The model ship building world will not have experienced anything like this for nine years: the hobby’s world championship is at last returning to Germany. It will be taking place at the INTERMODELLBAU, Europe’s leading exhibition for model making and model sport from 14th to 18th April 2010 at the Messe Westfalenhallen Dortmund.   Naviga, which describes itself as the “World organisation for model ship building and model ship sport“ organises this world championship competition every two years and in 2010 participants from up to 18 nations will be taking part. Even the Chinese will be joining in. Dieter Matysik, President of the registered club nauticus e.V., the German umbrella organisation for model ship building and model ship sport and responsible for carrying out the world championship in Dortmund is expecting constructors of up to 350 exhibits from across the world to contend for the title.   And just what makes a world champion? It’s all a question of attention to detail. On the basis of the construction documents for the great original the models are each compared with their originals – not an easy task in the event of historical originals. The jury however which consists of several expert teams each with three members, always manages to find an appropriate gauge. The models will all be exhibited at the INTERMODELLBAU and will be assessed there and then at the exhibition by the jury who will spend up to half an hour on each model.   Rivals will be competing in various categories, for example “motor ships”, “sailing ships” or “cardboard models”. Each country is only allowed a certain number of entrants for each category and these always represent the country’s best. Dieter Matysik is certain: “For Europe’s model ship builders at the least the world championship in Dortmund will form the highlight of the year. ”