Great NW Arkansas Train Show 2021

Mitch, what do you mean when you say Mickey Mantle was in attendance?

Like so many Baby Boomer baseball fans, I'm a huge Mickey Mantle fan. He passed away in the late 1990s.

Did the Hall of Fame Mickey Mantle have a son by the same name? Was the son in attendance at this train show?

Arnold

Mitch, thanks for sharing the happy snaps.  It looks like a good time was had by all.  I had no idea the RTC was a travelling road show.  That young lady wasn't trying to abscond with that plush gee-raffe was she?  When did the Gee-Raffe cars go Frisco?  I don't remember seeing a post about those re-paints.

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

Mitch, what do you mean when you say Mickey Mantle was in attendance?

Like so many Baby Boomer baseball fans, I'm a huge Mickey Mantle fan. He passed away in the late 1990s.

Did the Hall of Fame Mickey Mantle have a son by the same name? Was the son in attendance at this train show?

Arnold

I'll let @John D. explain, if he's so inclined. 

Mitch

@coach joe posted:

Mitch, thanks for sharing the happy snaps.  It looks like a good time was had by all.

Yep! 

I had no idea the RTC was a travelling road show.

That whole rig (except for the tables) fits neatly into the back of my station wagon, with room to spare.   

That young lady wasn't trying to abscond with that plush gee-raffe was she?

Those toys were brought specifically as giveaways, donated by a chum of mine in Nebraska. 

  When did the Gee-Raffe cars go Frisco?  I don't remember seeing a post about those re-paints.

That was something of a last minute thing.  I cut letterboards from .010 styrene, cemented them on, primered, painted with Colonial Red and added Frisco decals.   Came out pretty good, I think!   

Mitch

AAAAAMMMMMAAAAzing. Thanks for the update, What a kewl show, Watching the FaceBook link for show updates. This was great.. Mickey Mantles dad appearance aside, were you able to get an Autograph from "The Masked Man" for me? with the weather, I was sure he could make it...

Gifting GI-Raffs was a WAAY Kewl idea. u r a kewl doood. <from a fan with Gi-Raffe envy)

@M. Mitchell Marmel posted:

A collection of happy snaps from the 2021 Sugar Creek Model Train Show!

Behold the power of Magnatraction! 

Mitch

Thanks Mitch for sharing your day with us.   It has been way toooooo long since I had a  opportunity to enjoy a train show day.   I get my second covid shot on Tuesday and  I am already beginning to look forward to returning to a life as we have known and enjoyed!    Until then, wash your hands, cover your cough, wear your mask and get your vaccination!  

Cheers, Dave

@M. Mitchell Marmel posted:

I'll let @John D. explain, if he's so inclined. 

Mitch

@Arnold D. Cribari, my last name is DiMaggio.  My dad's first name is Joe.  He's not often on social media or these fine forums.  It's kind of a secret code name I use sometimes.  It's a nod to one of my favorite stories he tells:

It was very early one morning when he arrived to a hotel on busines.  Young woman behind the desk.  He walked up and said "reservation for Mickey Mantle." She couldn't find it. "Babe Ruth?" Nope. "Hmmm. Lou Gehrig?" None. "How about Joe DiMaggio? You do? OK, I think I have an ID with that name on it.  You see, I'm in the CIA. My assistant loves baseball but always forgets to give me my mission code name."  He swears she fell for it.  I choose to believe him.

And yes, we are related to the ball player. Great Grandad's cousin.

Mitch those gee-raffe cars look pretty good for last minute.

@coach joe posted:

Mitch those gee-raffe cars look pretty good for last minute.

Thankee!  They're good ten-foot cars, but those decals aren't the best I've ever done.  The little indefinites stuck to the paint and refused to be adjusted. 

Mitch

Where in Arkansas was this show located?

@Jazzmann posted:

Where in Arkansas was this show located?

Benton County Fairgrounds, just west of Bentonville.  This was our third year at this venue. 

Mitch

Some video coverage of the show!  I show up briefly at the 8:55 mark.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7aWbg5WvsY

Mitch

Nice show and great pics - good to see one back.

Not sure if this seller took credit cards or not.