Convention???

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by pnevell

I am new to Large scale, and luckily live in the Chicago area, so I was thrilled with the opportunity to attend! My wife and I stayed at Pheasant Run to maximize our experience and it sure payed off. We met many railroaders and vendors and visited as many layouts as was possible.
I can't think of anything that could have been done any better. The committee that ran it was very well organized, the convention booklet was superb, the clinics were well done, and access to the vendors to exchange ideas and see the products in person, was a not to be missed opportunity.
I have visited many NMRA and Narrow gauge conventions, and this was far superior. The people are nicer, and it was better run!
Anyway I left for home with a car full of new purchases and a head full of new ideas.
I have to redesign part of my layout now, after seeing how others did things. My wife was struck by the possibilities in the garden side of things. She talked to many other women on the tours about which plants they used successfully. She is at the local nursery as I write this.
All in all we enjoyed every part of it and are planning to attend in the future.
Paul and Michele Nevell

Paul, I'm unsure as to why but Large scale seems to draw couples. They also for some strange reason friendlier with "get togethers" rather then operating sessions.

[pnevell]

I am new to Large scale, and luckily live in the Chicago area, so I was thrilled with the opportunity to attend! My wife and I stayed at Pheasant Run to maximize our experience and it sure payed off. We met many railroaders and vendors and visited as many layouts as was possible.
I can't think of anything that could have been done any better. The committee that ran it was very well organized, the convention booklet was superb, the clinics were well done, and access to the vendors to exchange ideas and see the products in person, was a not to be missed opportunity.
I have visited many NMRA and Narrow gauge conventions, and this was far superior. The people are nicer, and it was better run!
Anyway I left for home with a car full of new purchases and a head full of new ideas.
I have to redesign part of my layout now, after seeing how others did things. My wife was struck by the possibilities in the garden side of things. She talked to many other women on the tours about which plants they used successfully. She is at the local nursery as I write this.
All in all we enjoyed every part of it and are planning to attend in the future.
Paul and Michele Nevell

[Tom The Brat]

That SD 70 MAC was pretty impressive. It needs to go with the Aristo Dash 9.

[Anonymous]

Connie and I went on Saturday . Met a lot of good people interested in the same thing as me ! Cool ! Was only in the main hall and it was great to see a lot of stuff that I normally only see in the magizines . Met the owner of USA trains at their booth . Nice people . They had the new SD 70 there and the S-1 . I am gonna have to get one of those SD 70's . Beauitful locomotive !

[Anonymous]

Torby, many thanks for capturing the essence of the convention as a whole!


Marty i agree, short get the information out there and if questions araise and you know they will, have a queation answer period afterwards. I slept through class[zzz] unless the teacher was good!

[bman36]

Torby,
Thanks for the photos! Looks like a great time. Later eh...Brian.

[Anonymous]

Torby
THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR PICTURES ,I like the garage door painting. BEN

[Tom The Brat]

There was a 3 1/2 hour painting clinic. Whew... A 50 minute class in college was awful long for me[D)]

[Marty Cozad]

Clinics is something I always wonder about who wants what? Mixing beginners with diehard modelers is hard..
I personally don't go to , to many clinics. I can't sit still that long. Sometimes I do like a motivational speakers who kicks me in the butt and challenges me to better my hobby or self.
I like doing short clinic where its direct to the point and get the info out. Ones that drag on with every nut and bolt kills me.
I'm open to thoughts.

[Tom The Brat]

Had lots of fun.

Let's see, pictures:

A production sample Aristo Live Steam Mikado.


Sample E8.


A scene from the modular layout.


And his identical twin down the way.[:o)]


One of the gardens on the tour.


A scene from the "Cripple Creek Railroad."


A mom embarassing her daughter for the world wide audience.

(I promised her mom I'd post it.)

"Hey Bud, mind if I join you?"


Railfan.


"I can't believe I let you talk me into this."


The floor layout.


Large scale.


Hartland boy in the Aristo booth.


Daleks all the way home.

[Rene Schweitzer]

Hi Marty,

I would have thought you'd already have the scoop on the convention by now! [:D][}:)]

News in a nutshell: Kansas City GRS bid for the 2011 convention. Hartford Products has been sold and the new owners were there. Lots of good clinics. Good attendance; the convention crew seemed happy with the number of people there. Generally, attendees people overall. Very few negative comments.

There were a number of outside activities this year, including a BBQ at the Illinois Railway Museum. Most of these were sold out!

Good idea about the pix. I didn't take any this year, but I'll keep that in mind for future shows.

We do enjoy the show and yes, it is work! We both go to see the railways on tour and come back to staff the booth. It makes for some long days, but I've always enjoyed meeting "street people" [:D].

Comments from anyone else?

[Marty Cozad]

Any reports on what happened or if you liked it?
Maybe a thought for Rene, if she has time to take a few shots and share some if you go to these shows. Kinda from an editors perspective.
Did you and Marc enjoy it? Is it work or does it really help the magizine know what the "street" people want.
**Street people for lack of a better word.[:I]