2003 National Convention

Many thanks to all the folks who helped in preparations to make the 2003 National Convention such an outstanding success including Alan Olson, Ralph Ratcliffe, Fred Drenhouse, Wade Roese, and Bob Johnson!! Check out our 2003 National Convention Photo Album.

2002 Chicago Hobby Show

See the latest new products appearing at the Chicago 2002 Hobby Show.

2002 Intermodellbau - Dortmund, Germany

Many thanks to Ralf Grote and Christian Grottendieck (www.87thscale.info) for photographing the models on display at Dortmund. Check out Intermodellbau 2002 report.

2001 Happy Holidays Contest Winner

The winner of our "Happy Holidays" contest is Andrew Boucher of Millis, Massachusetts. It's entitled "Red, White, and Blue Christmas" and it honors the men and women serving in the police and fire departments across the country through their representation in the holiday parade depicted in this diorama.

2001 Chicago Hobby Show Report

The 2001 International Hobby Show & Expo, held in Chicago, Illinois, during September 6-9, 2001, turned out to be a particularly exciting show with numerous new products and developments! Check our 2001 Chicago Hobby Show Report for all the details.

2001 Midwest Meet Report

The 1/87 Vehicle Club's 2001 Midwest Meet held to its promise for numerous new product announcements (see the 2001 Chicago Hobby Show Report) and exceptional models on display for the modeling contests! For the model contest winners and all the details, check our 2001 Midwest Meet Report.

2001 NMRA National Train Show Report

The 2001 NMRA convention in St. Louis climaxed with the National Train Show over the weekend of July 13-15. Check our National Train Show Report.

2001 East Coast Meet Report

The 1/87 Vehicle & Equipment Club's 2001 East Coast Meet, held June 24, 2001, in South Plainfield, New Jersey, was a terrific gathering of modelers from the Northeast, Texas, California, and Virginia. Those attending were treated to some extraordinary modeling in the contest and display categories. For additional info, check our detailed 2001 East Coast Meet Report.

2001 West Coast Meet

While we're compiling the report on the 2001 West Coast Meet we've posted a page dedicated to Bob Leinbach's amazing truck shop diorama. Click here!

2000 Chicago Hobby Show

There were several new models announced during the annual Chicago Hobby Show held the weekend of October 21-22, 2000. Of particular interest to intermodal modelers, Athearn announced the introduction of Jindo prototype 53' domestic container to be available in APL and Pacer StackTrain liveries. Athearn displayed samples of their previously announced J.B. Hunt Monon built 53' container and the Burlington Northern "City" trailer series. Click here to see the Chicago 2000 Athearn photos.

Classic Metal Works Displayed their four latest offerings, the 1958 Chevrolet Impala, 1957 Chrysler 300C, 1953 White 3000 COE truck tractor, and 1953 White 3000 COE straight truck with van body. New police car versions of the 1961 Chevrolet Impala and 1953 Ford Victoria (and these are way cool!). Also displayed were two new colors for all previously released models. Click here to see the Chicago 2000 Classic Metal Works photos.

Boley displayed production packaged product of their long-awaited International 4900 trucks. An officially licensed product, there will be several variations using these cabs including fire trucks, concrete mixers, and dump trucks. These will be available in two and four door cab versions. Boley also displayed an extensive line on new inexpensive military models. Click here to see the assorted miscellaneous Chicago 2000 photos.

IMEX, who we told you about back in July, had several versions of their early 1950s era trucks. These trucks have two different cabs that resemble early Peterbilt and Ford trucks from around 1950. Each will be available with a variety of body styles and paint schemes. These will be limited production models and IMEX plans to retire the truck cabs and replace them with different ones each year. The next two trucks are planned to be an International CO-190 and KB8. For photos of the Imex trucks and other new items, click here.

Wiking displayed an all new Claas combine and Audi TT cabriolet. Model Power had on display a Shell Oil tank trailer with their T600 tractor. Also new was the T600 with wrecker body in U.S. Army colors.

Overland Models displayed an all-new Union Pacific wrecker dozer with movable booms, working pulleys, and movable tracks fabricated in brass. Though similar to a previous Overland model, this unit has considerably more detail features. Quite a model!

E-R Models displayed a new fire truck tanker version of their 1950 Chevrolet pickup truck. It was quite a show and we think we have another year coming with more surprises coming our way in 1/87 vehicle modeling. Thanks to all of you who are modelers and collectors, it just keeps getting better, folks!

Schuco has announced a line of 1/87 scale trucks to be called "Schuco Junior Line". Their first product was supplied to Fleischmann for inclusion in one of their train sets. The Junior Line features diecast cabs on plastic chassis. Schuco has announced that they will be producing the MAN F2000 Evo (shown above), Mercedes-Benz Actros, Iveco Eurostar, and Scania 4 series. [Thanks very much to Jan Scholten for the Schuco info!]

Los Angeles Swap Meet Update - February 19, 2000

Los Angeles' Model Vehicles Unlimited club's sixth 1/87 Scale Vehicle and Construction Equipment Swap Meet, held Saturday, February 19, 2000, turned out to be the source of some terrific models for meet attendees! We learned that the next four (third set of four) Classic Metal Works models will be a 1958 Chevrolet Impala, a 1957 Chrysler 300C, a 1953 White fuel delivery truck, and a 1953 White bobtail box truck (projected delivery is this Fall)! A new Porsche 956 racing car is coming from MGM, scheduled for March release (Burbank House of Hobbies would be your best bet for these). Boley supplied us with a brochure containing photos of the upcoming Navistar 4900 models. The Boley representative also confirmed the Navistar 4900 models should arrive by the end of March, 2000. A-Line displayed their new Carrier reefer unit in addition to their assortment of trailers and detail items available. Attendees were also treated to the latest, greatest, and most expensive German models available from Guenther Schneidt and Otto Duve (special thanks to these gentlemen for coming all the way from Germany to attend this swap meet), and had the privilege of seeing some fantastic display models from members of the local group hosting the swap meet! One of the more interesting "discoveries" of the day was an excellent resin model of a Freightliner FL60(!) ambulance. This model kit is from RMM of Germany [available in the U.S. from Ralph Johnson of All World Models]  and the cab is EXCELLENT! We're trying to determine if the cabs or cab and chassis are available separately for those who would like to have them, so stay tuned! Bob Johnson

Club "Merges" With 87scalecars!

As part of the 1/87 Vehicle & Equipment Club's ongoing efforts to broaden the appeal and strengthen the number of 1/87 scale vehicle modelers and collectors, we have reached an agreement for the 87scalecars e-mail/chat list to become a club function. Dan Goins, club president, released this announcement:

Chris Holliday, moderator of the "87scalecars" e-mail list hosted on the Onelist site, announces that an agreement has been reached with the 1/87 Vehicle & Equipment Club whereby the "87scalecars" e-mail list will become the official interactive on-line component of the club's activities. Since its inception in late 1998, the "87scalecars" list has been the "unofficial" place for 1/87 Vehicle & Equipment Club members to share views, ideas, questions, and comments in cyberspace. The list has, in return, promoted the club's activities and membership efforts.

As part of this "merger", Chris Holliday will become an officer in the 1/87 Vehicle & Equipment Club and will continue his duties as moderator and host of the e-mail list. The list's name will remain the same. The 1/87 Vehicle & Equipment Club is pleased to have Chris join the club as an officer and we look forward to continued cooperation and membership growth with current and future participants on the "87scalecars" e-mail list.

We are excited to welcome Chris on board and would like to reiterate the e-mail list, like the club's web site, will remain open to non-member as well as club member 1/87 scale vehicle modelers and collectors world wide. In case you're not already a subscriber to the e-mail list, click here; it is available, without charge, to anyone interested in subscribing.

"Older News"

2000 Convention Plans - For the past 5 years the 1/87 Vehicle & Equipment Club has held a yearly convention that has served to promote 1/87 scale vehicle modeling and collecting on the national level. For the year 2000, the club will provide our members and the public two single day regional events with which to attend. Besides model displays and clinics, there will be vendor and manufacturer tables (available on a limited basis; book early). Each of our meets in 2000 is being held in conjunction with other modeler activities in the same area on the same weekend to both attract a larger member audience and to target non-members attending other modeler functions nearby. This presents an exciting opportunity for both our East Coast and West Coast  membership to each have an event to attend in 2000. We hope as many of you as possible take advantage of one of these meets.

The West Coast event will be held January 23, 2000, at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, California. This meet is being held in conjunction with the Railroad Prototype Modelers' (RPM) group meet being held the same weekend at the same hotel. Members may purchase tickets for just the 1/87 Vehicle & Equipment Club meet or a combo ticket for both meets at a discount!

The East Coast event will be held on April 2, 2000, at the Sheraton Hotel in Towson, Maryland. This meet is being held in conjunction with the Timonium Great Scale Train Show held in Timonium, Maryland, on the same weekend in the area. This presents a great opportunity for members who are railroad modelers to enjoy a very exciting weekend in the Baltimore area and the club to present itself to a very large number of modelers through the Timonium train show!

Because of the nature of these two shows we will not have outdoor displays of prototype vehicles, tours, or a banquet. With the exception of booth space, advance registration is not required. However, tickets may be purchased in advance by mail. Please note that we have not blocked hotel rooms as both events are 1 day shows. Members may call either of the hotels for room reservation directly or make arrangements at alternative locations. We hope one of these locations provides you the opportunity to attend one of our club shows next year. Hope to see you there!

The Hobby Industry Association/Model Railroad Industry Association show in Chicago, held on October 30-31, 1999 held some fascinating news regarding new products for the forthcoming year in 1/87 scale. Check the 1999 Chicago Hobby Show report for additional information.

The 5th Annual 1/87th Scale Model Vehicle Convention, held this past March in Portland, Oregon, has garnered more press coverage than any previous club meet. The latest article appears in the September 1999 issue of Railmodel Journal. This excellent article, by club member and noted intermodal modeler (and, not coincidently, webmaster of the www.modelintermodal.com web site) Brian Kreimendahl, features four pages of text and exceptional color photographs taken by Brian at the convention. Brian's photographs for the magazine article are of models different from the contest winners. [Note: Brian also furnished photos of the contest winners for the club's use here on the web site] A special thanks goes to Brian for all the behind-the-scenes effort to persuade the publisher to commit this much print space for the club convention coverage! With all the convention press coverage this year and the many vehicle modeling articles presented in this year's modeling press, it has been absolutely the best year [1999] for vehicle modelers in the press!

The 5th Annual 1/87th Scale Model Vehicle Convention report appeared in the May 1999 issue of Model Railroad News (subscription info: 541-955-1096; $15/yr. for US subscribers; e-mail: mrn@magick.net). Prominently displayed on the front page with an additional four full pages of color photographs and text, the report by Mike Lindsay had excellent photos of the award winning models and new products displayed at the convention. Special thanks to Mike and Model Railroad News.

The 1999 convention of the 1/87 Vehicle & Equipment Club in Portland, Oregon, featured the model show open to the public (check the 1999 Model Contest page for photos and details), annual press conference, and public display of prototype trucks. Check the 1999 Convention Report. A production facility tour of the Portland, Oregon, Freightliner truck plant highlighted the first day of the convention. Check the Freightliner Tour page.

Once again Model Railroading magazine has published a special vehicle modelers' insert in the March/April (1999) issue of the magazine. Usually printed in time for the 1/87 Vehicle & Equipment Club's annual convention, this year's issue is running a little late. This issue includes articles titled Modeling Trucks Using Alloy Forms Kits by Ken Patterson, UPS Package Delivery Car by Gary Walton, Model Vehicles Help Set The Scene: Automobiles for the Transition Era by V.S. Roseman, Vehicle Reviews: Don Mills Models' 1952 Bullnose Kenworth & Resin Unlimited's 1956 Cab-Over Semi-Tractor by David A. Bontrager, Nostalgia -- Modeling From Memory ICX (Illinois-California eXpress, Inc.) by David A. Bontrager, and Generic Detailing of Truck Tractors by Gary Walton. Be sure and pick up a copy of this magazine! The club would like to thank publisher Randy Lee and Chris Lane, National Sales Manager for their contributions to 1/87 scale vehicle modeling!

If you are interested in participating in a 1/87 vehicle "chat list" or e-mail subscription list, you are invited to join the 87scalecars list at 87scalecars@yahoogroups.com. For further information, check the E-Mail/Chat List page. Although this list is not an official club activity, we wholly endorse participation by club members to discuss topics interactively.

The 1998 Model Railroad Industry Association show held in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, IL, on the weekend of November 1, 1998, produced some very good news for 1/87 vehicle modelers. Check our show report.

"Hobby within a hobby: HO scale vehicles" is the title of the lead article in the August 1998 issue of Model Railroader magazine's MR News! section written by MR associate editor, club member, and convention attendee, Jeff Wilson. A report on the 1998 convention in Dallas with several photos can be found on page 46. Special thanks to Jeff and the folks at Model Railroader magazine.

The 4th Annual 1/87th Scale Model Vehicle Convention report appeared in the May 1998 issue of Model Railroad News (subscription info: 541-955-1096; $15/yr. for US subscribers). Prominent front page article with excellent photos of award winning models displayed at the convention.

Model Railroading magazine's March 1998 issue has an extraordinary 20 page insert titled "Vehicle Modeler". The magazine publishes this special insert each March to help the club's annual convention held in March. This year's issue has kit reviews, how-to articles, and 1/87 vehicle advertising all in one section. The club would like to express our gratitude to publisher Randy Lee and National Sales Manager (and club member) Chris Lane. Check pages 37-56 in the March 1998 issue. Note: In subsequent issues there have been several letter to the editor commending the magazine on the quality of this special section.

1/87 Vehicle & Equipment Club Announces Internet Web Presence - See the press release for more details.See the press conference report for details.