So, I’ve been looking at the Model Expo site, trying to think of how to spend my gift certificate…I probably have enough models to last for awhile (4 plastic kits, and 2 wooden in my stash), so I was thinking more in terms of tools/supplies/materials.
I see a lot fo stuff on their site that looks neat and useful, but I wonder if a lot of it isn’t just frivolous knick-knackery…
Who has experience buying and using tools and such from ME, and who can offer some sage advice on certain necessities? Are their tools high-quality? What about their ominously vague double-action airbrush? Or the planking clamps? Or the Plier-type plank bender, versus the electric plank bender?
Is there a list of must-have tools, particulary for building with wood? I noticed they have chisels and files, I suppose those would be needed for when I start on my first wooden kit…
Anyway, I just though if anyone had any suggestions for super-helpful ME stuff, or if anyone would recommend avoiding certain items…
I have always had good luck ordering stuff from Model Expo. One thing they have that is unique are miniature wooden clothespins. I have often used clothespins for weighting lines while rigging, for clamping small parts together, etc. Sometimes regular clothespins are just to big or heavy. ME has some clothespins that are about an inch long- very handy. They do not mar things like alligator clamps or other metal clamps, and hold fine thread better than most metal clamps.
Another thing I have bought from ME is a modeler’s drill press. It is not super quality but the price was right- somewhere in the range of forty to fifty bucks. The cheapest other small modeler’s drill press I know of is $120. The speed control of the ME drill is not great, but the mechanical mechanism is fine. You just have to be careful dialing in the speed.
Also, ME has some very fine thread. It is getting hard to get good thread at craft stores these days. The folks there tell me sewing is a dying hobby and they are cutting back their thread supplies.
Hi Dave, I have also had good luck with ME. As Don said, some things are not the greatest, but the price is right. I bought some “planking clamps” that were a little larger than I expected and when screwing them into the bulkheads the screws were a little too large and split the wood of the bulkhead. I quickly learned to glue a small strip of wood on either side of the bulkhead and the screws held fine. For the prices and the quick service, you can’t go wrong. My [2cnts].
I have bought many of their Ship fittings which are great…also love their Bargain Clearance sales…sometimes up to 75% off.
Recently bought some Adhesive backed copper tape on sale…im using it for hull plating on a Sailing ship but found it useful for a Graf Spee build also…
I love their Micro drill bits…very sharp and reasonably priced…havent tried many of their other tools yet but did buy a Opti-visor style head ban from them at Christmas.
I don’t get their catalog, but critical wooden ship tools are a little table saw/ router table.
For plastic, an airbrush. Get the Badger 105 to start with. Tilley doesn’t understand why a spray gun is important, but the 105 is like a 1/2 inch paint brush. With acrylics, Under an open window.
I guess my advice is to put it towards a costly tool.
6 styles of rigging line 3 Black, 3 beige, various diameters-seems good quality, but at 30’ per strand, I wonder if it’ll be enough for any job. At least now I can keep track of what kind/diameter I like for upcoming projects.
Various little tools, rigging thread nipper (very sharp), little part picker-upper (actually works well!), some brass eyebolts, a cutting mat, mini clothespins, a 3’ square, 30 wooden deadeyes (again, not enough for any job, but at least I know what they look like/scale, etc.), mini buckets and barrels for deck furniture, and lastly, their pro double action gravity feed airbrush…I really hoped it would be nicer, but it looks like a cheapo imported generic model…with a tiny parts list/instruction sheet in terribly broken Enghlish that really doesn’t say much about use or maintenance. Oh, well…we’ll see how it performs when I need to paint again…which will probably be a while down the road, when I start my next kit (either the Imai Pirate Ship, or the Minicraft Chebec)…
Anyways, most of the stuff looks pretty cool, but I feel like the airbrush was a rip-off…standard price 90 bucks, 45 with the perpetual offer code…probably could find the same thing from Hong Kong on eBay for 20 bucks.
