Novi Train Show Dec. 12-13

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Racer
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Novi Train Show Dec. 12-13

Unread post by Racer »

Next month on the weekend of December 12-13, the Great Train Expo is coming to Novi's Suburban Collection Showplace (Former Rock Financial Showplace).

I'm hoping this is going to be a better show than the terrible one this past winter. Does anyone know if any good layouts will be at this show or is it going to be another overpriced disappointment?
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Re: Novi Train Show Dec. 12-13

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Won't be attending this year. 2 years ago it was pretty good. Last year it was a 100% waste of time. Less vendors, less layout content, and the prices sucked. Charged for parking, and the show itself was expensive to get into.
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Re: Novi Train Show Dec. 12-13

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Racer wrote:Next month on the weekend of December 12-13, the Great Train Expo is coming to Novi's Suburban Collection Showplace (Former Rock Financial Showplace).

I'm hoping this is going to be a better show than the terrible one this past winter. Does anyone know if any good layouts will be at this show or is it going to be another overpriced disappointment?
I'd save your (admission and parking) money, and go to any of the club-sponsored shows. Those GATS-GTE "professional" shows are often disappointing IMO, save TrainFest in Milwaukee or the annual NMRA shows.
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Re: Novi Train Show Dec. 12-13

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Ah, Trainfest.

I was all set to leave tomorrow to go to Trainfest, I'd been planning and saving my hobby money, but on my way home from work last night my car was rear-ended at speed by an inattentive driver on the way home from work. 'got shoved through the cable barrier on I-94. The cables may have ripped up my car, but if they hadn't been there, I'd've ended up as guest-of-honor in a multi-car head-on collision in the eastbound lanes.

I'm definitely looking forward to next year's National Train Show in Indianapolis. We're also planning to take the Operations Road Show layout there for the week of the Convention.
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Re: Novi Train Show Dec. 12-13

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Look forward to going and seeing if they can pull themselves together this year since I cannot go to the Lansing Show.

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Re: Novi Train Show Dec. 12-13

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fmilhaupt wrote:got shoved through the cable barrier on I-94. The cables may have ripped up my car, but if they hadn't been there, I'd've ended up as guest-of-honor in a multi-car head-on collision in the eastbound lanes.
Woah, that sucks. Glad you're ok.

Those barriers are awesome sauce. Kudos to MDOT for investing heavily in them. $5 per foot is a small price to pay.
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Re: Novi Train Show Dec. 12-13

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lansing mi train show sunday at the msu pavillion
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Re: Novi Train Show Dec. 12-13

Unread post by GreatLakesRailfan »

dmitzel wrote:
Racer wrote:Next month on the weekend of December 12-13, the Great Train Expo is coming to Novi's Suburban Collection Showplace (Former Rock Financial Showplace).

I'm hoping this is going to be a better show than the terrible one this past winter. Does anyone know if any good layouts will be at this show or is it going to be another overpriced disappointment?
I'd save your (admission and parking) money, and go to any of the club-sponsored shows. Those GATS-GTE "professional" shows are often disappointing IMO, save TrainFest in Milwaukee or the annual NMRA shows.
The monthly show in Wheaton, Illinois tended to be pretty good as well (haven't had the chance to go back for a couple years), which is put on by the same company.
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Re: Novi Train Show Dec. 12-13

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fmilhaupt wrote:Ah, Trainfest.

I was all set to leave tomorrow to go to Trainfest, I'd been planning and saving my hobby money, but on my way home from work last night my car was rear-ended at speed by an inattentive driver on the way home from work. 'got shoved through the cable barrier on I-94. The cables may have ripped up my car, but if they hadn't been there, I'd've ended up as guest-of-honor in a multi-car head-on collision in the eastbound lanes.
It was a good show (from a non-modeler's POV). Sorry to hear about why you couldn't make it, but thankfully you're still alive to tell us about it. Those cables may be ugly, but they are definitely doing what they intended. I'd just hate to hit them if I were on a motorcycle though.
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Re: Novi Train Show Dec. 12-13

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A friendly reminder that the show is this weekend.

Hope to be a good one this year!
"...and I was in the front and Matt grabbed and pulled my ears from behind me and made horsey sounds."

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Re: Novi Train Show Dec. 12-13

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This show is much better this year than last year. Some decent deals to be found and been very good turnout regarding sales. There are more display layouts this year including a massive HO scale modular layout.
"...and I was in the front and Matt grabbed and pulled my ears from behind me and made horsey sounds."

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AARR
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Re: Novi Train Show Dec. 12-13

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Thanks for the reminder, Racer. I see the entry fee is $9. How much was parking?
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Re: Novi Train Show Dec. 12-13

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AARR wrote:Thanks for the reminder, Racer. I see the entry fee is $9. How much was parking?
If you got the show's post card in the mail, I think if you can bring the card in to get a $2 discount. I don't remember what the parking fee was because I'm in the vendor parking area, but it can't be more than $5.
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Re: Novi Train Show Dec. 12-13

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Ypsi wrote:Won't be attending this year. 2 years ago it was pretty good. Last year it was a 100% waste of time. Less vendors, less layout content, and the prices sucked. Charged for parking, and the show itself was expensive to get into.
It costs about $14 just to show up to the show. $5 to park and $9 to get in IIRC.
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Re: Novi Train Show Dec. 12-13

Unread post by AARR »

You are correct, Jochs. The displays were very nice. They could have used another six or more vendors. IMO not worth $14 to get in. But not a waste of time either as I enjoyed myself. $5-$8 for parking and ticket would be a better value for what they offered IMO.
Jochs wrote:It costs about $14 just to show up to the show. $5 to park and $9 to get in IIRC.
PatC created a monster, 'cause nobody wants to see Don Simon no more they want AARR I'm chopped liver, well if you want AARR this is what I'll give ya, bad humor mixed with irrelevant info that'll make you roll your eyes quicker than a ~Z~ banhammer...

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Re: Novi Train Show Dec. 12-13

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I haven't been to a GATS since 2003, when I was in Florida for my grandmother's funeral.
Before she died, my family used to go to FL and spend Christmas with her, and I would head over to Tampa to see the RBBX Circus Train, and go the GATS, which was held at the fairgrounds in Tampa. Back then it was $5 to park and ?? to get in. I don't think it was $9 back then. I don't remember what I paid because it was so long ago.
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