Aside from your favorite kit, what product do you like best? For me, it’s Xtracolour paints from England. It’s an enamel paint that is glossy so you don’t have to apply a clear coat for decaling the model. I don’t like to add too many clear coats as I believe each one alters the original color a litte bit. In addition to this, the people who make this stuff actually travel to museums, air shows, etc. to research their product. Best of all, for me, this stuff goes on so well that I can do practically anything with it. It “feathers” beautifully. I like to freehand my camo schemes on airplanes and with a Paasche H airbrush this is not the easiest thing to do. This paint is so good I can do the mottled camo on a Bf-109 freehanded with no problems. I have often told other modelers that if this paint were ever discontinued, I’d consider getting out of the hobby! (well, maybe not…!)
I’m not a big advocate of aftermarket detail sets. I prefer to scratchbuild most of my details. When I do buy something it’s almost always a Waldron Model Product. Their Photo-foil sets and instruments are stunning. They make for quite a convincing cockpit when finished. They also produce 2 different punch and die sets. One set is required if you want to use their instruments. The sets are a bit pricey (around $150 total) but well worth it. I have found countless uses for these sets. The cost of the detail sets and other items is reasonable. I like that it’s a small mom and pop shop also. I have called several times with questions and they are always very helpful and friendly. Give them a try if you haven’t yet.
I love my Xuron sprue nippers. Theres nothing worse than mulching a small, difficult to rebuild, but absolutely critical part because your knife or some other bigger side cutter was just too big and clumsy to get the job done right.
Outside of that, I really like the sets of generic aircraft navigation lights that Cutting Edge makes from clear polyurethane plastic. Those things are a godsend in my book.
My Uber knife is my favorite hobby product. I bought it many years ago and now wish I had bought two. It came in a fitted hardwood case with assorted scalpel blades and micro chisels. It’s anodized aluminum handle fits my hand perfectly. Anyone know if these can still be bought somewhere?
I agree with Filzy … references books are the greatest tool in my opinion when it comes to recreating. Second and I know it’s one that everyone here has and that’s the computer. It has brought references to my work bench that even 5 years ago I could only dream about. As far as hand tools go, I really have no favorites, half the time I can’t find the one I’m looking for on my bench anyway.
Aside from reference material and a few tools, my favourite product is Milliput. It took me a little while to get used to it and its uses but now I can’t live without it.
Next on my favorites list is a simple one: plastic “For Sale” signs from WalMart. They have provided me with plenty of card stock for conversions and scratchbuilds, and they’re cheap-about 60 cents per. -Ed
The one that’s closest to hand. If you want a serious answer I’d have to say that a fresh Xacto No. 11 edges out sanding/buffing sticks on grounds of versatility.
Any resemblance between reality and my private views is largely non-deterministic. The question of the existence of views in the absence of anyone to hold them is left as an exercise for the reader.
It’s a toss-up between reference material esp Books (I love to read). And Zap-a-Gap superglue. Since I bought my first bottle a couple of months ago and can’t seem to put it down.
