Visitors will be met by many new features at this year’s INTERMODELLBAU. The basis for the changes is the new concept of the halls. For the first time Westfalenhalle hall No. 1 will not be in use, whilst hall 3B will be joining the exhibition, and the main theme areas have been relocated amongst the remaining halls. The new concept will be making Europe’s leading exhibition for model making and model sport even more attractive and allow more growth. At the same time the 2010 exhibition will be boasting 554 commercial and non-commercial exhibitors as well as a genuine world championship competition.

Through the new layout concept of the halls the INTERMOD-ELLBAU will now be more compact, with a shorter distance from the first to the last exhibition hall. In addition the exhibi-tion will be gaining new growth potential now that the gross area available for the INTERMODELLBAU has been in-creased to cover an area of 52,000 square metres compared to the years prior to 2009. Despite all the changes, however, the great challenge remains the same: the aim of the IN-TERMODELLBAU is to cover the complete range of model making and model sport activities. This includes aircraft, ship, vehicle and railway models which can all be found here along with miniature figures, steam engines and cardboard models.

For the first time in its history the 2010 exhibition will be stag-ing the world championship in model ship making. The championship has been organised by the Naviga, the “world organisation for model ship building and model ship sport“. Participants from 18 countries will be competing for the title in 2010, where even Chinese entrants will be taking part.

Aircraft model making will also be experiencing an extraordi-nary development at the INTERMODELLBAU: for the first time a full hall, i.e. hall 3B, will be devoted to this category and will include indoor flight demonstrations and event areas and workshops run by experts. The open air flight shows in the adjacent ”Rote Erde“ stadium which were introduced in 2009 have been extended to become a two-day event (the Thursday and the Saturday of the exhibition).

Visitors can look forward to a selection of hand picked exhibits in the model railway section. The German registered society Model Railway Association, MOBA (Modellbahnverband in Deutschland e.V.) has singled out more than 30 layouts of such high class quality that even expert tongues will be set clicking. MOBA’s representative Karl-Friedrich Ebe who is reponsible for the collection promises: “In 2010 the INTERMODELLBAU will be presenting exhibits amongst the finest quality to be found on the German model railway scene.“

The commercial and non-commercial exhibitor stands will also be teeming with extraordinary objects and other exhibits that just have to be seen. One model maker for example has produced an intricate skyscraper model in 1:1000 scale from just paper alone. Another will be presenting the largest transportable model ferris wheel stretching over two metres in height. And of course a model for the Ruhr Valley’s Capital of Culture Year is a must: the 1:560 scale model of the shaft tower of the Zeche-Zollverein world heritage colliery in Essen will be celebrating its premiere at the INTERMODELLBAU.
 
A hobby model maker with a soft spot for history has created a replica Napoleonic battle with around 20,000 figures, a commercial exhibitor will be bringing his exclusive brass model railway engines with a value of an incredible 9,000 Euros each, and another model maker will be showing his “dancing” figures in the minute model railway HO scale which turn in circles as if by magic thanks to recently devel-oped techniques with magnets. Indeed there can be no complaining about a lack of highlights at the INTERMOD-ELLBAU 2010.

The INTERMODELLBAU will also be welcoming TV stars. The popular policemen Toto and Harry from channel Sat.1 will be putting in an appearance at the German Police Museum stand at the INTERMODELLBAU on 18th April at 10:00 hours.

Just like last year the Messe Westfalenhallen Dortmund GmbH will once again be demonstrating its commitment to promoting model making and model sport to find new enthu-siasts, particularly amongst younger people. 17 school classes – considerably more than in 2009 – have been awarded free admission to the INTERMODELLBAU. “We would like to continue to support teachers in instructing their pupils on manual skills – to offer an alternative to spending time playing and working on computers“, Stefan Baumann, Managing Director of the Westfalenhallen Dortmund GmbH explains.

Admission to the INTERMODELLBAU costs 11 Euros for adults, 8.50 Euros for youngsters and 4.50 Euros for children. Family tickets are also available.