NEW to modeling - Need supplies/equipment suggestions - PLEASE help!

See http://www.swannysmodels.com/Toolbox.html for some suggestions. It's a pretty good overview of the most basic must-haves and other useful stuff. Ditto on the optivisor...these are indispensible. What I think you will find that as time goes by you'll discover new tools and supplies as you find a need, so don't get too hung up on getting everything at once that you might possibly ever need. As for me, I can never have enough tools and I love trying new ones.

when i started back into it. i started with a blunt scalpel, half a dozen brushes, and a crapload of dried up paint lol. also 4 half completed kits. so nothings imposible. i havent really gone and got many tools (side cutters and a couple paints) and im pottering along nicley. sometimes its not a good idea to go out and spend alot of money on everything youll ever need. cos half the time youll lose something in a box and end up buying it again anyway. so just start with the basics and buy stuff as you need it.

One thing you can do it have a modeling account. you put so much a year into it and you can only spend that much each year.

You really should get an Optivisor. They are those headband style flipdown magnifiers. The good ones cost about $ 40 and are made by Donegan Optical Co. The numbers for the lenses are twice the magnification, i.e. a #4 is 2x magnification etc. Be aware that as the magnification increases, the focal distance decreases. I've settled in on a #4, which has a focus distance of about 6"-9" in front of my nose.

It increases your game by an order of magnitude, I would say.

You realize of course this is like golf. All the equipment in the world isn't a substitute for practice, practice, practice. Luckily models are really cheap, if you look in the right places. What's expensive is if you get kitted out and then get frustrated and decide you don't like modeling. But I think you will.

Fred Ludwig

By scratching, do you mean using the wood to distress the plastics?

Right now since your just starting off you might not do this, but scratching is where you build your own parts. For example the detail is not as good as it could be, so you build your own. This is scratching, and you can use anything from paperclips to wood veneer to strip styrene to tacks to legos. There's no rules to scratching, it's using what you can to build the best parts and model you can.

To put this in perspective, check out the link of an early aircraft I'm building from scratch........ Scratch 1/32 Horatio Phillips Multiplane WIP

Welcome back to modeling and to the forums Gregory. I too live in Houston and just got back into the the hobby. I think Jason nailed it as far as supplies go. I got all my supply ideas from the good people here in the forums. I still learn a lot on supplies, techniques, and more from everyone here. There are two good hobby shops that I use here in Houston.

http://www.mmhobby.com/

http://www.gandgmodelshop.com/

Both are really good for supplies and kits. If you have any questions feel free to contact me.

Medicman71

Unless you are very well read on the subject of detail modeling (or are a natural artist), getting all of the tools that are available could just confuse you (what do I do with this thing?).

I would suggest that you start by going to your local hobby store and getting an inexpensive kit of some subject you like.  If you go to some place that isn't model centric, but to a general hobby/craft store (like Micheal's) where all of the modeling stuff is all together in a single aisle, you won't have to hunt far for the very basic supplies.  In addition to the model, get a modeling knife, glue, and one of those boxes of Testors paint assortments  (they usually have one for military and one for cars).

Take it all home and have fun putting it together just like when you were a kid.  After you finish, sit back and admire a job well done.  At the same time, start reading over this forum, look at the builds and questions on techniques that others post.  Buy another kit and try one or two new techniques you read about.  Slowly build up your inventory of tools and techniques. 

If you read enough on here, you'll find that there are almost as many ways to build a model as there are modelers.  Buying in one big lot some other modelers "must have" list may not suit your style (what ever it might be).

On the other hand, you may be one of those fortunate modelers that jumps right back into it and instinctively knows how to use all of the tools and techniques that are available.  There have been some here and they produce wonderful projects.

Paul

By scratching, do you mean using the wood to distress the plastics?

If you go into scratching, you gotta check out the local wood/lumber yards. Some have great little pieces of wood that can be used to scratch detail, such as veneer. They also supply wood that one can later use to build bases, plus their a great source for tools too.

Some other great tools to add to the bench are dental tools. Either ask your dentist(if your friendly enough) or go to scientific stores(their a goldmine) they usually sell picks and scribes for about a dollar or less.

Thanks for the info, I'm in the same situation. Less $ of course. I haven't built anything in years, but recall using fingernail cutters to remove the smaller pieces. I've never try using any filler putty. 

Well, Gregory, here are my top things needed to make good models.

- A good hobby knife 

- Sprue cutters

- Filler putty (I use squadron green putty, seams, ahem pardon the pun, to work just fine

- Modelmasters paint is the best brand, though I am biased because it is available where I live, and I haven't extensively used anything else

- I also use the Testors plastic tube cement, but although I don't recommend it, I haven't really looked into what else is out there besides the liquid cements.

- A dual-action airbrush (once again, personal preference of the dual), and an air compressor

- Sanding sticks (nail files work well), sandpaper

- Decal solute and solvents (My home remedy for this is vinegar solute, 91% alcohol solvent)

- Future floorwash makes good gloss.  It has the same effect on models as floors.  Decals also adhere way better on a gloss surface. 

- Finally, clamps, tape, and rubber bands.  They work great to hold parts together while they set.  By clamps I mean anything that will, well, clamp things together.

Hope this helps.