Okay, I’m getting back into the hobby after 30 years and want to get up to speed tool wise. Money is not an issue as I believe good tools are half the battle. I would like recommendations on what I’ll need to get started and also for a good air brush and compressor…something without to much of a learning curve. Thanks in advance! Dan
One suggestion.
For knives. Instead of buying xacto type art knives, get 9mm snap off utility knives.
Not only can you get blades made with better materials for those, you can snap off the dull blades more often (all knife blades will go dull) and always have a sharp knife to use for much less costs.
This place has some hard to find japanese modeling tools. (not my store, I bought from him and was pretty happy with what he had to offer)
http://stores.shop.ebay.com/Muramasas-Closet_Tools_W0QQ_fsubZ624440012QQ_sidZ7586852QQ_trksidZp4634Q2ec0Q2em322
well, I do alot of modding and scratching with my builds, and a few tools which are indispensible to me are, A my pin vice, b my dremel, c my hobby saw, and last but not least a set of files.
I use a nail sander. Dremels are pretty fast and sometimes too hot.
And glues, the right adhesive for each job.
This is an area where you will receive a lot of advise. Mine is to start by reading this, this and this which should cover it pretty well. Your are also welcome to read through the other articles I posted.
Some of the basics have been mentioned others have not.
Hobby knife
Files
Pin Vice
Razor Saw
Low tack tape (Blue Painters, Tamiya Model, Shure Tape Razor Edge, Frog)
Rubber Bands
Small Clamps (assorted types)
Metal Straight Edge
Assorted Glues (Model, Ca, Epoxy, Solvent)
Assorted Brushes
Paints
Putty (Squadron, Bondo, etc)
Pencils & Pens (for marking)
Sand paper and sanding sticks
Dremel Type Power Tool with assorted tips
For Air Brush get a good double action
I prefer top feed myself and use a Iwata HP-C
Other things can be added as time goes on like decal setting solution, sprue cutter, PE bending tool(s), Epoxy Putty, etc…
Eric…
My fellow modelers already covered the common tools, but I reccomend looking into dental tools(since I’ve gotten them I don’t know how I lived with out them). Dental tools have precision ends and have a number of uses for every tool. You can find them at scientific stores, or even your friendly neighborhood dentist.
I’m with Mikael on that, the majority of my throw away brushes, for like mixing paint and things like that, working with glue, are dental bruses for dentures and braces, there small but there firm enough to do detail work, I lovem.
I did a Model Maker’s Toolbox article a few years ago:
http://www.armorama.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=14
For getting started, you probably don’t need to have as elaborate a tool set as many of us. Just the basics will probably work for now: a hobby knife (with plenty of extra blades), small round and flat files, sanding sticks, glues, paints and brushes, some kind of putty applicator for filling seams (I use a separate knife with a dulled #11 blade); a small ruler or square. You probably don’t need the Dremel tool or the fancy airbrush right now; obtain them as the need arises. This is how my tool kit came together: one saw, one pin vise, one whatever found its place on my workbench over time. You may eventually wind up with a bunch of things that you don’t use very often, but when you want them…Easily half my tools fall into that category. Clamps and clothespins–you can’t have too many of those! You will definitely need a good light! (Don’t have to worry about light pollution on the workbench.[:)]) I use a fluorescent desk lamp with a daylight-spectrum tube. Incandescent Reveal bulbs are good too, but my problem with incandescents is the heat they produce tends to make paint dry too fast as I brush it on. (This may be in part because I live in hot, dry Phoenix.)
If you can set up a separate workbench for modeling vs. using the dining room table, that would be best, too. Preferably with a lot of storage space–you can never have too much storage space! Or buy a fishing tackle box (get a large one, like the Flambeau Outdoors Model 2059 Hip Roof Box–this thing has no fewer than seven storage trays. One of these days, I’ve got to learn to use a digital camera so I can post photos) if you have to use the dining room table and need a place to store tools.
Stay away from the power tools… They can ruin weeks of work in seconds.
Good Brushes. I have some that I think are from Gunze that I like
Good sprue cutters
A selection of knives… I think I am up to 6, almost all with different blades.
Small files
Pin Vise and bits
thin, medium, thick super glue (known as CA)
A tool box that is far bigger than you think you will need
Lead fishing weights
Modelling clay
Sand Paper (variety)
Sanding sticks (variety)
Razor Saw… I think my is from JLC or something
Sheet Styrene (even if you aren’t a scratch builder you will need it eventually)
Drafting Pencils (for marking stuff)
Self-healing cutting mat
A selection of tweezers and forceps.
Thanks for all the great replies and links folks!
Great lists from lots of people above. Just to add to your list of things to look at [:)] try these on for size. They are all at MicroMark but I’m sure you can find similar items most places you like to shop. I added this to keep this message short. The sanding pads I use ALL THE TIME along with the sanding sticks. You will find a lot of use for the sissors as well. Happy shopping!
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QUICK CURE ZAP, 1 OZ. |
Item #: 80875 |
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SLOW CURE SLO-ZAP, 1 OZ. |
Item #: 80879 |
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ZIP KICKER SUPER GLUE ACCELERATOR, 8 OZ. LIQUID |
Item #: 80885 |
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5-PIECE MICRO CLEANING BRUSH SET great for airbrush cleaning |
Item #: 82149 |
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MINI PLASTIC 3 " CAPACITY CLAMPS (SET OF 2) 7" great for 1/48 bombers and 1/35 armor. |
Item #: 60930 |
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5-PIECE FLEX-PAD SET |
Item #: 70239 |
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SOFT TOUCH PAD SET (SET OF 6) |
my favorites! |
Item #: 81601 |
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ECONOMY KNIFE SET (surprisingly useful) |
Item #: 83545 |
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#11 SIZE SAW BLADES, .010 " x 40 TPI (PKG. OF 2) these are saw blades, good for opening doors, etc also removing parts from resin bases. |
Item #: 14346 |
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PHOTO-ETCH SHEAR |
Item #: 81308 |
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FLUORESCENT MAGNIFIER, 5 " DIA. 1.75x MAGNIFICATION LENS I have old eyes. |
Item #: 82718 |
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TOOL ORGANIZER |
Item #: 60295 |
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SPIN-O-TRAY ROTARY TRAY |
Item #: 82476 |
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MODEL 40 CARROUSEL ORGANIZER |
for all your paint |
Item #: 83149 |
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STAINLESS STEEL DISSECTING SCISSORS |
Item #: 14177 |
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5-PIECE STAINLESS STEEL TWEEZER SET probably one of the most useful sets I have |
Item #: 60365 |
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Power tools don’t ruin work, it’s the Tool using it that ruins work… A Dremel or other motor tool, although not essential, is one that will leave you wondering how you ever lived without it…
That said, here’s my list, aside from the standard knife, blades, side-cutters, razor-saw, and such:
Mini bench-vise. Get one that clamps or screws to the bench… The suction-types don’t work.
“Extra Hands” soldering tool with magnifying glass.
Soldering pen.
Miter box
Pin vise w/bits. Buy several of each size. You WILL break the ones that you use the most.
Bench light
2x reading glasses or opti-visor.
Micromark has this on sales for less than $4. Item #: 83545. Cheap way to get 3 handles and some starter blades to tryout. 
When I work with putty (Both for filling and sculpting) I use Games Workshop Citadel’s Sculpting Tool. I do reccomend it!!!
For putty;
I use Tamiya Putty Basic Type for gap filling ad such, and Games Workshop’s “Green Stuff” for sculpting…
Great thread and great suggestions. I’m in the same boat. Getting back into it after 30 years removed. Models look a lot more complicated than in the late 70’s early 80’s!
Its a poor craftsman indeed, who blames the tool. thats for hans v, one of my fav tools is a little cajigger i got some fifteen yrs ago. Don’t know what its called, its a sprung plastic handle wedge shaped on one end round at the other, a thin belt of emory cloth wrapped around it. surprisingly versital, when the emory clogs roll up a clean spot, this action also keeps the belt clear. you can buy them from Micro Mark.
Have tweezers been mentioned yet?
I prefer the fine-point ones (I bought from a jeweller’s tool store; I know Taiya sells some similar stuff). If I were given the choise, I’d prefer tweezers with rough (not serrated!) grips, but so far I’ve only found tweezers with serrated or polished grips.
Doc
Four bucks?! Nuts!! I picked that very set up at a flea market last year for five, I got taken!
But that leads me to my suggestion, about where to find tools, apart from the online or bricks-and-mortar stores. I look at flea markets, I’ve found someone at pretty much any one I’ve gone to, selling:
Dental picks and probes, and also stainless steel scissors and tweezers/forceps
Small file sets
Steel rules (straight edges), which are useful
Rotary tool bits, both single pieces and in sets
Also look around if you happen to visit expositions and shows for builders or woodworkers. You can probably find someone there who sells tools in bulk, and if you do, it pays to rummage through the tables.
Having said that, I agree with all of the previous suggestions, I have at least one example of each of the items listed. I’ll add that you may want to get a good container for your tools, like a small tool box or a tackle box. I use a pine tool box that I got at Dick Blick’s, but I wanted that, so I could stain and finish it. It has a liftout tray with two compartments, and that’s where most of my small tools go, and then I have a store of paints in the main compartment. Of course, there’s stuff I have that is out on the bench most of the time, but generally I try to put everything that I can away when I’m finished for a session.