About ArosOpen

ArosOpen is the annual weekend where model kit builders from Denmark and abroad gather in Aarhus to build together, enjoy their model friendships, and ultimately compete for the title of the best model of the year.

ArosOpen is divided into two parts:

  • Saturday is dedicated to model builders and model-building clubs who have reserved building tables. They come together to build throughout the day and evening, with the only interruption being dinner.
  • Sunday is open to spectators from 10 am to 5 pm. Entrence fee is 20 kr. for spectators. At 10:30 am, the competition begins, where models in approximately 20 different categories are evaluated by qualified judges from all over Denmark, all appointed by ArosOpen. The competition is expected to conclude at 4 pm, followed by the prize ceremony.

The models showcased at the event include military and civilian ships, aircraft, vehicles, science-fiction models, and characters.

During the event, professional vendors will have shops set up.

Program

14/9 – 2024  Saturday

09.00 AM– 16.00 PM  ArosOpen opens, Arrivals and Check-in.

12.00 PM – 16.00 PM  Setting up models in the exhibition hall

16.00 PM Lecture with Bobber on the history of Band of Brothers (with a minimum of 15 participants). 

18.00 PM Gala dinner (The price is DKK 190 per person. Advance registration and payment is a prerequisite)

20.00 PM Lecture with Jan Johansson, trained aeronautical engineer in England. The story is filled with good intentions when it comes to aircraft design, quirky ideas that needed to be tested, or simply outright design flaws from people who should have known better.

Many are likely familiar with the story of the de Havilland Comet and how it led to the realization that metal fatigue in aluminum suddenly had to be taken very seriously.

This lecture highlights even more examples of some of the problems encountered in the first century of aviation history. The audience will get an entertaining and educational description of what you should NOT do when it comes to aircraft design.

 

15/9 – 2023  Sunday

08.00 AM Breakfast. The price for breakfast on Sunday is DKK 50 per person. Advance registration and payment is a prerequisite.

08.00 AM – 10.30 AM  Arrival, Check-in and setting up models in the exhibition hall. The set-up must be completed before 10.30

10.30 AM  The exhibition opens to the public. Both professional dealers and private individuals open their sales stands, and it is now possible to visit working model builders.

11.00 AM The judging panel is embarking on the great work of finding the best models.

16.00 PM Prize giving.

17.00 PM ArosOpen 2024 ends.

NB. It is not required to participate in Saturday’s program in order to participate in Sunday’s model competition.

 

Sleepover

It is possible to stay overnight at the school in a shared dormitory. The accommodation fee is DKK 50 per person. Please bring your own sleeping pad/air mattress and sleeping bag/duvet.

On Sunday morning, breakfast will be served at the school. The price for breakfast is DKK 50 per person.

Advance registration and payment are required.

Classes

Classes for ArosOpen 2024                            

Military vehicles and equipment

A1: Military vehicles in 1/35 scale or larger from before 1946 – Allied

A2: Military vehicles in 1/35 scale or larger from before 1946 – Axis powers

A3: Military vehicles in 1/35 scale or larger from 1946 onwards

A4: Military vehicles smaller than 1/35 scale

A5: Military vehicles in dioramas of all sizes

A6: Military equipment of all sizes

Aircraft

B1: Aircraft in 1/72 scale or smaller

B2: Aircraft in 1/48 scale from before 1946

B3: Aircraft in 1/48 scale from 1946 onwards

B4: Aircraft in 1/35 scale or larger

B5: Civilian aircraft of all sizes

B6: Aircraft in dioramas of all sizes

Civilian vehicles

C1: Civilian cars larger than 1/43 scale

C2: Civilian trucks larger than 1/43 scale

C3: Civilian vehicles in 1/43 scale or smaller

C4: MC all scales

Ships

D1: Ships outside of dioramas

D2: Ships in dioramas

Figures and Busts (Note: NOT Sci-Fi/Fantasy)

E1: Figures outside of dioramas

E2: Figures in dioramas

E3: Busts

Figures and Busts (Sci-Fi/Fantasy)

F1: Sci-Fi/Fantasy figures

F2: Sci-Fi/Fantasy busts

F3: Sci-Fi/Fantasy vessels, vehicles, and equipment

Special categories

G1: Miscellaneous (outside of categories)

G2: Junior

G3: Theme class 2024 “Invasion”

G4: Masterclass. Here, the model is not solely judged based on construction techniques. It must be documented, and the evaluation also includes the accompanying documentation. The documentation should be a maximum of A4 size, regardless of the number of pages.

G5 Masterclass technical

G6: Special class – Danish Military Vehicles – Sponsored by Kjeld Pedersen

G7: Special class – Danish Military Aircraft – Sponsored by Harvard Danmark

H1: Exhibition class. All classes. No prices.

Rules

Competition rules

  1. For a class to be judged, there must be at least 4 participants. Are there fewer than 4, the models will be moved to the Miscellaneous class.
  2. Models that have been awarded previously at AROS Open are not allowed to be entered again.
  3. If a model is participating in a non-diorama class on a non-neutral base, then only the model will be judged, not the base or diorama.
  4. AROS reserve the right to reject models from the competition, if we believe it violate the spirit of AROS.

Judging instructions

 General

  • Read the description of the model, if supplied
  • Judges in the same class are encouraged to discuss the models, as there can be details that you don’t notice. Two pair of eyes are better than one.

Construction quality

  • Asses the quality of the model’s joints, symmetry and quality of work with photoetch. Good quality could for instance be even joints and absence of sanding marks.

Finishing quality

  •  Asses the quality of the model’s basic paint work, is applicable also weathering and decal work. Good quality could for instance be even paint coats, weathering is not under- or overdone, decals are placed correctly and symmetrically, and no silvering is present.

Difficulty

  • Judged from personal experience and includes a judgement of the techniques used, both in construction and finishing. 

Diorama’s

  • Asses if the model is on or in the landscape, if it is in agreement with the scale, if the diorama tells a story and finally if the scene is natural: Do the figures have a natural pose, is the overall impression true to nature and is the story the diorama tell clear.

Masterclass

  • Masterclass is a class where the modeler have the opportunity to document his model to show how close to reality he is. The modeler choose the level of documentation he wishes to supply. Masterclass is – apart from the special and theme classes – the only class where a model is judged on it’s authenticity. Documentation must be maximum in a A4-format size, but it is allowed to supply more pages if they are stacked. In Masterclass the judges start out with assessing if there is agreement between the model and the supplied documentation. Only models that display this agreement will be subjected to the final judgement. The final judgement is done with the same criteria as in the other classes.

Scoring

  • It is important to fill out the form completely. Even a 4th, 5th or 6th place can be determining for which model win in the end.

General

  1.  It is not allowed to run indoors 
  2. Dogs and other pets are not allowed
  3.  Smaller children must be accompanied by an adult
  4.  It is not allowed to bring bags into the exhibition   area – that includes camera   bags and rucksacks.
  5. Smoking of cigarettes and e-cigarettes are not  allowed on Strandskolens area.  Smoking is allowed  in the parking lot at the main entrance. 
  6. In case of Covid rules in place, these must be  followed