Expert drifting action, premium remote-controlled vehicles from the US, detailed models in every scale, action courses and races for school classes and race professionals – all this and much more awaits visitors to INTERMODELLBAU 2023 in Halls 5 and 6 at Messe Dortmund. Hall 3 also has exciting surprises in store, with captivating robot competitions all day Saturday and Sunday.

Dortmund, 14 April 2023 – At the world's largest model building and model sports show, visitors will not just be able to look over the shoulders of the best RC car racers – they’ll also have the opportunity to pick up the remote control themselves and gain some initial experience of their own. Several hands-on activities will invite people to join in, and school classes will even have the chance to win a trophy, with students duelling it out against each other – and against the clock – in the Race of Champions (DMC stand, Hall 5). There's still time to register!

For those who like it big, model monster truck society IG Modellgiganten is the place to head for to see the largest working models in 1:8 scale. Also in Hall 6, a crane from RMW TechnoScaleModels from the Netherlands can be admired as the 'absolutely' biggest model at the show. Built on a scale of 1:14.5, the crane towers right up to the hall ceiling and can lift up to 180 kilos in weight.

Live racing action to watch and join in

RC4WD, Schnutopia (TS RC Products), HOECO and SHERPA Trophy are clubbing together to present a new action course with a hands-on area in Hall 5, making it possible to experience adventure action with a scaler. SHERPA Trophy will be presenting its vehicles and offering visitors the opportunity to experience a little adventure on the track themselves. As well as a free go over the course embellished with detailed scenery, visitors will be challenged to undertake various interspersed (and supervised) adventure tasks and mini trial competitions. You'll even be allowed to drive your own scaler or crawler on the course (subject to a maximum width of 26 cm). And if you discover you've acquired a taste for it, simply pop along to the stand of American manufacturer RC4WD where you'll be able to purchase a premium remote-controlled scale model truck, plus kits and accessories. The professionals from RC4WD will be coming all the way from the US to present their models at INTERMODELLBAU and will be on hand to offer advice and assistance to visitors – an exclusive opportunity to talk to the RC4WD experts.

Up-and-coming RC enthusiasts will be able to obtain their children's RC truck driving licence on a 300 sqm demonstration area at the stand of Mini-Truck-Club Recklinghausen e.V.!

The German Minicar Club (DMC) will be organising the RC CAR Race Days during the show via its affiliate MC Dortmund. A variety of off-road and on-road races will be held on each day of the show, featuring professional drivers in different categories, classes and scales. Also, school classes will have the opportunity to demonstrate their skills in the Race of Champions (register free of charge, giving details of the date, time and size of the school class to Monika Geistmann at jugendreferent@sk-west.dmc-online.com). Up-and-coming riders, big and small, will be able to try their hands on a mini visitors' track, with professionals on hand to advise and guide on all days of the show, ensuring that the races run smoothly and providing information on clubs and societies which are available to be joined.

The hearts of exhibitors at the RC Drift Cave 59 in Hall 5 will also be racing (in the truest sense of the word). After all, it's not just since the Fast and Furious films that flashy sports cars sliding sideways around bends have enjoyed growing popularity among car fans. Drifting has been an ultimate discipline – one might even say part of the culture – for decades in many Asian countries (Japan in particular) and is all about precision. Together with friends from the greater Dortmund area and from all over Germany, RC Drift Cave 59 will be demonstrating the art of drifting in various disciplines on a track measuring nearly 100 sqm, and will be available for 'petrol-head conversations' in the amateur mechanics’ area.

The Outlaws RC Crawlers and Scalers will be at INTERMODELLBAU with a large area dedicated to the art of crawling, the aim of which is to drive an RC vehicle over the terrain as realistically as possible. This year, the members will once again be presenting a host of superb vehicles and building a spectacular off-road environment that leaves nothing to be desired and is sure to provide inspiration for visitors' home layouts. Exciting RC model demos will also await at the Traxxas by Hoeco stand, and, numerous other exhibitors will be presenting detailed layouts and models in all scales in the extraordinary miniature world of INTERMODELLBAU 2023.

Battle of the model giants

The German Roboteers Association will be exhibiting a very special model making discipline in Hall 3 with radio-controlled mobile competition robots competing against each other in a specially built arena. What people might imagine to be a senseless brawl by remote control turns out on closer inspection to be a highly complex duel of strategy, craftsmanship and physics. Saturday and Sunday will see an international tournament of Mad Metal Machines that will take people's breath away on both days between 10:30 and 16:30 hrs. On all days of the show, visitors will also be welcome to try their hand at controlling a robot and competing against other visitors at the stand of the German Roboteers Association.

Technical details to perfection, and new exhibitors too

Small-series manufacturer Kirmesmodelle Raue will be exhibiting for the first time at INTERMODELLBAU. It has dedicated itself to models of attractions that can usually be found on the major fairgrounds across North Rhine Westphalia. The new start-up will be bringing several innovations and new products to the show, presenting them to the public for the very first time. These include the 'Vegetable Mill' from fairground ride operator Vorlop in H0 and the top-selling model of the 'Fish Island' – but in N scale. Kirmesmodelle Raue has also teamed up with another first-time exhibitor micron-dynamics to develop a fairground control system which can be used, for example, to control signage, backdrops and alternating flashers via a single control unit, thereby saving money, space and cabling. Fairground items and other working models will be demonstrated live at the exhibition stands and can also be purchased then and there.

3D printing is a hot topic among model makers, and associated suppliers such as DP Solutions will also be in attendance, demonstrating devices offering outstanding print quality as well as cutting plotters at affordable prices. Products from Unimat Vertrieb Lauterborn range from entry-level machine tools for six-year-olds to machine tools for schools and 3D printers. The young Czech company Prusa Research will also be in attendance with 3D printers.

Another new international exhibitor will be travelling in from Italy in the firm of certified company Max-Model di Letizia Mattei which will be presenting a wide range of high-quality print decals for model making across all scales. Anyone on the look-out for premium model cars will find what they're looking for at the stand of Aachen-based manufacturer Minichamps whose stand will be showcasing award-winning models and a large selection of 1:18 scale model cars. Its range also includes conventional racing cars as well as road vehicles, motorcycles and classic cars.

Other manufacturers and dealers with a wide range of products

Well-known manufacturers and dealers such as Revell, Tamiya-Carson, Modellbau Berlinski, WIKING-Modellbau, Torro-Fahrzeugmodelle, fm-electrics, Thicon Automodelle, Carrera Toys, s-idee, BREKINA-Modellspielwaren and Herpa Miniaturmodelle are also looking forward to presenting their new products and highlights to visitors. Sandra Struckmeyer, Marketing Manager, RC & Sales Promotion at Revell, said, “Come and visit us at the Carrera-Revell stand in Hall 5 where you can experience superb new products, a load of show offers, oodles of RC car action and real car racing feeling all in one place.”