2001 Chicago Hobby Show News!

The Chicago Hobby Show was a spectacularly encouraging event for all 1/87 vehicle modelers and collectors!! The weekend turned out to be the biggest single event in our hobby's history for new product announcements and developments! Watch our New Products section for more ongoing breaking news and developments!!!

Athearn - announces a Stoughton 53' exterior post container (shown above) with absolutely stunning detail! Rendition of the x-posts, door latch bars, and lift protectors are very impressive!

The little beauty shown above was not at the Chicago Hobby Show; it was reserved for attendees at the 1/87 Vehicle Club's 2001 Midwest Meet and is a design concept model for the Ford C800 from Athearn. This is not a pre-production sample; you'll be able to see more of this model in an upcoming Photo Gallery!

~~Boley~~ - announced an ever expanding range of trucks, fire fighting apparatus, and military models. The most exciting development is licensed models from PACCAR which will include Kenworth T-800 (design concept models shown above), T-2000, and Peterbilt 379 die-cast models. Fire trucks include a Freightliner FL80 crew cab fire truck series, a whole range of Seagraves fire trucks, and even more International cab fire trucks. Their 2002 catalog has photos of all the new production models as well as the prototype concept models on display at Chicago. Design concept models by Bob Johnson from Dennis Aust kits.

Classic Metal Works - announced 8 more vehicles in their extremely successful Mini-Metals series. These include:

Don Mills Models - displayed at the Resins Unlimited booth was Don Mills' latest kit - Mack FCSW chain drive dump truck (shown above).

GHQ - displayed their upcoming American prototype forklift. Another extraordinary pewter kit from GHQ!

~~IMEX~~ ~~- displayed their International KB series and CO-190 truck tractors and additional paint schemes on existing Ford and Peterbilt trucks.~~

~~InterMountain Railway Company~~, the folks who do the injection molding for Lonestar Models, displayed the ocean racing yacht shown above. Plans are to have the model available in a variety of prototypically accurate paint schemes. Fully assembled and perfectly scaled to 1/87!!!!! Who says we don't have influence!

~~Keyence~~, a factory automation and robotics from from Japan, displayed this phenomenal radio controlled tractor trailer truck at the show! This model features working headlights (high and low beam), turn signals (those shiny lights above were not added with PhotoShop!), hazard/4-way flashers, and steering. Model has forward and reverse movement and there is no visible antenna or drive mechanism.

This view shows the drive mechanism completely self-contained in the truck tractor. The trailer houses the rechargeable battery pack. The exciting news: The 1/87 Vehicle Club rounded up a Herpa Ford Aeromax truck tractor and 48' electronics van trailer and donated to Keyence with the express purpose of creating a North American prototype model! Your club membership dollars at work here folks! Remember, you heard it first!

Model Power - displayed a very interesting concept model of a Freightliner XL Classic (similar to model shown above) and utility body with bucket lift; it is unknown what cab and chassis the utility bucket body might be mounted on. Design concept model by Trip Aiken.

~~Resin Unlimited~~ promises their resin lowboy kit is nearing production! This great kit will feature full brake details, working outriggers, and detachable gooseneck. The holdup is still the production for the backlog of Edmund Fitzgerald Great Lakes ore freighter kit. They ask for your patience!

Also displayed were several variants of the Seagraves pumper and ladder trucks including this very attractive yellow open cab truck. Accessories such as fire helmets and fire hydrants are on their way!

Triple's Models - ~~is now taking orders for Ed Richardson's stunning photo-etched brass and stainless steel auto carrier that was on display at the St. Louis NMRA convention in August.~~[Note: This product was sold to Lonestar Models.]