PIKO at the modell-hobby-spiel show in Leipzig A well-established event on PIKO’s trade show schedule is the modell-hobby-spiel show in Leipzig each year at the beginning of October. This year, PIKO offered a larger show booth presentation, to the delight of the many PIKO fans and model train enthusiasts. 98,000 people attended the 2009 modell-spiel-hobby show, between October 2nd and 4th, and many of those visited the model train halls. Especially on Saturday, the holiday celebrating the 20th anniversary of German reunification, enormous crowds packed the exhibit halls. At the PIKO booth, show attendees learned about the extensive program of new items for this, PIKO’s 60th Anniversary Jubilee year. At the center of attention for HO fans was the new articulated commuter train model, which could also be seen on a display layout. Fans of garden railroading were glad to meet PIKO’s show team of Mrs. Matthäi and Mr. Gerritschen, from whom they learned about the ever-larger assortment of PIKO-G items. They were especially fascinated with the new models of 3-Axle “Reko“ modernized passenger cars, as well as a preproduction sample of the BR V60 Diesel locomotive, scheduled for November delivery to retailers as a further G-Scale new item. Experiences at this show has shown that many prospective new customers, and especially children, visit the PIKO booth. Because of this, the booth plan has been re-arranged to feature a “hands-on“ G-Scale layout, which has proved extremely popular with adults and children alike. This year, once again, PIKO’s efforts at the show were supported by the model railway friends from the club MEC Halle/Saale. The PIKO team extends hearty thanks again to the club menbers for their help. The show was a success once again and we look forward to next year. Sonneberg, October 11, 2009 Jens Beyer

Crowds pressed in around the PIKO booth at modell-hobby-spiel 2009 in Leipzig.

Of especially great interest was the constantly growing PIKO G-Scale assortment. Show visitors could observe the models up-close in the display cases and also learn about the increasing variety of PIKO-G items.

On the weekend, a G-Scale play layout was integrated into the PIKO show booth for the first time. The PIKO-G starter sets were incredibly popular with children and they were introduced to the fun of the model train hobby.

But not only small fans were to be found at the PIKO-G play layout. Large and small played together, demonstrating the generation-spanning appeal of model trains.