Randolph & Briggs Build (AKA Shady Awnings)

Hi All:

I hope you are all having a relaxing summer and enjoying the weather no matter where this email finds you.  I always call this time of the year the summer duldrums of modeling … not much is happening on-line, not too many big model announcements, people are outside.  For me there can never be too much downtime because I cam always making up kits or designing new kits.

I have been working on 2 new kits for the late summer and fall.  The first kit will be the North American Bent Chair Company.  I hope to have the chair factory ready for late summer and the start into my second kit.  The second kit will be very unique but something I think everyone will want and real estate will be cleared for its’ place on your layout … I’ll keep you posted.

One thing I don’t do very often is go back and build a kit after I have already done so 2 or 3 times.  Shady Awnings and Tents was my first limited edition kit and I still have a couple to sell.  Recently the phone  rang with the following proposition how could I resist?  Would I consider making the main building out of brick?  I had been working for the last couple of months on the North American Bent Chair Factory and laser etching bricks with success so I said yes.  The great part of the material I am using is that it is exactly 1/16 of an inch thick exactly the same as the clapboard siding.  Because there are a few differences in the building process rather than re-write the directions I asked if I could post them and the rest of the steps on my build on my website for others to follow along.  Over the next couple of weeks I will post my progress and explain my steps and complete the redux of Shady Awnings and transform it into the Randolph & Briggs gun manufacturering company with a civil war renactment sign up in the adjoining tent.  You will be able to see how quickly I can work if nothing gets in the way … I hope to be done by June 25th because of an impending vacation. 

Sit back and enjoy the build and changes to the original kit.

For some reason my software loaded the pictures in reverse order, therefore you will have to look at page 2 first for reference.

STEP 1:  ROOFLINES:

The first 4 pictures at the bottom of the page are the backs of the 4 wall sections.  You will need to draw a pencil line measuring a 1/4 of an inch from the top of the wall.  These pencil lines will define where your bracing will go.

STEP 2:  BRACING:

The next couple of pictures on the second page show the bracing I used.  You will notice that the skinny wall sections have the bracing flush with the wall sections and the top piece of trim is glued in place with the top edge of the bracing along the pencil line.  Bracing on the wide wall sections is place away from the edges so that it does not interfere with the skinny wall sections.

STEP 3:  Wall Assembly:

The last few photos on page 2 and the first couple of photos at the bottom of page 1 show the wall sections being glued into place.  You’ll notice the thick brown pieces of wood on the floor and the roof.  I don’t glue these into place yet … they make a great jig at this point to keep things square … DON’T get any glue on them!  I like to wrap a couple of elastic bands on them to keep them tight together.  Try and get the corners nice and flush. 

STEP 4:  Admire the box.  Check out the wooden box … I customized it to say Randolph & Briggs!

STEP 5:  Priming Castings, Plastic & Plywood:

You can use a file to clean up the metal castings of any flash that might be there.  I use a piece of old wood or styrofoam and reverse tape to hold down my parts for priming with a water soluable grey primer.  Prime all castings (resin & metal), windows & doors (keep them in their sprues), wooden billboard bracing and frame.  You can see this photo close to the top of the gallery on page 1.

STEP 6:  Random Bricks Painting: 

I chose this colour board to laser etch because of the shade of red but it needs a bit of random colour.  I like to randomly paint the following colours:  terra cotta, burnt sienna, ochre and only a few grimy black.  Actually me dad painted these for me today while I cut the lawn.  You can see these photos just above the wooden box photos.

STEP 7:  Covering the corners (Quoins)

The brown paper photo has laser cut and etched Quoins that will cover up the 4 corners of your brick walls … I will change the colour of these in a later step but right now the colour looks really good against the red walls … it will look even better at a later date!  This step is super easy.  Use a sharp knife to remove a corner piece from the 2 tabs holding it to your sheet.  You’ll see a laser etched line right up the middle of your Quoins.  Gently press your finger together to that it creates a 45 degree angle.  When I first designed this I had no idea it would work so well. 

Place it on the corner you want to cover up and see where you have to trim it.  Make sure you cut it flush with the notched parts of the top of the walls … you’ll place decorative corbels there later.

Next get a helper (this is my soon to be 6 year old Georgia demonstrating how I use a paint brush to place a thin layer of glue on the inside of the Quoins … she actually did most of it.  When she was done she told me that when she grows up she wants to be a modeler just like her dad … that made my day!  Place the Quoins onto your corners and make sure they stay flat and dry on the wall sections … pressing down with your fingers over the course of a few minutes as you complete all 4 corners will suffice. 

 I also like this material because it takes glue and paint so well and dries quickly but can be pulled apart if necessary with minimal effort or damage.

FINALLY:

These are the first few steps that will get you off to the races.  Next steps will include:

Painting the windows and doors.

Installing windows and doors.

Bracing and assemblying other wall sections.

 

 

Summer Sale on HO Scale Kits

Hi Everyone:

I have been busy building a couple of 1:1 decks and gardening this spring but now that the big projects are done I am concentrating on a couple of big things at Full Steam Ahead.

1.  Only 3 Bowling Alleys and 8 Shady Awnings limited edition HO kits are left.

2.  I have been working on bringing a scaled down version of the Bent Chair Factory as my next limited run kit.  I still am working on either making it out of resin or out of etched brick walls … stay tuned.

3.  Summer Sale on the following kits:

-  Barrel Factory               -  Freight House              - Bootleg Mabel’s Brewery

- Ellsworth Farms            -  Wooden Hotel              - Phinny’s Garage

-  Farmers’ Market

I am looking at reducing my line of kits and therefore I have created a huge Summer Sale.  The above kits have marked down to sell at only $50 each with free shipping.  To take advantage of this sale I ask that you send a cheque or money order … contact me to let me know what you would like to order to that I can get your kits ready for shipment … a few kits are getting down to being close to retired.

Thanks for your continued loyalty and support, the sale is my way of saying thanks,

Joe

North American Bent Chair Factory

Hi Everyone:

Recently, I was invited by the Owen Sound Film Ensemble to participate in their silent film festival on April 30th, 2010. The main film will be “The General” starring Buster Keaton and because of this the theme of the night are trains.

I did not want to simply have a display of all of my buildings. I wanted to create something that was historically accurate and once stood on our waterfront. I have always wanted to build several of our old factories and decided to start with the North American Bent Chair Factory. The first factory was built in 1892 and suffered a devastating fire in 1899. The factory was rebuilt, expanded and into varnish production. The company was eventually sold and closed shortly after the Second World War.

I am building the factory in HO Scale (1:87). Even at this relatively small scale it will be huge! When I am done the factory will be approximately 4 feet long.

Where I am at:

1. Working from a few (limited) old photos I designed several wall sections that repeat themselves.

2. I also designed windows and laser cut them (you’ll see they are painted from the photos)

3. Laser wall sections are laser cut from a cardboard type material with brick patterns laser etched into them.

4. I am almost ready to start assembling wall sections and windows.

I’ll post more information as I move along.

Thanks,

Joe

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