The 1992 RCHTA Show Featured More Than Model Airplanes
Ralph Warner
If you attended the Chicago Model Hobby Show last October 29 to November 1, you saw the largest concentration of model hobbies displayed in the United States—and possibly in the world. The show featured displays by manufacturers of radio control products, model trains, static plastic models, kites, rockets, games, and related accessories. This is the product mix found in most hobby shops in the U.S.
If you have ever attended the Toledo RC Expo, you know that it is the largest pure RC show held in this country. Other shows held around the country are important to the industry, but are not as large as either Chicago or Toledo in the number of exhibitors or the size of the display hall.
You may have heard of the toy fair held in Nuremberg, Germany, each February. That fair, which includes model displays, is the largest combined show in the world, but the model hobbies area does not match what is offered at the Chicago show.
RCHTA and the Show Schedule
The Radio Control Hobby Trade Association (RCHTA) sponsors the Chicago Model Hobby Show. It was formed to provide a forum for manufacturers to show their products to the distributors who purchase them and to the retailers who eventually sell them at local hobby shops.
- Thursday and most of Friday were set aside for members of the hobby industry to conduct business.
- Friday evening, Saturday, and Sunday the show was open to the general public.
When the show was first held in 1985, it was predominantly a display of RC products. Over the years, other hobby types were added to better represent the mix found in most hobby shops so that the show would be more productive for distributor and retailer association members to attend.
Other RC shows around the country are typically sponsored by clubs or private companies. Some provide special industry-only times. They are all important because they give modelers an opportunity to see RC products and talk with manufacturers.
Venue and Attendance
The O'Hare Expo Center is located in Rosemont, Illinois, just west of Chicago and adjacent to O'Hare International Airport, making the show convenient to travel to and to visit.
- The expo center is a large complex of halls—among the 10 largest in the country.
- The Chicago Model Hobby Show occupied approximately 200,000 of the center's 600,000 square feet.
The 40-page program listed 352 exhibitors occupying 710 booths. The program was given to all who attended the show and was also delivered as an insert in suburban newspapers to 50,000 homes in the surrounding area. In addition to ads for exhibitors and hobby shops, the program included articles on hobby products exhibited at the show, scheduled activities, and a list of area model clubs so interested readers could contact them.
Exhibits and Demonstrations
Booths presented products from all the major companies in the radio control hobby industry. Many manufacturers view the Chicago show as the best opportunity to present new products to retailers and distributors who only attend this event. Exhibitors ranged from single booths to the largest 24-booth displays, and most made extensive presentations.
In addition to commercial displays, products were demonstrated in five special interest areas:
- Dirt track (30 x 52 ft): races held as a fund-raiser for local charities.
- Flat track (20 x 60 ft): IROC sprint car races.
- Net cage (40 x 70 ft): flying helicopters and kites.
- Boat pond (20 x 60 ft): continuous demonstrations by exhibitors and clubs.
- Train layout (20 x 60 ft): operated by a local club group.
The local retailers association operated a show store so that products seen at the show could be purchased. All of the above contributed to the overall excitement of the event.
Looking Ahead
If you missed the 1992 show and would like to attend the 1993 exhibit, set aside Saturday and Sunday, November 6 and 7. A bigger hall has been reserved, and the show is expected to be larger than ever. Most exhibits will continue to be RC-oriented, but model hobbyists will likely find something of interest at almost every display.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
