Toledo R/C Swap Meet & Expo back with a bang
By: Rachelle Haughn, AMA Foundation deputy director
More vendors, more swappers, more shoppers, more donations … you name it, there was likely more!
Organizers of the 2026 Toledo R/C Swap Meet & Expo hit the gate running and blew people away through multiple facets of the two-day, record-breaking event. Since the Toledo, Ohio, show was resurrected in 2021, the number of attendees and vendors has steadily grown—the 2026 show had roughly 3,400 tickets sold, 50 commercial vendors, and more than 800 tables that were rented for swapping!
“It was definitely an unexpected event,” stated Henry “Hank” Rauhaus, the organizer of the April 10-11 show.
One of the many 2026 vendors, Andrew Jesky of AJ Aircraft, noticed the public’s reaction to the Toledo R/C Swap & Expo and reached out to Hank after it ended. “Happy to hear that you guys are doing well with the show. We will be there every year that you do it! We want to support you and your passion,” he said to Hank.
Passion clearly was the driving force for many aspects of the show. It came into play when attendees chatted with AMA employees while they renewed their memberships or convinced their flying buddies to become first-time members, when they met vendors and manufacturers face-to-face and shared how their products have made a difference in the hobby, and, most noticeably, in the many opportunities to spend their hard-earned money. The last point was verified by the empty swap tables in the last hours of the show on April 11 and by the more than $7,800 that was raised through the auction to support the AMA Foundation and the event’s sustainability.
Although it’s typically held at the conclusion of the event as vendors are packing up to leave, this year, the auction took place on Friday, April 10. After a long day of wheeling and dealing, being fascinated by the latest innovations in the hobby, and enjoying a soft pretzel from the concession stand (many mentioned how tasty they were), people returned to the Glass City Center in Toledo that evening for the auction. Many was to the tune of more than 100!
After all of the chairs that were set out for bidders were filled, Hank and his volunteers quickly scrambled to address the lack of space. Tables of swap items were moved to accommodate more chairs and more people. Those who arrived at the auction a few minutes before the 7 p.m. start time gave up on finding a seat and conceded to standing for the duration of the event.
The tight space in front of the stage didn’t deter modelers from opening their wallets, especially when it came to supporting the AMA Foundation. This year, Foundation staff were generously invited by show organizers to take a more active role in the auction. This included opportunities to speak before the bidding began, to shake the hands of those who purchased items, and to hold a donation box for those who wanted to give to the cause. At the end of the night, the auction raised a new high number for the Foundation: $6,846!
“The generosity and spirit of the Toledo Show team continue to set a remarkable standard within our community,” said AMA Foundation Executive Director Stephen Haston.
“I never expected that hundreds of people would show up and support our auction and the AMA Foundation,” Hank said after the event concluded. “We are all in this together, and the Friday night auction was a perfect example of how we can all support each other.”
This was the first year that specific items were bid on solely to benefit the AMA Foundation. These aircraft, radios, and more were donated by event volunteers and estates. Proceeds from the sale of the remaining items in the auction will support the 2027 Toledo R/C Swap Meet & Expo.
Before the auction began, modelers milled around and ogled at the tiny engines, airplanes, antique radios, and other items that would be sold. Anticipation grew as attendees listened to an AMA Foundation team member talk about the little-known miracles that happen every day through donor support. Philanthropy’s role in health and well-being, the ease of giving and supporting the nonprofit outside of the auction, and how club visits have aided the overall perception of AMA were also mentioned.
After the speech, Hank shared his heart with the crowd and explained why he donates to the AMA Foundation. He thanked the Foundation for all it does to grow the hobby, to support AMA, to make a difference in the area where AMA Headquarters is located (Muncie, Indiana), and to guarantee that today’s youth will be able to enjoy his favorite pastime for many years into the future. He then got “serious” about the auction. Well, as serious as someone wearing a Hawaiian shirt and walking around with a microphone can be after a long day of running a show. He made the auction fun and entertaining and often reminded attendees of other good things that the AMA Foundation does.
Up for sale at roughly the halfway mark was an item that gave a nod to the show’s roots. The aircraft had been built by the late Jeff Troy, who was involved in the original Toledo Show: R/C Model Expo. That show, held at the same event hall in its later years, ran from 1955 to 2020. Dave Maniet, Jim Hawkins, and Hank quickly worked together to bring the show back.
Hank remembered Jeff, who was well known in the hobby community as an avid builder and designer, an author, a hobby advocate, and an editor of the former Park Pilot magazine. If asked, the larger-than-life man would say his claim to fame was his time as a rock-n-roll artist, performing with singers such as Billy Joel, Chubby Checker, and the band Climax. Sadly, Jeff passed away in January of 2024. When Jeff’s name and the old Toledo Show were mentioned, the crowd temporarily grew quieter out of respect for the two. That noise decibel didn’t last long, especially when donor Neal Smiley got involved.
Neal was one of the first people to bid on a 63-inch-wingspan Jack Stafford Aircoupe, also known as an Ercoupe. Du-Bro had purchased the airplane from one of the Toledo R/C Swap & Expo volunteers with the intention of donating it to the auction and matching any bids that were made on it. Du-Bro employee Joshua “The Professor” Orchard managed to restore the airplane on the day of the auction using mostly Du-Bro parts and some things that he had found in the swap shop area. The paint scheme was eye-catching in orange and white. (Joshua hosts the Du-Bro MasterClass building series on YouTube; you can find the link in “Sources.”)
Bidding on the aircraft started at close to $100, with Neal being the final bidder. It appeared that the sale was over, but Neal wasn’t finished; He re-donated the airplane to the auction so that it could be sold for more, and Du-Bro was again asked to match the newest bid, which it did. Two times wasn’t enough for Neal. With the cash bar open and encouragement from the crowd, this cycle continued for multiple rounds, with the price going up each time. Attendees witnessed this at least four more times, clearly surprised each time. When the final bid rolled around, Du-Bro staff needed some hugs and a lot of encouragement from Neal.
“Neal has a very big heart! I have seen him at smaller swap[s] and fun-flys buy hundreds of dollars in raffle tickets, and then pass them out to the other people,” Hank said. “He loves giving back to his RC community!”
After all was said and done, Du-Bro, which recently stepped up as the first AMA Foundation Torchbearer, and Neal gave approximately $3,000 through bid matching and multiple bids!
Hank believes Neal had the Foundation’s role in supporting the hobby in mind when he continued bidding. “There is no doubt that Neal knew this, which is why he kept asking Du-Bro to match the high bid.”
Neal commented, “I wanted to support both the Toledo R/C Swap and the AMA Foundation, as both are so important for our hobby. I loved that Du-Bro also stepped up, and in the end, both Toledo and the Foundation benefited!”
The auction wrapped up at 11 p.m., and many bidders walked away with empty wallets but amazing deals in hand. Those who were staying at the hotel connected to the Glass City Center excitedly chatted about Du-Bro, Neal, and how much fun they had at the auction all of the way to the elevators. The auction remained a hot topic the next day. By that time, Hank was likely already planning for the 2027 show.
Andrew also had the future on his mind. “To me, it seemed like it had the feel of the old show,” he stated of the 2026 event. “[I think] it’s a fresh thing that needed to happen.”
Steve also felt that the show was a success. “The dedication of the Toledo organizers, combined with [Foundation Deputy Director Rachelle’s] efforts, helped strengthen our mission and reaffirm the power of this hobby to bring people together,” he said.
The AMA Foundation staff is eternally grateful to Hank and his volunteers for providing such an amazing opportunity, and for the donations, of course. Reflecting on 2026, it is clear that Hank and his team not only brought the Toledo Show back to life, they also breathed new life into it. Here’s to 2027! [dingbat]
Sources:
Toledo R/C Swap Meet & Expo
AMA Foundation
amafoundation.modelaircraft.org
AMA Company Torchbearer Program
amafoundation.modelaircraft.org/company-torchbearer-program
Du-Bro MasterClass
YouTube
Du-Bro
(847) 526-2136
AJ Aircraft
(734) 244-4015
Glass City Center
“The Toledo Show Bids Farewell” by Rachelle Haughn
Model Aviation, April 2021
modelaviation.com/article/toledo-show-bids-farewell
Park Pilot
AMA History Project Presents:
Biography of Jeff Troy
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