GATS Show, Indianapolis

Vic

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Feb 1, 2002
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I've just plain quit going to the big shows....nothing but the same dealers....the same merchandise and everybody trying to grab a buck.

The smaller shows are still great!:D ....Buy, Sell, Swap, Bargain and Haggle:D :D :D :D I'll be hitting one in Dothan AL next week end if we don't get socked by Hurricane Isadore:eek:
 

Jim de Bree

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Jan 21, 2002
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Vic:

Things must be a lot different in the south. I went to the GATS show in Ventura, California which is about an hour and a half up the coast from LA. Not a large show--it was terrible.

A friend of mine went to the GATS show in Victorville, a medium sized town in the Mojave desert between LA & Vegas. His experience was comparable to mine.

The vendors had a very limited selection of stuff at or near list price (one guy was actually trying to sell stuff at prices in excess of Walthers catalog price). eek: The only other stuff was broken down junk that was pricey as well. No interesting vendors and very mediocre layouts.::confused:

I hate to sound like such a downer, but based on the experiences of several local modelers, it was not worht the price of admission.:(

Jim
 

Vic

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Hi Jim, Yep we have us a good 'ol time:D :D :D at the small shows in Alabama and N. Florida. Usually its a club or just a group of folks that put them on. We even have one here in Feb. We all bring our junk and "don't wants" and make a day of it. Come on down sometimes and railroad with "Bubba" and the rest of the Rednecks:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D
 

Vic

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Hi T, The show will be at the fairgrounds where they hold the peanut festival. Its on US231 South outside of Dothan. I forget the name of the place but its huge and you can't miss it.

Not to be discouraging but that's gonna be a 650 + mile round trip for you. :( Its only about a 150 mile round trip for me:) Its a very small show and you might be disappointed. If the weather turns sour because of the hurricane in the gulf then it will be a "bust":(

Directions: I-75 to Atlanta. I-85 South to Opelika, AL. Pickup US 280/431 South to Phenix City AL. Take US 431 South to Dothan and pick up US231 South toward Panama City, FL. Fairgrounds is on the right outside of Dothan.
 

Vic

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Hi T, :D :D :D Don't blame you a bit!!! I wouldn't drive that either:D :D :D

Maybe we can get together at one of the shows in Marietta or Atlanta....that's about equal distance for the both of us.
 

Vic

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Trainshow Report

Hi T, Well the show in Dothan was pretty good although there was no narrow gauge stuff this time. Seems that the predominate scale this time was N scale...boy was there a ton of that there.:D Turn out was a bit low...probably due to the weather earlier in the week as Dothan is only about 60 miles from the Gulf Coast.

I managed to pick up a bag full of Grandt Line details parts real cheap and some 6 position rotary switches that I had been looking for. Had a good time and got to see some folks I hadn't seen in awhile. Spent more for lunch than I did on trains!!:D :D :D
 

t. alexander

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Vic, sounds like a day well spent.
Funny how those "do's" are all about lunch. At least to my wife.:D she won't step foot in the local hobby shop but the last train show I drug her to she had a great time at. I ended up spending my mad money on a Nscale loco and bag full of track that she just had to have. Oh and then it was time for lunch....at a resturant!
:rolleyes: :D

t.