Big Scale Diorama of the Year 2025/26 - win £1000
Agora Models & the IPMS/UK have created a new global award for the best Big Scale Model Diorama of the Year.
We would like to invite modellers to create an amazing diorama based on one of our big-scale models. The diorama can be of any theme but must use an Agora model as part of the design.
Three finalists will be selected, each of whom will win their model of choice to build their diorama.
From the three finalists' finished dioramas an overall winner will then be picked who will win an additional £1,000 cash prize..
How it Works
How to Enter
First you will need to come up with a design for your diorama. It can be on any subject but must include at least one available model from the Agora Models range, and the overall diorama must be no larger than 1m x 1m x 1m.
Entrants can be individuals, clubs, Special Interest Groups or simply a group of friends. The overall size limit of the diorama is designed to level the playing-field between groups and individuals.
Once you have a design in mind, you will need to send us a description on the entry form, preferably supported by sketches or any other relevant images that may help convey your idea. If you need more space for your description, feel free to send in a larger document.
2024/25 competition
Finalists
The entries to this year's competition were of such a high quality that the judges decided to extend the number of winners from three to six. Each of these six finalists received a free model kit of their own choice from Agora Model's range, worth £1,500!
Over the past eight months, the finalists have been busy bringing their visions of a great Big Scale Diorama to life and will be presenting them to the judges in the Competition Hall at the IPMS Scale Model World exhibition in Telford, UK, on the weekend of the 8th and 9th of November 2025. The competition hall will also be open to the public, who will be invited to come and enjoy the exhibits and see who has been selected as the winner!
The six dioramas will be independently judged by the IPMS on Saturday 8th November, and the overall winner will be awarded a cash prize of £1,000!
The 2024/25 Finalists:
Tim Hodgkins
Title: 'AVON TYRES' featuring the Mercedes-Benz W196R
Christopher Christou
Title: 'ONE SHALL STAND, ONE SHALL FALL' featuring Optimus Prime
Nigel & Ewan Atkins
Title: 'FOREST BREAKOUT' featuring the Leopard 2A6 tank
Vitali Mazurkevich
Title: 'LIFE BETWEEN FIRES' featuring the FDNY Fire Truck
Nicholas Suppiah
Title: 'BATTLE TORN NEW YORK' featuring the FDNY Fire Truck
William Hoare
Title: 'I SAID BRING IT BACK IN ONE PIECE, NOT BRING BACK ONE PIECE' featuring the No Time To Die Aston Martin DB5
2025/26 competetion - entry now open!
Timing
The 2025/26 competition will be launched at the IPMS Scale Model World 2025 show in Telford, UK (8-9 November 2025).
You have until 28th February 2026 to submit your design for a diorama.
The judging panel will select their choice of the best three entrants and announce the result on 31st March 2026.
The three winning designs will each receive the Agora Models kit of their choice to enable them to start building their diorama.
The three finalists must have completed their diorama by 30th October 2026, and bring it to Scale Model World 2026, where it will be displayed for final judging.
At the Scale Model World 2026 show, the judges will select their overall winner, who will receive the £1,000 prize.
Available range of models
For your diorama, you can select any available model from the Agora Models range, with the exception of the following:
- Limited Edition models.
- Goldfinger DB5 gold-plated.
- ORCA - we will only be able to supply Packs 1-3 in March. Other Packs will be available throughout the year as they become available (please contact us for more info).
- Any new launch in 2026 will not have stock availibilty.
- Display cases are excluded.
- Any out-of-stock models (obviously!).
Rules 2025/26 competition
- The following rules are in addition to those detailed above.
- The competition is open to anyone over 18 years old. Entrants can be from any country but must be able to deliver/bring their final diorama to Scale Model World 2026 (SMW), Telford in November 2026.
- Entries must be received by midnight on the night of 28th February 2026 (GMT).
- Diorama design
- Must include at least one model from the 'available range' of Agora Models kits.
- The overall size of the diorama must not exceed 1m x 1m x 1m.
- The three finalists will be selected by a panel of judges from the IPMS and Agora Models, whose decisions are final. Finalists will be notified as soon after 31st March 2026 as practically possible.
- Winners agree to having their diorama used for marketing purposes by both Agora Models and the IPMS.
- Prizes
- During March 2026, Agora Models will deliver the finalists' chosen model kit to their home address, or any other suitably agreed address, at Agora Models expense.
- The overal winner will be selected from the three finalists by the judging panel during SMW 2026. The cash prize of £1,000 (or €/USD at current exchange rate) will be sent by electronic transfer to the winner's nominated bank account.
- Judges decision is final. No cash alternative to the model prizes.
- Winners responsibilities
- Winners are responsible for all costs in creating their diorama, with the exception of the Agora Models kit that they receive as a finalist prize.
- Winners must have completed their diorama by 30th October 2026.
- Winners are responsible for delivering or bringing their finished model for the duration of the SMW 2026 show.
- The organizers are not responsible for any costs incurred, nor liable for any damage to the diorama.
Terms and conditions
- By entering a competition entrants accept these terms and conditions together with any specific instructions and terms for such competition which may be mentioned in any electronic messages, or on the website, or communicated to entrants in any other way.
- Any entries received tafter the closing of the competition will be invalid and will not be entered into the competition.
- By entering the competition entrants warrant that all information submitted by them is true, current, and complete. Entrants also warrant that they are the copyright owners of any copyright works submitted, e.g. photographs and videos, and IPMS/Agora Models use of such works (which you will permit) will not infringe the rights of any third party.
- Entrants may submit a maximum of three different designs
- If Agora Models/IPMS is unable to notify the winner, or if the winner fails to respond within 30 days and/or provide an address for delivery of the prize, this may result in forfeiture of the prize and an alternative winner will be selected in accordance with these terms and conditions and the competition information.
- In relation to this competition, the first name, surname and group name (if applicable) of the winner may be published by Agora Models and the IPMS and entrants grant a non-exclusive licence to use and publish their entry in any media for the purpose of announcing the winners.
- Nothing in these terms and conditions shall exclude or limit Agora Models or the IPMS liability for death or personal injury caused by their staff or supplier’s negligence or for fraud. Subject to this, Agora Models and the IPMS cannot accept any responsibility for any damage, loss, injury or disappointment suffered by any entrant entering the competition or as a result of accepting any prize. Agora Models and the IPMS are not responsible for any problems or technical malfunction of any telephone network or lines, computer on-line systems, servers, or providers, computer equipment, software failure of any email or entry to be received on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet, telephone lines or at any web site, or any combination thereof, including any injury or damage to entrant’s or any other person’s computer or mobile telephone related to or resulting from participation or downloading any materials in the competition.
- Agora Models and the IPMS cannot promise that the services relating to the competition will be free from errors or omissions nor that they will be available uninterrupted and in a fully operating condition.These services may be suspended temporarily and without notice in the case of system failure, maintenance or repair or for reasons reasonably beyond our control and will not be liable in the event that all or any part of the service relating to the competition is discontinued, modified or changed in any way.
- The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of these Terms and Conditions shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision. In the event that any provision is determined to be invalid or otherwise unenforceable or illegal, these Terms and Conditions shall otherwise remain in effect and shall be construed in accordance with their terms as if the invalid or illegal provision were not contained herein.
- The promoter of the competition is Agora Models, Franklin House CT1 2JB
Big thanks to AC collection & MN Collection for use of their diorama images.