TDmonthly's ToyFair 2006 Preview--Hobby Goods Product Category

1956 Ford F-100 Pick up Truck by MODEL POWER

This is a black colored 1:87 die-cast vehicle model of a 1956 Ford F-100 Pick up Truck. 7/20/2006 (Price: $4.49) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

B-26 Marauder 8" by MODEL POWER

This die-cast plane is an 8" replica of the B-26 Marauder. This product is under the Postage Stamp Aircraft-J Series. 7/20/2006 (Price: $15.98) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

QOLF by BONFIT AMERICA INC.

QOLF comes with three color-coded arches (orange, blue and red) that are used as frames. Players use a golf pitching wedge to hit a specially designed plastic QOLFball through each of the frame arches in as few strokes as possible. Players can lay out their own custom QOLF course on any indoor surface or any grass surface, using natural obstacles as hazards. The game comes with three color-coded QOLF frames, 12 QOLFballs, a score pad, an instruction manual and DVD and a carrying bag. Launch date: February 2008. 6/8/2006 (Price: $99.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Write-n-Wipe Big Book Easel by JONTI-CRAFT INC.

This is the latest addition to Jonti-Craft's line-up of literacy furniture. This Big Book Easel is also available with three other front options: green chalkboard, standard write-n-wipe or flannel. The Big Book Easel is available in birch or Rainbow Accents (a laminate with six different edgeband color options). The unit features storage space under the easel when folded down and has six vertical big book partitions in back. The unit is caster mounted. Jonti-Craft’s Big Book Easel measures 24½” wide by 15” deep by 30” high. 3/10/2006 (Price: $235.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Pizza Box Football by ON THE LINE GAME COMPANY

The fast-paced football strategy game comes packaged in an extra-sturdy, deep-dish style pizza box. In this intense and realistic head-to-head battle, football fans of all ages can feel like a coach, a player and a fan all at once. Expansion packs are also available. “We have the coolest free giveaway every year,” Erik Smith of On the Line Game Company told TDmonthly. “We let people download free team cards made especially so that they can play the Super Bowl before it happens and predict the winner.” Launch date: April 2005. 2/21/2006 (Price: $29.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

ReadyGrass Vinyl Mat by WOODLAND SCENICS

ReadyGrass Vinyl Mat is a superior grass mat product that has unique capabilities. It is great for model railroading, architectural models, collectible houses, military dioramas, arts and crafts, gaming and more. This durable, reusable, non-shedding grass mat is moldable and retains its shape. A heat gun can be used to mold hills, mounds and valleys. The turf can be scraped off to make a smooth surface for roads, sidewalks, parking lots and water areas. Other Woodland Scenics accessory kits can be used to enhance the mat: Roads, Water, Landscaping and Trees. 1/11/2006 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Chop and Miter Saw KGS 80 by PROXXON

For clean and safe chop and miter cuts for non-ferrous metals, plastics and wood. Ideal for miter cuts. Instead of swiveling the saw head, the table with clamped down work piece is turned. The laterally moving saw head prevents colliding of the saw blade with the vise jaws. This allows for a minimal gap between the work piece vise and the actual cut, which is vibration-free and leaves no burr. For ages 12 and up with adult supervision. 12/29/2005 (Price: $198)

PLAYMAT 4-in-1 Mini Machine Kit for by THE COOL TOOL

Real tools for little hands. This compact component kit allows the child to quickly and easily build 2 variations of wood lathes, a jig saw table, sander and drill press with common connection pieces. It comes with a five year warranty and a six volt transformer. 12/29/2005 (Price: $125) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

MetalSet No. 810 by SANDYLION STICKER DESIGNS

This heirloom quality HO gauge all-in-one-box train set is built for generations of enjoyment.  With 14 pieces of easily-set-up roadside track, lighted flashing water tower, lighted station, two engines and four cars, this is what model trains are all about. 12/14/2005 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Thomas Wooden Railway Engines Bill & Ben by RC2 BRANDS

Kids can add to their Thomas Wooden Railway set with these identical twin engines. The most mischievous characters of the whole railway family, Bill and Ben drive the senior engines to distraction. 11/18/2005 (Price: $10.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Diesel Locomotive by MÄRKLIN

The prototype for this train was the Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe Railway class 52 express locomotive (American Locomotive Company type PA-1. Diesel-electric propulsion. Road number 61L). This locomotive comes with a digital decoder, controlled high-efficiency propulsion and auxiliary functions. Two axles power four traction tires. Headlight and lighted number boards will work in conventional operation and can be controlled digitally. Mars light, diesel motor sound effects, horn sounds as well as the acceleration and braking delay can be controlled digitally with the 6021 Control Unit.  “Men are collecting trains in all scales ... They’re connecting to their past and remembering a favorite car or fighting in a war,” commented Shirley Moore, owner of the 53-year-old Talbot’s Toy Land in San Mateo, Calif. She named Marklin as one of her collectors’ favorite brands. "You have two brands in the world of trains with high collectibility: Lionel in the United States and Marklin in global markets," Fred Gates, president of Marklin told TDmonthly.  "They maintain their value." Each year, Marklin produces limited-run items to commemorate a particular historical anniversary. 11/18/2005 (Price: $479.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Thomas & Friends Battery-Powered Around the Tree Set by LEARNING CURVE

With the push of a button, little (or big!) engineers can set Thomas into motion around almost any Christmas tree (up to just over 2 feet wide) with this 20-piece, battery-powered train set. The exclusive Gift Car, which plays “Jingle Bells,” is sure to bring a smile to kids’ faces. It’s joined by a festive caboose, reindeer-crossing sign and track, all made of real wood materials.
— It’s recommended by Karey Koehn, editor of retail franchise HobbyTown USA's Hobby Outlook Magazine for the 4 to 7 year olds. “It's sure to be a family favorite holiday train.”
— “This is for the kid who has Thomas, loves Thomas and can’t get enough Thomas,” explained Cindy Wells, manager of Toys “R” Us in Phoenix, Ariz.
— This has been a big seller on Amazon.com every Christmas since its inception. 11/16/2005 (Price: $49.99)