Final press report from 06.11.2026: Powerful trade fair trio thrills the crowds
FASZINATION MODELLBAU Friedrichshafen with Echtdampf-Hallentreffen & Internationale Modellbahn-Ausstellung (IMA)
For three days, Friedrichshafen was all about big technology on a small scale: from 30 October to 1 November 2026, the prestigious triple bill of the 24th FASZINATION MODELLBAU, the Internationale Modellbahn-Ausstellung (IMA) and the Echtdampf-Hallentreffen drew more than 45,000 visitors and cemented its reputation in the Lake Constance tri-border region as Europe’s largest event of its kind.
Packed halls and a brilliant atmosphere in the border triangle
“What we experienced in Friedrichshafen this weekend was pure, unbridled passion,” says Andreas Wittur, authorised officer of event organiser Messe Sinsheim, summing up a highly satisfying show. “With more than 45,000 guests from Germany and abroad, we’ve seamlessly matched our best-ever years. Above all, the interplay between our flagship fair, the one-of-a-kind live-steam exhibits and the biennial IMA proved a tremendous draw. When wide-eyed children rub shoulders with highly specialised trade visitors and every hall is buzzing, we know the concept is working one hundred per cent.”
And indeed, the sheer breadth of what was on offer left virtually nothing to be desired. Once again, the “FMT-Stars des Jahres” flight show proved a truly unique selling point: right on the apron of the adjacent commercial airport, world-class pilots such as record champion Gernot Bruckmann and the Flippers Aerobatic Team showcased their skills against a stunning Alpine backdrop. At the same time, audiences marvelled at the indoor flying displays in Foyer West, where ultra-light giant warbirds, a flying bass guitar and intricately detailed 3D-printed helicopters took to the air.
From miniature track to full-size garden railways
Railway enthusiasts’ eyes lit up at the return of the Internationale Modellbahn-Ausstellung in Halls A1 and A2. Amid the finest Z-gauge filigree work and large garden railways from Germany, France, Austria and Poland, one exhibit drew particular attention: the German premiere of French module group “SceNic” with their spectacular N-gauge landscape stretching more than 40 metres.
All the major industry players also unveiled their latest products — including Märklin (with Trix and LGB), Roco/Fleischmann, PIKO, BRAWA, Hornby, Tillig, Faller, Noch and Viessmann, among many others. The Internationale Modellbahn-Ausstellung was rounded off by specialist small-batch manufacturers and select specialist retailers, giving visitors access to the full range of the model railway market. The Model Railway Forum in Hall A2 also served as a central hub for expert knowledge and networking.
Steam power, horsepower giants and quiet precision
Anyone craving the smell of real coal smoke and machine oil found their haven at the Echtdampf-Hallentreffen: more than 200 international model builders ran their masterfully crafted locomotives, steam rollers and portable steam engines in dense, timetabled service on the combined 5-inch and 7¼-inch track layout stretching over four kilometres.
There was plenty of high-octane action off the rails, too: while the “German Open RC-Car Masters” saw fierce competition across nine racing classes and high-powered racing boats sent towering plumes of spray skyward on the exhibition lake, Hall A4 was ruled by heavy construction machinery and the finest hydraulics. A particular crowd-puller on the vast truck course was the atmospheric night driving on Friday and Saturday evenings, when countless miniature headlights and rotating beacons transformed the darkened hall into a glittering sea of light. By contrast, silently gliding model airships and the elaborate dioramas of the static model-building section — featuring major special exhibitions on “100 Years of Lufthansa” and the German Armed Forces — offered oases of calm and supreme precision.
Getting involved: from spectator to participant
The huge array of interactive stations proved that model building is far more than just looking. Hands-on participation was the order of the day right across the venue: at the Echtdampf-Hallentreffen, visitors young and old climbed aboard the open wagons and steamed through the halls. Budding skippers built their own sailing boats at the “Werft für Kids” or earned their captain’s licence at the remote controls of the 400-square-metre water basin.
On land and in the air, too, there was plenty of steering, tinkering and soldering to be done — whether it was earning a first RC licence on the tractor course, building balsa-wood hand-launch gliders, soldering the world’s smallest dynamo “MoLLi”, or taking a hands-on course in creating miniature layout dioramas. Thrill-seekers could try their hand at the drift cars of the “Devils Drift Crew”, tackle the AI-assisted hybrid race track, or brave the high-speed drone course.
Strong response from manufacturers and exhibitors
For the many brand manufacturers, specialist workshops and retailers, the date — just before the start of the winter building season — once again proved the ideal stage for presenting innovations and demonstrating them live. The feedback from the industry has been correspondingly positive. Thorsten Rechthaler of aero-naut draws a positive conclusion: the flight show, the expert audience and the many conversations made Friedrichshafen a stand-out event for the company in 2026 as well. Marco Löffler of Märklin calls the fair “a major highlight” in the annual calendar. He is delighted by the many customer conversations and the families who visited the play area at the stand.
Florian Giwanski of NOCH was also particularly pleased with the successful opening of the fair: “Friday alone was phenomenal.” Stefan Westermann of Carrera Revell likewise praised the way the fair went and the organisation — and is already looking forward to next year. Luca Baumann, who took part in the “FMT-Stars des Jahres” flight show as a team pilot for Horizon Hobby alongside Nick Ruppert and Oliver Preis as the Flippers Aerobatic Team, has a special connection to Friedrichshafen: a visit to the fair back in 2008 got him into model flying. Today he is one of the crowd favourites at the “FMT-Stars des Jahres”. Being able to fly there is still a highlight for him.
Outlook: the 2027 date is already confirmed
Save the date now: the next FASZINATION MODELLBAU, together with the Echtdampf-Hallentreffen and the LEGO Fan Exhibition, will take place from 5 to 7 November 2027 at the magnificent Friedrichshafen exhibition centre!
The next Faszination MODELLBAHN Mannheim will take place from 12 to 14 March 2027 at the Maimarkthalle in Mannheim! For more information, visit www.faszination-modellbahn.com
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