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Quick question for the folks from the midwest. The ihobby expo is later in the month in Rosemont and I was wondering if any of the Illinois guys have ever attended this event? I am looking to go and take my 5 year old son as well...wondering if it is worth the hour drive? It seems like it is fairly child friendly

Maybe some of you could comment on Toledo as well ? April i believe . Thanks in advance .

Went to the first Hobby Show over 20 years ago in Rosemont, and quite a few since then. Lately, they have gotten to be less and less relevant, but I guess if you have never been, they are entertaining. An hour ride, sure. Out of town, I wouldn't waste my time.


My honest opinion of the last few shows I have attended... meh.

I went to one on Long Island back around 2004 or so. It was pretty cool. I saw an electric heli demo, that was just around the time that Lipo was taking off, the demo was very impressive. Also got to see some Clodbuster racing which was very entertaining. Saw a few other random cool things, the highlight booth for me was definitely the Motiongraphics booth, I remember all of their work from the pages of RCCA back in the day. Got their card. One booth had all kinds of carbon fiber and I bought a few sheets, that was cool. I suppose it's worth going to check out. I haven't been back since though.

top cat mike wrote:Quick question for the folks from the midwest. The ihobby expo is later in the month in Rosemont and I was wondering if any of the Illinois guys have ever attended this event? I am looking to go and take my 5 year old son as well...wondering if it is worth the hour drive? It seems like it is fairly child friendly

Do it. It'll be a fun day with your kid.

I used to go back in the day to the IMS model show in Pasadena. I remember gathering TONS of free decals...Novak, Trinity, Reedy, etc. RCX doesn't even come close with the free stuff we used to get.

I remember that show at the Pasadena Convention Center. Those were the days.

i go every year...i "window shop" what i want for the next year

It seems like it is fairly child friendly

It is - and if he likes model trains he will be happy!

RC10Eh wrote:Maybe some of you could comment on Toledo as well ? April i believe . Thanks in advance .

I have attended the Toledo show for the last few years and its mostly (95%) plains,Saturday is the best day for the swap meet, I went last year on Sunday and was disappointed.

noony wrote:I have attended the Toledo show for the last few years and its mostly (95%) plains,Saturday is the best day for the swap meet, I went last year on Sunday and was disappointed.

Ron, what does long open fields of beautiful green grass have to do with it. Sorry, I couldn't resist.

I went to the Toledo Show about 5 years ago or so. I was disappointed as well. I was told that back in the hayday, it was the shnizzle, but like Ron said it is basically planes. Not worth the trip in my opinion.

I went to iHobby almost every year when I worked at RC Driver and it was always fun. Its by no means like RCX but its pretty cool to go see the new stuff. They also have a lot more than just r/c stuff. My dad used to take me to this hobby trade show around here and it is some of the fondest childhood r/c memories I have, sitting there looking at all the stuff I wanted and telling my dad all about each car. If its an hour I would say go, if for nothing else just the father son time.

Just got back from the expo and man it was crowded...had a good time with my son, who i think had a better time... met Adam Drake who took time to talk to everybody who approached him...thought that was pretty cool...did i mention that it was crowded...they had every imaginable hobby under the sun there, planes , heli's, cars, models, boats, robots, trains, slot cars, pinewood derby cars. ..all in all i was pretty impressed by the size of the show...little suprised that there was no ae representation...will definitely go back again next year

There are some great pics and stories about the 2009 iHobby Expo here http://www.bigsquidrc.com/

man, i just dont have the ambition to drive out to rosemont and deal with the traffic...