wendy Rafalski - Peaceful
Steve Shaffer - RX-78-2
Joe Furioso - Elvira
Jack Muldoon - Dwarf King
Randy Myers - Picard
Steven Venters - Deadly in Pink
Keith Bruskan - Sazabi Ver Kah
Jim Robinson - Roboute Gullimen
Chris Barrett - Whiskey
Tim LaCapra - Russian Battlesuit
Chip Rembert - Death Legion
Paul Tinoca - Jedi
Mindy Moore - Serpent Templar
Ray Welshman - Dark Elf and Panther
Frank Fernandez - Goretag the Blood Thirsty
Michael Hochscheidt - Plague Angel
Bob Cohoon - Goat Girl
Doug Risley - Orc Dude
Tom Williams - Isobel the Matriarch
Chris Meddings - Centurion
Susan Wachowski - Lunette
FANTASY OPEN SILVER
Robert Raver - Han Solo in carbonite
Gary Baker - Assassin
Steven Venters - Resurrection of El Diablo
Doug Risley - Totem Huntress
Rich Bruna - Family BBQ
David Plewacki - Gate Keeper
HISTORICAL PAINTERS SILVER
Tom Holz - Guarde d'Onore
Bill Liebold - Prussian Cuirassier
Randy Riley - Medieval Soldier
Brian Mikulencak - SS Grenadier
Mindy Moore - Light Infantry Officer - 10th Foot
Anthony Knific - Ernst Udet
Gary Baker - Gallic Chieftan
Warren Judge - Prussian Officer
Henry Nunez - SS Tanker Officer
Mark Sprayberry - Medieval Soldier Bust
Randy Myers - Tuskegee Airman
Matt Wellhouser - Sky Hunter Flat
Tony Stencel - French Infantry
Jack Muldoon - Von Zieten 1757
Richard Bruna - Pirates
Elliot Jailal - Guardians of the Faith
Don Haney - Portraits of Worls War II Display
Tom Williams - Man in Gorgets and Plumed Beard
Bob Sarnowwki - Mameluk
Paul Green - Guardia Nationala DiMilano
Chip Rembert - Anzac Beach
John Jeffries - With Hawkwood in Italy
HISTORICAL OPEN SILVER
Bob Bethea - Christmas Surprise
Jack Lynch - Home Coming 1945
Stephen Venters - The Way We Were
Robert Raver - Waters Edge
Warren Judge - Technician 3rd Grade
Michael Pierce - Where is Jefferson
Zeno Mladin - Arminius 9AD
Matt Wellhouser - On the Shores of Hell
Randy Meyers - Jose Wales
Chad Anderson - Latecoere 298
John Jeffries - American Rifleman
Greg Liebert - Ardennes Shortcut
GOLD MEDALS
Gold medals are awarded to exhibits receiving 11 or 12 points from the judges.
ORDNANCE PAINTERS GOLD
Chris Mrosko - Romfell
Dave Brown - M46 Patton
Kreston Peckham - Entire Display
Steve Shaffer - F4J Pukin Dogs
Scott Gentry - Slave 1 Takes Off
Scott Primeau - F4F -3 Wildcat
ORDNANCE OPEN GOLD
Steve Hustad - Heinker 115B1
Dave Peschke - Albatros D5
Stephen Venters - M3 Stuart
Felix Gonzales - Whole Display
Robert Raver - KRAZ & T72
John Maher - Marder 1
Doug Cohen - British Sherman
John Pawloski - 1964 Lemans Cobra
FANTASY PAINTERS GOLD
Rich Erickson - Sarumen
Jeffrey Bowder - Random Works
Ernesto Reyes - Fantasy Bust
Greg Cihlar - Orc
Scott Primeau - Shadows
Rusty Nail - Nasty Mood
James Rice - Entire Display
Randy Riley - C. Girl Akito
Jeff Lanter - Kinght Judicator
Rich Bruna - The Augusts
Kyle Dalton - General Grevious
Gary Baker - Logger
Rick Taylor - Vampira
Robert Blum - Gorgon
Derek Clark - Erynis
Josh Harris - No Smoking Orc
Robert Cohoon - Ogroid
Simone Thomson - Oni Warrior
FANTASY OPEN GOLD
Rick Taylor - Siren Song
Bob Cohoon - Witch Elf Blade Coven
James Rice - Minotaur
Rich Erickson - Princess Leia
Simone Thomson - Battle for Territory
HISTORICAL PAINTERS GOLD
Scott Primeau - Pacific Marine
Ernesto Reyes - Mongol Family
Rick Taylor - Aries
Rod Curtis - Mameluck Eagle Bearer
Greg Cihlar - Roman
Zeno Mladin - Road to Nordlingen
Penny Meyer - Jaraslava
Glenn Hamilton - 30 Year War Trio
Mike Stevens - Highlander
Stephen Mallia - Officer Bersaglieri 1870
Jose Bolio - Alexander Meets Diogenes
Andy Gulden - WW2 Display
Jason Green - Officer of Dragoons
Doug Cohen - Brunswick Dragoon
Ron Singletary - Drummer
James Rice - Wilhelm II
Jack Lynch - Wild Bill
Mike Cramer - Joachim Murat
Jason Whitman - De Nederlands Edelman
HISTORICAL OPEN GOLD
Pete Culos - Can't Hardly Wait
Dennis Levy - The Truth is Out There
Andy Gulden - Next Stop Carentan
Greg Cihlar - Marienburg 1410
Rod Curtis - Officer Boston Hussars
Mike Blank - A King No More
Jim DeRogatis - Garbage Day
John Rosengrant - Rest for the Weary
Rick Taylor - Mary Tudor
Jose Bolio - Aztec Weavers
Stephen Mallia - Blenheim
Doug Cohen - The Nation Makers
Jason Whitman - Change De La Gendarmerie
James Rice - Continental Militiaman
Steve Hustad - German Aircraft Display
THE BEST OF SHOW
The Best of Show is decided by a combined vote of the judges and exhibitors.
John Rosengrant - Rest For the Weary
THE CHICAGO MEDAL
The Chicago Medal is our highest award, in that it is given for consistent excellence over a period of years. Of the many exhibitors who display their work at this show every year, there are a select few whose work has a special quality that leaves a lasting impression on everyone who sees it. These people are clearly in a class by themselves, and this award is our way of recognizing that fact.
The Chicago Medalists are the people who, by the example they set each year, expand the horizons of the hobby and set the standards by which we judge ourselves. Recipients are chosen by vote of the current holders of the medal.
Rusty Nail
Jim DeRogatis