There are many chapters to a companies existence. The early years, first lessons, success, then sold. ITLA is exactly that type of company. 

I could talk to the owner today of the kit division, but that would ignore all the fun of the early years. And alternatively the owner of a time past wouldn't have a clear picture of the company today. Then consider they still "kind of" operate separately serving the hobby in their own way.

Mark Williams founded ITLA in and around 2007. You see the thing that ITLA did that not many were doing was city models, but that isn't the only thing they did.

My other hobby is table top gaming, and in that niche the hardboard laser kit is sweeping the entire hobby. In model railroading, laser cut wood kits were made of a traditional white pine/bass wood base. ITLA pioneered a new style of sturdy model with hard board, I personally believe they were one of the first to do so. The laser burns have a patina that looks allot like yellow brick, something we rarely see. Another under reported fact about ITLA, most all of their kits are made to make interior modeling a part of the process. Of course they did something else "all new" for the hobby, but that shall remain secret. Only a few kit companies have followed Mark's original path.

Today I am going to share an interview cut into three parts. In the video is Mark Williams and his friend Joe Lemay these two guys were the original ITLA.

Next week we will talk to the new ITLA

​Part 1