Kit Show

I recently attended the Brewer Brothers' Model Kit Expo in Huntington Beach, CA at Old World.

They run a couple each year, it's a flea market of all kinds of model kits.

Randy from Fidelis Models was selling a Roco collection he got.

It included a few weird and wonderful conversions.

One of the best things about these shows is you never know what you will find on sale.

Like this Scud launcher on a British truck!

Model Kit Expo

This shows the full Splash Down Set. Camera, dog tags, uniform, capsule, GI Joe figure, and raft.

They guy had two of these, so I got them both and the Mercury astronaut for $115 total! I waited until the end of the show when he was packing up. It's a good thing too, I was out of cash!

The Mercury Astronaut and the two new capsules will go great with the capsule I already got!

I also have the John Glenn Mercury Astronaut figure too.

Who could possibly use a bunch of astronauts from the past?

POTA anyone?

Kit Show

As this picture shows, the space capsule is awesome!

It's really rather small, but probably in scale with the real one.

There is a plastic clear windshield that closes over the crew compartment, and opens so you can access the crew compartment. Nice dashboard.

This is the white jumpsuit he comes with when he is not in space, the boots and hat are standard GI Joe gear in white.

Life raft for the spash down so you don't sink to the bottom of the ocean as one of the real ones did.

Kit Show

In addition to the space capsule that contains a Mercury Astronaut, I got the stand alone astronaut figure too.

He is a 12 inch tall action figure GI Joe.

The package is very cool, it looks like he is in space.

Back of the box shows some other cool items I already had including Patton and Ike.

The guy wanted $75 for the space capsue and $25 for the astronaut.

Model Kit Expo

This was the big score of the day at the kit show. A re-issue GI Joe Mercury Space Capsule.

It fits the 12 inch figures, it's very cool. I always wanted this as a kid and never got it. My dad actually worked for North American Rockwell and helped build the Saturn V boosters for the Apollo program.

This shows the splashdown part of the toy, the capsule is down in the water, the clear plastic box is very cool.

Here's a list of all the cool stuff you get in the set. It includes the capsule and an astronaut in space suit and a white jump suit for terrestrial use too.

I found one on eBay today for almost $200 with shipping.

Kit Show

I got a Hot Wheels airplane at the show. It has little stubby wings. I think it will work for a Stargate SG-1 scenario I am contemplating.

The plane is soaking in Simple Green to take off the paint. Die cast vehicle can be hard to get the paint off of so I don't have much hope this will work.

I got this display Monitor at the show for $12.50. It's probably about 15mm so I may make a new turret.

1/72nd scale admiral searching for other bargains.

Kit Show Roco

I picked up nearly all the Roco they had at the show, the 59 is the original price, covering the real original price, probably 39 cents from 1962.

A DUWK from Eko.

Two Roco M-3 halftracks, somewhere in all that plastic. For some reason they were sold in the USA in little plastic bags for several years.

Roco M113, early version. Later versions had the track on the bottom to improve mobility.

This is more than half of the Roco at the show, I got it all for only $20. Not a bad haul, thanks Chris Brewer!

Kit Show

Attended the Brewer Brothers Kit Show in Huntington Beach today. Click on the photo to enlarge it, that's a wall of models.

They sold models and GI Joes. And some US and Japanese reinactors were there too.

They had sci fi and even wild west stuff there as well.

A couple guys were selling off there rather nice assembled 1/35th scale tank collections.

This guy had books with a retail value of at least $50,000 with him and he was doing a land office buisness. I got a book from him last time, but not this time. Not quite as many vendors or visitiors as last time but I spent more money from more people, bargins were in evidence.

Model Kit Expo

Sunday, August 7, 2011 is the Brewer Brothers' Model Kit Expo from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

It's at Old World Village

German Hall & Restaurant

7561 Center Ave. #49

Huntington Beach, CA 92647

Contact Chris Brewer at 562-569-2509

They are just off the 405 freeway at Beach Blvd, about 40 miles south of downtown Los Angeles, California.

I plan to be there about noon, in a gray Panzer IV tee shirt and jeans. Stop and say hello.

I am searching for old Roco 2 1/2 ton trucks, old Roco Panzer IV tanks, I need the skirts, turrets, guns and storage bins for a project I am working on, and old Roco Tiger I tanks. All of these are going to be used for conversion work, so I don't mind if they have 13 coats of paint on them, even a gold layer! They will be taken apart and put back together as something else anyway.

Hope to see you there.

Kit Show

What did I get at the Brewer Brothers Kit Show? The first item I got is this old kit, in 1/72nd scale. The Curtiss Condor was a US airliner used in the years running up to WWII.

The H-16 helicopter was tested by the US Army in the 1950s. It was a huge helicopter. I actually saw one at the US Army Aviation Museum at Ft. Rucker, AL. While never fielded it makes a good alternate history chopper.

While this kit is actually a bit smaller than 1/72nd scale the real helicopter is so huge it looks okay on the wargame table. I got two at the show and already had one. I would like to get a couple more for my Pentomic Army.

The Douglas World Cruiser was used by the US Army to set an around the world flying record. Several of the planes few in a flock together to make the trip. It is a big kit, I have a couple of them. On each of these kits I had cash and was able to get a good deal on the model. Bring small bills to shows since many vendors don't bring much money, it also helps to negotiate a bit.

I added a bit to my 1/6th scale army by picking up an MP44 and a PPSH from some vendor selling GI Joe size stuff. They always have a nice variety of items at these shows.

Brewer Show

I went to the Brewer Kit Show today. They had dachshund races there also.

They also had a VW Bug show too.

But the big show was the models, and books and GI Joes.

There were dozens of tables.

There was even a nice wargame demonstration using BattleBook wargame rules. They are designed to be used for land, sea and air. Interesting concept.

Model Kit Expo

The Brewer Brother' Model Kit Expo will be held on Sunday, April 17, 2011. It opens at 9:00 a.m. and goes until 3:00 p.m. Admission is $5.00 and kids under 12 get in free. Parking is also free.

They have about 80 vendor tables and several wargame tables set up to display products for sale and a wargame in progress. Kit Expo is a great place to find rare and out of production model kits and get good deals on new products.

It's at Old World Village, German Hall & Restaurant, 7561 Center Ave. #49, Huntington Beach, California 92647, (714) 895-8020

The contact person is Chris Brewer modelkitexpo@hotmail.com

I try and go to every one and always pick up something worthwhile.

Kit Show

Brewer Brothers Model Kit Expo is Sunday, June 13, 2010. It is open to the public from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Admission is $5.00 and kids under 12 get in free! They have over 70 tables of vendors selling new and used model kits. They have an ATM and restaurant on site.

It is located at Old World Village, German Hall & Restaurant, 7561 Center Ave. #49, Huntington Beach, California, 92647. Contact Chris Brewer at 562-569-2509 or 562-343-2805 for more information On the web at modelkitexpo@hotmail.com

I have been to several of these and they get better all the time. It is a good opportunity to buy kits that have been long out of production and to see new kits that have only been out a short time. They typically are priced below retail as show specials. Many of the dealers will haggle a bit and I have bought something every time I have visited.

Kit shows are interesting because there are so many kits released that no one can keep up with them all. I have found not only bargains, but rare kits I never knew existed at kit shows. Often there are specialty dealers at shows like this that don't sell in hobby shops and sometimes don't sell on line either. As a dealer it is a great way to get new products out to the public who don't regularly frequent your brick and mortar store or to clear out old stuff that has been slow to sell.

This show is about ten miles south of Disneyland and even if you don't live in Southern California might be a good excuse to come here for a visit and see some of the other sights and make a hobby run! If you can't make this one, the Brewer Brothers run several a year, so maybe next time.

Model Kit Expo & Sale

News from the Brewer Brother's Model Kit Expo! I went last time and it was great. From Chris:

Hello Gentlemen, Great News! The "Brewer Brother's Model Kit Expo " is returning once again to the Old World Village in Huntington Beach for our 4th Model Kit Expo. My sincere thanks to all of you who have helped to make the Brewer Brothers Model Kit Show A success either as Vendors, Attendees or active Show participants. I have attached the Vendor Form and Attendee Flyers for the Upcoming August 16th Model Kit Expo. I am currently receiving a tremendous response from folks encouraged by our last Show in May. We are looking at having approx 80 eight foot Vendor tables AND A special Wargame in 1/144 Armour or 200th Naval Battle on a
12 X 8 set-up for all those wishing to play. As always great food will be served to the vendors and Guests by our own dedicated waitress brought to your table for your convenience, and as many of you know they also have a great German Bakery and International Market onsite.

I have been tremendously busy marketing for this show to the following locations: IPMS Chapters, SCHAMS, AMPS, LAMS, Los Angeles County & Orange County Hobby Stores, The Great Train Show, The Gun Show, various Car Shows and Militaria Shows, Frank & Sons, the Keller Kit Collector Show, Air Shows, local News Papers and sorted websites. I am open to any suggestions on other marketing ideas as well as how I might improve upon the Show itself. We will be having our normal Kit Raffle, and Door Prize give-aways. I am also looking into having a Model Kit Contest for our 5th Show and would like your comments an suggestions.

..please feel free to call me if you would like to attend, how many tables you will be needing and what kind of merchandise you will be selling and also if you would like special onsite Hotel accomodations at our Show Discounted rate.

My Best Regards and Thanks
I Look forward to seeing you at the Show!
Chris Brewer
itsalespro@hotmail.com