What to get and where to get it?-Kevleerey

I'm sorry, that is a misrepresentation of my luck or skills.  My avatar is a shot of the "Memphis Belle" as she sets in the restoration facility at the museum of the United States Air Force at Dayton, Ohio.  The museum gives tours of their restoration facility every Friday.  I was merely a visitor.  The shot was taken in January of "09.  The "Belle" was in pieces, looking like a giant Revell B-17 on the work bench.  I couldn't resist.  Along side it sets "The Swoose" , the oldest B-17 and only B-17D model.  I've made the pitch in a couple of different threads for people to get to the USAF Museum and go on their behind the scenes tour.  It is a fantastic experience.  The cool thing is that you can walk right up close to inspect the detail on these planes.  I intend to get back at least once a year until the full restoration is complete on both Fortresses.    Rick

Thanks, everyone, for the information. Sorry to take so long to get back. Hans, I always appreciate your "frugal" advice. Do you use those acrylic craft paints exclusively? I have a bunch of them that I use for some things but I don't know if I can mix up "major" colors accurately. I will have to hit up some docs and dentists about tools.
Wabash- how'd you get lucky enough to work on a B-17 restoration? Will it be brought back to airworthiness or will it be on static display at the museum?
Thanks again, Kevin

Thanks for th' info, D-Panzer!

I highly recommend the Lock Tite brand of super glues.  They have liquid to gels.  The tips give you very good control, stay clean, and the glue stays good for the entire bottle.  You can find them from Wal-Mart to your local hardware chain. 

I also have a good cheap-skate method to dispense Tenex R7.  I was tired of fumbling with a syringe to apply the stuff, so I took an empty Testors liquid glue applicator compressed the sides on it, and sucked in the Tenex  right out of its bottle.  It still is tricky to apply the glue, but it has made applying liquid glue a little easier. Rick.

Hi Hans,

I am back... here's the information about the cutting mat.  It is being sold by the name of "Hobbico: Precision Modelin Tools" and I found the website that will tell you which dealers you can order from.  I think I bought my 18" X 24" for $15 or $20.

Hope this helps... good luck buddy! 

Great, thanks Pard...

Hi Hans!  Bought it at Hobby Town USA store here in Indy more than a year ago... I checked its website and I don't see it being sold right now.  I'd be more than happy to look for it next time I shop there.  I can check for its manufacturer when I return home later today and let you know...

OFF-TOPIC..

Andy, where did you get that cutting mat?  The star template on it is something I've been wanting for years...

I agree with Hans... I scored when I went to see my dentist a year ago.  I figure you being a college student and you have dentist appointment coming up during the winter break so it won't hurt to ask your dentist.

When I asked my dentist if she had tools to be thrown away or recycled, she brought a box filled with old tools and it truly made my day.  I only took two that I wanted and I wish I have taken more!  Next time I will ask again to see if there is some kind of putty applicator to spare.

Love thy dentist!!!

Medical supplies for tools- Check Ebay's Medical Supply section for deals... Practically any medical supply store will have the tools you're looking for much lower prices than any dedicated hobby supply store or online hobby store.  ESPECIALLY for things like pipettes, syringes, scalpels, & blades.  It doesn't hurt if you have a friend that works in lab either... I got a gal at the local hospital that I buy lunch for now and again and she gives me BOXES of pipettes and specimine cups for mixing resin, RTV rubber, & paints..

Glues- Testor's Liquid (Pink Bottle), Testor's Model Master Liquid (Black Bottle), CA - The blister-pack tubes you find in grocery store school supply sections that are 4 for 1.99 or the like.- White glue, off-brand will do nicely,   (Note on Testor's Pink bottle: Throw away the brush applicator in the cap.. It's useless.  Apply it wth a decent #0 or #1 paintbrush)   Applying CA is best done with a sewing needle that you've nipped the top off, making a two-pronged applicator... Straight pins that have the points nipped off work well for applying tiny amounts in tight spots.  Put them in you pin-vise.

Paints: Hobby shops for certain military FS colors.  Craft stores for acrylics... Many of them are the same as military colors, they just have those goofy, "chick-name" for colors... For instance, Anita's "Mushroom" is a pretty good match for Tamiya Khaki Drab.  Plus, they cost about 1/3rd the price of "Model Shop" brands like Tamiya, Model Master, Polly S, etc., and you get twice to three times the amount of paint. Most prices start at .99 cents for a 2-Oz bottle of something like "Anita's Craft Paint" vs 3.49 for Testor's MM 1/2 Oz..   Take your color chips with you and compare...  Hobby Lobby has an EXTENSIVE selection of these types of paints back in the Craft Section... You get a great selection of rattle-can paints back there as well, 10 Oz cans vs. 3 Oz. of MM for around 2.00 to 3.99.. For blacks, whites, and primary colors in flat & gloss, they can't be beat, and the metallics are cheap too... Straight silver or aluminum as well.  Same goes for clear flats and glosses/semi-glosses...

Auto parts stores for paint and building materials as well like Bondo red Glazing putty, Bondo auto-body filler, spray paints & primers, etc. 

It also helps to have a friendly Hobby Lobby manager as a contact... I "tamed" mine by suggesting a display area in the store for modelers to show their completed work of kits purchased at HL.. She'll now stray from the "Company Book" at times, ordering kits for me that the warehouse has, but aren't on her store's Stock List....  One lat thing about Hobby Lobby... USE that 40% off Coupon every chance you get... You can use one per day, and if you're slick and have time, twice... Three times if you got your wife with ya...

Just be sure to make the second trip after shift-change at 4:30 so you get a different cashier, lol...