November Newsletter

Welcome to RatLines!


What??? No Hobby Show!

Cast Your Anchor feels very sad not seeing all of friends and customers at the Toronto Hobby Show. We are so sad, that we want to entice you to come into the store for a visit or at least give us a phone call. Here’s the deal. Until November 15th for every $100 you spend we’ll give you $10 back. Unbelievable you say! Well you are one of our few inner circle members that will receive this email. Just let us know that you saw our offer and we’ll make it happen Scotty.

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Web Site: Visit our new website at www.castyouranchorhobby.com. We offer information directed solely for model ship builders. You’ll find useful tips, a wide variety of kits, tools & parts for all your shipbuilding needs. We even have a Scratch Builder’s section. What comes after the foghorn?

Fall Events: Cast Your Anchor will be participating in the Kingston Road Village Santa Clause Parade on Sunday November 9th. Come on out and have fun!

Speaking About Santa: Cast Your Anchor is has been gearing up for the big event. Let’s face it, there’s going to be snow here soon. What better way to hibernate inside this winter by building your dream ship. Cast Your Anchor is well stocked right now. We look forward to seeing you.






The Story of Cast Your Anchor – Part II

In the midst of my model ship anxiety a family move returned us to Toronto. A search for a retirement plan (something positive to do, involving other like-minded people) and an investment opportunity led to the seeds of an idea. I would create the hobby store that I had so desperately needed – a place where modellers could meet, trade ideas, swap tips and techniques while working on their model ships.

The Ontario Science Centre’s Model Shop is closed now and one of the last artisans has retired to Lunenburg – home of the well-known Canadian Schooner - Bluenose II. But it became another dream of mine to re-create that atmosphere and thus Cast Your Anchor set sail in Toronto in November 2003!

Our very first foray into the nautical hobby world took place at The Hobby Show, held at the International Centre in Toronto’s west end. My family joined me in fulfilling this dream, choosing our company colours, making signs, packing and unpacking boxes, even setting up table displays.

Our first sale was a package of pipettes and we wondered if we had anything else hobbyists would be interested in. We had little to worry about! Before the first day was over we had sold a number of kits, tools, and fittings and were hearing “so glad to see you – someone needed to do this”, “hi, my name is Jack and I build models, can I come and see your store?”, “where are you located, what are your hours”, “I’ve been wanting to build a ship but didn’t know where to go for help”.

So anxious to set sail at Cast Your Anchor that we moved into an incomplete building, our first few months were filled with wallboard dust and no running water. But we made it work. A business focused on, and dedicated to, creating a positive modelling experience for any model ship builder. We gained experience, tapped into a network of dedicated modellers who shared their tips and techniques and we accumulated a wealth of knowledge that we want to share. Becoming experts in the hobby has been an arduous journey but like those who sailed the originals of our models we are adventurers, open to challenge, and dedicated to assisting our customers in completing their ship of dreams.

December Issue of Ratlines: Ship Model Books