I pretty much have seen the same thing. Every once in a while they get some new vendors. I like to go for the ones that are selling used or older stuff. I model 1900-1905 era and the only people making models for that era are the laser kit and resin outfits, the major manufacturers have pretty well abandoned that era so I have to rummage through the older stuff, mostly for parts and kitbashing fodder.
Dave H.
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
It's been a long time since I've been to a train show. What you describe has been my experiences also. Because of this I currently have no interest in attending train shows as they aren't worth my time or money when you consider the admission fee.
I'd like to see more cottage industries and hobbyists, who aren't dealers, selling or displaying their wares - especially discontinued or hard to find items. As far as dealers and items that are currently in production go, I can usually get those items online for cheaper and with a lot less hassle. Layouts, from modular to micros, in a variety of different scales would also add a lot of interest. Free clinics, especially the "how-to" kind that are pertinent to all scales, would also be a welcome addition.
Maybe, but I find some neat older stuff. and prices can be competitve. That;s the only place I;d heard of the Tracks in the Sand. 1 booth. And if you might be working on a project, you can get soem decent cars to fudge.
My only complaint is that they all come in the same 5 months and then we get nothing for the entire year almost.
-Morgan
I have attended various shows over the past 18 years or so and they all have had the same look and feel that your mentioned....club modular layouts, various local and national retailers, local rail fan clubs, and this varies from location to location.
I enjoy going because it is fun to meet fellow model railroaders and kibitz with the retail folks and the club folks.
What I really like that livens up a show is when they offer free clinics, they could really turn most ho-hum shows into a real nice event with some scheduled clinics or "how-to" sessions.
The last one I attended was the Great Train Expo in Winston-Salem, NC a couple weekends ago, and the Central Carolina NScale Club had a clinic that got me jump started on making trees on my layout, even posted a mini clinic a couple days ago about what we did. I got more out of that clinic in the way of future motivation than I had expected!
I just wish that I could attend the show coming up this weekend near Boston, the Amhearst one! http://www.railroadhobbyshow.com/
Ryan BoudreauxThe Piedmont Division Modeling The Southern Railway, Norfolk & Western & Norfolk Southern in HO during the merger eraCajun Chef Ryan
Is it me or are virtually all train shows the same -- a number of modular club layouts in the middle surrouned by various local retailers peddling the usual crop of Atlas, Athearn, Walthers and Thomas the Tank Engine?
Seems that no matter what town I go to, if I've been to one show I've been to all of them. And if I go to the same show the following year, I see pretty much what I saw the previous year.
Just once, about 8 years ago, I recall going to show and finding all sorts of small "garage" manufacturers with unique and interesting products for sale. Haven't seen a show like that once since.
So my question is two-fold: i) has your experience been the same as mine? and ii) if so, what would you do to liven up the shows?
Craig
DMW