Who carved the Mini Fight Back Expresses?

Mark Nutcher - Bus Craftman

Mark Nutcher piloted airplanes and worked in finance, but nowadays he enjoys a short trip to the basement of his Portland home where he makes wooden toys. His downstairs shop is filled with stacks of wood and storage bins that contain wooden trains, boats, cars, puzzles and gizmos. They share a space with a drill press, planer, table saw and other machines that he uses to create the toys.

A self-taught woodworker, Mark studied books and magazines on the craft and learned by trial and error. He got hooked on making toys after he made his first one, a large complex train engine that he gave to his oldest daughter, Cory, on her second birthday. It now sits like a treasured heirloom on the mantel above his fireplace.

Mark tries to use cast off wood as much as possible. Most of his hardwood toys are made from waste from mills and cabinet shops. As toymaker he uses pretty small pieces before considering any wood scrap. His rubber band powered boats are made of cedar taken from an old deck when it was rebuilt. One of the stores that he sells to supplies him with reused packing material. The finish is mineral oil, it's non-toxic, and is easily renewable by wiping on some fresh oil.