Went to the Great Train Expo in Anaheim, CA today... I normally help out Wig-Wag Trains set up and break down, but I was busy with work and other errands on Friday, so I skipped out on that this year. I did say hi to George at their booth space, though. When I arrived, the usual exhibit hall was closed and I was wondering if I went to the wrong venue, but I kept walking through the spacious Anaheim Convention Center and saw people walking in the distance...it was another hall, that looked larger, but George from Wig-Wag told me it was actually a smaller space -- it just has a higher ceiling. I was trying to put to use some Christmas cash I got, but...really there was nothing I wanted to buy N-scale wise. I ended up buying some scenery material (some crushed rock/talus material that totaled $5 and some change...I spent $7 to get in. At least I got to park for free (Shhhh...secret ). The N scale selection was disappointing. It's not that there was a lack of vendors, there was a decent amount...but most had rolling stock that I had no interest in, mainly due to them having Rapidos and pizza cutter wheels. Even at the Wig-Wag booth, which was one of the few that sold new N-scale merchandise, I wasn't compelled to get anything...I could have gotten an MTL CSX auto rack, but that means I would have to spring for more MTL-width metal wheels...which none where available. All of the stuff I'm feenin' for isn't even out yet, and it's likely being made by Kato, BLMA or ExactRail...I guess I'll hold on to that Christmas cash for a while longer and be a patient N-scaler this year I did see and chat with john_plsn (Wassup, John!) there from the N-land Pacific Free-Mo club, which was the one cool aspect of the show. He was running his Tsunami-equipped Daylight. I also got some advice from Joel Bragdon himself on how to best apply an even amount of his weathering powder (I always end up with one heavy spot surrounded by lighter areas, applied with a Q-Tip). He showed me a stiff paintbrush that had its bristles cut back all but a centimeter or so long, which was an "a-ha!" modeling moment for me.
I went to my first train show in Pomona last month in Decemeber and came away a little disappointed after spending for parking and entrance fee for both myself and wife. Didn't find anything worth buying and there weren't that many vendors. The saving grace is that we saw some interesting layouts that kept her interest in my hobby. Good thing we didn't drive all the way down to SoCal just for the show.
Being a transition era modeler [Pennsy] I am into the older cars with the Rapido couplers. Most of the newly produced models are of the recent era. But I'm in pig heaven when it comes to 2, 3 and 4 bay open hoppers. As for the Rapido's, who cares, they get chucked for MT's anyway. Why pay more for a car equipped with Accumates or McHenry's when they will be replaced anyway. An added plus is I am seeing some previously owed cars which the previous owner already equipped with MT's. Picking these up for $5 or $6 each really helps the hobby budget.
Our club decided long ago not to go to the Pomona shows and tried one last year, but it just confirmed our feelings from before. By the way don't expect the GTE shows to be in Pomona any more as the venue wants to charge everyone including vendors and exhibitors for parking, and there have been many complaints (wining). It does sound like the organizer (Bill G.) has booked a weekend at the Orange County Fairgrounds instead. Smaller building from what I hear, but we'll see. Hey Elson, I thought we were buds. Your suppose to take pictures that don't show my balding back side. Saturday was the big raid on the show with a line 20 folks deep at Wig Wag.
I also did not buy alot. Most of the vendors had stock that did not interset me. Also I would never go back to the Pomona show. Very little to look at and not laid out very well.
Good to know I (and John as well) weren't alone If you want to go to a swap meet/train show and you're an N scaler, you CAN'T miss the Belmont Shore RR swapmeets every Spring and Fall in San Pedro...Up to 80% of the vendors are N scale. 100% free to attend, vend and park too! Next dates are May 19 and October 27!
Pomona is a very difficult venue. It is not drive-in for load-in or load-out (we will no longer attempt a venue that does not allow drive-in). Vendor/exhibitor paking is very far removed and we understand that no parking break is given for vendors/exhibitors. We did one show there years ago under the "Big Train Show" banner and the booths were unworkable for a dealer that needs 800sqft as we were at the time. We now do 1100sqft. Anaheim was a decent show. Still down from our best Anaheim show but better than last year. It did not make up for Del Mar or Denver however. Sunday was a typical Sunday and I actually got to do some work helping customers on our new laptop. Built the page for the new Kato lighting sets around customers after converting the website converted over to the new laptop. Upgrading software and hardware from the XP version to Win 7 version is quite a change.
