Hello everyone,
A new member, Jon Parker, asked the question in his intro about where to find a basic tool list and “must haves” for modeling. So I’m sure we can put our heads together and come up with recommendations for a basic tool list and a list of “must haves” for our fellow modeler!
So stop by, welcome Jon Parker to the forums and post your recommendations here. [:)]
My all time favourite tool…
the toothpick (to apply super glue, put small items in place, clean-up unwanted paint on canopy frames, hold wheels, propellers,… while painting, spread putty, move wet decals on the model’ surface, apply PVA glue in windows and windshields, keep models from moving while being transported (with polystyrene foam), and so much more!
Sprue cutter, Hobby knife, files, sanding film, sanding sticks, tri-grit nail buffer, good paintbrushes, liquid model cement, gap-filling super glue, 5-minute epoxy, superglue accelerator, toothpicks, rubber bands, masking tape, clamps, good lighting, a source for references, either a good public library or a budget which allows their purchase, and an attitude of enjoyment.This last is the most important.
To bypass redundancy, I’ll agree with everything jcarlberg just said, and add the following:
Clothes pins, cuticle sticks, epoxy putty, superglue debonder, decal setting solution, a selection of casting weights, dust filter masks, BAND AIDS.
Last but not least, if you have a poison control centre near you, post their phone number near your work bench. I don’t say that to be morbid, but we do work with toxins in our hobby, and considering some of the things I hear modelers using, especially for stripping work (brake fluid and oven cleaners) there’s a lot of folks out there that are just accidents waiting to happen. Anything can happen, and this is just a hobby, no need to kill yourself over it.
Just to add to the list I also have an assortment of shaped files to get into just about every nook and cranny. As far as band-aids go…don’t use them when modeling. If I slice myself with the knife I just apply a small amount of Zap-a-Gap to the cut and wait a minute for it to dry…then carry on to my next slice.
H.M. & G.B.
Shermanfreak
Awesome response so far. Thank you everyone who posted their responses!
I initially thought to myself that this was quite the list for a basic tool list - especially for a beginner or someone new to the hobby. However, after some thought, it’s not really a lot of stuff and most of it’s fairly inexpensive too. Except for a few things, most things are a couple of dollars.
A couple of additional things to consider adding are:
Toothbrush - for brushing away plastic shavings and stuff
Plastic bags/containers - for organizing stuff, temporary storage, a place to put small pieces, etc.
Pins/Needles
Tweezers
Bunches of old rags - for cleaning up messes, wiping off pieces, etc.
Sandpaper - You can save some money here and instead of buying small squares of sandpaper at the hobby store, go to the hardware store and pick up the different grits you’re likely to use the most.
Not exactly part of a basic tool list, but also a razor saw and a pin-vise would be good.
Hello all,
As I read this post I began to think of all the tools and supplies that I have. Then it occured to me that this thread is not about every concievable item we keep close at hand. As we aquire more and more “stuff” we begin to wonder how we ever lived with out it. If you think about it, glue, an exacto knife, sandpaper and assorted paint brushes are all you need to get the ball rolling. Maybe there should be three categories? beginner, intermediate and advanced. That way a newbie doesn’t think they need to spend 500 dollars to get started.
That being said, I can’t live with out my aligator clip parts holder. It’s nice to have an extra set of hands.
Darren
The list I placed represents about 30 years of accumulation, and I couldn’t have acquired it all at once, either. I agree with Darren that it is possible to produce very nice models with a minimal tool kit. Indeed, I painted several 1/72 aircraft with the Testors white plastic handle brushes, due to the art student in the family “borrowing” my good brushes.
I’ve got lots of ‘stuff’ too, but if I were to weed it down to the bare essentials for doing a basic model:
I think you could build a pretty decent model with just those tools (and whatever paint you choose). In fact, that might be a nice little challenge for myself to build a basic model using just those tools I listed…
I like your Idea mkish, I’ll take it one step further. How about an online challenge open to all members of the forum. We could vote on tools, kit, scale, deadline etc… Then we could post a picture of the model finished or not. I’ve seen this on other sites but it was a contest. This could be just for fun. This may be too complicated but worth a try I think, I’m game if anyone else is.
Darren
I’d give it a shot…
To stay with the idea of ‘basic’ tools I think we should have a ‘no airbrush’ rule as I’d say that’s a little more ‘advanced’. Rattle can spray paints would be OK though.
M.
I’m game
Would have to be trhe same kit for everyone, wouldn’it??!
You all have missed the one basic requirement we need to fulfil our modelling dreams
and that is lots and lots of back issues of “FSM”… ( and a cat free area)!
Madd Dawg
We may just have something here. I’m going to start a new thread in this forum as a sort of ballot / signup sheet. I will start things off with my list.
Darren
Guys,
One favour. Can you please mention brand names, so I can ask for what I want when I shop abroad. Right now, I shop for my paints and my adhesives by name. The rest, I ask and shop attendants look at me strangely.
The other thing - anyone know where one gets 800 to 1200 grit sanding sticks/boards/sheets, if I can’t find a modelling accessories shop?
Thanx,
nandu
Nandu–If there is an auto parts store, or one which sells supplies for painting autos, they should have suitable sheets of fine-grit wet or dry abrasive. The sticks might be acquired at a beauty shop or cosmetics shop, as they are commonly used to shape and polish fingernails. Certainly the tri-grit buffing sticks should be available there. It is possible that a hardware shop or ironmonger’s shop would have sandpaper, but it needs to be waterproof. The large sheets commonly sold can be cut down to suit modeling needs.
knife
ca glue
a good number 0 brush, a large round (like a 2 or 3) and a ratty drybrush.
I’ve built a tonne of wargaming miniatures with just that. When doing the majority of assembly and cleanup of my latest project I mostly used clippers to detach the pieces, the knife to trim the remaining nub and scrape off the mold lines.
For a tool that I will not now do without, the excel sanding stick. It’s expensive to get up a supply of different grit paper for it, but it put new energy into my modeling.
Hello fellow modelers …
Don’t think I have seen anyone mention this item (& please excuse me if I missed it) and of course I swore up and down as a young builder that I would never need one … but as I near the age of 50 (ouch, that hurt to even type it) … I have been having great luck with and have been enjoying using and owning …
… a BINOCULAR MAGNIFIER with a Visor LIGHT
… to MAGNIFY my work … so I can see the fine
details …
[8)]
my wife is fond of informing me that I look like something from outerspace with the darn thing on … but, last time I checked … there were no extra points awarded in this hobby for the way the builder looks while building.
Oh, sorry Steve we forgot to tell you. How you look while building a model is now worth 95% of your score at any IPMS competetion.
And yes, this is a joke and not a hidden dig at IPMS judging. I’ve never entered one so wouldn’t know if it’s good or bad.
As a new-comer (haven’t built a model since I was around 10, that’s 21 years ago!) I thought I’d bump this post for any new “modelers” as it was very usefull to me.
I’ve been browsing through this forum for the last two days and I was intimidated by the (what I thought) amount of “professional model” tools I was going to have to buy to start & complete my model. I found this topic in a search and after reading all the posts in this thread I’m going to use ths K.I.S.S. system (Keep It Simple Stupid).
I know I won’t be 100% satisfied with the results, I’ll just use it as a building block for further models.
I hope no one minds that I bumped such an old post.