The 9th Annual Model and Hobby show is history.

            Friday evening, October 2nd, was a zoo.  It was well worth the effort it took to gain access to the Community Center on the evening before the big show.  For starters, our 50 tables where spread around in two buildings three blocks apart.  The PA system wasn’t connected to the smaller display area and access to some of the chairs was lost due to the storage rooms being locked by the staff as they left for the weekend.  

            The extra three hours of ‘set-up’ time was a blessing for at least two of the larger layouts.  Our own Peachland FreeMo modules had developed a short circuit somewhere, or maybe two, and the huge Penticton modular N scale layout was taking longer to assemble and test than originally thought.  Brian Kelly of Kelly’s Caboose in Kamloops was all too happy to use the time to set up shop.  So was his wife.  She got to sleep in on Saturday morning.

            In the end, the crowds came, enjoyed and left for another year.  The Merritt Model Railway Club enthusiastically offered to be a big part of they organizing group for next year.  Younger, and probably wiser, they will be a great help in pulling off the 10th anniversary edition. 

Venders and modellers from the North Okanagan joined the show again this year.

A steady stream of visitors marveled at the trains and they picked up a few great bargains themselves.

The radio controlled helicopters but on another great show flying indoors and out.

Everyone was invited to race slot cars by challenging a real expert.

Dollhouses aren’t all Victorian mansions.  Some are wonderfully imaginative pieces with a holiday theme.