Press release from 27.09.2024: 3 – 2 – 1 – Start!
FASZINATION MODELLBAU Friedrichshafen with Echtdampf-Hallentreffen & Internationale Modellbahn-Ausstellung (IMA), November 1 to 3, 2024
The event of the year is approaching, in just a few weeks: From November 1 to 3, 2024, the entire world of functional model making, model railroads and steam engines will gather in Friedrichshafen on an impressive 70,000 m². It is the world’s largest event of its kind. Visitors can expect a first-class program for three days in the border triangle on Lake Constance.
The best pilots in the world at Lake Constance Airport
You won’t find anything like this anywhere else! In front of the mountain panorama of Lake Constance Airport Friedrichshafen, the best pilots in the scene show off their skills at the “FMT Stars of the Year”. World, European and German champions represent all classes of model flying: From turbine jets and prototypical large-scale models to 3D heli aerobatics and gliding competition disciplines. The display commitments are top-class: Superstar Gernot Bruckmann – currently the most successful pilot, who has also won numerous titles this year – is definitely coming and will present us with world-class powered and glider aerobatics. Kai Koppenburg, the current world speed record holder, has also confirmed his attendance. That means: model flying at more than 500 km/h in Friedrichshafen!
Multiple German champion Luca Baumann and his Ares XXL will show what is possible with a freestyle jet today. Thomas Singer and Wolfgang Klühr are German jet formation champions and have announced their breathtaking synchronized display on Carf-Mephistos. And with the Flippers, we can look forward to a top team that is currently causing a sensation in formation aerobatics. The manufacturer demonstrations will also be back at the start, where the latest products for the coming season will be presented live in the sky for the first time. In addition, the top products of the year awarded by the trade magazine FMT will be presented live. The spectacular airshow program will run for the entire duration of the trade fair from Friday to Sunday.
No. 1 in Europe: Internationale Modellbahn-Ausstellung
The Internationale Modellbahn-Ausstellung (IMA) is Europe’s largest model railroad event, which takes place every two years in Friedrichshafen. It’s happening again in 2024! On a gigantic area – the huge Hall A1 plus Hall A2 – the most beautiful model railroad layouts can be seen. They show lovingly designed dioramas, historic bridges, famous railroad stations and Alpine passes. You can discover model railroads in all gauges as well as the latest locomotives, track systems and detailed accessories, presented by the industry’s leading manufacturers: Märklin/LGB/Trix, Roco/Fleischmann, BRAWA, PIKO, Hornby, Tillig, BEMO, Faller, Herpa, Noch, Viessmann/kibri/Vollmer and, for the first time, Bachmann/Liliput and KATO Europe.
Children and adults alike are thrilled by these installations and discover their creative side at the many interactive stations. They can immerse themselves in this fascinating hobby, talk to friends and experts and get valuable ideas and tips.
The world’s largest gathering of steam-powered models
The Echtdampf-Hallentreffen is the world’s largest event for steam-powered models of railroads, road vehicles, ships and equipment. In 2024, the exhibition area has grown further: Hundreds of exhibits in all imaginable scales will be presented in Halls B2 and B3. They hiss and steam – and captivate us with their rhythmic sound. The meeting is also represented in Hall A2 with stationary steam models and an impressive modular layout in I and IIm scale.
However, the miniature railroads at the Echtdampf-Hallentreffen are not just there to be admired: visitors have the opportunity to sit on them themselves and enjoy a ride around the course! There are also exciting things to experience away from the rails, when the road steam engines of the international exhibitors puff past the spectators.
Large scale models, specialist lectures, FMT indoor airshow
There’s plenty going on again in Hall A3: specialist exhibitors will be presenting their product ranges and providing visitors with help and advice. Exciting presentations on current topics await us in the model building forum. And in the central model aircraft exhibition there will be impressive home-built models to marvel at – from detailed scale models and exotic models to large models and collector’s items from all areas of model aircraft construction. The models entered for the exhibition are once again all top-class, including the first-ever display of a home-built SpaceShip Two with White Knight Two, the model replica of Virgin Galactic’s current spaceship and carrier aircraft.
At the “FMT Indoor Action” in the Foyer West, a remarkable variety of aircraft will be on display, from delicate 1.5 g models to in-house designs with wingspans of over two meters. The spectrum of international demonstrations ranges from functional utility and sports models to detailed scale models. In 2024, visitors can once again expect the tried-and-tested mix of pure shows and company demonstrations of production models. The crowd favorites Jim Knopf and Luke the Engine Driver, the Millennium Falcon, aeromusicals, 4D aerobatic displays, 700 extreme lightweight helicopters and several French super-scale models made of paper-covered balsa wood have been announced for the show.
Caravan miniatures and R2D2 robots you can touch
Markus Kompauer is a miniature world artist: in more than two decades of painstakingly detailed work, he has created a model caravan world on a scale of 1:15: Mobile homes in imaginative dioramas, together with figures, animals, buildings and an infinite number of details, with lighting and dynamic functions. He will be showing us this life’s work in Hall A3.
The R2 Builders Club will also be back in Hall A3 with its life-size R2-D2 robots from the Star Wars saga. These droids are built from a wide variety of materials, including plastic, wood, metal and fiberglass. The R2 Builders Club also wants to give a look behind the scenes at the trade fair and explain the electronics on which the robots are based and what techniques were required to build them. In short: model making you can understand and touch. Of course, the many fans can also look forward to exciting encounters and selfies with the droids!
A place of longing with remote-controlled sailing boats
The impressive 400 m² water basin in Hall A5 invites you to pause and dream. Here we can experience at first hand how huge container freighters and fully functional working ships calmly pass us by. Exciting action also awaits the public: from regattas with sailing boats to jet ski races and sea rescue exercises. Tip: Outside the entrance to Foyer West, on the trade fair lake, speedboats thunder across the water at high speed. Don’t miss it!
A special highlight in the Halles A5 is also the traditional duck pushing competition, in which the teams have to get the ducks into the opponent’s goal with their Ramborator push boats. However, a visit to Faszination Modellbau is not just about watching, but also taking part: young model ship builders can once again obtain the coveted helmsman’s certificate – a certificate that fills them with pride. After a briefing on how to steer and maneuver a model ship, the certificate is ceremoniously presented. Just as popular with the youngsters is the scavenger hunt with an incredible number of attractive prizes: The aim is to solve exciting puzzles at the exhibitor stands in the exhibition halls. If you would like to take part, you can pick up the questionnaire at the entrance to the trade fair and at the VTH stand – or simply download it at www.modellwerft.de.
Truck trial and Unimog action area
Even bigger than in previous years: model trucks in 1:16, 1:14 and even 1:8 scale are in their element on the huge courses in Hall A4 of Faszination Modellbau. Around 300 drivers will bring their super-detailed treasures to Friedrichshafen and present them on the prototypical tracks. The tractors, trailers, snow groomers, construction and special vehicles on display here are the crème de la crème of commercial vehicle model making. When the off-road vehicles battle their way over bridges, scree and water crossings on the truck trial course, the boundaries between reality and fiction, prototype and original become blurred.
The ScaleART model building company, known for its high-quality RC trucks, has planned a very special trade fair highlight with a large Unimog action area: The incredible maneuverability of a Unimog will be demonstrated in daily demonstrations on an extreme off-road track measuring over 12 m². There will also be a special Unimog exhibition showcasing all versions of the all-rounder, from agricultural variants to the two-way Unimog, attachments, special accessories and even the legendary Unimog ramp. There will also be a skill test on the hydraulic loading crane, and an original Unimog that only exists in this form once in Germany will also be on display in the action area: a road-legal factory test vehicle of a Unimog 5000 full convertible!
Need for Speed: Race copters and RC cars
Fancy the ultimate adrenaline rush? Then head to Hall B1 for the German Open RC-Car Masters, where top drivers will be battling it out for the podium in nine different 1:8 and 1:10 scale RC car racing classes. There’s not even really a break during the race breaks: between the hot races there are shows with new products and very special highlights, for example 1:5 scale large models, dragsters, RC motorcycles, sidecar bikes and monster trucks.
What goes on in Hall A6 is completely crazy. Even from a distance, you can hear the high-frequency hissing of the race copters as they bang around the pylons at the FPV Drone Championship Final. They are so fast that they can barely be detected by the human eye. If you want to calm down a little after this speed frenzy, simply head to the East Foyer: remote-controlled airships hover around the course in the Open International Competition F7B. Even though these aircraft are racing, their movements appear majestic and harmonious, like giant fish. The Devils Drift Crew show in the East Foyer is also well worth seeing, as they slide around the course in style with their rear-wheel-drive RC cars.
Thank you for your reports and announcements.
Further information, royalty-free images and logos:
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https://www.ima-friedrichshafen.de/presse
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