For the Estes Park Train Show, we took a gamble and tried to do Las Vegas. The numbers were against us: We had 13 builders for the show and we were setting up on Friday the 13th. But I guess the odds were in our favor and we hit the jackpot! Las Vegas was a great success. I would like to thank all those who built for it, and all those who spent time at the show helping out. Thanks also goes to Jeff who helped transport some of the MOC’s for those who could not make it to the show.
(photo by Meghan)
Six of our builders made casinos. I felt that Meghan’s Caesar’s Palace was outstanding; many people took extra time to look it over. Our other casinos were: the MGM by Michael, a Star Wars version of New York, New York by Art, the Camelot Casino by Lester, the Flamingo by Samantha, and the Luxor by Duane. Building the Strip with two road base plates wide added greatly to the layout. Jim’s monorail along the Strip added nicely to the overall effect.
(upper photo by Lester, lower two photos by Meghan)
At the center of the front tables, Stefano’s large train station held everyone’s attention, as well as a large desert area. At one side was Jeff’s Star Wars Sarlacc Pit and skiff. On the other side were a few of Jim’s amusement park rides. The kids just loved the push buttons to make the rides move. One of our new members, Pete, brought a few of his trains to run in this area. He even let some of the visitors run his RC train.
(upper photo by Lester, lower photo by Meghan)
The remainder of the layout displayed our version of Suburbia, with a wide variety of houses. Everyone got big kick out of the different kinds of buildings. Stuart’s Upside Down house and his Cookie and Milk house, Lester’s Despicable Me house, Sam’s Duplex (with good and bad neighbors) and a Wedding Chapel, Doug’s Cape Cod home, Meghan’s multiple buildings, Duane’s various buildings, and a Wedding Chapel from one of our young builders, Nikolai. We ended that section of the tables with a farm, an oil refinery, a train switchyard, and odd buildings here and there.
(photos by Lester)
There was so much to see, that it took people a long time to look over the details. We were told by many visitors that they came to the show just to see what we’d built this time, since we have a different theme each year.
(photos by Meghan)
Thanks again to all who participated! -Lester
