Indy Show

Like I said in another post, "The good stuff sells before the show opens!"

Stephen

There's certainly some truth to that, dealers horse trade with other dealers in the dealer setup time before the show.

 

In the case of the TM, the deal was arranged well ahead of the show from what the new owner was telling me.

 

I didn't buy anything after setting up my table but I was looking for the 7 collections that have never been seen on eBay!

Robbie,

 

keep eps the posts coming and don't forget some pictures....   Especially of the mystery collections!

It is good to see such interest in brass.

Yes please take some pictures of the swap tables with stacks of those lovely orange, green, black, red,  and blue boxes! Did I miss anyone.

Perhaps there has been a terrible wave of death among elderly brass collectors in the past 6 months, but I noticed no great up tick in brass offerings at the Chicago March Meet this year. If anything, through the years, fewer and fewer brass pieces have been for sale at that meet. So, mark me up as skeptical regarding "7 big collections" being at Indy. But do look forward to post Indy reports!

Well the way it looks not many of those boxes are moving out the door!!! 

 

I did sell a Weaver B60 at a reasonable price so it did confirm that buyers will buy things if sellers price them reasonable.  

MYSTERY for sure! Where are they????? Or maybe they are/were small collections.

 

I guess they were all bought up in the pre-show trading frenzy!

 

Simon

Its been my experience at most shows well or not so well attended that table holders tend to do the heavy dealing between each other,as for collections few if any ever get to a meet intact, most desirable items have changed hands long before the meets.JMO

Maybe so , but one would think at least part of the stuff would turn up on the show floor, even if it had a new owner or two, or three. Seven collections (unless we're defining a collection as 2 or 3 items) would be a lot of stuff, and I doubt that it was ALL so desirable or well priced that it all disappeared.

 

Simon

 

From my view point the '7 collections' weren't anything to brag about. The show was smaller than usual as there were no layout room nor a contest room. Only the small NKP P48 layout was there and the contest tables were both in the main hall. Attendance was down. As I said and hear most of the good stuff was gone before the show opened. I was told to get a table next year with one or two items on it so that I could go and to the dealer setup to buy items before they are gone.

 

I did find a undec PSC C&O C16a that will be painted Virginian as they bought them and put them right in service. Erik from MMW and received several orders for his loco to surpass all other locos SD45. Order now as the SD45 orders maybe closing very soon. Key had his SP Cab forward there painted-great looking piece I might add. JD trains did not show up leaving everyone wondering about his future. Many stated they had deposits and or never get returned emails, a poor way to do business.

 

Stephen

 

I asked a show staff member about the 7 collections-he pointed to who brought them to the show.

 

He alluded there was a disconnect between what they thought was being brought to the show and what actually arrived.  He wasn't pleased.

 

Whatever the situation, I had a great time.  Enjoyed seeing all the nice trains and some stuff I've never saw before.  Got some great ideas and met some nice folks, both from the OGR Forum and not.  

 

If any of the Indy O Scale staff reads this, I appreciate your effort to make this a reality.

The "details" of JD's Trains was explained over on the 3-Rail 027 Trains Forum, and then locked. At any rate, all the reservations/advance orders previously made through AM Hobbies and JD's Trains have been transferred to Peterson Supply, out in Portland, Oregon. Also, any "previously agreed to prices" with Jeff Dobswell at JD's Trains, will apparently NOT be honored by Peterson Supply. It is a shame but, Jeff took a much higher paying job, and thus his store front hobby shop will be open only on weekends, and his mail order business is thus "transferred" to Peterson Supply.

Upon hearing this I checked with a well known dealer much closer to the east coast on reserving Atlas Tman GE8-40CWs [long awaited] he checked with Atlas and was told orders closed ,stand by only. Two choices bite the bullet and pay the price at Petersens ck first to make sure he is holding your reservation or cancel your reservation with him,I assume he will notify Atlas of all former JDs reservations he will be cancelling [certainly not going to keep them for stock]and hope this frees up inventory for dealers putting in reservations now.Any of the latest announcements can be reserved with the dealer of your choice.JMO

In spite of the fact this was a Top Secret show, I found out about it.....(if you were a

poor working stiff who could only make the two hour show opening window on Sat., too bad... the show was open for quite a while, and too early, on Friday).  Although I only picked up some archbar trucks and other small parts, I did think paying the enormous entrance fee is worth it, vs. almost any other show with nothing in it but HO and N, and, of course, to support O scale.  There did seem to a dearth of kits, and as for

brass, none I was interested in except one side door caboose I already had.  (as for

kits, if I was afflicted with packratitis, I could have bought another one for that

LaBelle Oneida gas electric, that I am buiding now, but the Grande only owned one....)

That is funny.  The Indy show is here in the 2-rail forum for weeks prior every year.

 

If this is secret them you'll never know about the annual Chicago show which shows up here even less.

 

But for the rest of us 2-railers I think we should just admit the Chicago show is the defacto National and leave it at that.

 

And yes, all the 2-rail "shows" are swap meets first and much of the goings on are between table holders.  I now buy a table, if available, at all I attend even if I bring nothing to sell because it gets me 1) a place inside to sit down and talk to folks and maybe negotiate and a table to store stuff under and 2) a badge that gets me in during setup.  O Scale West has a no trading or buying before public opening rule and I try and respect that, absolutely for the guys that want a deal on something before the show even opens. 

 

If the additional expense bothers you then just don't.

Not sure how anyone could think it was a top secret show...it was advertised over many places for months.

 

Always find it funny when people complain about a $25 admission fee (which was for both days..on you if you couldn't make it) though they spend much more on trains.

People have no idea how much time is spent and what it cost to put on a show.  I managed events at a college for years.  $25.00 isn't bad especially considering you don't have enough people staying at the hotel to get the event rooms for free.

 

To those that make an effort to put on a good show I can only say THANK YOU!!! 

VGN: A good show would be timed so that it could attrack the most people like on a Saturday/Sunday show so those that have jobs are able to set up a table or attend. As stated by others, the Saturday event sucks due that the show is not an all day event for those who travel when the dealers start to leave by noon. I would have been ashamed to call this show a 'National Convention'!

Stephen

I would think I would be notified about the transfer of orders to Peterson Supply or it being listed on the website. Stephen

When working, it was a hassle to get to this and other shows with the ,"for retirees only", schedules.  Of course, this problem is found in the York three rail show where

its schedule has been complained about here on the forum by the lowly employed, in that it is half a day Thursday, all day Friday, and all the goodies gone by Saturday when working people can show up.  I don't think show management is staffed only by clergy, either.

Since this news was posted the other day one would think so [by Steve from McMuffin trains] I suspect Andys phone at Petersen Supply has been ringing steadly.Obiviously a call will confirm if they are now holding your reservations,I intend to call in a week or so when things quiet down.

Those 1000's from collections really never materialized; that all of the good stuff gets sold Thursday evening during dealer set up mantra never really happened to any meaningful extent. We set up, wandered the floor a bit, most tables were covered over, and by then dinner was more interesting.

 

BTW, thanks to all that came by the OST table!  Your support is greatly appreciated!!!

mwb,

I didn't know you were at the show or I would've introduced myself.

 

I did stop by the OST table Friday morning, maybe met you and didn't realize it!

The reason I kept kidding about this show being "Top Secret" is because, although I

had asked in several posts for the date and time of it, people kept beating around the

bush with useless responses like, "Oh, it has been posted on here for months", refusing

a direct answer.   I guess they were afraid somebody would beat them to all those

truckloads of cheap brass that never showed up?  I only look for a few brass cabooses, so I am not a competitor for most of it.

Let's see...Flew South West into Indy for close to car expense.  Free shuttle to the show....$25. entrance...eye candy all over the place. 

 

Picked up a couple of beautifully custom painted engines.....purchased a suitcase full of cars......Tom Marsh and his wife went home with one less water color (very nice couple) then I smoked the Visa on some more must haves.  Plus there were a lot of needed widgets which I found on several dealers tables.  Saturday  absolutely had the very best deals.  IMO the last hour or the last day of any show has the best deals!

 

All that aside, one of the very best aspects of the show was the opportunity to meet & greet old and new friends.

 

If you want to have a good time, you will.  If you want to have a bad time, you will.  Totally your choice. 

 

Thank you Jim, Kim & Dorcie for a very nice effort.

 

 

And then.......You find out what folks are made of when unexpected nasty happens.  While my wife was walking into the hotel she had a health event which renders her unable to stand.  Near collapse an anonymous  0 scaler rushed to her aid to keep her from going down.

 

Coming from a distance I ran to assist.  He had it under control.  After joining in I turned to thank him but he had drifted on.  Thank you whoever you are!  We are indebted to you. 

 

We are now home and her issue is under control.  Kudos also to the caring folks at South West Airlines.

 

Tom & Rachel Thorpe

Good to hear all is good and under control, Tom.

Hope to see you in October in Strasburg

I don't seem to be making it to shows as often as I did two decades ago - but $25 is simply rock-bottom for an entry fee.  Try an NMRA National.

 

I made it to Indy exactly twice, but loved it.  I think I made three Chicagos, one on a layover in the exact hotel where the meet was!  And a stack of nationals all the way from North Carolina to Hershey.

 

Never missed a single OSW until 3 years ago - but now, having more than one of everything I ever wanted except redheads, my motivation is solely to see my buddies.  It is a beautiful drive from San Diego to Santa Clara, although Californians now simply drive in the left lane.

 

O Scale 2-rail is an extremely small community, and not getting younger.  These shows may become smaller and more intimate in the future.  Value them, and send in your $25.

 

 

What a beautiful note Bob about the shows and our hobby. Dang I hope it grows in popularity.

"then I smoked the Visa ........."

 

Funny!!!

 

 

Don't understand much of the grumbling about this show.  It seems to be one or two people that don't like the Indy show.  

 

Our hobby is made by the people in it.  Don't like something, make some constructive criticism/suggestions  or pitch in and make it better. 

 

No doubt about the fact that attendance is down.  Lots of vendors and product but the economy going sideways affects attendance even with the dropping gas prices.

 

As for the negatives like overpriced junk or  people scooping up the good things early that's a fact of any hobby.  There are pros who know the good stuff and know what they can buy up and resell for a profit.   All the better reason if you're a dealer to know your product and price it fairly as not to be a ripoff and get zero sales nor get cheated by someone who sees the jewel that you missed. 

 

All in all a good show, great people,  and not nearly the worst "national" I have attended over the many years (and yes, with Chicago, "national" is a stretch for Indy).

 

As long as there were lots of dealers that is the primary concern of a buyer like me!

 

Let's do our part to attend and support ALL O scale meets or they won't exist.

 

I am sorry I missed.   there are things about the show I don't like, but then I usually go.   I usauly have a grandkid birthday to plead with them to delay the party, and this year I made another commitment in Sept.    I scheduled both around the original show date.   Then they moved the show date, and I could not reschedule myself.    Things happen, there will hopefully be a next year.

 

I know a lot of "good" deals are made early in any show and also late in the show like mentioned above.   but that is the way it is, dealers don't usually buy from one another unless they have a customer who wants an item they are looking for it.   Dealers do buy out individuals when the price is right.   Remember the dealers are in business.   The stuff is a commodity to them.    They have to buy low and sell high, or they won't be in business any longer.    Basic business sense.    We just have to hope they get it low enough that their high is in our range.

 

Actually with all the communication means today, you can research an item you are looking for and be able to tell if a dealer is high low or right on.

Many of us were lucky to be able to re-schedule and attend.  3 months out is short notice and I am hoping that no one shows up this Friday at the hotel!!!

 

Let's do our part to attend and support ALL O scale meets or they won't exist.

 

OST has been and will continue to be trying to attend, advertise, and promote as many meets as reasonably possible.  There are obviously costs involved in such both business and personal.  We will be at Strasburg and Cleveland in Oct. and then in Chicago in April!!!

 

See you all there!  

 

 

Let's do our part to attend and support ALL O scale meets or they won't exist.

Thank you for mentioning that.  The Strasburg show is October 17th, about a month earlier than last year's [ as I recall ], and was not on my radar plot yet.......

 

SZ

The Southwest O Meet is on Oct 16-17.

 

The Cherry Valley meet is on November 14th, too!

 

Check the OST forum for info on 2 rail shows.  The information on when & where shows are is available!

+1 !

Also you may check out the O Scale Resource

http://oscale.uberflip.com/t/6...the-o-scale-resource  

page 64 for the current show list.  And don't forget to send us your upcoming O Scale shows for inclusion next issue.

http://oscaleresource.com/Events/events.shtml