Public Show Setup Information

Welcome to the 2026 Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Swaparama and Public Show

Crowne Plaza Milwaukee South
6401 South 13th Street
Milwaukee, WI 53221

The N Scale Enthusiast (NSE), host of the National N Scale Convention (NNSC), thanks you for your continued support as an N Scale manufacturer, dealer, or hobbyist—especially those who may have more trains than they can realistically run on their layouts!

NSE is committed to enhancing and supporting one of our core missions: the promotion and growth of the N Scale model railroad hobby. That commitment begins with participation in the NNSC. Online registration will be available from January 10, 2026, through June 8, 2026.

Registration Wednesday Opportunities

During Registration Wednesday at the NNSC, tables will be available for manufacturers and vendors to place product literature, announcements, and company-specific information. This provides an immediate opportunity to publicize your products and services to all registered convention attendees.

For details, please contact the Convention Management Team:
Dick Ollendorf – Dick@NationalNScaleConvention.com
Skip Hayes – trainnbyskip@yahoo.com

Public Show and Vendor Participation

The best way for N Scale manufacturers and vendors to engage with both convention attendees and the general public is through exhibition and sales space in the NNSC Public Show, which spans three hotel ballrooms.

Several enhancements are being continued for the 2026 Convention to celebrate the 32nd Annual NSE Convention and to further improve the attendee experience. Most notably, multiple operational N Scale layouts will once again be co-located with vendor tables in the same ballroom, creating a more dynamic and immersive environment.

Each vendor table space measures 6 feet by 30 inches. Electrical service is available for an additional fee. Special vendor registration options are offered, along with reduced-rate registrations for helpers as needed.

Vendor registrations are eligible to:

• Purchase Saturday night Convention Banquet tickets and event tickets
• Participate in the popular Thursday night Live N Scale Auction
• Purchase tickets to the Manufacturers Breakfast

Ballroom Access and Badge Requirements

This year, with both vendors and layouts sharing the main ballroom and the space being used for multiple events, cooperation is essential. All personnel working in these areas beginning Friday at 7:00 AM must wear the appropriate convention badge clearly marked for ballroom access.

Layout Setup Information

Access to all three ballrooms begins at 10:00 AM on Thursday.

• Concorde Ballroom: Layouts must be fully set up by 6:00 PM
• Saber and Voyager Ballrooms: Layouts must be fully set up by 9:00 PM

Layout setup coordination will be handled by:
Dan Larkee, Collin Reinhart, Mark Bandy, and Bruce Alcock

Vendor Setup Information

During vendor setup, the following staff members will be on-site to assist and answer questions:
Neal Carnaby, Skip Hayes, and Collin Reinhart

Vendor setup begins Friday at 7:00 AM and must be completed by 9:00 AM.

The Manufacturers Breakfast

The Manufacturers Breakfast is a long-standing tradition that provides an opportunity to announce new products, share future plans, and network with fellow vendors and hobbyists over a buffet-style breakfast.

For 2026, the breakfast will be held on Saturday from 7:30 AM to 9:30 AM, prior to the opening of the Swap Meet. This revised schedule allows attendees to learn about new developments and then continue discussions with vendors throughout the Saturday Swap Meet session.

The NSE Board is pleased to announce that Scale Trains of Cleveland, Tennessee, will once again serve as emcee for this annual event.

— The NSE Public Show Team