69th Annual MFCA Show and Mart-live reports (1 Viewer)

[theBaron]

Hello, everyone! I'm posting now from the Radisson here at the Valley Forge Convetion Center, we're getting ready for tomorrow's opening. Got to see George and his dad, the Murphys from Hobby Bunker, Chuck Robinson of Red Lancers, Thor Johnson of AeroArt and Ed Gries (Relic Golden Amusements). Some of our guests from Europe have arrived as well. It's nice to see our old friends.

I look forward to seeing the local Treefroggers out here tomorrow and Saturday. I'll try to post some pics, as the show gets going.

I have to sign off, I've had a couple of Guinnesses and a couple of Franziskaners, we opened the hospitality suite a day early.

Prost!
Brad

 

[marco55]

You guys sure are lucky.I sitting here getting ready to start work.
Mark

 

[wds0855]

Wish I could be there today. Can't make it until tomorrow.

 

[theBaron]

Hi, everybody! I took a little break from the setup, to load and post some pictures I took. It's a little look at the ramp-up to the show's opening at noon. The hall is almost full now, as the rest of the vendors arrive.

Jack Weber, Dennis Sosna and Scott Hershbell set up the admissions table:

Hobby Bunker, setting up:

Thor Johnson (r) and Alan Gold (l) set up AeroArt's display:

Setting up the exhibition area:

We laid out the space with the exhibition in the center, and the dealer area around it.

Here we see show veteran Alan Gwin setting up his table display:

More dealer setup:

You can see our fellow Treefrogger George Guerriero at his tables, with his excellent dioramas. Ray Haradin is in the back, at his tables.

The loading dock is busy:

More dealers arrive:

More to follow...

 

[theBaron]

Here's a selection of Metal Shed pieces...

The train:

The German observation balloon:

The British tank with trench bridging gear:

A selection of smaller pieces:

The steam truck:

How'd you like to have a whole armor column by Metal Shed?

"We still have the WWII sets to put out!"

I'll try to post more pictures later today, thanks for looking!

Prost!
Brad

 

[thebritfarmer]

Brilliant Brad and thanks much for showing us some behind the scenes. It's like we are at the show. Looking forward to more pics and reports :0)

 

[Louis Badolato]

What a great time I had at today's show. As I was walking in, who do I run into but Dennis deRusha from Canada, one of the truly good people involved in this hobby. I hadn't seen Dennis in a couple of years, and the first thing he says to me is, "Louis, you are in great shape, you lost some weight". Made me feel very good. Then I went inside and met up with Tom Dubel and Brad Lewin. We got to see our good friends and fellow Froggers Matt Murphy from the Hobby Bunker and George Guerrerro from Minutemen Toy Soldiers. Then we got to meet froggers Brad, "the Baron" and Wendy. Brad had a photo of all of us froggers taken, which I'm sure will show up on this thread sooner or later.

Finally, I got to chat with Joe from Metalshed, Ken and Erika Osen, and Richard Walker from Britains. My only disappointment was missing Michael "Maddadicus", and not finding any Heco - maybe he got there first!

By the way, that amazing Metalshed Train was bought by NY Symposium co-host Marc Hoffman. It is as spectacular piece as I have seen in the hobby.

 

[tdubel]

What a show.

First and foremost, good to see Brad, Louis, Mark and Charlie, George, Matt, Al, Richard, Erika (I missed Ken, would like to refight the ACW at least one more time!!) etc. etc.! That is the best part along with meeting the "other Brad". Great to put names and faces together! Other Brad, sorry I missed you on the way out!

As for show finds........................

1. ALymer Pharoh Elephant and Handlers Mega Set (Buy of the day)

2. SIlk Road (Marlborough offshoot made real limited) Carriage, riders, etc.

3. TROPHY Afghans pretty old set of 6 with rock bases - TD 8 (Volleys)

Item that I passed on due to price, but would have loved to have bought it and I am sure someone will - Trophy Arab Dhow. I just didn't have the budget left to buy it.

I will get pictures up soon.

TD

 

[W T Allison II]

How much was the dhow? Please let me know who had it for sale. Thanks.

 

[maddadicus]

What a great time I had at today's show. As I was walking in, who do I run into but Dennis deRusha from Canada, one of the truly good people involved in this hobby. I hadn't seen Dennis in a couple of years, and the first thing he says to me is, "Louis, you are in great shape, you lost some weight". Made me feel very good. Then I went inside and met up with Tom Dubel and Brad Lewin. We got to see our good friends and fellow Froggers Matt Murphy from the Hobby Bunker and George Guerrerro from Minutemen Toy Soldiers. Then we got to meet froggers Brad, "the Baron" and Wendy. Brad had a photo of all of us froggers taken, which I'm sure will show up on this thread sooner or later.

Finally, I got to chat with Joe from Metalshed, Ken and Erika Osen, and Richard Walker from Britains. My only disappointment was missing Michael "Maddadicus", and not finding any Heco - maybe he got there first!

By the way, that amazing Metalshed Train was bought by NY Symposium co-host Marc Hoffman. It is as spectacular piece as I have seen in the hobby.

I was out by 1:00 pm having seen no Heco, but buying 2 sets of Edmund's Rev War stuff and some 1/32 maxims for future ship fittings. I also had my eye on the Metal Shed table and near bought that WW1 German pontoon bomber...BTW, That train actually is powered and runs on o gauge track. Excellent price as detailed as that train was and the bonus operating ability. Might be a future Christmas item to myself...Michael

 

[maddadicus]

How much was the dhow? Please let me know who had it for sale. Thanks.

I am friends with the owner of the Dhow...If it does not sell at the show, let me know if you are interested and I will try to get you together. Not sure what he was asking for it..He also had the small Trophy gunboat which sold early..Michael

 

[jazzeum]

How much was the dhow? Please let me know who had it for sale. Thanks.

Tommy,

It was $795 and it was beautiful. There was a question about whether it was complete but the general consensus was that it was. Ed, from Gettysburg (a real character if there was ever one) had many Trophy sets for sale, all in mint condition. I picked up 4 ACW sets myself.

I have his card and get you his info if you want.

 

[glossman]

I hope that someone will post photographs of the Trophy boats.

Raymond.

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[Andanna]

Excellent show again. I had a very good time although it appears as if all my treefrogger friends spent the days in the Hospitality Suite whose location was kept a secret from thirsty co-treefroggers.

It was OK, though, as this way there was more to buy for me.

Few highlights, though:

Metalshed got my attention as well - for the first time admittedly.

Ken & Ericka had a very small inventory compared to Chicago because they again sold half of their inventory within 10 minutes. I came when the doors were supposed to open - and came too late to admire for example the Indian Village Diorama that Ken was offering. Noteworthy was a new shelf-size display of a Virgin Forrest (which I liked a lot as the ground was raised toward the back and which was stocked with Rev War figures from Britains) and a Creek diorama. But the highlight are the new French houses - a range that is expected to grow substantially.

Across from Ken's and Britain's was a dealer named "Remsons" offering among many other things these two sets:

Next, around the corner from the Admission Table: Thor Johnson's Aeroart with his reliable quality:

Ted from Tedtoy carried everything I do not like about Jenkin's:

... and everything I do like:

Obviously a tie-in into Britain's successful Nile range.

Trophy:

George had limited stock of First Legion vehicles and soldiers and hence my budget (for today) went to Ted's Monarch Regalia Samurai range.

 

[Andanna]

The show was only open for five hours and I spent a lot of time talking to dealers, hence I had little time to focus on the exhibition. But two things caught my attention:

1) In the diorama range, a large number of retreats. Sign of the times?

2) My personal highlight: finally a diorama on the Battle of the Teutoburger Forest (Misnomer, should be: Varus Battle). This Diorama justifies its own report and that one will hopefully follow in a couple of weeks upon return from a business trip.

Stalingrad: The Other Side:

The LOST LEGIONS:

 

[jazzeum]

Maybe the Baron (a very nice fellow and great to meet him) will.

 

[Andanna]

I hope that someone will post photographs of the Trophy boats.

Raymond.

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I only saw this one:

 

[jazzeum]

I see that Andanna has posted the Stalingrad dio. It was called Melons and it was outstanding and had great detail. I'm sure it must have won a prize.

 

[jazzeum]

I only saw this one:

That's the one!

 

[glossman]

Stalingrad: The Other Side.

The figures eating the cut water melons are excellent.

Raymond.

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