Hawkeye’s Squawkbox

We spent three very long and intense days at iHobby Expo and it was worth every minute of it. Though if you were to have asked us that while our feet, knees and backs were aching from being on our feet all day, you might have heard something a bit different.

I want to give a special thanks to those who stopped by to say “Hi” to my wife and I. Seeing familiar faces, reaffirming acquaintances and meeting new folks for the first time is always a pleasure. Products aside, it is the people that make this industry and hobby what it is.

The expo showcased not only established companies in our industry but those seeing its potential and joining into the fun and excitement it offers. One such veteran is Lindberg/Hawk, to which I must salute Ernie Petit, a man who has a great passion for modeling and kids. I had the opportunity to have a great conversation with someone new to our industry Raymond Wong at Grex a manufacturer of airbrushes. Our conversation wasn’t centered around products as much as it was about the industry and the hobby. Raymond’s optimism was refreshing and I can’t wait to experience the use of his products…maybe at next years expo I’ll get the chance.

If you think plastics is dead, well you’re absolutely WRONG! One barometer was the attendance at the Plastics and Diecast Division Counsel meeting on Friday evening. It was the best attended membership meeting of the other three including the General Division Counsel which I am a member of. They want to succeed as do the rest but their attendance numbers tell me they are serious too.

An Atta Boy! also goes out to Mark Fothergill at Replicarz and Alian Morot at Minichamps our conversations at the Plastic/Diecast meeting was nothing less than positive and forward thinking. No wonder you guys have been so successful!

A sad note that still has a positive ending. This year we lost David Huff, President of Minicraft Models. I met David and he was a genuine nice guy. His passing was a sad moment for many of us, even those of us like me who barely knew him and of his achievements. But his spirit continues forward through his wife Norma Huff who has taken firm control of the reigns at Minicraft. Supporting her is another really great man, Lewis Nace. Working with folks like this is one of the main reasons I enjoy this industry.

Special THANK YOU! to the crew from Accurate Miniatures. They gave us (Aerospace Modeler Magazine) a place to use as a base camp and display our product. Yes, Accurate Miniatures too is another one of those companies that is forward thinking and understands what it is going to take to keep this hobby vibrant. Bob, John, Steve and Tom…SALUTE!

Xuron. The new sprue cutter I designed was very well received and production tooling is the next step to make them a reality. They’re coming soon! Everyone who stopped by to visit and inspect them said they liked them. Even Michael Gross gave them a look see while he visited the Xuron booth.

Allan Iwig from Excel, is another pleasant highlight at the expo. I can sit and converse with Allan for hours…some of it just for fun, but much more of it is solid business and industry related discussions.

A couple of other tidbits of information. I was able to renew interest in yet another new tool idea to a company that I pitched to them last year. With the preliminary success of the sprue cutter I did for Xuron they are keen to take my idea forward. I can’t tell you who it is, but when I can I will share it with you. I will say it will help make finishing your model much easier.

I’m looking forward to next year! Retailers who make the decision not to attend, should consider doing so. Why? Because it is apparent those who do are being successful in their business operations. This expo provides more than just an opportunity to view product and place orders. There are educational and promotional benefits as well.

Lastly, for those of you wishing to see a comprehensive list of what the manufacturers are releasing, visit Michael Benolkin’s Cybermodeler website. Thanks Michael for composing such a great list!

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