Dick Clay Memorial Trophy
The Dick Clay Memorial Trophy
Written by Rick Brownlee, trophy sponsor
The Dick Clay Memorial Trophy (or DCMT, as we call it) is given to the aircraft modeler whom the judges select as the latest DCMT recipient. At the 2014 IPMS/WCMO Regional event the DCMT will be awarded for the 8th time. An aircraft modeler may only win the DCMT once. And the former winners of the award form our judging team. I do not participate in the judging, but take enjoyment on that day, as I get to announce the winner.
Dick Clay passed from this earth in 1985, as a result of diabetes complications. He was only 52 years old. I still miss him very much. He was a wonderful person, and a loyal friend. Most of what I learned about model building was from the help and advice that I got from Dick Clay. So many times he would sit at my work bench right next to me, and show me a great deal about contest modeling. In the days before the Internet, Resin detail sets and Photo Etched parts, his joy was to take an old aircraft kit, remove all the areas where the real aircraft would have had access panels, et cetera. Then he would scratch build all the interior detail in those areas, and display the model with the access panels open! And his work was flawless.
Therefore, the DCMT is awarded not only to honor the memory of a departed friend and mentor, but also to foster the dedication to the hobby and to assist fellow modelers. Dick Clay, a master aircraft modeler, always encouraged beginning modelers, youths and adults, and was more than willing to provide construction tips, or advice when it was solicited.
The wording on the trophy is as follows: The Dick Clay Memorial Trophy, presented to the Aircraft Modeler whose craftsmanship best exemplifies the work of Dick Clay, master modeler. Dedicated to the memory of our friend and mentor who was taken from us too soon.
Any aircraft model in the contest is eligible to win. However, the judges do consider the style and approach that Dick Clay used in constructing models — where he so often took an old and rather basic model and made a museum piece out of it. He would make a lot of improvements to the basic kit, added a lot of small details, in the wheel wells, landing gear, engine and cockpit. And the final results were excellent; the work of a master modeler! So it isn’t just that the judges are just looking for scratch building per say, but for extra work to the kit that is done to a very high skill level.
Here are the list of past DCMT winners in the order in which they won.
2003, Bill Pettyjohn, of Topeka, KS; 1:48th Monogram B-29 Bomber
2004, Kelly Quirk, of Liberty, MO; 1:48th Monogram B-17 Bomber
2005, Joe Teliczan (unfortunately, Mr. Teliczan is deceased) of St. Joseph, MO; 1:48th Hawk PT-22 Trainer
2007, Scott Wheeler, of Plattsburg, MO; 1:32nd Hasegawa Bf-109 G-4
2011, Ron Hilker of Fayetteville, AK; 1:48th Monogram FC-47 Gunship conversion
2012, Myron Schmidt of Newton, KS; 1:48th Hawk F2 H2 Banshee
2013, James Triola of O’Fallon, MO; 1:72nd Heller Lockheed Constellation