European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 15, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Toy buyers too serious to Creek e smile Check out whet s new in the world of Model Rell Roeding. Sellers too represent far Flung markets a puppet maker from Thailand shows its wares. So does a South korean mechanical toy maker. The toy fair which this week concluded its 43rd year is not fun and games. Obvious by their absence irom the aisles lined with dolls stuffed animals and toy trains Are children for whom these toys ultimately Are intended. Instead serious faced men in Blue suits and red neckties stand mulling the attributes of Dart guns. Legos and wooden pull toys there is a reason for their somber countenances the toy Industry in Germany alone last year was Worth 2 2 billion Marks converted to american currency that s $1 4 billion and some change. The most important place in the world is How Ludwig Prandl characterizes the show. Prandl a spokesman for Fleischmann. A German Model train manufacturer said it is imperative for companies like his to be at this show every year absolutely,1 he said Quot every producer of Model always has to be Here the experts in Model railway ire Here Quot the displays of toys Are Only half of the fair the More Onous half takes place behind the closed curtains and looks at the rear of each exhibit. There the buyers from such Large International a toilers As toys r us sit with Sellers to strike deals Tor hundreds of thousands of paddle balls or Jack a the boxes Quot it depends on the agent but its usually in the Range of thousands Quot said Frank Ritota of Mac Model rectifier corp. That a a lot of Model rocket kits one of the products of the new Jersey based company that manufactures Hobby items numbers of that level a and the dollars they represent a explain the business like approach Lair goers take toward their toys ask Edward p Frey about the models produced by Tamiya inc. The japanese Model builder and he enthusiastically explains the detail work of the products a Model of an a-10, said the coordinator for u s research and development includes decals that perfectly match those belonging to a particular desert storm Veteran including the Pilot s name and the name of his Crew chief a Frey a retired air Force officer is equally enthusiastic about the models of other desert storm weapon systems ecu dog the m1a1 Abrams tank the humvee the Bradley fighting vehicle and the various fighter jets part of Frey a Job is to photograph the real Mccoy so that Modellers m Japan can duplicate them m 1 33 scale it s a Job he relishes Tome it s like being a kid All Over again tie said perhaps tins toy fair really is about fun after Alla mock band jazzed up the show. Leaping lizards it s the Nurnberg toy  photos by Mike Abrams 3bruary 15, 1992 the stars and stripes b Page 15