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At the show: International Model and Hobby Expo

By Dave Gerardi -- Gifts and Dec, 9/11/2002 8:58:00 AM

Here's a lowdown on the 2002 International Model and Hobby Expo held in Chicago last week. I've spotlighted a few products particularly relevant to the toy market.

Megatech
A little pricey (listed at $110) but Megatech's remote control submarine is pretty unique. A far cry from those baking soda subs in cereal boxes, the Ocean Explorer has a range of six feet and operates up to 15 minutes. Exploration lights illuminate the way in pond and goldfish bowl alike. Under 4-inches in length, this is the ultimate bath or aquarium accessory.

Racing Champions Ertl
Here's a company that has really diversified what with Joyride Studios' video game action figures and Ertl Preschool's Dr. Seuss characters. Racing Champions' new deals include die-cast replicas and plastic models for xXx (the Vin Diesel summer blockbuster), the master toy and collectibles license for The Fast and the Furious and The Fast and the Furious 2, and plastic and die-cast collectibles based on MechWarrior characters from WizKids (big, bipedal tanks—not unlike Robotech—that do battle in the form of Microsoft PC and Xbox games and WizKids' own collectible miniature game).

WizKids
MechWarrior: Dark Age is here. Played like Mage Knight, MechWarrior takes place in the future where battles are decided by tanks, infantry and huge, man-operated war machines. Playthings got to see the full line-up at the Hobby Expo, and these minis are easily the best the company has made to date. The 'Mechs are bigger than typical Mage Knight figures, so have much more detail. The DC Comics HeroClix line was also impressive. Now retailers can stage DC versus Marvel events and settle, once and for all, whether Superman can take on the Fantastic Four.

Games Workshop
As Playthings mentioned in its August issue, Codex: Chaos Space Marines rulebook is due out in October. Games Workshop had many of the new miniatures corresponding to the new rules on display including redesigned Raptors and huge Obliterators. Gone is the winged-look for the Raptors. The Obliterators, meanwhile, are bigger and have a Clive Barker/Hellraiser look to them.

Norscott
Norscott's new model kits are just as sturdy as their WYSIWYG counterparts. Check out the pages of Playthings magazine's "Off the Shelf" section early in 2003 to see the Cat D11R Track-type Tractor Kit.

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