After 25+ years of on-again, off-again modeling (the usual hiatuses for the usual reasons - school, job, etc.), I’m thinkin’ it’s time to get more serious about my tools for this hobby. Over the years, I’ve pretty much got by with a few X-acto knives, a razor saw, and a seam scraper.
So I’ll pose a question to this panel of distinguished experts: aside from the X-acto knife, what are the three (3) most indispensable tools in your modeling workshop?
Follow up question: Is there any uncommon (unlikely, improbable, etc.) tool that you find uncommonly useful in modeling?
Punch & Die set
3a. Minidrill
3b. Self-sealing cutting mat (not a tool but so important!)
Unusual: my trusty spoon (to open up Humbrol tins!), liquid glue (to keep the tip of the superglue bottle free of dried superglue), Elmers glue (to replicate windows).
Hobby knife-exacto or olfa
mini files
coat hangers-the wire type-I make all sorts of jigs, stands, tools, etc out of them. My airbrush holder is an old piece of hanger wire. Hey, it’s cheap!
My favorite tools are:
3M sanding pads
my long, girly index fingernail - great for photoetched parts!
*My portable, refillable air tank w/quick release couplers for my Airbrush
*The little woman ain’t crazy 'bout the 3hp compressor under my bench firing up at night while she’s sleepin. ; )
My most essential tool is a really good light for the bench. I have one of those ring light magnifiers. The jointed arm and the jointed light itself have knobs at the joints to allow movement to any position, then lock it there. In my opinion you cannot do really good model work unless you can see well.
An X-acto knife, sandpaper, and superglue. Although the latter of the two are technically a supply I can’t live without them. I know that you asked about what three things you need, but consider at least ONE more item - a good cutting mat will save you a lot of damaged table tops, and dull, broken blades. A light with an adjustable headband is always helpful as Don said about having a good light source. You can’t build what you can’t see. If you’re going to use superglue - ACETONE. It’s your friend. I can’t think of any other more useful items other than these since they’re what I’ve spent thousands of hours building countless models with!
Definitely really good LIGHTS. Agreed. As well as a healthy assortment of pointy and broad paint brushes.
Forcepts that are by default closed. handy for holding small things for painting.
The paper towels that let you pick a size. I rarely need a full sheet, but small sheets are excellent for lots of uses.
Post it notes. Really handy for keeping photo-etch parts I’m cutting from not flying off, also good for masking.
Plastic lids (from shipping tubes, maybe 3/4 inches wide) Really handy for putting glue in (CA included) and using toothpicks to apply as needed.
Toothpicks for gluing, but also painting instrument panels, wing position lights, slots inside of wheels. I use the square ones for stirring paint as when I put them down they dont roll anywhere.
Channel Lock pliers (or just pliers) for opening paint bottles.
Sheet of glass: for cutting decals, or PE parts or for just when I need a perfectly flat surface for something.
