Hello,
I’m getting back into Scale Modeling after many years.
I’m curious if anybody has recommendations for fairly complete toolset kits. I don’t think I need absolutely everything for first first couple of projects, but just enough so I don’t have to keep stopping to buy a new tool too frequently.
I’m not afraid to spend a bit of money, but I don’t want to over buy for what I need right now.
The first thing I’m going to work on is a Sherman tank, M4A3E8 “Easy Eight” 1/48 from Tamiya.
Thanks!
Well I ended up going to Hobby Town USA and getting an “Excel Deluxe Tool Set”. It has enough for me to get started I suppose, although I see myself going to get a “clipper” and some finer grades of sandpaper fairly soon.
Do you have any clamps? Clamps are an absolute necessity.
How about a headband magnifier? You will need something like that.
Sanding sticks from Sally Beauty Supply.
Cuticle scissors from Sally
Fine grit wet-n-dry sand paper from Auto Supply store
Bondo auto body putty from the auto parts store
Rubber bands from the office supply store
look at Amazon, there are a couple eyeglass style magnifiers which are less bulky than the visor type magnifiers (LED & cheaper too)
Next time you’re in the Giant, Walmart or whatever store you shop at, check out the ladies beauty section. Nail files of various grits, cheap clippers and lots of other odds and ends that you might see a need for. Same goes for any drug store. Just keep your eyes open when shopping. You never know when your eyes will catch on to something and your brain says “Hmmmmmmmm, maybe I can use that for…” The most expensive tools are not always the best. Your dentist, if asked nicely, will save the drill bits that he usually throws away. I have lots of them. If you go there once a year, pretty soon you’ll have a cigar box full. A place that gives music lessons will save broken guitar strings for you (again, if asked nicely). Invaluable for many uses. You can save a lot by just looking around.
Hope that this helps.
Jim [cptn]
Stay Safe.
P.S. If you have a cat or know any one that has one, ask them to save you the cats whiskers that they shed all over the house. Only the ones the cat sheds. Great for whip antennas on military vehicles. Virtually indestructable.
This proves to be very helpful at certain times.
I also agree that a good Optivisor is a fantastic investment.
One of the most important tools is good bench light. I recommend a positionable light with spring counterbalancing (mine also has a magnifying glass in it.
Especially for car models, it is necessary to position the light so you see its reflection in the paint you are putting down.
For light and magnification, I use a 5-LED headlamp and cheap reading glasses in the 3X and 6X magnification levels. I used to use an Optivisor with an LED attachment, but I didn’t like the fact that it gives you an extremely small field of view of your bench and takes away depth perception (things tended to get knocked over, spilled, and broken a lot more when I was using one). I also have a 300W equivalent CFL (have a 400W in reserve for when the 300W finally dies…had it for 5 years so far) in the ceiling lamp over my work area. I agree that light and magnification are the most essential things in modeling. You’ll find that your hands are much steadier when you can actually, clearly see what you’re trying to put together or paint. [8-|][I]
Decal setting solutions, such as MicroSet and MicroSol, are very helpful when applying decals.
I highly recommend a bench light with a magnifier in it, as Don said. I use mine constantly, it is definitely my most used tool.
And a high quality sprue nipper, like Tamiya makes. Well worth the money.
Hi JoeHellmers!
Welcome to the forums! As far as tools the suggestions that you have recieved will bear no repeating. I do NOT use a light with magnifier. Something about Parallax and my eyes? So I did this. I have a large page Fresnel Lens. ( Yes, a different form, but the type was used for light-house light lenses) I built a Bracket for it and it magnifies my whole work area when I need it.
Lights, Yes! But I prefer OttLite brand. Purer light for color accuracy! Most of what I have mentioned is available at Hobby Stores like Micheals and Hobby Lobby. If Not and you have a Hobby Town and or Office Depot or Office Max, close. Those work for me.
The liquid form shown is not my choice, but I keep a Christian and an Uncle Jack handy!
Assuming the basics are covered, a good set of nippers as others have suggested. Mine are by Tamiya and I really like them. A set of files. If you have a Harbor Freight (or a discount tool chain) nearby, you can get the same set for basically half of what the local hobby shop will charge you. Something I almost can’t live without (besides Tamiya Fine Gray Primer) is Tamiya’s Model Stand. It makes my painting life so much easier. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box when it comes to buying tools and supplies. As others have suggested look at your local hardware and beauty supply shops as a way to get your tools and save a little money. While not important now, save a couple of thinner bottles after you’ve used them and the next time you need thinner go to your local hardware store and by a quart of thinner and then decant it into the smaller bottle. Especially useful for when you start airbrushing.
Have you had/has a “Harbor Frieght Tool near you”. Most or the majority of FSM Forum members will start with some very inexpensive modeling needs can come from simple and very affordable purchase.
Even my compresssor is a HFT. They at the very least, have done their Jobs and due diligence. I do still have my trusted Tamiya building type stand and a few other mics. items. Again only can pick and choose what will work for you. Good luck!
You friend’s, Toshi & Ezra
Get some 3M or other good quality double sided tape and a bunch of popsicle sticks. You can make your own sanding sticks with any grit of paper you need. They can be carved to a point or any shape needed to get into corners or tight spots.
And you need a variety of tweezers. You may have to file the tips slightly to get them precise…they should be able to pick up the fore-mentioned cat whisker.
Warning! Warning!
Do Not ask the cat to give you a whisker before it falls out! The results would not be pretty!
I use double-sided tape and popsicle sticks for spraying/airbrushing small parts. For tweezers a very good bargain is the small set available from Amazon under Pixnor brand name- cheap but very good tweezers. The pointed tip one has needle sharpness (be careful).
Is Jack Daniels an acceptable substitute for Hennessy?[:)]
I got Tamiya sprue clippers. They work great!