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Forums - Modelling / Construction |
The construction forum is for the discussion of techniques on the construction phase of AFV modelling and the tools and materials used. |
| Topics | 1841 |
| Messages | 8502 |
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| Subject: | Re: What are the best modeling tools? |  |
| Date: | Oct 16, 2007 |
| From: | Gary Cooper | |
While all the above suggestions are very good tools, I have always felt that if there is something else available that I don't have to pay $20 or 10-15 pounds just for the fancy name like Tamiya or xuron on the package and the tool, and it works, why spend the extra money. for photo etch and thinner sheet brass I have been using a pair of blue plastic handled craft scissors that I bought at a local art supply store from their sewing section for about $3 close to 5 years ago. For my sprue cutter I use a pair of diagonal cutters that I bought at a local hardware store for $1 well over 10 years ago. because they were built to cut metal, I beleive they will never wear out if all I cut with them is plastic or resin sprues.
As far as a knife I personally can't see any reason to go anywhere but with an x-acto or one of the several knock offs of the design. While some use scalpels,and I'm sure they work very well; for me the big diffrence is the availability of the blades which are almost everywhere, but I still have not gone to any hobby shop, hardware store, or craft store and seen scalpel blades but I see x-acto blade in all these place and more. Also there are very very many blade types for diffrent uses for the x-acto type knife that make it so much more sensible to me.
As far as files, I have a set of small needle files that I got from Micro Mark a long long time ago. For pliers I would suggest that you go to a local hardware store and look around before you spend enough to purchase a new tasca firefly just for a pair of specialty Tamiya (or whatever other brand name you choose)hobby pliers.
For sanding I use the little packs of plastic (mylar?) sanding film from Squadron Mail Order. I'm sure there are other sources of basically the same product, but when I get a pack it will last me 2 years or so before I need to replace it.Chisels,power tools, and sanders I do not use and can offer no advice to you on.
Some other things you might consider depending on how much you already have as far as supplies would be two or three pairs of tweezers. I pick these up at drug stores for a very reasonable price. Usually the only reason I ever have to buy another pair is because I have lost them. I would suggest more than one pair such as one with wide flat grip one with very narrow serrated grip and one needle point pair.If you do get any tweezers I would suggest that for the needle poing and any narrow tip pairs you get make sure they have the little post with a corresponding hole on the other side that is a positive lock to keep the tip from crossing when you grab something with them. This will help to prevent you from picking up a small part, and just when you are ready to put it where you want it; the tweezers cross and like snapping your fingers whatever is in the tweezers gets launched at just short of the speed of sound to some other place in time and dimension from which there is no return. Some call this the carpet monster, I just call it the twilight zone.The tweezers are something you can get one of here and there when you happen to see them.
The last thing I would suggest is invest in good quality(red sable for me) brushes.Because they can be frighteningly expensive the way I have aquired a fairly large selection is when I go to a craft store (not a hobby shop) I try to remember to buy one good brush from their oil paint section every time I am there. It did not take me long to have a good selection of brushes without having to spend hundreds all at once.
If you are lucky enough to be in the position where money is of no concern then there are many good choices of purpose designed and built brand name hobby tools available. If money is of any consideration to you, the one thing I would strongly suggest before laying down your hard earned, is to first go to both a hardware store and a craft shop. And please don't confuse craft shop with hobby shop. In my experience hobby shops tend to carry the hobby specific type tools(meaning expensive brand names) while my idea of a craft shop is someplace that sells knitting yarn,dried flowers,glass beads,etc etc; and only maybe a very small section with plastic models. |
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 | What are the best modeling tools? - Paul Ramsden - Oct 16, 2007 |
| . . . Re: What are the best modeling tools? - Chris Oldfield - Oct 16, 2007 |
| . . . Re: What are the best modeling tools? - Roy Chow - Oct 16, 2007 |
| . . . Sprue cutters - Tom Deimling - Oct 16, 2007 |
| . . . Re: What are the best modeling tools? - Gary Cooper - Oct 16, 2007 |
| . . . Re: What are the best modeling tools? - Gary Cooper - Oct 16, 2007 |
| . . . Re: What are the best modeling tools? - Steven C. Johnson - Oct 16, 2007 |
| . . . Re: What are the best modeling tools? - gerry gardiner - Oct 16, 2007 |
| . . . Re: What are the best modeling tools? - Sean Langley - Oct 17, 2007 |
| . . . Re: What are the best modeling tools? - Mike Siggins - Oct 17, 2007 |
| . . . Re: What are the best modeling tools? - Paul Williams - Oct 17, 2007 |
| . . . . . . Re: What are the best modeling tools? - Norm Samuelson - Oct 17, 2007 |
| . . . . . . . . . Re: What are the best modeling tools? - Alan Mckenzie - Oct 17, 2007 |
| . . . Patience and dry fitting - Paul A. Owen - Oct 18, 2007 |
| . . . Re: What are the best modeling tools? - Ted Paone - Oct 18, 2007 |
| . . . Re: What are the best modeling tools? - Julian - Oct 18, 2007 |
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