About the Competition
Hobbyco's Battle of the Builds is back, and this year the skies are the battlefield. The Birds of Prey Military Aircraft Edition pits Australia's finest modellers against each other in a war of paint, patience, and craftsmanship. Build. Submit. Dominate.
Open to All Australians
Any Australian resident can enter. Two age brackets: Teens and Opens. Both keep the fight fair across all experience levels.
Tamiya Aircraft Only
Official Tamiya military aircraft kits only. Builds must be brand-new for 2026 and not submitted to any other competition.
Community Decides
Entries go live on Hobbyco's Facebook and Instagram. Likes, comments, and shares from the public determine the People's Choice winners.
Experts Judge the Rest
Hobbyco's crew picks the Hobbyco's Choice Award. And Big Mike himself handpicks the Grand Prize winner from every entry across every division.
How to Enter
Build Your Model
Complete a Tamiya military aircraft kit and/or diorama. Must be a fresh 2026 build. No recycled entries.
Fill the Google Form
Submit via the official Google Form only. Include your build name, age, suburb, and state.
Write a Build Summary
A short write-up is mandatory: your process, techniques, tips, or what made this build worth the hours.
Submit Photos & Video
Up to 5 photos and/or 1 video. Best 4 photos go to public voting. Video boosts your Hobbyco's Choice chances.
Go Live: Rally Your Votes
Hobbyco posts your entry within 1-2 business days. Share it everywhere and get the community voting.
Categories
Division
- Aircraft Build: 1st Place
- Aircraft Build: 2nd Place
- Aircraft Build: 3rd Place
- Hobbyco's Choice Award
Aircraft
- Aircraft Build: 1st Place
- Aircraft Build: 2nd Place
- Aircraft Build: 3rd Place
- Hobbyco's Choice Award
Diorama
- Diorama: 1st Place
- Diorama: 2nd Place
- Diorama: 3rd Place
- Hobbyco's Choice Award
Winner
- Handpicked by Big Mike
- Selected across ALL divisions
- The highest honour in BOTB
Prizes
This is what you're fighting for. Every division. Every placement. Every award.
Voting Mechanism
People's Choice
- Posted to Hobbyco Facebook & Instagram
- Scored by likes, comments, and shares
- Each interaction = 1 vote
- Top 3 per category take 1st / 2nd / 3rd
Hobbyco's Choice
- Judged by Hobbyco's expert team
- Finish quality: paint, detail, weathering
- Build complexity and techniques
- Customisation and extra detailing
- Video submission can tip the scales

