It is not so much who collects as it is what is being collected.
Hobbyists are hoarding everything, from cleverly concealed train sets to CD-ROM baseball cards to doll houses with running water.
Studies show that having a hobby can not only be a creative catharsis, but can also alleviate stress.
What better gift, for the hobbyist in your life, than the object of their passion?
In 1945, the founders of a company called Monogram Model created the first World War II model ship made of balsa wood. Turns out that this small-scale model was actually the start of something big. Later the California company Revell created model cars made of plastic. The two companies merged in 1986 to become Revell-Monogram Inc., which today produces 450 different vehicles, aircraft and sea-going plastic model hobby kits. Even though 70 percent of model kits are purchased for boys 7 to 14, they are great gifts for the car, spaceship or even dinosaur enthusiasts of any age on your list.
One of the hottest model kits by Revell-Monogram is the No. 3 Goodwrench Monte Carlo (1:32 scale; $8.50), with opening hood, aerodynamic body work and peel-stick decals. From the summer movie “The Lost World: Jurassic Park,” there is the new SnapTite Adult Tyrannosaurus Rex ($14), triumphantly positioned atop a display base that includes a crushed car.
Imagine you are riding along the highway in cool shades on your Harley-Davidson. While that little daydream could run you plenty of loot, consider instead the miniature model. The XL 1200C Sportster 1200 Custom ($25.75) is an exact replica of the real thing, available in 1:8 scale.
Model kits are available at most hobby, craft and toy stores. For more on Revell-Monogram products, visit the Internet at revell-monogram.com
No hobby evokes more nostalgia perhaps than model trains, especially in an era of video games and Web surfing. Visions of electric trains racing along the track don’t have to be a fond memory. The young and young at heart will appreciate the beautifully crafted, all-metal, 1:32-scale electric train sets offered by Marklin Inc.
An American Starter set ($439) includes a tank locomotive, low side car and two-axle caboose, an oval of track, transformer and figures of an engineer and a fireman.
Marklin also offers the Bavarian Briefcase Layout ($845), an executive toy that features the smallest operating railroad system (1:2220 scale), with scenery and buildings inside a briefcase.
Marklin dealers in the area include: The Great Train Store, 350 Old Orchard Center, Skokie, 847-679-8637; Timeless Hobbies, 75 Danada Square East, Wheaton, 630-690-5542; Pat’s Hobbies & Crafts, 5730 W. 95th St., Oak Lawn, 708-424-6131; and Trost Model Craft & Hobby, 3111 W. 63rd St., Chicago, 773-925-1000. Or call 800-825-0888 or visit the Web site at marklin.com/
Batter up to the newest way to keep track of batting averages this holiday season–Major League Baseball CD-ROMs. The CybrCard Series includes 12 star players, such as Frank Thomas, Chipper Jones, Ken Griffey Jr. and Bernie Williams. The CD-ROM features video highlights, including play-by-play coverage, comprehensive stats, batting information, a trivia game, press archives and the ability to customize your own baseball cards.
Major League Baseball CybrCard Series runs on Windows 3.1 or Windows 95 with 8 MB Ram and 3 MB of free hard-disk space. It’s available at MicroCenter (2645 N. Elston Ave., 773-292-1700), and Wal-Mart, Walgreens and Kmart stores. To order, call 800-436-7722 or visit the Web site at cybrcard.com
There is also an NFL CybrCard, featuring 14 pro football stars. The baseball and NFL series sell for $20 to $25 each.
Doll houses and miniatures are another popular hobby. According to Jacqueline Kerr Deiber, who has built more than 500 doll houses, they are second only to stamps and coins as collectibles.
One growing trend that derived from doll houses are room boxes, according to Deiber, who has been in the business for 25 years.
“With a room box, you can do a specific room. If someone is having a baby you may want to do a nursery. Blue for a boy and pink for a little girl,” says Deiber.
Some doll houses cost almost as much as the real thing–up to $50,000. They are fully functional, with running water, electricity, wallpaper and working windows.
Some of the best places to find miniatures, which range from a few dollars to a few hundred dollars, are Donna’s Dollhouse Center, 1029A Burlington Ave., Downers Grove, 630-969-6150; Think Small by Rosebud, 3209 N. Clark St., 773-477-1920; Doll Houses of the North Shore, 332 Ridge Rd., Wilmette, 847-251-6870; and Little Acorn, 15800 New Ave., Lemont, 630-257-0194.
For after-holiday shoppers, there will be a miniature collectibles show with top doll-house and furniture designers Jan. 10 and 11 at the Inland Meeting and Expo Center in Westmont. The show will include items from tiny dolls to doll-size food. For more information, call 630-850-7000.
