Troels Kirk Cannery almost sold out!

Hi Everyone:

I just wanted to give you a heads up that there are only 9 Troels Kirk Cannery’s left of the 100 limited edition kits released in the fall.

Thanks,

Joe
Full Steam Ahead

2 Full Steam Ahead Diorama’s on Ebay (all proceeds go to Haiti Relief)

Hi Everyone:

My 5 year old daughter and I have been discussing the terrible tragedy in Haiti and wondering what we could do to help raise money to support relief efforts. {A conversation with my friend Greg Shinnie got me thinking of something we could do as a family} (The Canadian Government will match our donation dollar for dollar so any bid will essentially be doubled when we donate) We are currently deciding between “Me to We” or “Oxfam” I thought auctioning off one of my dioramas would be a good place to start. To my surprise she asked if she could auction off her diorama “Georgia’s Garage” … imagine my surprise. If you are interested in a “Georgia’s Garage” that is pink and purple please bid on her auction as well.

If you are interested check out ebay in the HO craftsman structure area.

You can search with the following titles

HO Scale Georgia’s Garage
HO Scale R. G. Shinnie Boatworks (pilot model)

This is a great opportunity to add a great diorama to your layout and know your money will be doubled when donated to the Haiti Relief efforts!

Thank you inadvance,

Joe and Georgia Rutter

Celebrate Thanksgiving with a Strike!

Hi Modelers:

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my American Modeling friends.

Like many of you Full Steam Ahead has provided myself and a few close modelling friends a lot of pleasure and great memories this fall. Greg Shinnie, Jim Gardner and I recently travelled to the 3rd annual Craftsman Structure Show in Mansfield, Mass. It was a great opportunity for us to meet a lot of you and see top level craftsman and their work. We displayed 2 new kits at this years’ show; Troels Kirk Cannery and The Bowling Alley.

Troels Kirk Cannery has sold almost 60 of the 100 limited kits to date. The cannery is named after and partly designed by an extraordinary modeler from Scandanavia by Troels Kirk. The kit received rave reviews because of its design and the number of detailed parts. It won’t last long at $124.99.

The Bowling Alley received a pile of comments and lots of photos from the conventioners. Because it is such a unique structure and may not appeal to everyone I am only going to produce 50 kits. I just listed the kit on my website for $69.99. Judging by the reaction at the show I don’t expect this retro kit to last long.

Looking Ahead:
I am already planning new kits as I write this newsletter. I have started a special kit for a show I am planning to attend in Calgary, Alberta. I can’t say much about this project because I want to surprise all the attendees at this show when they stop by to see Full Steam Ahead. I will post pictures of the buildings once the show is over in April. (Note: I am still trying to figure out the logistics of flying out to this show and transporting my kits so it is still not 100% yet!)

My next limited run kit will be based on a Northern Ontario prototype that my good friend and modeler extraordinare (Greg Shinnie) found in his travels. It will be a kit that will appeal to the water front modeler and is sure to be a big hit like all of Full Steam Ahead’s other kits.

I am debating on making my first railroad industry structure kit. Let me know if there is a railroad structure that specifically services your trains that is lacking. Eg. a roundhouse, a sand tower, water tower, etc.

Lastly, on a trip to Toronto this weekend with my high school students I saw a building complex that would make an incredible diorama. It is the type of structure/complex I have never seen in a craftsman kit before and I think it would be an instant classic. There is only one problem … it will have to be in the form of a super kit … you know the $300 range type. I am going to spend the next 2 years working on this design and consulting with a few modelers to get their input and help. I am very excited about this project but I am also sobered by the fact that it will be the toughest project I will have tackled to date.

Happy Modeling and Thanksgiving,

Joe
Full Steam Ahead

Troels Kirk Cannery

Hi All:

I just wanted to give everyone a heads up that the cannery is ready for purchase on my website.  If you are interested you can go ahead an order now.  The first kits will be shipped on a first come first serve basis.  Shipping will begin on August 10th or slightly sooner if all goes well.

 

Thanks In Advance,

 

Joe Rutter

Full Steam Ahead

Cannery Update

Hi All:

I just wanted to send out a quick note to let everyone know the latest kit “Troels Kirk Cannery” is almost ready for shipment.  I will have the first kits ready to go by August 1st.  The cost of the kit will be $125 dollars (I have to calculate shipping once I take a trip to the post office).  Keep looking at the site for updates or contact me directly if you still would like to reserve your kit.  I think this kit would go very well with the R.G. Shinnie Boatworks (there are on 15 of these left).

I have started to design the next kit!  Keep looking for updates on the site if you are interested.  I’ll give you a hint … all of the big Lebowski fans will love it!

Thanks for all of your support and encouragement.

Joe

Full Steam Ahead

Merry Christmas from Full Steam Ahead

Hello Fellow Modelers:

I wanted to take the opportunity in my first newsletter to wish everyone a Merry Christmas.  It has been a fun  and fruitful year for my family and I.  Our second child was born on July 6th and the last 5 months have been a bit of a whirlwind.  I managed to just barely get the R.G. Shinnie Boatworks (named after Greg Shinnie who redesigned the Farmers’ Market into the Boatworks) before the Craftsman Structure Show in Mansfield.  Since CSS08 things have been very busy for me.  Thankfully my dad recently retired up to Owen Sound and has been running the laser for a couple of hours in the day when I am teaching.

The following are a few of the items I will be working on in the New Year:

1.  Complete the Ridgeway Station (I was working on it tonight).

2.  Create a companion model to the Boatworks (a cannery).

3.  Currently I am working with another modeler to offer an O-scale version of the Boatworks.

4.  Update my website with video clips to demonstrate model building techniques.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family.

Joe Rutter