Westlake Publishing Forums

General Category => Modellers At Work => Topic started by: Craig on November 15, 2022, 05:12:05 AM

Title: My first craftsman kit is in production!
Post by: Craig on November 15, 2022, 05:12:05 AM
Hi everyone,

It's been a while since I posted but I've been very busy! Not only did we relocate from Minnesota to the UK, I have also started a craftsman kit business of my own -- and I've just released my very first kit as of November 14!

An HO scale kit titled ODDMUNN BROTHER'S MILL

There's plenty more information and photos (it's also where to order one) on my website just here: www.keepitrusty.com (http://www.keepitrusty.com)

(https://keepitrusty.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Oddmunn-19-2.jpg)
(https://keepitrusty.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Oddmunn-14.jpg)
(https://keepitrusty.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Oddmunn-15-1.jpg)
(https://keepitrusty.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Oddmunn-16.jpg)
(https://keepitrusty.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Oddmunn-17-1.jpg)
(https://keepitrusty.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Oddmunn-20.jpg)

Hope you all like it! Keen to hear your thoughts.

Craig
Title: Re: My first craftsman kit is in production!
Post by: WP Rayner on November 15, 2022, 06:51:11 AM
WOW  :o  :o  You have been busy, that is an impressive kit, congratulations. And I can't begin to understand how you produced that and made such a monumental move. It's hard enough just moving down the street and around the corner. Wishing you all the best in your new home!
Title: Re: My first craftsman kit is in production!
Post by: Mobilgas on November 15, 2022, 08:50:34 AM
Nice  ;D  what would the cost be SHIPPED to the US?
Title: Re: My first craftsman kit is in production!
Post by: Barney on November 15, 2022, 09:00:08 AM
Very nice with a lot going on
Barney
Title: Re: My first craftsman kit is in production!
Post by: finescalerr on November 15, 2022, 12:04:12 PM
Adequate. -- Russ
Title: Re: My first craftsman kit is in production!
Post by: Craig on November 16, 2022, 02:13:35 AM
Quote from: WP Rayner on November 15, 2022, 06:51:11 AMWOW  :o  :o  You have been busy, that is an impressive kit, congratulations. And I can't begin to understand how you produced that and made such a monumental move. It's hard enough just moving down the street and around the corner. Wishing you all the best in your new home!

Thank you, Paul, for your very kind words. It really has been a full year, especially considering this hasn't been the "day job", too. I've loved every second of producing this kit, though, and I hope it continues to sell so I can continue to make them. We will see.

Quote from: Mobilgas on November 15, 2022, 08:50:34 AMNice  ;D  what would the cost be SHIPPED to the US?

US shipping is $24, all in. No tax and no custom fees! :)

Quote from: Barney on November 15, 2022, 09:00:08 AMVery nice with a lot going on
Barney

Thanks, Barney. I really pushed the boat out with the detail on this one so people are spoiled for choice with stories they can weave throughout. Again, being inspired by Fine Scale Miniatures, I didn't want to skimp on the details like George never did!

Quote from: finescalerr on November 15, 2022, 12:04:12 PMAdequate. -- Russ

Thanks, Russ. A guy couldn't ask for more! ;)
Title: Re: My first craftsman kit is in production!
Post by: Craig on November 16, 2022, 02:17:34 AM
I wanted to share with you all some of the background of this kit.

This fictional story of the brothers taking over the mill and introducing steam was a scene born from my own reality. As a newcomer to kit design and manufacture, I found myself bringing a new technology, too: 3D-printing. The printers available today produce details that are UNRIVALED in any other medium and therefore, over the course of hundreds and hundreds of hours, every single detail in this kit has been researched, designed and 3D printed bringing a whole new level of detail for HO. There's even a woven texture in the grain sacks!

Initially inspired by George Sellios' Oatman's Mercantile (that's where "Oddmunn" came from), I originally set out to create a mercantile of my own. This adventure quickly expanded into designing an entire mill, and then an entire branchline industry. Now all that remains of that original inspiration is the false storefront — and the pigeons! Yes, I made my own 3D pigeons!

Nevertheless, my aim with Oddmunn Brother's Mill remains: to bring back some of that whimsy, charm, color and character I dearly miss from George's line of Fine Scale Miniatures kits.

If folks are interested, I'd love to walk through some of my process in creating the diorama.
Title: Re: My first craftsman kit is in production!
Post by: shropshire lad on November 16, 2022, 11:42:21 AM
CRAIG
  Once again Russ has been effusive with his praise and barely contained excitement for your new kit , and I expect an order for one coming from the West Coast any day now .

   You certainly seem to have put a lot of effort into producing this kit and the results look pretty good . Though, I can't help wondering , now that you have moved back to Blighty , how many sales you will get on this side of the Pond . If you can keep to your quoted shipping price to the US then that may not matter.

    Who's figures did you use, and did you paint them yourself ? Or did you use the services of one Dan Evason ?

   I am hoping to get to Warley ( assuming I get a day release from my position in the corner) on the 27th ,so shall come by and say "hi" and take a closer look at your model . I am afraid it is in the wrong scale and continent for me these days , but I shall be interested to see it never the less .

   Nick
Title: Re: My first craftsman kit is in production!
Post by: Bernhard on November 16, 2022, 01:50:45 PM
This is a great kit, Craig. Clearly a lot of research and attention to detail went into it. Too bad I don't do anything in H0 anymore, or I probably would have ordered it right away. But of course I'm interested in more details on the creation.

Bernhard
Title: Re: My first craftsman kit is in production!
Post by: Craig on November 17, 2022, 02:12:02 AM
Quote from: shropshire lad on November 16, 2022, 11:42:21 AMCRAIG
  Once again Russ has been effusive with his praise and barely contained excitement for your new kit , and I expect an order for one coming from the West Coast any day now .

   You certainly seem to have put a lot of effort into producing this kit and the results look pretty good . Though, I can't help wondering , now that you have moved back to Blighty , how many sales you will get on this side of the Pond . If you can keep to your quoted shipping price to the US then that may not matter.

    Who's figures did you use, and did you paint them yourself ? Or did you use the services of one Dan Evason ?

   I am hoping to get to Warley ( assuming I get a day release from my position in the corner) on the 27th ,so shall come by and say "hi" and take a closer look at your model . I am afraid it is in the wrong scale and continent for me these days , but I shall be interested to see it never the less .

   Nick

Thanks, Nick. I'm not anticipating a number of sales here in the UK, and that's certainly why I've set up a shipping deal to the US that allows me to ship this big/heavy kit for only $24.00.

The figures were custom-made by myself and MODELU, exclusively for the kit :)

I would love to meet you at Warley. Please do stop by if you are there, I'll be near the double decker bus!

Quote from: Bernhard on November 16, 2022, 01:50:45 PMThis is a great kit, Craig. Clearly a lot of research and attention to detail went into it. Too bad I don't do anything in H0 anymore, or I probably would have ordered it right away. But of course I'm interested in more details on the creation.

Bernhard

Thanks, Bernhard! I will be posting more details about the process soon.
Title: Re: My first craftsman kit is in production!
Post by: Bernd on November 17, 2022, 05:47:16 AM
Hey Craig,

Great seeing you here. That is one lovely kit.

BTW, I still haven't used the printer yet. To involved with my CNC machines and not enough modeling time.

Bernd
Title: Re: My first craftsman kit is in production!
Post by: Mobilgas on November 17, 2022, 03:59:55 PM
I think it looks 10x better than anything Sierra West has done ;D  8)
Title: Re: My first craftsman kit is in production!
Post by: Ray Dunakin on November 17, 2022, 11:22:37 PM
Wow!! What a gorgeous model, and an impressive kit!
Title: Re: My first craftsman kit is in production!
Post by: shropshire lad on November 17, 2022, 11:56:32 PM
Quote from: Mobilgas on November 17, 2022, 03:59:55 PMI think it looks 10x better than anything Sierra West has done ;D  8)

 Well, everyone is entitled to their opinions , I suppose . Even in Merkinland .
Title: Re: My first craftsman kit is in production!
Post by: Les Tindall on November 19, 2022, 10:43:52 AM
Look forward to meeting you at the Warley Show next Saturday and seeing to diorama "in the flesh". Looks great!
Title: Re: My first craftsman kit is in production!
Post by: shropshire lad on November 19, 2022, 11:44:48 AM
Quote from: Les Tindall on November 19, 2022, 10:43:52 AMLook forward to meeting you at the Warley Show next Saturday and seeing to diorama "in the flesh". Looks great!

 Les, I plan on going on Sunday as I find it  the "quieter" of the two days .
Title: Re: My first craftsman kit is in production!
Post by: Sami on November 19, 2022, 11:21:59 PM
This kit with all its details is fantastic !
Title: Re: My first craftsman kit is in production!
Post by: Hauk on November 20, 2022, 12:15:32 AM
It remindes me a lot of the kits produced by George Sellios/Fine Scale Miniatures.
A bit more restrained, wich I think is a good thing.

Including the Modelu figures is a very nice touch.

My only gripes are that it is not 0-scale and not based on a prototype alongside the Thamshavn Railway.  ;D

Title: Re: My first craftsman kit is in production!
Post by: TRAINS1941 on November 20, 2022, 10:54:44 AM
Craig nice job on the kit.

Jerry
Title: Re: My first craftsman kit is in production!
Post by: Craig on November 21, 2022, 08:30:45 AM
Thank you to all for your wonderful comments -- and I certainly look forward to meeting those who are attending the Warley show this weekend! I'm looking forward to it greatly.

Production has officially started on making all the kits/orders that have come in.

I'll be posting here again soon (once I have a little more time on my hands) to go through some parts of the diorama :)

Thank you all again for your support, feedback and comments.

Craig
Title: Re: My first craftsman kit is in production!
Post by: Rail and Tie on December 08, 2022, 07:23:53 PM
Congratulations Craig. Welcome to the world of sleepless nights and laser slaving!  Great kit!
Title: Re: My first craftsman kit is in production!
Post by: Hauk on December 10, 2022, 06:32:08 AM
Forgive me for being curious, but how many kits will you make? Is it a limited run?
Title: Re: My first craftsman kit is in production!
Post by: Doane on December 29, 2022, 07:01:26 AM
Incredible work, as usual, especially in 1:87 and looks to be a classic kit. The Modelu3d 3D printed figures are the best I have seen too.
Title: Re: My first craftsman kit is in production!
Post by: 1-32 on January 05, 2023, 12:01:36 PM
Hi Craig.
Good luck with the project and Happy New Year.