Nurnberg 1987
Eloy Marez
Overview
For a look at how the Europeans stage their version of a hobby-industry trade show, I attended the 38th International Toy and Hobby Fair in Nurnberg, held February 5–11, 1987. The Modelbau (models) category was color-coded brown and located in Hall L. Forty-two countries were represented among 1,952 exhibitors. Nurnberg '87 was a decidedly polyglot affair, and walking, listening, observing, and talking to people were the highlights of the fair.
As a member of the press I wore a gray color-coded tag. German was the primary written language, but English was widely spoken; many booths had English-speaking personnel available, so communication gaps were rare.
Attendance at Nurnberg '87 was 43,058 persons. Unlike many U.S. shows, the fair catered to trade buyers and the general public, with a minority of attendees gaining admission through industry contacts. This buyer-oriented focus was reflected in the exhibitors' stands, which were generally more elaborate and professional than typical U.S. booths.
The Fairgrounds and Facilities
A complex of 13 separate buildings occupies over 703,000 sq. ft. at the fair site. The Messezentrum is designed for busy visitors and offers extensive services and amenities:
- Mail, telephone, and telex services
- Banking and flight-booking facilities
- On-site pharmacy and medical services
- Nursery, kindergarten, and a special room for mothers-to-be
- Free secretarial services and telex
- Hairdresser and flower shops
- Car hire, photographers, and other service providers
- Numerous food options: coffee shops (including an all-French menu and Southern Tyrolean specialties) and a full-service restaurant
- Local specialties available, including lebkuchen (Nurnberg gingerbread)
A 648-page guide to the fair was published and proved exemplary.
Getting There and the City
My travel began with a punctual Lufthansa 747 flight to Frankfurt and a short Airbus 310 hop to Nurnberg Airport. The city of Nurnberg is roughly halfway between Frankfurt and Munich. It is picturesque, historically rich, and compact—where the ancient castle sits within minutes of modern shops and restaurants.
Highlights of Nurnberg's history mentioned at the fair:
- Departure point for Germany’s first railroad (the steam-powered Adler, Dec 7, 1835)
- Site associated with the Nurnberg Laws and later the Nurnberg Trials
Nurnberg today has over a half-million inhabitants and, despite winter cold, offers excellent hospitality and atmosphere for visitors.
The Modelbau Exhibit
The Modelbau exhibit read like a who’s who of European modeling manufacturers. Well-known names to U.S. modelers included Graupner, Kavan, Multiplex, OPS, Robbe, Rossi, Schluter, Super Tigre, and Wabra. Other exhibitors—Aeronaut, Jodel, Jamara, Rodelmodell, Vario, and more—are largely unknown in the U.S. but produce interesting products.
Some Asian companies were present as well: Tamiya, Kyosho, Thunder Tiger, and OK Model Company (OK Company). I ran into Mr. M. Takamatsu and his son Tommie from OK Model.
American companies were a minority. Present were Airscofter, Cox, Sullivan, and Parma/Twin K. Miniature Aircraft showed the X-Cell Helicopters series.
Exhibit characteristics and trends
- Stands were often elaborate, surrounding an inner area for refreshments and discussion. Larger companies sometimes leave stand structures in place year-round due to cost.
- The majority of models displayed were radio-control (RC) airplanes. RC gliders were strongly represented and very popular in Europe.
- Emphasis was on 60-size and under airplanes; larger models were less prominent than at recent U.S. shows.
- RC cars were fewer in number compared to U.S. shows, though off-road vehicles, trucks, tractors, and cranes were visible.
- Electric-powered flight appeared well established.
- Moderate Control Line activity; little or no gas-powered Free Flight observed.
- Many beginner-oriented kits (rubber-powered and hand-launched gliders) were on offer—an investment in youth and the hobby’s future.
Space limitations forced some small-company arrangements; for example, two small Dutch companies shared a space about two meters square and three meters high.
Notable Products and Exhibitors
- Schluter Clou Helicopter: designed for .40 to .51 engines, featuring a Helm system driving a .51-in rotor; listed flying weight 7.2 lb.
- NovaRossi (from Rossi, Italy): a spiffy-looking .60-size airplane engine and a fine product line.
- Graupner MC-18: a large 9-channel transmitter commonly used with a tray or neck strap.
- DeRidder Motoren (Dutch): produces a specialized 3.5 cc dune-buggy engine.
- VeTe Special Products (Dutch): maker of a high-quality permanent-installation glow-plug connector.
- Praxise Modellbau: notable for unique all-metal models introduced in the U.S. through Polks (New Jersey).
Many manufacturers provided professional press packets with catalogs, product information, and high-quality photographs—often superior to typical hand-held flash photos.
Awards
The Modelbau Fair presented annual awards judged by a council of editors and representatives of European model publications. Judging criteria included originality, quality, flight characteristics, and contribution to the promotion of RC flying.
- Best Glider of the Year: Bernard Schwermann (Germany) for the Charis design (built from a Simprop kit)
- Best RC Airplane of the Year (first time awarded): Hanno Pretner for the Supra-Fly
- In the U.S., Hobby Shack offers the Supra-Fly as an ARF built by OK Company. Hanno Pretner’s flying demonstrations were extraordinary; the model remains exciting for most pilots.
Press Materials and Follow-up
I returned with about two kilos of catalogs and brochures. If you want copies of any item I mentioned or contact details for a manufacturer, send a large SASE to the address below and I will furnish information or copies as available.
Conclusion
Nurnberg is definitely worth the trip, especially combined with European touring. The Lufthansa experience was punctual and comfortable, the fairgrounds were exceptionally well organized, and the German/European modeling community offered warm hospitality. To paraphrase John F. Kennedy in Berlin: "Ich bin ein Nurnberger"—and proud of it!
Eloy Marez 311 Mesa Dr. #10 Costa Mesa, CA 92627 Telephone: (714) 645-4441
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
