Who's going? I am on Saturday. It's this weekend, yes, the 9th and 10th. http://www.gats.com for more info.
Well, I overspent. I got a Spectrum Doodlebug, painted and unlettered for $25, and I picked up a Kato K2 turnout set for around $60, as well as some misc. Unitrack pieces. Then, I went to a hobby shop and picked up the latest MR and a couple more pieces of Unitrack. If i had anymore money, I'd go back tomorrow and spend it.
RidgeRunner, I am glad you enjoyed the show. I usually try to go each year, with at least one of my club members. This year I had to pass for a couple of reasons, namely I have just finished a 2000 mile in the past 10 days, plus I have worked most weekend lately and needed that "family time" (not to mention that our club is doing a show in a couple of weeks, plus the GATS show in Raleigh in April.) So, were there many N scale dealers there? I heard there was only a 3x7' N scale layout; in prior years, we had sent folks for the NTrak layout. Harold
GATS came here. It was awful, definatly the worst train show I have ever been too. The vendors weren't local and didn't sell things any-one cared about. They also didn't let any local groups get invloved so there was no local touch to the show. AND, the prices were kept in American at most of the displays, which drove away business. No one wants to sit there for 2 minutes "okay, $14.95 @ 48% plus 14% GST/PST" Its no fun at all. In fact it was so bad that almost no one bought anything and they lost alot of money coming over here. I have heard that they will never come back. DARN (sarcasm)! The show is probably quite a bit better in the States, so don't take this as a blast of all GATS, its a blast at the one thatwas here. Maybe if they learn how to suit a foriegn market better if, and I doubt they will come back I will spend the money and take another look. Oh, and that reminds me, they converted the entry prices to CAN$ at the wrong rate so it was a really expensive show to go to, too! Dane
I know it is always tempting to want more shows, but sometimes I am disappointed, especially with the GATS shows. I can't tell you how many of their shows I have left being disappointed it. I guess it depends on what you expect and are looking for. I like to see some good layouts in my scale plus vendors with great sale prices. (Unfortunately, it seems that some of the GATS vendors carry the same items to every show at a grossly inflated price) Harold [ 11 February 2002, 02:40: Message edited by: chessie ]
Chess, Ever been to a Greenberg show? The layouts are great, but the local (?) dealers can be awesome or horrible. I went to one in New Jersey and came home with UPS trucks that were impossible to find in any scale. a lovely couple had a whole table full of UPS goodies! (Of course the ones I found would be good if I modled S scale, but wonderful collectables anyway!) Whata great show and great people selling. Then I went to one on Long Island last year that was a disgrace. I've never seen so many people selling old beat up Lionel stuff at insane prices. That was half the show. Someone was selling a new Matchbox post office vehicle that I picked up in Kmart or somewhere for 99 cents, for $4. That's a price for someone who doesn't know anything about anything. "Attention Kmart shoppers!" Please at least give us a chance to go to another big show run by anyone! No offense to Mr. Greenberg, but give us a break.................
I may try to make it to the Raleigh show too. There was a decent amount of N dealers, certainly plenty enough for me to spend a grand or so if I had it, but I didn't. Come to think of it, I don't recall seeing but a couple small N layouts. The Southbound Model Railroaders from there in Winston Salem had built a N layout and were going to sell it after the show, and I seem to recall seeing one or two more N layouts. The Triad Live Steamers had a 1.5" scale Allen Models locomotive on display, it was either a Mogul or a Tenwheeler... they were advertising their run days this spring, summer, and fall. I'd like to get into the live steam stuff, but the cheapest steamer I've found is $3k for the kit, plus a couple years worth of machining work to assemble it. Ah well... Another toy to buy after I get out of college and get a job. Also, I talked to the Carolina Model Railroaders out of Greensboro, and they're housed in a temporary home right now while they get their new permanent home fixed up. I may join them, since they actually have an N scale layout. [ 11 February 2002, 03:02: Message edited by: RidgeRunner ]
Hey Jon, Sorry I missed the show! Usually ANY train show is better than NO show (especially in the lull of winter) . I really don't know much about the Greensboro crew, but you're welcome to join us Here's a link to our club page: http://www.trainweb.org/nrmrc/ Harold
I have never been to a Greenberg show or any commercial show besides GATS. I think the closest one to me was in Virginia Beach, but I thought it was billed as the Toy Train and Doll Show. I had heard that there was a great deal of Tinplate. (Being an N scale modeler, that is the LAST thing I want to see ) I guess it is like all train shows.... sometimes it is great and sometimes it is otherwise Harold
Harold, I appreciate the invite, but I think 2 hrs is a bit far to go for regular train club meetings. Greensboro is bordering on too far for me, it's only 45 min versus 2 hrs to Raleigh. I may stop by and see y'alls layout at the Raleigh GATS tho. Will you be there? It would be interesting to meet up with some of my fellow TrainBoarders.
I plan to be there.... I will let you know in advance if I know I will not be. We are planning a "public service" show on the 23rd and 24th of this month, but it will be much smaller than we usually do. We usually do something like a 24 x 72' NTrak layout for the larger shows (in N scale). As far as distance, it is not much of an issue... you can still join our club at a very reasonable rate. We do not have too many rules or restrictions that discourage new members. Harold
Anyone ever been to the Great Midwest Train Show in Illinois? I'm curious about what it's like and if N scale vendors are present...
I have never been to one of these shows... (I have never been to the Midwest). According to their website, they are run by the same parent group, so I'd guess that the show basics are the same. The shows can be very different from year to year, depending on many things including: location, date (and competing shows), prior year attendance, and vendor availability. Harold
