Anybody go to the train show in Plano this past weekend? What did you think?
Got a look at a few BLI HO Mikes and the On30 C-16's. I didn't hear a Mike but the C-16 sounded great. The HOn3 layout and Texas Outlaw's On30 modules were really good. The other layouts were fun to watch but these two really got my attention. There was a guy there selling assembled, detailed and painted Athearn cabooses and cars. They were outstanding and at first I thought they brass or scratchbuilt. Certainly makes me think twice about what can be done with a Bluebox kit.
My son had a blast. This show was paradise to him. We had to eventually tear him form the Thomas tables. My daughter also went along because I gave her $20 bucks to keep my son under control while I looked at things or talked with someone. Oddly she had a good time and really liked the G-Scale trains. She even asked when I would be starting the scenery on my layout because she thought it might be fun to make.
There seemed to be less brass for sale, fewer craftsman kits and no tool guy this year. Plenty of RTR, shake the box and Lionel though. There also seemed to be a good selection of N-scale. I took along $500 to spend but only bought a hat and some Thomas stuff for my son. Really didn't see anything much I wanted. The BLI locomotives and those neat custom cabeese were interesting but I don't have a use for them.
Its been a few years since I last attended the show and though it seemed like there were fewer sellers the place was packed with people. In fact there were so many people it got very warm and you had to wait in line to look. If where we ended up parking this time out is an indicator there were more people attending the show than in the past. Even though I did not find anything I've been really looking for I had a great time and so did my kids. Bruce